Invitation
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Yesterday, at the town's feast, Aldeheid swore that it would be her last meeting with someone she barely knows. But today, she was jolted awake by a letter from the town's top official.

Napatitig nalang siya sa mukha ng lalaking nakita niya kahapon. She knows who this guy was and she hates how she's facing him again. Umangat ulit ang mata niya nang marinig itong tumikhim at maglahad ng kamay sa harapan niya.

"I am Callum and I was ordered to take you to the Malcolm's mansion." pagpapakilala nito kaya maayos na tinanggap niya ang palad at binigyan ito ng ngiti.

"Hi Callum, I'm Aldeheid. It's a pleasure of being served by the town's beta." ani Aldeheid bago nagyuko sa harapan nito kagaya ng nasaksihan niya sa mga taongbayan kahapon.

When she brought her stand back, she was greeted by Callum's creased head, as if he did not like what she did. Ikinahinto niya iyon at nabuhayan ng kaba sa dibdib.

Callum immediately noticed Aldeheid's response in his unintentional action. Mabilis siyang napamura sa sarili niya nang makita ang takot na puminta sa mata nito. He didn't know that his self-control is scary in her eyes. Gusto niya lang namang pigilan ang sariling yakapin ang dalaga nang malanghap niya ang amoy nito, ngunit hindi niya inasahang iba ang magiging epekto nito sa dalaga.

Upang bawiin iyon ay mabilis na umangat ang magkabilang sulok ng kaniyang labi atsaka kinindatan ang dalaga. Aldeheid's face flushed, both brows arched. Her little expressions easily found their place in Callum's heart.

"You don't have to be so formal in front of me. I'm just a beta, a cute and carefree one." natutuwa pahayag ni Callum.

Aldeheid could only nod slowly before her small giggles escaped from her mouth. And God knows how much it melted Callum's heart. "Okay..."

Acting like his heart wasn't going crazy, Callum guided Aldeheid out of the Gleen's house. Maingat niya itong ipinasok sa kotse niya bago umikot sa kabila. Pinakiramdam niya lang si Aldeheid nang magsimula siyang magmaneho habang natutukso siyang kausapin ito.

Callum was never a quiet man and being with somebody who's shy is an advantage for him to use his extroverted asset. Pero para bang umurong ang kaniyang dila na ngayo'y katabi niya na ang dalagang noon paman niya gustong lapitan.

His grip tightened on the steering wheel before he mustered up the courage to talk to Aldeheid. But before he could even open his mouth, naunahan na siya ng dalaga.

"How was your wife? Nagkaroon ba siya ng sugat? And how about your baby? Is she growing well inside her mum's tummy?" Aldeheid innocently asked, with her eyes wide and a small smile.

Ang nakaurong na dila ni Callum ay halos malunok niya na sa nakakatindig balahabong tanong ng dalaga. He could only stare at the road while his mind was all wife and baby.

Aldeheid waited and the more seconds she waited the more she felt rejected. She should be happy that this guy beside her was the one doing her job for herself. Ngunit bakit siya nakaramdam ng pagkalungkot? Shouldn't it be glad she must feel?

"Aldeheid..."

She flinched upon hearing Callum's voice called her name. Despite the lack of emotion from Callum's tone, it sent her heart jitters.

Mabilis niya itong nilingon at pinagkurapan ng mga mata. "Y-yes?"

Callum instantly snapped his neck towards her when he felt her muscles tensed and heartbeats per milliseconds. For the second time, he scolded himself. Ito na naman siya at ang misinterpretasyon ng dalaga.

"Lady Jarriet is Alpha Harrison's mate. How could an alpha's mate becomes the beta's wife?" he was annoyed but he laughed it out, just to please himself with Aldeheid's smiley face.

Pero sa halip na ngiti ay naguguluhang mukha ang natanggap niya. His mind baffled as well. Teka, hindi ba nito alam ang nangyayare sa labas ng balkonahe niya? Bakit tila wala itong alam sa kahit anong bagay sa paligid?

Hindi napigilan ni Callum na matawa at mapakamot ng batok, "Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot you only got in Malcolm four months ago." hagikhik niya.

"How did you know?" at agad ring naglaho ang tuwa niya nang marinig 'yon.

He cursed underneath his breath when Aldeheid got suspicious of him. Hanggang dito nalang ba ang tuwang mararamdaman niya ngayon na nalaman na ang mga pinanggagawa niya habang hindi ito nakatingin?

"Right! You talked with Crowick earlier. You've probably asked him about me. Silly me."

Napanganga nalang si Callum nang marinig niya iyon. He got disappointed for a little bit. Does Aldeheid never really seen or sensed him before? She's a hybrid, she must have already sensed someone staring at her. Pero wala. The woman remained oblivious to him. Ni hindi nga siya kilala nito.

Sa pagkadismaya ay hindi na siya nakapagsalita pa at kinain lang ang daan papunta sa pinakatuktok ng Malcolm. It was the biggest mansion in the town. The same with the stone-built houses with the exception that the mansion was almost the size of a castle. It was unlike anything Aldeheid had ever seen, with its two towers on each side and the beautiful flora creeping up its façade.

Pagkalabas ay saka lamang niya nasilayan ang mga guwardiya sa labas nito. They bowed to Callum as they entered and greeted her. Napapatitig siya sa malapad na likod ng lalaki. She's been thinking this since they were in the car, but Callum seemed so familiar. Hindi niya lang maalala kung saan niya ito nakita.

They were welcomed by a wide space inside the halls. Maging si Callum ay napapatunghay rin ng tingin sa tuwing naglilibot siya. Callum couldn't help but switched their positions to freely watch Aldeheid's amused face.

It's as if he was watching her from below her balcony, parehong ekspresyon at ngiti, iyon nga lang ay nasa harap na niya at abot-abot niya na.

His grin vanished instantly when Aldeheid snapped her sight towards him. Napakurap si Callum nang makita ang napakasayang ngiti ng babae.

He heard her chuckled before she looked at the ceiling, "It felt like I'm back at a place I've never been before. So nostalgic yet novel."

Looking at her innocent face, Callum couldn't help but ask, "You've never been here before?," brows creased.

Aldeheid pressed her lips and nodded without hesitance. Doon mas lalong naguluhan si Callum. How the hell has she not gone to the Malcolm's mansion before? Hindi ba ito pinapayagang lumabas nila Crowick? Are they caging her in her room? Mas lumukob pa sa isipan niya ang tungkol sa dalaga at kahit gusto niya mang basahin ang isipan ay hindi niya pwedeng magawa 'yon.

Callum could have easily invade Aldeheid's privacy but he's a beta and a man with respect and principles. He should act as a good role model to everyone around. At isa pa, hindi niya talaga magawang basahin nito dahil sa nangyare noon, na nawalan siya ng kakayahan pang gamitin ang kapangyarihang iyon. He knew he can still do it, but it was pampered by his cowardice.

Iginaya niya ito papasok sa isa sa tatlong malalaking doorway at doon nakita nila ang dalawang taong kanina pa sila hinihintay. Jarriet, being the typical Jarriet, excitedly jumped out of her seat to hug Aldeheid.

Napangiwi ang mukha ni Callum sa nakita. How the hell can Jarriet hug Aldeheid without reluctance? at kapag siya ay may pagdadalawang-isip pa lalo na ay baka may sumita. Akala niya ay pantay-pantay lahat ngunit bakit may gender inequality pa rin?

"I'm so happy to see you again! Halika dito, upo ka sa tabi ko."

Nang makaupo sila ay sumunod naman si Callum at pumwesto sa kaliwang bahagi ng alpha. Harrison groaned, "What are you doing?" na may pagbabanta.

Callum has known this guy for decades already, hindi niya kailangang madala sa nakakatakot na boses nito lalo pa't alam niya na ang totoong ugali nito.

"Joining you?"

"Says who?," Harrison's brows wrinkled.

Callum shrugged, "Si Jarriet. Sino pa ba?"

"Huh? Anong ako?," gulantang ng asawa nito.

Inangatan niya ito ng kilay at may paglalarong ngiti ang mga labi, "Oh, so you forgot about what—"

"Whatever. Yeah, I invited him." irap nito at binalingan ulit si Aldeheid.

Dudang pinaningkitan lang si Callum ni Harrison bago siya iningusan. "Is that why you asked me you'll fetch her so that you can join the table?"

Natatawang tumango si Callum at walang paalam na kumuha na ng mga pagkain sa plato. He's a big guy, so he plentied his plate. Kailangan niyang mabusog dahil alam niyang pagkatapos nito ay marami na naman siyang trabahong kailangan puntahan at ayusin. He's the beta and it's a normal thing for him to do. Kaya naman nang marinig niya ang plano ni Jarriet kahapon ay mabilis siyang nagboluntaryong puntahan ang dalaga. Part of it was really because he wanted to join their meal, ngunit alam niya sa sarili niyang hindi lang ito tungkol doon.

After facing Aldeheid yesterday, he was determined to see her up close again, and this day is only the beginning.

Panay na pakikinig lang ng dalawang lalaki sa usapan ng dalawa. Jarriet's voice was the only thing dominated the huge room. Hindi man lang siya nahiya sa mahinhin at maamong boses ni Aldeheid. She doesn't care even if she's the alpha's mate. Kung ano ang pinanglakihan niya ay hindi niya ito ikakahiya. Fuck prim and proper! Wild and messed up are better!

"Anyway, paano mo nalamang buntis ako?" biglang tanong ni Jarriet kay Aldeheid.

Aldeheid carefully placed her utensils on the plate and full of respect that she faced her, "I thought I felt another pulse in your wrist. But now that I know that it was true, I'm so happy for you and your husband." napakurap si Jarriet sa itinurang nito.

Jarriet thought that because Aldeheid saved her yesterday that she felt comfort in her heart but now that she confirmed it, it was all because Aldeheid is a human without intentions.

Her eyes watered, "Thank you..." at niyakap ulit ito. "And now that you saved two people, would you like to be my baby's godmother?"

Doon naurong si Aldeheid at kinabahan. Ninang? Paanong maging ninang siya ni hindi nga niya kilala ang mga 'to? And one more thing, she only went here because her sister says so! Kasi kung hindi lang siya nito pinilit ay wala sana siya ngayon sa harapan nila. Ayaw na niyang makihalubilo pa sa ibang tao pero mukhang may ibang plano ata ang tadhana.

"Uh—I don't think I can agree to that..." nahihiya niyang sambit.

All three got confused, especially after hearing someone refused the alpha's mate. But both Harrison and Jarriet understood it. Alam nilang hindi ito kauri nila kaya naiintindihan nila kung bakit ayaw nito. But Callum, on the other hand, doesn't know and because of too much confusion ay hindi niya napigilan ang bibig na bumuka.

"Wait, you're rejecting to become the alpha's kid's ninang? Teka, tama ba ang naririnig ko?" nanlalaki ang mga matang napatingin siya kay Harrison, "Did someone really refused your mate's request?"

At kung may mas naguguluhan man kaysa kay Callum ay iyon ay si Aldeheid na litong-lito na sa mga pinagsasabi ni Callum.

Her thin brows met, small lips pouted and intrigue appeared seemingly on her face, "I have been hearing these since yesterday but would you mind if I ask what you meant by alpha, alpha's mate, and beta? Bago lang kasi ako rito sa Malcolm kaya hindi ko naisipang bukod sa sistema ay may iba rin kayong tawag sa mga opisiyal. Perhaps, alpha is what you call the mayor of the town? And beta is the vice? How about alpha's mate? Is she anyhow like a first lady or...?"

And realization struck their heads—Aldeheid is a mere human living in a town full of hybrids! Wala itong alam tungkol sa kanila at mas lalong hindi nito alam ang lupang tinatapakan niya.

Callum being too surprised couldn't help but laugh out the stupidity he has been possessing all these times. At kasabay doon ang pagmumura niya sa napagtanto.

Can somebody tell him again why he has been swooning over a woman whom he never thought was a human?

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nyariina