Chapter 9: Got My Reward

"... you look different when dressed."

Alpha Hugo raised his brows, blinking with misplaced innocence in his eyes. I bit my tongue secretly, pursing my lips into a thin line. My mouth opened, but no words came out. I have nothing to tell him, honestly. I was exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically.

"You don't ask things, huh?" he inquired after the prolonged silence between us. I quirked a brow, tilting my head slightly.

"I mean, last night, it's just the two of us and now we're..." he looked back before setting his eyes back on me, pointing his thumb to me and then to him. "... there are ten of us now, including you and me. You haven't even asked my name, or who are they, or what we're doing in this place. It's strange, Bambi."

"Rinnie," came out a muffled correction, making him arch a brow. "My name is Rinnie Everfell, not... Bambi."

He blinked twice and cocked his head to the side. "I know it's not Bambi."

"Alright." I nodded, putting a period in our brief conversation.

"Wow..." he mused while still staring at me. "Is fear the only emotion you can express? You had strong emotions last night, but now you're like..."

"Like a walking corpse?" I continued in a questioning yet emotionless tone, clasping my hand in front of me. "What did you expect from me? I just lost everything; my family, my friends, the life that I know, and now I am with a bunch of strangers who can kill me later or sell me for money."

His brows furrowed as he frowned at my remarks, but what I said was true. I already went through greater shock, so even if he had a battalion with him, it wouldn't shock me anymore. What more? Expect more kindness from them? It would already be kind of them if they let me tag along without selling me off as a slave.

I hung my head low, catching a glimpse of my filthy and wounded feet. My forehead creased when I saw another pair of feet two steps away from mine. I gazed up only to see him bending over, making me back away, but was stopped when he suddenly wrapped his arm around my waist.

"Why would I sell you?" he asked with genuine wonder in his voice.

My breath hitched as my mouth opened and closed. It took me a while before I found my voice once again.

"After what you've gone through because of me and if..." I swallowed down, planting my fist on his firm chest. "I... I am not an important hostage. Once you realize that, you will know that you went through all that for nothing."

"Why did you come in here knowing all that?" he asked and it made me wonder for the reason as well.

Although I had forgotten about our deal, I had thought about this unconsciously. After seeing the face of reality, my positive outlook on life twisted overnight. Putting my hope in him and getting betrayed by him would be... devastating. I knew all that, but I still came in here.

Was it because I didn't want to lose hope in this world of dystopia, which I believed was a lovely place at first? What was I trying to prove? That kindness could still exist? That not everyone was here to kill me?

"I also wonder why..." I whispered while staring into those pairs of golden eyes. He looked at me and his gaze seemed to see through my soul.

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The side of his lips curled up into a smirk as he let out a brief chuckle. He raised a brow and gave me a knowing look.

"Since you don't know, why don't you find out yourself," Hugo suggested in a light tone.

His grip around my waist tightened, pulling me closer while I drew my head back until I couldn't anymore. He stopped when his face was a palm length away from mine. Wasn't he too close? Well, we were closer last night as I clung to him as if he was my dear life.

"You came here, so you have to trust me," he said, but it sounded more like it was an order in my ear. "You don't worry, Bambi. All you have to do is trust me and follow me and you will be safe."

"Blindly?" I blurted out, and his smirk stretched broader.

He nodded approvingly and repeated. "Blindly."

Ridiculous, I thought, but I was more ridiculous. Wasn't coming in here despite giving me the chance and an option ridiculous? I swallowed down and heard my gulp, pressing my lips into a thin line. I didn't nod or shake my head as I stared into his eyes.

"About the reward..." I trailed off as I took a deep breath, my chest moving in and out heavily. "If not my life, was it my body? It is better to know now, so I... I don't get my hopes up."

"Straightforward. I like it." He grinned as he leaned forward. My back instantly stiffened, while my eyes dilated the closer he got.

Was he going to kiss me? I panicked internally, but I didn't fight him... just because. To my surprise, he simply brushed his nose against mine before drawing back with a bright smile on his face.

"That," he said and winked. "Got my reward. You don't have to worry about that now, Bambi."

I gazed down and unconsciously touched the apex of my nose. Hugo carefully released my waist, and I looked up at him once again. He already took several steps away from me, still grinning before he playfully pivoted on his heel.

"Come here, Bambi. I'll introduce you to my brothers." He waved without looking back, strutting towards the oak tree where the other men idled.

"That..." I whispered, staring at his back while touching my nose. My eyes slowly went wide as this felt familiar — that pup in my dream suddenly popped up in my head!

"You… can't be it, right?"

"Come on, Bambi! Get moving!" Hugo intoned lazily as he glanced back at me. A sigh of relief slipped past my mouth as I bit my lower lips.

"Mhm!" I hummed loudly and jogged my way to catch up to him, smiling in relief.

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