"I'm awake now."

Hugo took a deep breath as he instantly discerned the sadness in her voice. But instead of barging in, he took a step back and walked away.

'Did I go too far last night?' he wondered while scratching the back of his head. 'I don't think so. I didn't pin her down even though I was aroused last night.'

He convinced himself that her ever-changing mood had nothing to do last night. He behaved, after all. Soon, he reached the dining hall of the inn they were staying at. His eyes immediately caught his people from the corner table, having breakfast before they set out.

"Alpha!" Kieran raised a hand as soon as he noticed him. Everyone around the table also turned their head in Hugo's direction, watching him strut his way towards them. Yet none of them moved as Hugo dragged a seat and sat close to their table.

Hugo cocked his head back, sliding on the wooden chair until he was almost lying. "What's wrong with her?" he mumbled.

"Alpha Hugo, are you asking us about what's wrong with that human girl?" Cyran raised a question with knitted brows. "Actually, there's none. But there's definitely something wrong with you."

Cyran looked at the rest of their pack, and they nodded in agreement. Hugo was known for everything but romantic. He was the epitome of a werewolf: brutal, savage, and aggressive. So, it was a surprise that even when he reeked of lust last night, he left the human lady unharmed.

"Hold your tongue, Ran. My patience might run out before you finish your next sentence." Hugo warned lazily, swinging his hands on his rear. "Ah... what is wrong with her?"

"Alpha Hugo, don't you find it weird?" After a brief silence, Ivo, who sat on the end of the table, beyond Hugo's reach, spoke. "She said they kept her inside her home almost all her life. I mean, her parents surely aren't in the sound mind."

"Really?" Kieran's brows rose, tilting his head to the side.

Ivo nodded, as he had been wondering about it since last night. "Although she doesn't seem like someone who was raised in an ugly environment, it's still strange. That small kingdom she came from is known as a friendly place, so why would anyone get scared of letting their daughter's out?"

"She's pretty." Tito raised his hand, making the twins nod in agreement.

"Even so, it's strange. She claims that her mother and father just protect her, but that is too much. I think they are simply obsessed with her."

"Ivo, just because you were neglected as a child, don't think that all parents are all the same. She probably has protective parents." Reks the lovesick dawdled while forking out a slice of meat on his plate. "We have more things to worry about. For example, messing with those bats. The council will surely skin us all alive once we return."

"If I can offer all my skin to save you all, then I guess I will have to peel it now." Edge, who was on the separate table next to them, mumbled.

"God... why are you even born if all you do is spread negativity?" Mitch snorted. He was eating across from Edge while Winter kept silent.

As they all quieted down, thinking about their doom back in Ronmin Empire, Ivo's mind drifted elsewhere. He was always the curious type, and he was obsessed with things that baffled him.

Hugo blinked ever so slowly, but he was listening to their conversation. "How was that country now?" he asked without casting them a look.

Ivo cast him an obvious look. "It's bad."

"The Hendrik Empire sent troops and killed all the rebels. Now they are heroes." Kieran raised his brows briefly and shrugged. "It's crazy. They dressed as rebels on the night of the attack and then killed the rebels the next day. Those bats surely never cease to amaze me with their schemes."

"Did you notice anything that is out of the ordinary?" asked Hugo with bare interest.

"Well, nothing. At least, they didn't drag the Great Ronmin in this fiasco." Cyran set his eyes on the disinterested alpha of their pack. "Now that I think about it, I think I heard about some important noble vampire dying. It's strange that a noble vampire died, though."

"Hmm..." Hugo hummed a long low tune, deep in thought. "We should leave or they will catch up."

"Catch up? Did the council send people to drag us all back home?"

"The council will not send their pups to their death unless they only want to see their heads returning. I'm saying those bats. They are sending a small troop in this place." Hugo explained but closed his eyes to rest a bit. "Althea should be a good memory to her."

"Alpha, is she that important to you?" Ivo inquired, making the rest of them double their ears to hear his answer.

Hugo didn't answer as he slowly opened his eyes. His expression didn't change, blinking ever so slowly.

"She will be this pack's luna." Their eyes dilated, slacked jaw as they looked at him blankly. "So of course, dimwits. She is that important."

The corner of Hugo's lips turned up, eyes glinting. He cocked his head to them, only to see the horror plastered on their faces.

"You better start earning brownie points and learn a few tricks to keep my leash from coming off."