╔═══ Author's note ════╗

I tend to get carried away with Mitchell's POVs, so I hope the length of this chapter won't overwhelm anyone. 🙏

╚═════════════════╝

Mitchell's POV  - Part 1/2

Why was I the only one, who was affected by her words, and she's not even breaking a sweat? Love this, love that as if the word love wasn't enough, she had to add 'you' in front of it.

'I love you', 'I love you'...

'You are stupid', 'You are dumb', and 'You are an idiot'...

A male would be blinded by the 'I love you', and wouldn't see the underlying truth, but a wise one would translate the hidden meaning behind it. She was actually insulting me, and even had the nerve to claim that I was the one, who was being mean to her.

Maybe she took a bit of liking to me, but how could that tiny affection compare to what I felt for her? It was a miracle I could even breathe properly around her. I was falling so hard that I was afraid the impact would kill me.

That aside, there was something else that was bothering me.

My father was so happy. Too happy, actually. I didn't remember seeing him this happy before, and his happiness came at the cost of my female's comfort. I noticed Chris's expressions behind my father's back. She looked constipated, and her face twitched, as if she was about to vomit whenever he spoke about her.

I really wanted to snatch her away from him and tell him the truth, but every time I opened my mouth, images of his face falling in despair would appear. This was wrong, very wrong, and yet, I couldn't say a word.

"...There is no need for you to stick around."

Huh? Did I hear right? When she stood up and walked out without saying a word, a sense of dread filled me. No snarky comeback? No rude gestures?

I glanced back at my father and Chris, who acted like nothing was out of place. What was I supposed to do? Drag her back and end up with a black eye? Start a fight with father and end up with more than just a black eye?

"That person..." I began, but the words got stuck in my throat when my father barely paid me any attention.

Why would he care about who my female was or wasn't? He would dismiss her as he would dismiss everything else. He didn't deserve to know, nor did he deserve to meet her. She wasn't just someone anyone could meet. The privilege to even look at her was already limited, but the permission to interact with her was not something easily granted.

Not even my father was worthy of her attention. He had to earn the right to know her, and the fact that he didn't ask about me or even bother to check how I'd been doing further confirmed that I no longer wanted to suck up to him to get his attention.

Not a chance.

I rushed outside, taking a deep breath, ready to provoke her into losing her composure. She liked the Mitchell who didn't care about anything or anyone. She liked the old me. The one, who was a complete and utter prick toward her.

Just look at the rest of her males. None, I mean none, of them acted like my father around my mother. They weren't fawning over her like the world revolved around her, and they weren't blinded by her either. If she wanted a male to fawn over her and make her the center of attention, she could walk up to any male outside the mansion, and the poor fellow would give his life for her.

I couldn't turn into that kind of male, never, ever. No matter how much I wanted to pamper her, to worship her, and make her feel special, I couldn't risk her losing interest in me.

If someone could read my mind and see through my heart, they would know how desperate I was and how badly I wanted to please her. Did she like me, or did she like the challenge I represented? If she wanted a thrill to conquer or a toy to entertain her, I would give it all.

But she was making it too hard for me to treat her like the old me! Why would she confess to someone, who just called her butthurt and said she was weak, huh? Was I a joke, or was she? Huh?!

Her head moved, avoiding my kiss, and I snapped. My fangs were bared as I sunk my teeth into her shoulder, a growl rumbled deep in my throat.

She was too much. What was the point of a relationship if you had to pretend all the time, and couldn't be yourself? 

I swear I'm going to hug and kiss her until she becomes so annoyed with me that she kicks my butt back to the Flame City.

Then, my world turned upside down, and all I could see was father's large pincer coming at her.

A loud thud resounded, followed by a pained grunt.

· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·

I would have never considered facing my father in such a manner, and I would have never talked back, but a lot has changed in the last five years.

I was ready to beat and get beaten up for her, but was father always this slow? He couldn't even dodge my attack and took a blow. Was it because he was not using his full force? Did he go soft?

Curtis's blows were much faster and harder. Gold's strikes were much more lethal and painful. They traveled with her the most and also fought the most opponents (whole tribes) during their trips.

But even Muir, who stayed in the manor, was much quicker than father, and his claws were sharper. Bart mentioned that besides ferals, many beastmen and rootless would come to challenge them because some females rejected them, so there wasn't a day they weren't busy.

I traveled constantly between Flame City and The Resort, so it was important for me and my people to improve our combat skills. We've turned most of the tribes into our enemies by kidnapping their females, so attacks and invasions have become daily occurrences, too.

During our routine training sessions to assess our skills, Romeo's lethal mastery of martial arts made it impossible for us to land a single strike on him.

Vick's knowledge of our anatomy would immobilize us with a single jab. That guy defeated Romeo with his eyes closed and fingers tied behind his back. He was such a show off, puting us all back in our places and retaining the title of the head male.

To counter those two, we've been focusing on protecting and enhancing our weak points and learned some special moves from them.

But no matter how much we trained, how many opponents we defeated, or how much power we accumulated, our female would still make us feel weak and fragile like little bugs. We would still bruise at a mere touch, and a flick of her fingers would still knock us off our feet. On accident!

We weren't scared of death, but we were deathly scared of her losing control and accidentally killing us one day.

That would be the most embarrassing and pitiful end to our lives.

She said she would revive us if she ever killed us on accident, but what about our pride as males?!

What about our dignity?!

She was the worst!

The absolute worst.

The new rumors about the owners being the most powerful, most intelligent, and most handsome males sounded like her mocking laugh in the distance. A wicked taunt directed toward us.

She...

She was so...

Arghhh.

How could she be so...?

Ahhh!

You are supposed to be mad at her, Mitchell.

Mad.

Very mad.

Fuming!

Why would you look so smitten, huh?!

She didn't even want to hug you.

She didn't even let you kiss her.

Are you an idiot or what?

Ah, wait. Don't answer.

You already know the answer.

The biggest moron, Mitchell.

A complete and utter...

Ah, how can she be so gorgeous?

To hell with this.

I chased everyone out of the ward and locked the door. I couldn't stay silent for long, and  I leaped toward the bed.

"Pretty, so pretty. How is it that you keep on getting prettier and prettier?" I pulled her into my embrace. "Did you do something with your hair? What's different about your skin? I swear it's glowing. Is it a new soap or cream?"

She gave me a side eye, which caused an awkward feeling in my stomach. It wasn't butterflies; it was a horde of wild beasts. They were eating me from the inside, and her eyes watched them eat.

She didn't answer, her silence speaking for itself. See? She hated this side of me. She didn't like the Mitchell, who would suck up to her and treat her like she was the center of his world. I couldn't even praise her without her looking at me as if I was any other random male, who would kiss her ass to get into her pants.

But I was! What's wrong with a male praising his female and wanting to eat her up?

She shook me off and tried to move away, but I grabbed her waist and used my whole body to wrap myself around her. She used her hand to peel me off, but it wasn't much of a use. She either broke my bones, crushed my muscles, or both if she wanted me to let go.

As if thinking of another method, she stood up, dragging me along the ward. She held the lock, ready to swing the door open. One more step and someone would get a nice view of the Flame City's King clinging to his female's body like a monkey.

Just end it already.

Kill me, if you hate it that much.

Don't drag it on.

At least I will die while confessing my feelings: "I'm so glad to have met you. I wish I could express it with my every action, with my every breath, and with my every heartbeat. If you ever doubt my love, if you ever question it, remember this moment. Remember the Mitchell, who loved you so much that he was willing to throw away his pride and die like a loser at your hands."

"..." Her hand dropped, leaving the door untouched. I was still stuck to her, and my cheek was squished against her belly. I turned and placed my ear on it, listening to her insides and feeling it lift and fall with her breaths.

"Is your spousal bond acting up? Did it go out of control and is manipulating your actions?" she asked.

Ah, I almost forgot. I often put the blame on the bond for my behavior, so she would forgive me for being a lovesick fool and kick me out of her sight, "Mm, it wants to pamper you. It won't be quiet until you receive the treatment you deserve as my female."

She stared at the ceiling, looking lost in thoughts, "I'm thirsty."

I offered my stinger, not wanting to leave her side, "Do you want some of my poison?"

"..." She continued to stare at the ceiling.

"I'll fetch you something to drink, okay? Stay here."

She sighed and waved me away, "Go. Bring a lot."

"..." I stared at her for a while before giving up and leaving the room. I should have just stayed the way I was and not acted weird. She would have never sent me away.

I wasn't lying about the bond thought. The damn thing really wouldn't shut up and kept on reminding me of her, 'My female. Mine. All mine. No one can take her away. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them all!'

It was like having an obsessive, possessive, and bloodthirsty beast inside my head. More idiotic than the actual me, and I was pretty stupid when it came to her, 'You will kill them all? Ha! What a joke! You can't even hold a second against those powerhouses, you worthless thing. Begone!'

· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·

Part 2/2

· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·

When I returned with two jugs of water, her legs were crossed as she sat on the bed, waiting for me. I handed her the cup and went back to clutching onto her stomach, "I'm being considerate and thoughtful and doing all the things you wanted me to do, Darling. Do you like it? I don't think you do. Is it because of my father? Is it because I didn't introduce you? Did I upset you? I'm sorry, okay? Please forgive me. There was a good reason for it."

I continued, "You see, I wanted to gain his respect and prove my worth before introducing you. He isn't someone who would care about anyone less than him, and I didn't want him to belittle and look down on my female. I wanted him to bow his head and acknowledge your value, and for that to happen, I needed to brag about my accomplishments, you know? If I showed you off as soon as you stepped foot inside the palace, he would have dismissed you as nothing special, and you are anything but that."

"..." She took a tiny sip before placing the cup against my lips. I didn't refute and took a gulp. "How are things going back at the Flame City? Any problems?" she asked.

"Hm," I drank another sip before answering, "There are always some problems, but it's not anything special. The rootless population has decreased, and the underworld's business has been doing great."

She handed me the cup again, but I refused, "I'm not thirsty."

"Doesn't all that talking dry your throat?" she asked.

"..." Was she saying that I talked a lot, or what? I didn't talk too much, did I? She continued to hold the cup, waiting for me to change my mind and take a sip. "..." I sighed, "Okay. Fine."

I finished drinking the whole cup, and she rested her palm on the top of my head, leaning against me, "Tell me more."

"..." I thought about what else to say. Most things were boring, and not worth mentioning. "Why did Gold tell father that it was my doing? If my father knew it was you, he would have treated you better, and didn't have to act all high and mighty and order you around."

"I'm not that interested in impressing other males besides my own," she said, "Did I succeed?"

"Huh?"

"In impressing you, did I succeed?"

"..." The wild beasts in my stomach went berserk and began to rampage. They were devouring my flesh, and were about to eat my soul. "O-of course. What kind of question is that? You always impress me. Even when you are just breathing. That's how amazing you are."

She hummed, and her eyes looked distant, "Is that so."

"..." I didn't like her lack of response, nor the look on her face. I didn't want her to doubt my feelings or question them, but I didn't want her to lose interest and cast me aside, "Do you hate me now? Are you sick of me?"

"Why would I?"

"I'm annoying, right? Too clingy, and too affectionate."

"No. It's not."

"Then why do you seem unhappy with me?"

"Who said I was unhappy?" She asked.

"Then why are you so..."

"So...?"

"Cold."

"If I'm so cold, then you should warm me up."

"........................................"

"Mitchell?"

"What?!"

"You should breathe. Take a deep breath and release it."

"..." I inhaled, and exhaled, and inhaled again, and exhaled... "Okay, I'm good. Let's start over. Where were we?"

"You were complaining."

"About?"

"How clingy you are."

"I wasn't complaining. I was asking. Stop twisting my words! I was saying that you look unhappy. How come you can't just accept my affection without making a fuss out of it?!" I burst out, my frustration seeping through the cracks in my heart, "Why does it always have to be a fight with you?! Am I not allowed to show my feelings, or am I not allowed to feel them?! You have to make me feel ashamed, don't you?! Ashamed of showing that I care about you!"

I ranted, my body clinging to her like she was the only thing keeping me together, and if she left me, I would break apart, "I love you, okay?! There! Happy now?! It wasn't so hard, was it?! Arghhhh! I've fallen so deep for you that I've lost my mind. So, what if I'm annoying?! And what if I'm too clingy?! I love you. I freaking love you, okay?! And you hate me for that! Why do you hate me for that?!"

"..." She was speechless.

"..." I was speechless.

"..." We were both speechless.

I buried my face into her chest, making a scene, "Arghhhh! I love you so much. Too much! I don't want to die because of these stupid feelings. It's not worth it, and yet, it's worth everything.... Arghhhh! My feelings are real, and they are killing me! Do you see? Do you see what you are doing to me? Hahaha, hahaha, hahahahaa...Damnit. Damnit. DAMNIT! Are you not going to shut me up with a kiss or something?! Do you really have no pity? No mercy?"

"Nuh-uh," she said, "Why would I want to interrupt your confession? You can keep going, and when you run out of breath, I'll ravage your lips and steal all of your remaining strength. And when you have no more strenght, I'll make love to you and steal your soul. That's the only thing you need to worry about."

I dropped dead, falling limp. "Do it."

"Eh? How about my daily dose of Mitchell's love?"

"It's empty. I used it all. Refill it."

She laughed and leaned back, pulling me with her, "Let's wait until you are no longer under the spousal imprint's influence. I don't want to take you against your will."

"..." My mouth twitched, a vein throbbing on my temple, "It's sex, Darling. Even if you do it against my will, it will still feel good. And even if I'm not under its influence, the same goes. So, what's the problem?"

She gave me a side eye, "What happened to the 'mating is the most sacred and purest act between a male and his female' Mitchell? Did he perish, or is he just hiding somewhere?"

"He died a long time ago."

"I see. How did he die?"

"Your beauty killed him."

"I would have never thought."

"Right? And the culprit doesn't even have an ounce of remorse or pity for her victim." I kissed her neck, and then the hollow of her throat, and her collarbone, "It was such a tragic end for him."

She turned her head to my side, her nose brushing against my ear, and her hot breath tickled my skin, "What about the 'I will not lay a finger on you until you beg me' Mitchell?"

"He died, too."

She licked my neck and kissed my jaw, her voice low, "And what about the one, who was scared shitless by the thought of having a mini version of himself with a foul female like me? He didn't die yet?"

"Don't bring our Peanut into this. He's not involved in our sexual life. It's only between us, and don't ever mention it in front of him."

My body was already in heat, and the wild beasts in my stomach were going berserk, destroying my organs and bones.

"It's a shame that the 'You have no choice. I'm the King, and you are my subject, and I'm telling you to give me an heir, so get to it' Mitchell died so early. He was such a prick, but he used to be my favorite."

"Hey, don't go that far. That guy had his ups and downs, but he wasn't all that bad. Peanut would have never been born, otherwise."

"You are right. He did have his uses."

I grinned, and moved my face closer, rubbing my lips against hers. She wrapped her arms around my waist, her legs tangling with mine. Our breaths mixed as we panted, our chests lifting and falling at a rapid pace. I brushed her hair back, kissing her cheeks, and nibbled on her lower lip, tugging and pulling. Her satisfied sighs filled my ears, and all my blood rushed south.

But the moment my hands reached the back of her neck, I stopped. I turned her around and exposed her back, lifting her top, "Does it still hurt? Should I be gentler? I'm above the fourth stage now, so I might hurt you. If it hurts, tell me. I'll stop. Don't just endure it, okay? You always act tough and pretend to not feel any pain, but I know better."

She rubbed her temples, massaging her forehead before using her leg to knock me down. She climbed on top of me and straddled me, her hands planted on either side of my head, "Cry for help if it hurts, or cry for more if you like it. If you don't cry, or say a word, I'll assume you are dead, and stop."

"Huh? Wait a second...AAAAAAAHHH!"

"You foul female! Ah, don't pinch it. Ow, ow, OW! AAAHHH! AHHH! AAAAAHHHHHH!"

"NGGHHHHHHH!!! HELP... HAAH.... AAAAAAHHH! ARGHHH!"

╔═══ Author's note ════╗

Not YY giving Mitchell a chance to be vocal to his heart's content. 😂

╚═════════════════╝