Chapter 7: Hiding and Chasing

"Hey, you. Here."

Severin bestowed a vial as soon as I was on my way to the dining hall to fill my stomach from the morning's dreadful classes. I caught it when it almost hit the floor, maintaining a glare in his direction.

This scumbag... He never failed to make my blood boil, as always.

"Don't miss taking it," he said, squinting his eyes before parting ways with me.

When he receded from view, bitterness took over my smile before I scoffed. "Don't miss taking it," I copied his words and tone scornfully as I rolled my eyes.

I went to the nearest powder room to check the translucent vial that had pale blue liquid on it.

The liquid drizzled my mouth down to my throat, hurling as plain as a parchment. Having to take this was enough to make my stomach churn for the adverse effects I would feel for the next few days.

This was way better to endure than having another life form shaping inside me.

Yet.

At least, not yet.

Severin and I both agreed on it. This was the only moment where we had to agree on one thing. It was a pain in the ass to be with him, but it was worth it not to conceive yet.

He would bestow me a vial every time we had to fulfill our marital duties. It was necessary to avoid a worst-case scenario. Thaddeus and Madeline did not even pressure us to get conceived already, so we both made a decision to tune it down like this without their knowledge.

I went to the balcony first to settle this stomach that was grumbling just a moment ago. Throwing up the medicine was the last thing I wanted to do before continuing my way to my next class.

Arrived at the study hall for my next class with ridiculed gazes pointed at me, shunning them to return to my seat. They looked at me that way because of what happened at the masquerade ball. I couldn't blame them if they were curious about why I was the subject of oppression every time I had to cross paths with one of my cousins.

But the uneasiness I felt meltdown when I was with my friends, asking me how I was doing after what happened. I answered them to the best of my abilities, not wanting to worry them.

"How can you ever have that kind of relative who would dare to oppress you in front of everyone?" Lady Juliette scoffed, shaking her head in disappointment. "Did she have no idea that she is also damaging her reputation?"

"Right!" Lady Manuela snapped her fingers. "How did she even become your cousin anyway?"

Lady Irene sighed and crossed her arms. "And they even hid you from the society. We even thought that the daughter of Lord Hideyoshi was dead until you showed up here in the academy and became a wife to Lord Severin."

Lady Irene's words caused my hands to instinctively clasp together while an undeniable tightness gripped my heart, leaving no room for doubt. The misfortune I shouldered when Father died replayed like a broken record in my mind.

It was... painful.

Lady Rory chimed in. "And this is not over as always. Mind you, this is not the only time she has done this deed to you. Why don't you report this to Headmaster Matteo?"

I smiled as an answer, lowering my head to find my hands more entertaining than the meal I had on my table. "No, it's fine. There is no need."

"But Lady Kasumi..." 

I tilted my head slightly and gave a subtle shake, silently conveying my desire for them to abandon the subject.

If it reached Uncle Hajime's ears that I reported Akane's actions to Headmaster Matteo, there would be consequences. I was already on thin ice. It would jeopardize attaining what I had planned ever since I was shrouded from the public. I couldn't risk everything if my cousins did something to make me drop out of the academy.

For the next few days, I kept looking for Thaddeus to talk about what I had opened up to him then. However, it seemed like he deliberately avoided me by any means possible. Even with attempting to talk to him after my class with him, Thaddeus could be as fast as the thunderbolt to be out of my sight.

"Thaddeus..." I muttered through gritted teeth, clenching my hand.

Living in the dormitory prevented me from visiting the Blazing Winter pack; Severin faced the same obstacle. Our professors had to authorize our homecoming which we needed Thaddeus' permission since he was my father-in-law.

But I must not give up. I needed to find him and implore my demands. My last chance was to go to the faculty again to confirm if he was there.

"I beg your pardon, Professor Lilac, but have you seen Professor Thaddeus?" I asked one of the professors who were there working.

Professor Lilac yawned and stretched her arms before looking at me. "Oh, Thaddeus...?" I nodded to confirm. "Uh..." Her eyes darted at his desk as she rolled her eyes. "He went out, I believe."

"May I ask where he went?"

"I am uncertain. Usually, Thaddeus does not stay here for long. Sometimes, he would be at the headmaster's study room or training ground...?" she asked, unsure. Then her eyes were on Professor Brig, who had just arrived. "Oh! Brig! Have you seen Thaddeus?" She pointed at me. "His daughter-in-law is looking for him."

My cheeks inflamed at how she identified me. Daughter-in-law... Was that a fitting term for me if they ever learned that I was Thaddeus' mate?

Professor Brig settled his things on his desk before cocking his head from side to side. "I have seen him in the lagoon a while ago. I even spoke to him, and he said he needed to contemplate for a while. He will return soon, perhaps."

"I see. I shall return here later then," I said politely before bidding farewell to them.

As soon as I left the faculty room, my gnashing teeth nearly broke down from annoyance. 

My heart pounded in my chest, sending waves of heat through my veins. I clenched my fists and quickened my pace, ignoring the curious stares of the other students. The lagoon of the royal academy loomed ahead, a shimmering pool of blue that mocked me with its tranquility.

"Contemplate, my ass. He is just avoiding me," I said through gritted teeth when I found out that he was not there.

My eyes lowered down to my bracelet. I reached for it and did not hesitate to remove it. A sharp intake of breath summoned me as soon as I sniffed around and caught a whiff of mint and orange in this place before the scent went in the right direction to where the labyrinth garden was. 

"Got you..." I carefully heaved out a sigh, whispering my heart to calm. But it failed the moment my wolf knew Thaddeus' trace of scent fluttered in the faint breeze. "Hush..." I castigated my wolf before walking long strides, passing through the ground field. 

But I hastily changed my course to another way when I spotted Akeno, Akane's cousin, laughing with his peers. "Shit..." I averted my gaze before I could even catch his.

Silently praying that Akeno wouldn't see me, my feet made a quick turn to the alleyway before I wore my bangle again to conceal my scent so my cousin wouldn't know it. I heard some laughter from a few miles away, making Akeno's laugh stand out among them. 

As a sigh of relief escaped me, I initially anticipated trepidation, only to discover that everything was proceeding smoothly. That opportunity sought me to use the other way to go to the labyrinth garden after removing my bracelet again. 

I inhaled the scent of Thaddeus lingering in the air, tracing its trail until I discovered the concealed bench nestled behind the tree. I had to crease my forehead when no one was there, but my senses taught me to look up.

I grimaced upon seeing Thaddeus sitting at the tree branch with an impish smile drawing on his rosy lips. "Do you have any idea that I have been looking for you for the past few days?" Aggravation tried to blind me as soon as I returned my bangle before crossing my arms over my chest. 

"Oh... You are looking for me?" He inquired playfully, his tone laced with teasing. "And let me remind you that we are not allowed to talk matters if it is family matters here in this academy, my dear daughter-in-law," he said as he leaped and landed perfectly on the ground. "You can discuss things with me once you return to my pack." 

I balled my fist. What did he say? 'My dear daughter-in-law?'

"I am not going to betray the Blazing Winter pack," I emphasized my words back then. I caught up with him when he walked past me. I even used my body to block him. "Please... The Red Sun pack is mine."

"It is not yours now. Your uncle is already the Alpha there." His playful tone defrosted into an earnest one. "And I will not help you in any way, Kasumi. As I said, you are going to be the next Luna soon once I make Severin—"

"I did not even want to become a Luna, nor did I want to be your son's wife!" I allowed this frustration to succumb to me since I would hear that answer again, just as he said the first time I brought my plans up. "Why did you persist in attempting to matchmake me with your son, despite knowing that the Moon Goddess Herself has intertwined you and me as a mate to one another?!"

Because of dissatisfaction and vexation poisoned my mind, I blurted out something before realizing it. With widened eyes, I let out a gasp that resonated loudly. I turned my gaze towards Thaddeus, feeling a temporary deafness engulfing my ears due to the rapid rhythm of my heartbeats at that very moment.

His plump moist lips curved up into that familiar lopsided smile. "Huh... Is that so?" His tone reverberated with an intriguing melody. His eyes twinkled with a mix of amusement and understanding. He seemed unfazed by my outburst as if he had anticipated it. 

"I..." It seemed like there was a lump stuck in my throat. "Um..." Shit! What must I say when I was feeling flustered at the words I uttered? "F-Forget what I said!" Gripping my tunic like my life depended on it, I spun around, briskly preparing to walk away and bury myself later on the ground from the embarrassing words I said.

I would come back again once I had calmed down.

"I never thought you would ever acknowledge our mate bond, sunshine."

I came to a halt when I heard what he called a word at me that was so bizarre that it was my first time hearing it. 

Did he just call me... sunshine...?

Creasing my forehead, I spun around and flinched when Thaddeus was already in front of me. My tongue seemed stuck at the back of my throat by his bewitching features.

He nipped my chin, slightly tilting his head. "Where does that confidence go? I thought you were here to convince me to implore for my assistance. Hmm?" His thumb that grazed my chin sent chills down my spine, and his husky tone tickled me at the apex of my thighs, which I couldn't possibly ignore. 

I wet my lips, gulping. My lips seemed like they had been stitched delicately by a seamstress.

But if I remained silent, it would also mean I was admitting my defeat here. I would lose my opportunity of achieving what I had to reach. I must swallow my pride and forget what happened earlier.

"I..."

"Cat got your tongue, sunshine?" His upper lip lifted up into a smirk.

I opened my mouth again, but I got distracted by our closeness and the intoxication of his male perfume that wafted in the air. Shame, I missed out on experiencing his scent, which would have added an additional layer of muskiness to his presence.

Not only that. Because of the endearment he called me, my mind went haywire.

Thaddeus chuckled when I was still speechless before his eyes lowered to my bracelet. He reached for it and swiftly removed it in a blink of an eye. 

'Mate,' my wolf whispered.

Thaddeus growled, reverberating in my direction that my knees wobbled when his sapphire blue orbs glowed.

"Thaddeus..." I clung to him when I couldn't control my knees anymore. That made me draw closer to him. 

He secretly sniffed me with his hot breath fanning the slender of my neck. "Fuck..." His tone wasn't annoyed nor revolting. It was a dreamy one that made my wolf squirm. 

As I lifted my gaze to meet his, I couldn't shake the feeling that his intense stare held an insatiable desire, as if he longed to consume me at that very moment. I gulped, not knowing what to do. But my clit was throbbing in need when his hand came in contact with my waist.

I slowly closed my eyes when his face was getting closer, but I felt his lips caressed in my earlobe.

"Offer me something valuable, sunshine," he whispered huskily.