But today was different. I had no intention of going any farther than the kiss. I grabbed her wrists and pulled back. Then, I opened my mouth and called her by her real name. “Sylvia.
Crystal’s POV
Hearing Rufus call me Sylvia again made me tremble subconsciously. I looked at him in surprise and stammered in a daze, “M-my. . .?”
Rufus seemed to know what I was thinking. He lowered his head and planted a gentle kiss on my lips, whispering, “No, I haven’t regained my memory. Don’t be surprised.”
“Then how come you suddenly called me Sylvia?” I locked eyes with him seriously and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling his face closer to mine.
Rufus reached out and rubbed my nose. “Because I thought that it would bring me closer to your heart. ” After kissing me again, he suddenly asked in a low voice, “So, are you hiding something from me?”
My heart leaped to my throat, and I quickly lowered my head and looked away, afraid I’d reveal my true emotions. Rufus was a lot more sensitive than before. He could easily see right through me without me saying or doing anything.
Was this normal between mates?
“We promised each other that we wouldn’t hide anything from each other-that we’d face everything together, remember?” Rufus raised my chin almost aggressively, looking deeply into my eyes.
I felt so conflicted. Part of me wanted to throw myself into his arms and cry out the truth, while the other part of me wanted to keep it from him. In the end, I finally said, “Murray told me another solution. We can force Noreen’s soul into my body since we share a bloodline. It’s not difficult to do.”
“Is that dangerous? Will that put you in harm’s way?” Rufus’s words hit the nail on the head. He was so smart that he realized the underlying meaning in my words immediately.
“If we decide to do that, Noreen will possess your body. How’s that any different from your previous proposal?” Rufus became serious and even a little angry. He pulled me closer and said protectively, “I won’t allow Noreen to possess your body. If anything happens to you, I’ll go mad.”
I was already expecting such a violent reaction from Rufus, but I still tried my best to persuade him.
“Rufus, calm down and listen to me. Forcing Noreen’s soul into my body is different from letting Noreen possess me directly. The former will weaken Noreen’s soul. And my soul must be a lot stronger than Noreen’s remnant soul, so I’m confident I can handle her. Besides, I’ve killed Noreen before, and I can do it again. ” As I spoke, I carefully observed Rufus’ reaction. His expression didn’t soften at all, which made me feel a little frustrated.
But I refused to give up and continued to try to change his mind. “Trust me, Rufus. I can control Noreen’s remnant soul and lock her inside my body forever.”
“Then why didn’t you just tell me that from the start?” Rufus asked, narrowing his eyes at me in suspicion.
I paused and then forced a smile. “Because I was afraid you wouldn’t let me do it. After all, I can’t guarantee that things will go according to plan.”
Rufus fell silent and fixed his eyes on my face, trying to gauge whether I was lying or not.
I felt extremely nervous, but I didn’t dare to look away lest he think I was guilty.
“Look, I’m telling you about it now, right? Why are you so angry?” I pouted and complained deliberately, trying to shift the blame to him.
Only then did Rufus’ expression soften. He lowered his head and rested his forehead against mine. “I’m not angry. I’m just. . scared,” he said softly.
“Everything will be okay, Rufus. Just trust me. ” I pinched his waist and pouted, trying to act like a cute, spoiled child.
But Rufus didn’t say anything. He seemed to be in deep thought.
Seeing this, I was secretly delighted. As long as he was willing to consider the idea, it meant that he half-believed me.
Rufus knew me well, so I had no choice but to tell him a half-truth. That way, he would think that I had come clean.
Crystal’s POV
The silence sent my heart racing. I held my breath and thought about whether I should say something to make my lie even more convincing.
Fortunately, Rufus was quick to break the silence.
He sighed as if he had compromised. “Can’t we do something like forcing Noreen’s soul into my body? Why must it be you? Noreen’s very cunning, and I fear she’l hurt you.”
I shook my head and said seriously, “No. Only someone who’s related by blood or at least in the same bloodline as the black witch can. Only Beryl and I fit those requirements.”
A sour expression glistened in Rufus’ eyes, yet he managed to joke, “For the first time, I wish I were a wizard.”
“And you have to be a woman, too,” I added under my breath.
I knew Rufus wanted to take risks for me, but neither of us had a choice.
There was a restriction that he couldn’t pass by. But even if he could, I would not allow him to die for me.
Rufus was the king of the werewolves and shouldered a heavy responsibility. The burdens he carried were not something to be taken lightly; he shouldn’t be the one to take the risk this time.
“Crystal, do you have any idea how awful I feel right now? I don’t think you can even fathom how much I love you. I become restless every single moment I think you’d be put in danger.” There was gloom in his tone and complex emotions were brewing in his eyes. “You can’t guarantee that you’ll be fine. Even if there’s a ninety-nine percent chance of success, I wouldn’t want to take the bet.”
I felt a tug in my heart. I reached for him and gave him a hug. “I’m sorry, Rufus, but we have to take this risk for Beryl’s sake. Every time I close my eyes, I can hear her crying. It kills me to know that something could happen to her any minute now. Although it is just Noreen’s remnant soul, it is hard for Beryl to beat it. Beryl is just a child. She can’t overcome what she’s going through alone.”
“I get it. Beryl is also my child. I love her as much as vou do.” Rufus’s voice came out muffled. “You’re right. I know your strength best. I should know it would not be a problem for you to deal with a remnant soul. It is worth trying, but I have a request.”
“What?”
Rufus stared at me. “I have to be there when you do that. I can’t be calm unless I see with my own eyes that you’re fine. I’m afraid that something unexpected will happen.” I replied briskly, “Okay. I need you there anyway. I’ll feel uneasy otherwise.”
Rufus sighed with satisfaction. He flicked my forehead and warned again, “Don’t try to hide anything from me. If you ever do that again, I’ll lock you up. That way, you can’t go anywhere.”
“Alright! I promise to never lie to you again, or my nose will grow longer, okay?” I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. At the same time, relief washed over me. It was a good thing that Rufus agreed.
Still, I could not shake off the guilt I was feeling. I felt sorry for Rufus. I promised this would be the last time I lied to him. Tomorrow I would use witchcraft to perish together with Noreen. Not only could Beryl be saved this way, but the black thorn on his back would also dissipate with my death.
There was no doubt in me that Rufus could take good care of our children.
And for the sake of our children, he must live well even without me. He had to be there for them, filling in the hole I would be leaving in their lives. This time it would be completely over, and everyone would be happy at last.
I should have done this five years ago, but nothing was ever too late for change to happen.
Words couldn’t express how much I loved Rufus. I just hoped that he would be safe and happy for the rest of his life.
Crystal’s POV
I kissed Rufus passionately, wanting him to stay.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply