Controversy
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Callum fluttered and rubbed his eyes until it started stinging him upon waking up to Aldeheid's breast in front him.

Halos nanigas siya sa kinahihigaan niya habang pilit na sinuri ang nangyayare sa paligid. When he felt Aldeheid's palm gently putting his head on the pillows, doon lang siya nakahinga ng maluwag.

"Did I wake you up?" may pag-alala ngunit nakangiti na tanong ni Aldeheid.

Mabilis siyang napailing at ilang na ngumiti, "No—but what happened? Ba't ka nandito?" tanong niya nang malibot ng tingin ang paligid.

"You lost consciousness last night so Rios had to take you in the alpha's place as ordered by Alpha Harrison." kasuwal nitong imporma na ikinapagtataka ni Callum.

Then he realized something he had been staring for a while, "Is your skin always this white?"

Aldeheid abruptly arched her brows and glanced at her skin, "Not really...but I think it's because I don't usually go out that much that's why it looked pale." her gaze went to Callum, "Panget ba tingnan?"

"Hindi naman. You look beautiful whatever shade you have." he genuinely said and received a genuine smile from his sweet Alde.

"Thank you."

Kapwa naman silang napalingon nang may biglang pumasok. Hinihingal na si Rios ang tumambad sa kanila. They both asked what happened to him but Rios only ordered them to follow him.

Callum seemed as if nothing happened to him because of his normal yet strong posture when he stood up. Napangiti nalang si Aldeheid sa nakita. Iba talaga kapag espesyal aniya sa isipan.

They went inside the alpha's office and saw his personal guards on his sides and officials. Aldeheid did not know whether or not she'll enter, kasi hindi naman siya kasali sa kanila but Harrison nodded at her so she thought that she'd be needed inside.

Napaangat ng kilay ang isa sa mga opisyal pagkakita sa kanila. Aldeheid brows furrowed after hearing something from the old man's mind. Napailing na lamang siya at umupo sa tabi ni Callum.

Being inside a room with all Malcolm's officials is probably the most breathless encounter Aldeheid has been in. May kaniya-kaniya kasi ang mga itong ekspresyon at awtoridad, from their refinement to their own respect. Isama pa ang panibagong ekspresyong pinakita ng alpha at beta.

The meeting started and it directly subject Callum as the beta. Nakinig lang ng mabuti si Aldeheid habang pilit na kinakalma ang sarili. She couldn't be calm, though, especially that the controversy was about the beta being unable to control himself yesterday. Natatakot siya dahil alam niyang kasalanan niya 'yon, and it was Callum that will be paying her mess.

"Noon ko pa sinasabi na hindi siya karapat dapat sa posisyong ito! We need a beta who's true to himself! Hindi yung puro pakitang tao lang ang nalalaman!" asik nang isang matandang mayroong suot na kibido.

One woman raised her hand to speak, "But our beta never messed up, ngayon lang. Sapat na bang dahilan iyon para patalsikin siya sa posisyon?" that made Aldeheid smile to the woman.

Mayroong mga sumang-ayon sa sinabi nito ngumit mayroon namang sumalungat. "But what he did yesterday was unethical! At sa kung saan marami pa talagang tao!" ani ng isang medyo kabataang lalaki.

"What happened was an accident, Mr. Louettre." the woman asserted calmly. "Ano ba ang gusto mo? Yung mangyare iyon na walang ibang nakakaalam, katulad ng gawain niyo?"

The room suddenly became more intense after the woman said that. Napatingin si Aldeheid sa alpha na hanggang ngayon ay nakikinig pa rin. She moved her stare towards Callum who was surprisingly staring at her.

Napakurap agad siya nang may malabo siyang narinig mula sa isipan ng lalaki. Nginitian niya na lamang ito para maiwasan ang pagkailang.

She wanted to tell that to Callum because it might be a symptom for the infection but the time wasn't right, kaya sinarili niya nalang muna ito.

Binalik niya ang atensyon sa mga opisyal at narinig niyang iba na ang pinag-uusapan ng mga ito. It was the accident that happened that night, the accident that Callum told her once.

"It's a beta's job to protect his fellow people. Kaya nga siya pinagkatiwalaan kasi alam ng mga taong kaya niya itong gawin. Pero bakit hindi man lang ito dumating noong kailangan ng mga bata ng tulong?" the old man, for the nth time, tried to pull out Callum from his position.

May tumawa ng mapakla, "Bakit nandoon ka rin ba noon?" isang dalagang may pulang buhok, labi, at mga kuku.

Sinuway agad siya ng matandang babae na nasa gilid niya, "Be professional, Miss Zaveri." inirapan niya lang ito.

Tuloy pa rin ang pagpalatak ng matanda. The more he uttered things, the more Aldeheid heard his mind. Hanggang sa bigla nalang itong naging malinaw sa isipan niya. Her blood immediately boiled and Callum instinctively looked at her.

Nagsalubong ang pares na kilay ni Callum sa gitna nang bigla niyang maramdaman ang pagkainis ng dalaga. He should be amazed since it was the first time he's feeling it from Aldeheid but he couldn't. Because her enraged feelings were something he knew she couldn't stand still.

At nagulat nalang ang lahat sa biglang pagsingit ng dalaga.

"But aren't you the one who accidentally wake the bear that's why it attacked the kids?"

Lahat ay nanlaki ang mga matang napatitig kay Aldeheid, even Callum who already know what was going on inside her.

Napatayo ang matanda, "W-what the hell are you talking about?!"

Aldeheid got flustered but the old man only put fuel in her burning flame. Tila ba'y mas propesyonal pa siya nang magsalita siya ng kalma, "D-didn't you said it a while ago? And perhaps it's the reason why you kept on blaming your beta when you know that it was your fault to begin with."

"Sino ka para akusahan ako?! Baka hindi mo kilala kung sino ako?"

Napakurap si Aldeheid sa biglang pagsigaw ng matanda. It struck her head. Wala pala siyang karapatan na magsalita sa harapan ng mga ito. She's just a human who means nothing to them.

Her tears rimmed her eyes when she moved it to the Alpha. Gusto niyang humingi ng paumanhin sa walang respetong ginawa niya. But she only saw Harrison's eyes flickered as if there was something in her that amused him. Bigla naman niyang naalala ang mga boses na biglang pumapasok sa isipan niya.

Her eyes widened and immediately apologized upon realizing something, "It wasn't my intention to accuse you. It's just that...I'm...I'm really sorry..." mabilis siyang tumayo para sana umalis. What she did put people into the edge, from Callum and now the official, kaya ayaw niyang madagdagan pa ulit ito, lalo na at wala naman siyang karapatan sa Malcolm.

"Stay, Aldeheid." maawtoridad ni Harrison kaya napaupo siya.

She looked at Callum who suddenly held her hand. Nakita niya sa mata ng binata ang pagkakamangha at pag-alala. Pinisil nito ang palad niya ang nginitian ng maliit.

"So, what you're trying to say is that Mr. Cleo tried to wash his hands by blaming our beta the mistake he did?" it was the first time the alpha joined the conversation and no one could help it but feel chills from their soles up to their spines.

Naramdaman ni Aldeheid ang malakas na kabog ng puso ni Mr. Cleo, "Wala akong ginawa!" he defended, his sweats are cold.

"Why would a human lie in front of hybrids?" matalim na mga matang pinukol ni Callum.

Lumaki ang butas ng ilong ng matanda, "Kasi mga pakialamero sila! They're not even grateful after what we've done to them! Pinatira natin sila sa Malcolm na walang pag—"

"Na walang ano?" Harrison penetrated his eyes on Mr. Cleo. "As far as I can remember, two among the officials disliked that idea."

Doon tumahimik ang lahat, all breathless and tensed.

"I'll give you twenty seconds to explain what I heard. I must be satisfied with your explanation, Mr. Cleo. Alam mo naman siguro kung paano magalit ang mga Malcolm." Harrison showed expression for the first time at sa isipan ng mga opisyal ay sana hindi nalang ito ngumiti kung ganoon naman rin ka delikado ang dala nito.

The old man didn't waste any seconds and swallowed hard, "I never did anything to that bear, alpha! Bigla nalang itong bumangon atsaka inatake ako. I tried my best to stop it from entering the barrier but he still managed to enter. Kaya hindi ko kasalanan ang nangyaring iyon. It was an accident and it will remain one." matatag niyang sabi kaya manghang napaingos si Harrison.

"But how did you woke the bear when it was situated outside the premises? Were you lost? Or did you purposely lost your way?"

Napalunok nalang ang matanda, "I refuse to give response to your question, alpha." tumango si Harrison doon bilang sang-ayon at tumuwid ng upo.

"Now, tell me how this concerned our beta?"

Napamaang siya doon, pakurap-kurap ang mga mata habang napapalabi. His mouth opened but even the words wouldn't want to go out, ganoon siya katakot sa tanong ng alpha. One wrong word and it will be over for him.

Lumapad ang ngise sa labi ni Harrison. It was genuine and beautiful but behind it was a nightmare for the officials. Kasi anim na taon nang namamahala si Harrison sa Malcolm at alam na ng lahat kung paano tumakbo ang isipan nito.

"Mr. Thornton, please guide Mr. Cleo towards the door. I'll meet him in private later."

Isang utos nito ay sinunod agad ng isa sa malalaking guwardiya nito. Narinig niya ang malakas na pagpupumiglas ng matanda. He even tried showing his hybrid but one scowl from the guard silenced him.

Naiwan ang lahat doon na may malakas na pagbuntonghininga. Nagulat pa si Aldeheid doon dahil baka mapagalitan sila ng alpha pero hindi pala. Dahil maliban sa matandang iyon at isang lalaki ay lahat ng mga opisyal ay nasa tamang panig.

They continued their meeting with a pleasant mood. They addressed some issues including the incident of Callum and the bear. Napaliguan pa ng pangungutya si Callum sa nangyare, kaya hiyang-hiya siya sa harap ni Aldeheid.

It was exact one in the afternoon when they left. Doon na kasi ang mga ito kumain ng tanghalian. Aldeheid planned on going home already since Callum has woken up, but the man seemed like he had another plan.

"Don't you want to stay for another night here?" may nahihiyang ngiti sa labi nito.

"Hindi ka pa ba okay?" inosenteng tanong naman ni Aldeheid.

Callum thought for seconds, "Hindi pa." na may mapaglarong ngiti.

"You're lying." natatawa naman na si Aldeheid.

"Pero gusto pa kitang makasama." he said in blunt without filter.

Napakurap si Aldeheid doon at nag-init ang mga pisnge. Inasar naman siya ni Callum kaya natawa nalang siya. Bigla tuloy siya nakaramdam na pagkaasam na manatili muna sa mansyon.

Iginaya siya ni Callum sa isang veranda. Malakas ang himig ng hangin doon kaya napahawak siya sa mga kumakawalang buhok upang hindi ito pumitik kay Callum na nasa likuran niya lang.

She was guarded by his strong arms and she couldn't be more secured. Rinig niya ang mahinang ungol ng binata kaya napatingala siya.

Callum stepped back when his lips peck on her forehead. Aldeheid giggled. "I'm sorry..." she said, not even sorry.

Callum smiled with confusion, "When did you get this tall?" lito niya nang mapansin nasa baba niya na ang ulo ni Aldeheid.

Aldeheid turned to face him. Umatras siya upang bigyang espasyo ang pagitan nila. And when he roamed his eyes on her, halos mabulunan siya sa sariling laway.

"I don't know...I think this was the effect of the infection?" may gulo rin ang mukha sa dalaga na bahagyang inangat ang mga braso at tiningnan ang katawang biglang nagkaloob.

Callum blinked for several times before speaking, "Just what the hell did that infection does to you? I mean, you're appearance suddenly changed and you're senses sharpened."

Nagulat si Aldeheid doon, "W-wait...you noticed?"

Tumango si Callum, "Of course, sa lahat ng hybrid dito, ako lang ang nakakaamoy at nakakabasa ng isipan mo."

Mas lalo lamang nagulat si Aldeheid sa nalaman ng binata. Natawa si Callum at tinapik ang ulo niya.

"Harrison told me that you already knew. So, I guess that you also know what differs us from humans?"

Pinatalikod ulit siya ni Callum at inalagay ang dalawang kamay sa baluster. Nasa likuran lang ang binata at sabay nilang nilibot sa mga mata ang Malcolm.

"We read minds, we're stronger, we drink blood sometimes, and some even has different specialties. If they're not physically strong then they are either healers or visions. If they're not one of them, then they can be considered normal hybrids. But few hybrids are different, kagaya ng pamilyang Cordelia."

Aldeheid could sense the sadness in his voice when he uttered the last sentence. Gusto niya sanang itanong pero nagpasya siyang huwag nalang. It might awaken a bad memory of Callum and she's too kind to do that to him.

"Why, what are they?"

Callum playfully placed his chin on her head, "They're witches, Alde. The greatest wicked in Malcolm. Pero nasa tago sila nanirahan, almost out of Malcolm's land."

Napatango nalang siya doon. Natahimik ng ilang sandali bago siya ulit nagtanong.

"Callum..." she started.

He hummed to ask and accidentally bit his tongue after hearing her question.

"What do you mean that among all hybrids, you're the only one that can sense me?"

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nyariina