Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The air around me was awkward. It felt as though Clawface ignored me entirely. It made me wish for Kai to finish whatever he was doing inside and come to my rescue.

But for how long was he supposed to save me every time discomfort arose?

After a while longer, I summoned the courage to lean forward, my elbows firm against the wooden table separating us, and spoke out.

"Hi. You’re Clawface, yes?" My voice came out high pitched, and so I steadied myself. "I’m Alex."

"I’m aware," he replied curtly, making me want to recoil back into my shell and never speak to him again. Or even meet his eyes.

However, for some reason, I pushed forward.

"I’m actually Kai’s friend, and you’re close to him," I started again, yet he still wouldn’t look my way. "Uh, you protected me during the menace caused by MoonBlade."

Seconds passed and he didn’t say anything, allowing the breeze to howl around us.

"I plan to get some tea. Should I get you more coffee?" I looked up from his nearly empty cup to his face, forcing out a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

Yet he still said nothing.

I was about to recline and give up on trying to hold a conversation with him when he sneered.

"Menace isn’t the right word. Stupidity is."

"What?"

"From both parties, actually."

"Excuse me?" My brows drew together as I attempted to understand him.

"I don’t like people who cause trouble and blame others for it." His eyes carried a judgmental look, as did his tone. "And I’m talking about you."

"Me? I didn’t do anything. I’m just trying to hold a conversation here." I attempted again, but he cut me off.

"You pulled a disaster but would rather blame the Packs for your own mistakes. War is brewing, and innocent lives are going to be taken if it isn’t stopped, and I can’t fail to see you as the cause of it." The bald stoic-faced man seemed to have made up his mind.

My heart plummeted, heat circulating through my pores and placing me in an uncomfortable position. Yet in the middle of it all, I couldn’t fail to recognize the ache growing in my chest, sensing that he was right.

"I didn’t mean for any of this to happen."

"I serve Alpha Kai, and he’s to be King. If he cherishes you, then I shall protect you. But don’t mistake that for me liking you." The man stood up with his cup turned in the opposite direction. A few drops of coffee slid down the edge onto the table. "If he commands me to sever your head from your neck, I won’t think twice."

With that, he left the tent while I sat there with my eyes wide and lips parted. My expression went blank, lost for a moment as I took in his words.

He hated me...

He truly hated me...

It reminded me of Leo. And if he hated me too, who knew how many others did? How much damage was I causing Kai because I was blind to my affection for him, just as he was blind to his for me?

The sound of the door creaking snapped me back to the present, where I fixed myself just in time as Kai approached with another presence beside him.

A lanky tall man, no less than his late twenties, probably around the same age as Kai, with silver tousled hair and sparkling amber eyes, stopped in front of me and offered a handshake.

"Alex, this is Marcellan. My old friend."

He doesn’t look old, my inner voice wondered.

I accepted the man’s handshake and feigned a warm smile. "It’s nice to meet you, Marcellan."

"Oh, the pleasure is all mine. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m fascinated, really," Marcellan mentioned.

Just then, Clawface arrived and Kai caught my gaze before turning to him. "I’ve got something else to deal with, Alex. Would you rather stay with Marcellan or come with us?"

"No, I’ll stay."

"That’s quick," Kai pointed out, causing Marcellan to laugh as he faintly held his stomach.

"Friend, I did tell you he’d find me inviting." Marcellan applauded himself internally.

"He’s a nuisance. He’ll be a lot of trouble," Kai warned me playfully, and Marcellan laughed again.

The two shook hands before sharing a side hug, then Kai winked at me before leaving with Clawface.

My gaze remained fixed on the ground for most of the time, my conscience eating me alive. In any other situation, I’d have loved to go with Kai and see more of what a day in his life looked like.

"Do you already miss him?" the man beside me asked, a mischievous grin spread across his expression.

"What?"

"I’ve seen the way Kai looks at you, and I’ve heard of the trouble you both have caused. So I’m asking, is the love between you both so strong that you already miss him?" Something about the way he spoke sounded as though he were explaining himself to a child.

I didn’t answer, instead following him into the building. The house was simple yet colorful, with mesmerizing interior designs. Soft violin music played in the background from a recorder placed on the left side of the television shelf.

Marcellan offered me biscuits and tea, easing the silence within the space.

He sat opposite me in the dining room, arms crossed and eyes fixated on me.

"If you wish to curse me, you can proceed."

"I’m merely piqued. I wonder what makes you so silent. Kai didn’t say you were silent," the man pointed out. "I mean, isn’t that why he cherishes you? For your confidence and strong will?"

"Do I look like I have either?"

"You must, and it mustn’t fade if you wish to remain by Kai’s side."

"Why?" I questioned, my attention prickled by the direction of the conversation.

"Because Kai needs it."

I sighed. "What if he doesn’t need me? I see how people hate me, and you surely know that a war is imminent... because of me." I admitted the truth.

Marcellan shook his head.

"Oh, you’re easily tricked, I see. It’s normal for someone who hasn’t spent any time in the war room." Marcellan chuckled, glancing away.

I frowned and scowled at him. "Is that an insult?"

"It’s merely an observation, and it’s the truth," he spoke. I wanted to counter him, but he raised his index finger, silencing my unspoken whining without needing a single word. "MoonBlade always wanted to go to war with SilverFang. You were merely a pawn they used."

"Meaning?"

"The discovery of your powers, the war Kai’s been forced into, and every other thing that happened, it was planned and you fell for it," he claimed, and he sounded confident about it.

I didn’t bother asking how he knew so much considering the way I’d seen Kai and him around each other. Even if it was only for a moment, the closeness between them was obvious.

I leaned back, letting my body slouch while my neck rested against the frame of the chair before exhaling heavily. I felt drained, like I’d been given too much to think about and too much to worry over.

Maybe it would’ve been a better option to stay home with Butler Hector and keep learning about Kai’s sweet childhood instead of being stuck here listening to the grim parts.

"Marcellan, do you think I’m not worthy of Kai?"

Marcellan’s voice reached me, making my brows furrow.

"What’re you doing?"

"The question you were about to ask."

"No, I wasn’t," I argued.

"Well, I’ll tell you anyway." He readjusted himself and leaned forward. "The Court doesn’t hate you per se. They’re all just scared."

"Why?"

"According to their beliefs, Kai’s a tyrant. He killed all his brothers."

My stomach dropped, my chest tightening at Marcellan’s words.

That couldn’t be possible, could it?