Formalities and Barriers

Chapter 3

A bottle of wine had become my solace after that ordeal. The cool breeze of the night, the soft hoot of the owl, and the chirping of the crickets became a comforting symphony that blended harmoniously with the mellow notes of the wine. Sitting on the porch, the moon cast a gentle glow on the world, lending an ethereal beauty to the night.

Each sip of the wine transported me to a place of tranquility, momentarily shielding me from the complications of my responsibilities. The liquid warmth flowed through my veins, easing the tension in my body and numbing the pain that had consumed me. The complexities of the wine mirrored the complexities of life, and for a brief moment, I found consolation in the depths of its flavors.

I got distracted when a presence that I had been feeling from my behind for a while go had come forth to sit beside me. "Does this happen often?" Crown Prince Alucard's soft and tender tone was a departure from his usual mischievous and naughty demeanor, catching me off guard.

"I see. You have witnessed it..." I maintained my composure, realizing that this wasn't the appropriate moment to engage in an argument with him. It was crucial for me to find some time alone and collect my thoughts. "My apologies, Your Royal Highness, if you have to see that."

I eased myself down onto the grass, finding solace in the cool touch of the earth beneath me. Eventually, I made my way to the porch stairs, resting my head against the step, seeking a moment of respite and reflection.

I managed to see Crown Prince Alucard, who was watching every inch of my movements. Our eyes met before looking away when my wolf was whispering something to me. I had an instant regret that I did not wear my necklace, which I kept in my breast pocket. 

Sighing, I lowered my eyes to see that my unbuttoned shirt exposed my cleavage before reaching the bottle of wine. "Hey!" I furrowed my brows in annoyance as His Royal Highness snatched it away from me. Determined, I sat up and extended my arm, attempting to retrieve it once more. However, his arm proved to be longer than mine, making it a challenge to reclaim what was rightfully mine. "Can you not?" 

"That is enough. You do not need to get wasted." Crown Prince Alucard scoffed, distancing me from him. He acted as if he was burned when he instantly detached from me. 

I frowned and finally got it back. "I am not going to get myself wasted. I have responsibilities as the Beta of this pack." 

In my peripheral vision, Crown Prince Alucard watched me in awe as I emptied the bottle until its last drop. Then I tossed it aside before sitting beside him.

"You look wasted to me."

"I am sober, Your Royal Highness." I looked at him with a smug smile, averting my gaze to look up at the starry night sky. "I have a high tolerance, so you need not worry about me." The sky seemed like they were dancing for me to entertain me. "I have been doing this ever since I had to take over the Beta position, so..." I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, creating a protective embrace. With my chin resting on my knees, I gazed into the distance, lost in my thoughts.

I was expecting that he was going to spout some insensitive remarks and teased me, but his scent reached my nostrils when I felt him drawing closer a little. "It must have been hard that Edison seems fine, but sooner or later, his attitude changed."

"I actually don't mind. I am getting used to it." I slowly closed my eyes, feeling a stinging sensation in the corner of my eye. "He just cannot handle the death of Samantha." 

This was not my plan to open up to Crown Prince Alucard. But my chest was on the verge of bursting if I kept these thoughts to myself. I had no one to rely on ever since Samantha died, and Edison was not in a capable state. 

"I'm sorry to hear that."

My lips formed a melancholy smile before slowly opening my eyes to feast on the beauty of the starry night sky. I stretched out my hand, reaching for the sky above.

"Everything will stop once Jaromir returns." Edison wouldn't dare to accuse me anymore. Even though he was not in the right mind, it still hurt, penetrating my fragile heart.

Despite my best efforts, tears cascaded down my cheeks, refusing to be contained. I hastily wiped them away, frustrated by their persistence. Under my breath, I muttered a curse, feeling a mix of emotions overwhelming me. 

"Darn, these tears... They won't stop falling!" The frustration in my voice increased the hysteria, not liking that this was happening to me. 

Not only that, I did not want this man to see my vulnerability since I had a feeling that he was going to use that against me. Knowing how he could tease me for the past days he was here, I did not want to—

"Here." 

I was rigid, raising my gaze, I noticed a handkerchief being extended towards me. My heart skipped a beat as I realized it was Crown Prince Alucard who held it, his eyes reflecting a touch of seriousness.

The mischievousness that once danced in his eyes had now given way to a somber expression.

Reluctantly, I accepted the handkerchief and averted my gaze as I dabbed away my tears. "T-Thank you, Your Royal Highness," I murmured, my voice unintentionally softening.

He nodded, his gaze fixed on the pavement. "Alucard," he uttered.

"Huh?" I parroted, my head tilting slightly as I sniffed in confusion.

"Call me Alucard, not Your Royal Highness," he said, still not looking at me. 

I stared at him in disbelief. "I cannot possibly do that. You are a lycan prince and—"

"Crown prince?" he finished my sentence, glancing at me. 

I nodded, confirming his words. "Yes, Crown Prince Alucard. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to address you by your name. I am just a Beta, after all."

He sighed softly, his gaze returning to the night sky. "Don't you find that formalities and titles can feel suffocating at times? It's truly refreshing to encounter someone who sees me as a person rather than just a prince."

I couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and confusion. Alucard had always been mischievous and playful, rarely showing this side of himself. It was as if he was revealing a hidden layer, letting me see beyond the facade.

Was he doing this because... we were in the same boat?

"I understand, Alucard," I replied, testing the name on my tongue. It felt strange yet somehow fitting. My wolf was even reacting as she teased me, and I ignored her, not wanting to pay attention to it. "It must have been hard that everyone addresses you as Your Royal Highness. It must be difficult to be a crown prince."

I wanted to scold myself, becoming at ease at spouting words at him. Just what if this was just a trap? This was the first time that he became solemn to me. It must be his facade, and soon he would return to his shenanigans.

He chuckled softly. I couldn't help glancing at him, hearing that cackle tickled my heart. "Titles and roles can create barriers between individuals. Sometimes, it's nice to break those barriers down." He shrugged.

I pondered his words, mulling over the idea of breaking down barriers. It was true that our roles as Beta and Crown Prince had created a certain distance between us, but in that moment, sitting side by side on the porch, sharing vulnerabilities and a moment of solace, I felt a flicker of a connection, a spark of understanding.

"I suppose you have a point, Alucard," I admitted, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

As we sat there, side by side, the night grew quieter, and the moon reached its zenith. The air was filled with a newfound understanding, a sense of camaraderie that went between us.

Strange... 

The bond we had, which made me agitated, had gradually seeped into me, poking me to pay attention to it. I quickly hushed my wolf from that thought before deciding to stand up after a moment of contemplation. 

Alucard lifted his gaze, fixing his eyes upon me with an intense gaze while I was stretching my arms. 

"By the way, since we haven't heard anything from the royal palace to notify them that you are here, Alpha Navarro told me to invite you to be our esteemed guest at the harvest festival. Would you be interested?"

I felt compelled to express my concerns about the lack of heightened security at the royal palace, considering that a crown prince had gone missing and ventured into a pack. I had previously questioned Alucard about his presence here and why he had risked without any royal guards accompanying him.

However, instead of addressing my inquiries, he playfully diverted the conversation, teasing me until my frustration reached its peak, causing me to explode in anger and storm off, leaving him behind.

Curiosity compelled me to ask Alpha Navarro for details before, but he simply smiled and assured me that he would reveal everything once Alucard departed from our pack.

"Hmm... Will you be there then?" He arched his eyebrow, a glint of amusement glinting in his eyes, returning to his original state.

Bewilderment blinded me. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" I couldn't help rolling my eyes when he chuckled. 

"I just want to be certain that you will be there." His upper lip lifted up into a smirk. "It wouldn't be fun if my mate is not there, right?"

What he said made my eyes widen. Alucard just winked at me before walking past me, leaving me speechless as he disappeared from my view. 

I stood there frozen, the words "my mate" echoing in my mind. It left me stunned and filled with a whirlwind of emotions. My heart raced, and my thoughts raced even faster as I tried to process what Alucard had just implied.

"Dear Moon Goddess... He admitted himself that I am his mate." The realization struck me like a lightning bolt, causing my breath to hitch and my eyes to widen with a mix of shock and anticipation.