34. The Birthday
34. The Birthday
CHAPTER 34: The Birthday
GUILT CREPT into Lilian's system as she watched every helper in the mansion attend to Alpha Karius
and Calyx's needs.
"Alpha Karius, Beta Calyx, do you want coffee? Or tea?" Nadia asked them.
"Don't bother, Nadia. I'll go back to my house now." Calyx was the one who answered it and smiled a
bit at Nadia. As soon as his eyes darted to Lilian, he clenched his jaw. He opened his mouth like he
wanted to say something again but his gaze went to Alpha Karius who's still busy drying himself with
the towel. Calyx sighed heavily.
"What? But it's still cold outside. You can just stay here for the night. That would be fine with Alpha
Karius, right?" Nadia looked at Alpha Karius. The latter just nodded a bit, not bothering to look at Lilian.
"No, it's fine. I could just go home. The rain has already stopped pouring so it's already safe to go
outside. And besides, I don't think I could still stand staying in a house where I could see someone so
inconsiderate..." Calyx said meaningfully as he glanced at Lilian while raising a brow.
"Calyx." Alpha Karius suddenly called his name like he was warning him, making him sighed and
nodded his head a bit.
Lilian pursed her lips, wanting to say something but the lump in her throat wouldn't let her speak. She
couldn't form the right words to say when she saw the coldness of Alpha Karius' eyes. She looked
down, suddenly feeling ashamed to face them all as she gritted her teeth.
She should not act like this! She should feel proud of herself because she finally hurt his feelings this
time. It's still not enough. What she felt before is far more worse than what he's feeling right now.
"Tss. I'll go now, Alpha Karius. Nadia..." Calyx nodded his head a bit before he finally headed towards
the entrance of the mansion and left.
It took a couple of seconds before Alpha Karius spoke again. "Nadia... you can all rest now. I'm already
fine here." He ordered the helpers.
"A-Are you sure, Alpha? You don't need anything?" Nadia asked with a hint of hesitation in her tone.
Alpha Karius nodded. "Yeah."
"O-Okay." Nadia looked at the other helpers and gestured to them to go back to the maid's quarter
where they are staying.
Alpha Karius was left with Lilian who's still not moving on her position. It was like her feet were already
rooted to where she's standing and she couldn't move anymore! Damn. What's happening to her now?
"What are you still doing here, Lilian? You should go to your room now. It's getting late..." he said as he
started walking towards the kitchen area.
Lilian gulped a bit when she saw his slightly wet back. Did she mention that he's topless? The fine
cracks on his back made her feel suddenly hot.
"Uh..." Lilian doesn't really know what to say but she found herself following Alpha Karius and reached
the kitchen area. She found him getting a glass of water from the fridge before he sat at the stool on
the counter.
Lilian's hand balled into fist when she realized that she looked like an idiot following and staring at him
but he's not even throwing her a glance! It was frustrating as hell but she calmed herself and sat on the
other stool beside him.
"I said go to your room, Lilian..." he said again as he gulped at the water on the glass.
Lilian raised a brow. "Stop commanding me what to do."
"I'm not." He sighed.
They fell into deep silence again. Both of them don't really know what to say. The electricity already
came back a while ago so the only thing that could be heard is the sound of the air conditioner.
Lilian cleared her throat, finally deciding to break the silence between them. "Why did you wait for me
to go there?" she asked, not looking at him. Her eyes remained on her own hands. There's no hint of
expression in her eyes.
"Don't mind it. I didn't wait that long." He chuckled but it didn't reach his eyes. "And I want to say...
sorry."
Lilian couldn't help but to straighten her back and looked at him this time. Sorry? He's saying sorry to
her? Why? She's the one who made him wait for a couple of hours and yet he's now the one who's
saying sorry.
"W-What for?" Lilian tried to mask the confusion in her eyes.
He smiled, a sad one. "I had no time to ponder what I did but I suddenly realized awhile ago when I
saw you that it was really insensitive of me to make you go there. That tree house... it was our meeting
place before. It was the sole witness of how we professed our love for each other but then... it was also
the place where I hurt you the most." He looked down as if he was too ashamed to even meet Lilian's
gaze.
Lilian didn't dare to talk as she felt the lump forming in her throat. The ache in her heart couldn't be This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
denied anymore as he said those words. It was just a simple apology but it felt like the border that she
built to protect herself from pain is now slowly crumbling down.
"I'm sorry, Lilian. I know our meeting place is now tainted with... ugly memories. Bringing you there was
such a bad move." He chuckled but it didn't reach his eyes. "Before this day ends, can you fulfill my
birthday wish instead?"
His tone was so hopeful as the sad smile on his lips was never erased while looking at Lilian. His other
hand lifted and suddenly fixed Lilian's hair and put it behind her ear, it made her hot. She didn't know
what's gotten into her anymore that she didn't even budge to his sudden move... like she's really used
to what he did. Her wolf could really recognize him.
"What is it?" Her brows furrowed as she looked at his eyes.
"Can you greet your Alpha a happy birthday?"
Her eyes widened a bit. What the hell? That's his wish? Lilian couldn't help but to be shocked by what
he said. The other part of her brain was actually telling her that his wish is really hard to fulfill but she
was wrong! He just wanted a birthday greeting from her!
"Don't make me laugh, Alpha Karius," she said with her serious tone.
"Who said I'm trying to make you laugh? I'm serious here, My Luna. If you're going to greet me, I'll
forget how you ditched me on my own birthday and made me wait for nothing."
She gritted her teeth. She hated the fact that he's using those words against her! She's slowly eaten by
her own guilt again!
Lilian let out a deep sigh as she glared at Alpha Karius.
"Fine! Happy birthday, Alpha Karius..."