The pain in my heart last night was too unbearable to speak I thought I was going to die. But... I survived the night. I didn't cry myself to sleep, but I waited all night for Hugo.
He didn't come.
"Did they get together?" I murmured, sitting on the terrace railing while swinging my feet back and forth. "He should've at least told me about it if that is the case. Or... did he completely forget about me now?"
A bitter smile dominated my lips, watching the sunrise from the east.
"Haha. Stop it, Rinnie." I laughed, wiping the little tears with my arm. "If he found his mate, that is the best for him, don't you think? Werewolves' mate was essential for them."
It would be too greedy for me to ask for more. I had seen this coming. Wasn't that the reason I chose to live honestly because I knew one day this would happen? Months of love and being loved by him were enough.
"Cherish those times, Rinnie," I whispered with a weary smile, gazing down at the ring on my finger. I caressed it with my thumb gently.
"Let him go." I nodded slightly. "Slowly and carefully... let him go, Rinnie.."
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. When I opened them once again, I breathed out sharply. Slapping my cheeks lightly to wake me up. I gazed ahead with determination in my eyes, nodding encouragingly.
"The world had changed significantly. I wonder where is a good place to travel? It's been a long time since I traveled." I forced a smile, trying to have that positive outlook on life. "I wonder if the waterfalls in the west are still there? I used to bathe there and it would be nice to go there again."
While I was thoughtlessly planning my destination after leaving Ronmin, a voice from behind me tickled my ears. I looked back and smiled brightly.
"You're back?" All the traces of pain gradually disappeared at the sight of Hugo standing by the door. "Huh? What happened, Hugh? Were you in trouble last night?"
My brows furrowed, flinging my legs back in, and jumped. I marched towards Hugo, hands behind me.
"Are you alright? Did you get into a fight?" I asked, looking at the bruises on his face and his disheveled appearance. His clothes were dirty as if he rolled on the ground, and his dark under-eye was evident. This wasn't what I expected to see... or perhaps, I knew he would also be in distress initially.
"Rinnie," he called under his breath while my brows rose. "I... I want to tell you something."
My expression brightened up, reaching for his hand. "Tell me later, alright? Let's clean you up first. I'll ask someone to run you a bath. Stay here for a while. I'll come back."
With that being said, I hastily walked back inside our room to the door. Good thing a maid was already on the way, bringing me water for my face. So I asked her to run Hugo a bath and some hot milk to warm him up.
After the maid executed the order, I looked back on the terrace from where he stood. My smile grew bitter for a split second before I shook my head, replacing it with a bright smile. I already knew what he was going to say, but I didn't want to hear it.
'Rinnie, today... will probably be your last day with him. Let's make it worthwhile,' I told myself, knowing Daniel had prepared my things to leave his beloved brother alone. That bastard would be the happiest to not see me again.
Well, that was probably the consolation of all this. I wouldn't have to deal with Daniel anymore and live a carefree life.
I smiled when Hugo looked back while I stood by the door. I waved, ignoring this little distance between us. Hugo was beyond my reach. He was almost... almost within my reach, but right now, he felt so far away. He looked at me with sorrow in his eyes but smiled incomprehensibly to return mine.
*****
"Hugh, I told you to take care of your body. Just who beat you up like this?" I grumbled while scrubbing his back. Hugo was in the tub while I was sitting outside, helping him clean up. He had been silent, which was understandable.
"Cora," came out a deep baritone voice.
"Cora did this to you?" my brows rose, gazing at his rear.
He rocked his head. "We had a confrontation which led to a physical altercation."
"Did you hurt her?" I asked in a hurry.
"That woman's skin is as thick as steel."
"Hugh."
"No. It was one-sided." His eyes lowered, arms draped over the tub's rim. "She beat me senseless until I couldn't breathe. That witch... if I was a human, I would've died."
"Good thing you're not..."
"Good thing, huh?" I trailed off at his ridiculing tone. "Well, I guess that's really a good thing. For a werewolf, even if we get sliced, we can regenerate and heal ourselves. No matter how deep it is, it will heal. Humans don't. If the wound is too deep, it will leave a scar forever."
My hand on his back and shoulder curled slightly. "Mhm..."
"Why are you not asking for the reason Cora and I fought?" he asked, although his voice sounded like he already had a hint. "You didn't even ask what I did all night. You will usually nag me about these things..."
"It's because Cora always says she will beat you to a pulp one of these days. I guess you pressed her nerves a bit too far last night." I laughed to liven up the mood, continuing to scrub his back. "I mean, you're fine. You know you matter to me more than anything in this world, right?"
"Rinnie."
"Hugh, they said that during the mating season, there would be a lot of activities in the capital, like a festival. Shall we go on a date?" I watched him turn around to face me, so I maintained my smile as I cupped his sharp jaw. "Whatever you want to tell me, can you tell me later? Let's enjoy the day first, alright?"
Sadness flashed across his exhausted eyes. "Mhm. Alright.. If that is what you want."