Chapter 36: 35

Chapter 35

Based on Trent's story, Cataleya was the one who had been so critical of Amber tonight. It was clear that she intentionally wanted to start a fight.

Or… she could be gauging how Amber would react, too.

Anyhow, her motives can't be mistaken in this case.

Cataleya has a passion for disciplining those who are beneath her, and… Amber was a new face to the training grounds.

Severus could only hope Cataleya wasn't thinking something as silly as 'hazing'.

Everything will be confirmed once she regains consciousness. The operation lasted for hours, with the pack doctor saying that there was a possibility that Cataleya wouldn't be able to talk normally afterward.

They mentioned that her facial fascia was severely damaged—that at first glance, anyone would say that her face was irreparable. Apparently, Amber's claws reached deeper, and hit the seventh cranial nerve. Therefore, what awaits Cataleya following the surgical procedure… is nothing but a permanent defect.

"Is she in her room?" he asked no one in particular.

Salt and Pepper were staying the night because the latter firmly refused to go home.

Pepper was too distraught after bearing witness to that match—there was no way she could turn her back without a care, even after hearing from the pack doctor that Amber should be okay.

On the other hand, Lukas looked aggravated.

His eyes kept looking somewhere as if he was unnerved. At his age, he had already witnessed many horrifying events in his life, especially when he was out on a mission.

Wolves are beastly creatures. Blood and gore were something he was used to. However, Alpha blood was running through his veins. He knew it the moment he saw it—Cataleya had planned something sinister.

When Amber was lying helpless on the ring, his wolf relentlessly howled inside his head.

It would have been a real disaster if the one-sided beating persisted.

Severus is aware that his son and Amber are on good terms now. Still, it's beyond his imagination to think that Lukas is capable of worrying this much for her.

His face was dark, and he was emitting quite a formidable aura.

Lastly, he was glaring at him.

Lukas openly showed hostility towards him—his own father.

Ha.

Would you look at that…

"She's upstairs, resting," was Lukas' rigid response. "It's late. Do you need her for something?"

"It's none of your business," he spat. "I'm going."

Lukas stood in his way. "Like I said, Amber is now taking a rest. Couldn't your business with her wait?"

Xyla pulled on her son's arm. "Lukas…" Now isn't a good time for him to offend Severus. Her husband is still in a volatile state. She knows that look on Severus' face very well. "Watch your tone. That's not how you should talk to your father…" The Beta, Gamma, and Delta won't dare interfere in their Alpha's business.

It would be bad if things here escalated any further.

"Mom? I was under the impression that you pitied Amber for her swollen cheek. Was I wrong about that?"

Severus' blood ran cold. "Swollen, you say?"

Lukas turned to him in distaste. "Courtesy of you, by the way," he spat, his eyes glowing.

Had he known his father entered the clinic to just slap her in the face, he would have gone, and followed him inside. The pack doctor bolted out of that door, after all. He should have taken that as a warning sign.

But, Lukas had too much faith in his father that he forgot he was an Alpha first—before everything else. Naturally, his heart would go out to a pack member who was of use to him. In other words, Cataleya shall have his sympathy first.

That wicked squad leader…!

Severus stilled in his spot.

Swollen… cheek?

'Just as I thought… I should really visit her.'

He left to dash upstairs without another word.

Was the impact that hard?

'I don't recall hitting her with all my might…'

'I was about to come out,' his wolf suddenly spoke to him. 'It was my strength which drastically increased the impact.'

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Severus stood outside, and stared at the door longer than usual. As he tried to focus on his hearing to find out if Amber was already fast asleep, he discovered the wild palpitations of her heart instead.

Amber is wide awake, and she knows.

She knows that he's standing outside of her room.

'There's no room for any hesitation…'

Severus brought his hand up, and knocked his knuckles against the door. "This is your Alpha. Can I come—"

The small voice inside the room cut him off abruptly. "Please come in."

He turned the knob to open the door, and it revealed an Amber who was still in her training gears. She was redressing her injured arm, the one that got bitten by the cannibal, and this was the first time he would be seeing how much it had improved since then.

Unfortunately, the wounds reopened during the match.

Knowing Cataleya's nature, she probably aimed at that weakness specifically. Doing it out of spite was absolutely dirty. She's a squad leader—which means she has to be a role model to all the other pack members, and trainees.

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She is to remain dignified, even in the mocking face of defeat.

"I hope I wasn't interrupting."

"You're the Alpha. Your interruption can't possibly be viewed as an interruption."

She was unbelievably calm when she said that.

There was no venom in her tone.

Yet, Severus still felt disturbed.

"Let me see your cheek."

Amber flattened the dressing on her arm before she looked up at him. "It should heal in no time, Alpha. You don't have to concern yourself over minor injuries."

"You must hate me now, huh?" The girl didn't necessarily have to ignore him to give him the cold shoulder. Usually, she would still offer a forced smile even if she wasn't feeling well because she didn't want to worry the people around her.

But…

If she thinks her façade is flawless this time, then she's got it all wrong.

"What made the Alpha think that?"

As usual…

Amber is wise.

She always knows the right question to ask.

Though she sounded as if she was innocent, and had no idea about what he was talking about, the truth was… she was making him admit it.

Whether or not that was really her objective—was yet to be unearthed.

He said it before, and he'd say it again.

Amber knows the name of her game.

As long as she's the main player, maintaining tolerance is a no-sweat task for her.

She can keep it up as long as she wants.

And she will only step down once she's had enough.

"I shouldn't have done that. That wasn't… a good example."

"Is this the Alpha's way of apologizing?"

Severus looked at her intently. "I'm not apologizing. You knew you were to be held just as liable."

"I shall accept the punishment, but issuing a formal apology is something the Alpha can't ask of me. I hope we're clear on that."

He calmed his ragged breathing.

A young wolf is being impudent, and that's unacceptable.

"Sure, that's not a problem. I won't be requiring you to apologize. I'm quite aware that not even a threat can make you say sorry if you feel like you have nothing to apologize for."

"Then, can I ask what I'm being punished for?"

Severus froze.

That's… a valid question.

"Is it for harming the squad leader's head?"

"What?"

"When I was in the ring, a wild idea had engulfed my mind, Alpha. I thought it was do or die."

He inhaled sharply. "Do you hear yourself, Amber?"

"And if I was going to die, I wanted to die, protecting my honor." Her voice was a little raspy. Her throat only took a minimal damage from Cataleya's hands, but an uncomfortable feeling had settled in it. "I don't believe that respect is earned, not given. Because as for myself, respect is the default…" A faint smile graced her lips. She looked so sad—betrayed, "…until the person loses that." Her eyes were now teary.

His heart clenched painfully. Her tears wouldn't roll down her cheeks.

And that was because Amber was trying her best not to shed even a single tear.

She didn't want to show this side of her.

She didn't want to cry.

"I guess I've disappointed you, then," he whispered, his voice strained.

He could tolerate that.

Besides, this disappointment could be replaced by something better in the long run.

Her disappointment won't last long anyway.

"Disappointed? Not quite…" She looked away, then continued, "You've lost my respect, Alpha."

"Amber…?"

"I'm more than willing to accept the punishment for my impertinence. It can't be helped after all. I can come to acknowledge my rude behavior towards you. However…" Her lips quivered. "It should still make sense for me to know what I'm being punished for—and you couldn't even answer that, Alpha. That's just… sad. It makes me think you struck me in the face for no reason."

"…and when I could no longer think of an excuse to make myself understand your actions, I chose to let go.." A nuance of melancholy swirled in her brown orbs, "…let go of the respect I had for you."

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