I listened intently, and a twinge of bitterness crept into my heart. In fact, I had been very familiar with this place. Every corner here reflected the times I had spent with Rufus, which were more vivid and recent than the memories of my life in the pack when I was a child.
Crystal’s POV
Rufus and I walked around the palace and reached the garden.
We slowly walked on one path after another. It was almost dusk. The bright glare of the setting sun was enough to make people dizzy. I was trying to come up with an excuse to leave. However, my heart was unwilling to go. I wanted to stay with him for a little while longer.
While I was lost in my thoughts, Rufus, who had been walking ahead, stopped suddenly and turned around. I didn’t notice this and crashed into his chest. I looked up at him in shock and thought perhaps something was wrong.
Rufus looked down at me and said softly, “Aren’t you tired of wearing a mask all the time? No one else is around here. You can take it off. I don’t judge people by their appearance.”
“No, I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m worried my face will scare you.” I was so anxious that I put my hand over the mask on my face. I was afraid that Rufus would rip it off if I wasn’t vigilant.
Rufus frowned and didn’t push me, but he remained quiet after that.
It was only when we returned to the palace and I was about to leave that he asked, “Are you hungry? Why don’t you have dinner here?”
“No, thanks. I still have to-“
My refusal was on the tip of my tongue, but a group of servants suddenly strode in from the dining hall. They came from nowhere holding silverware and platters of food in their hands.
Rufus shot me a smile. Somehow, I could see a hint of smugness in the way his lips curved up.
Huh, this guy had devised a pretty good plan.
He had instructed the servants to prepare the food earlier and asked me to stay for dinner on purpose. His only objective was to see my face under the mask. Why was he so curious?
I had no choice but to take a seat at the table with him.
The servants laid the cutlery and the platters of food on the table and left. I folded my arms across my chest, pretending to be unmoved.
“Aren’t you hungry? Just take off your mask and eat something.”
Rufus picked up a fork, speared a bite of food with it, and put it into his mouth to chew.
I shook my head and answered, “No, thanks. I’m not hungry. My stomach is full.”
“Really?” Rufus chuckled and didn’t say anything more. He enjoyed his meal, pretending that the resentment in my eyes never existed.
In reality, my stomach had been empty for a long time. Although I had some snacks at Flora’s place earlier that afternoon, I had just walked around this large palace and the snacks were digested long ago.
As the schnitzel’s aroma wafted toward my nose, my poor empty stomach began to growl.
I curled my lips and stared at Rufus, trying to make him uncomfortable while eating. Unfortunately, this man was so thick-skinned that he continued his meal as if he could feel nothing.
I clenched my fists under the table and asked Rufus in a fierce voice, “Why isn’t there a straw on this huge dining table?”
Rufus paused for a moment, his fork hanging mid-air, and then glanced at the glass of juice in front of me. He instantly understood. He rang a bell on the table, and soon, a servant came in bearing a fancy-shaped straw with a small pig on the top.
I scoffed coldly, took the straw, and tossed it into my juice glass. I inserted one end of the straw into the hole in my mask.
As the delicious icy fruit juice slipped down my throat, I calmed down a little. Then I began to pay closer attention to all the dishes on the table, only to realize that they were all my favorite foods. One of them was potato and chicken casserole that Rufus didn’t eat before, because he hated the taste. But now, he was eating it with relish.
I pointed at this dish and asked Rufus in a surprised voice, “Don’t you find the taste strange?”
“No.” As Rufus spoke, he also displayed how to perfectly spear a piece of potato with a fork.
After swallowing the food in his mouth and taking a sip of water, he said, “I remember that I didn’t like potatoes before. I don’t know when this preference of mine changed. It’s weird.”
His frank words made my eyes turn red. Potatoes had always been my favorite food.
The love of my life had forgotten me, but he seemed to still remember my likings. How absurd!
Crystal’s POV
I quickly looked down and pretended to sip my juice.
Once Rufus was done with his meal, I couldn’t wait to leave.
As soon as I left the palace grounds and reached an isolated spot, I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore.
His memories of me were gone, but something still remained there. Once habits were formed, they could subconsciously change a person’s preference.
Even after five years, Rufus was in every part of my life. The way I ate and slept, and even the shower gel I used, were all his favorites.
It was the same with Rufus.
I sobbed silently as sadness drowned me. This sadness of loving him but not being able to be with him had often invaded my mind during the past five years.
I knew I shouldn’t behave like this. I should have just let go since we could never be together again. But I really couldn’t. I was being selfish and greedy and craved the warmth that didn’t belong to me anymore. Rufus was the one who pulled me out of the abyss of desperation and warmed me with his love, giving me a chance to see this world with new hope. I really didn’t want to go back to a life without him.
Rufus was my light. I couldn’t give him up, but I had to.
I cried until I was exhausted. Then I slowly got to my feet and continued to walk back.
After returning to my temporary accommodations in the royal palace, I made a beeline for the bathroom. I cleaned myself up and then went to see Arron.
He was reading a picture book on the sofa. As soon as he spotted me, he climbed down from the sofa and ran toward me with his arms wide open.
I gathered him to me, kissed his cheek, and asked softly, “Did you miss Mommy?”
He nodded vigorously, “Yes!”
Then, he watched me unblinkingly with his big clear eyes, as if he was observing something.
“What’s wrong?” I smiled and gently nudged his cute hand.
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