Climbing the hill to the north of the village, she was always there waiting for .
Bell! Hurry up and co!
There was a warmth that ca just from the way she called my na. If I could hold onto this feeling forever, it felt like I could overco any challenge.
...
Even though I clearly saw Sien yesterday, seeing her again felt like it had been ages.
Naturally, I approached her with open arms.
Seeing my gesture, Sien, who seed eager, ran toward with a bright smile.
She leaned strongly into my embrace.
I was once again thankful for having such a being by my side.
Perhaps I loved Sien even more than I loved myself.
For her, I would give up everything. Even my own life.
While in my arms, Sien asked ,
Bell, you didnt see any other girls today, did you?
Then, as always, I replied,
I didnt.
Sien chuckled at my response.
You cant see other girls, okay? Because you have only
Dont worry.
The hands of Sien, who had been hugging my back, loosened for a mont.
Sliding up, her arms wrap around my neck.
Pulling gently towards her, our foreheads touched.
Her beautiful dark eyes approached mine.
The playfulness vanished, replaced by a rising, deep emotion.
Neither of us looked away from each other.
For a long while, we simply stared at each other until Sien whispered a question.
...Bell, do you love ?
After confessing our love for one another, Sien sought affirmation of this fact every day.
For , there was no simpler question.
I opened my mouth.
...............
But words failed , as if my throat had suddenly closed up.
I tried to force out a sound, but nothing erged.
...Bell?
A hint of sadness crept into Siens expression.
Just a slight delay in affirming my love was enough to wound her so.
She was ever so delicate and pure.
Feeling her pain all the more, I tried harder.
I didnt want to see that look on her face.
Seeing her hurt felt as if I was hurting myself.
I tried to muster more strength in my voice, but only a stifled moan ca out.
.......Ah....
That strained sound was all I could manage.
Upon hearing it, Sien said,
...Bell. I love you. I cant be without you. Cant you tell you love too?
.........
...Bell... I cant hear you.
My breath grew increasingly labored.
I had been trying to speak for so long that I forgot to breathe.
Yet I didnt give up. I wanted to see Siens smiling face again.
..........
....Bell...
........Lo...
Berg!
With that shout, my eyes snapped open.
The breath I had been holding flowed freely again.
I gasped for air and hastily sat up.
Ah!
Ner collapsed onto my lap with a thud.
At the sa ti, I grabbed my throat, trying to regain my breath.
Haah...haah...
As the realization dawned on that it had all been a dream, I clutched my face.
Another dream of Sien.
The vivid image of her in front of dissipated like a mirage.
Berg, are you okay?
In the midst of my jumbled emotions, Ner looked up at with concern.
Seeing her worried expression as she lay against my thigh, my emotions quickly settled.
...Im okay.
Ner blinked at my response and then clarified, ...You were having trouble breathing...
I cleared my throat and tried to explain, ...I dreamt of strenuous training.
...
It was clear Ner didnt quite buy my awkward excuse, but she didnt press further.
Waking up from such dreams always left wondering why I had them.
Was I still holding onto lingering feelings for Sien?
I had resolved to let go of such attachnts when I decided to get married.
...
I recalled the voice of Sien from my dream.
Once, she truly said that to ...
... I cant be without you. Yet, she left.
Regardless, I shook my head, brushing off the thought.
Sien mustve moved on from her feelings for .
She was the one who said shed leave and never co back.
For seven years, like a fool, I had remained stuck in the sa place.
Now, with Ner and Arwin, it was ti to move past my history.
Ner, with her ears perked up and a worried look, caught my eye.
...
I gazed at her for a while, forcing a small smile.
Eager to put Sien behind , I focused on Ner, who was right in front of .
I gently stroked her hair.
Seemingly embarrassed, Ner quickly pushed my hand away.
Subsequently, I slowly got out of bed.
Even though it was just a dream, I felt guilty towards Ner and Arwin.
I thought a drink of water might clear my head.
Leaving Ner on the bed, I headed out.
........Where are you going?
Ners voice, hesitant and soft, questioned .
...
Her brief inquiry made feel oddly out of place.
I turned my head to look at her.
Her yellow eyes glead in the darkness.
...What did you say?
....Where... are you... going?
Only then did I realize the oddity of her question.
She was always soone who didnt need to know where I was going, no matter where I was headed.
Ner seed troubled deep down, unable to look in the eye directly.
...
I was curious about this sudden change in her emotions.
Was it because she had waited for all day without any promise of my return?
Or was it because I was abruptly leaving the bedroom after having a nightmare?
Regardless, I felt this was actually more natural.
Isnt this way more comfortable for you too?
I asked.
...Huh?
...We should at least know each others whereabouts.
...
After a brief pause, Ner nodded.
...Yes.
In the end, we were those who blended cultures, choosing only the parts that were more convenient.
This way, I wouldnt have to hold back from asking Ner where she was heading.
We were naturally creating our own set of rules.
I was going to get so water.
I then answered Ners earlier question.
Blinking for a mont, Ner said,
...I want to co too.
I smiled.
Sure.
****
By morning, Ner couldnt lift her head.
She realized how embarrassingly she had behaved the previous night.
Awake?
Berg asked, looking at her.
She had thought about it all night as they went to drink water... she acted too impulsively.
She beca freshly aware of how strong her own pheromone scent was, wafting from Bergs body.
..............
Each ti that scent wafted up, Ners face reddened further.
Bergs body was filled with her fragrance.
It was her first ti, so she didnt know where to draw the line.
Even couples of the werewolf tribe, deeply in love, didnt exude such a scent.
She acted too rashly because she was so mad at Kayla.
Had Berg not moaned in his nightmare, it might have been even worse.
Seeing in the clear light of day what she had done, she couldnt help but feel embarrassed.
........
At the sa ti, she felt an indescribable... emotion.
Seeing Berg, entirely covered in her scent, made her heart race.
The fact that she left her own mark on him deeply, scratched her own dark desires that she didnt even know existed.
Was it because she had never possessed anyone before?
She couldnt take her eyes off Berg, who felt like he had beco hers.
...Why are you staring at like that?
Berg, unable to detect that scent, looked at her quizzically.
Saying sothing like, Its because Ive marked you with my scent was obviously out of the question.
Ner jerkily lowered her head and stood up.
Ah, its nothing.
Lets go eat.
Berg suggested.
Ner nodded.
-Creak...
The bedroom door opened, and Ners heart sank.
It was the mont when everyone would see the embarrassing thing she had done.
Berg was unaware of this shaful act.
She lowered her head and headed outside.
Berg followed her.
Village Chief Nox, seeing their state, asked with a smile,
Did you sleep well last night?
But Nox, taking a sniff, quickly closed his mouth.
His expression tensely stiffened.
...Hahaha...
Heat rapidly rose to Ners face.
It was clear what caused his reaction.
...Why are you acting like that?
Berg, unaware of the situation, asked.
Nox waved his hands dismissively around them.
Oh, its nothing. What will you do for a al? Will you eat at the inn today, or here...?
Well eat at the inn.
Very well.
Where is Arwin?
Berg inquired.
She should be sitting outside.
Nox answered.
As Berg started to step outside, the person Ner was waiting for appeared before them.
Dad, Berg-nim is up...
Kayla, coming down from the upstairs, suddenly clamped her mouth shut, much like Nox had.
This ti, Ner didnt lower her head.
Even in embarrassnt, she stood her ground.
She intently watched Kayla, observing her reaction.
Though she might have overdone it... it was a warning for Kayla, who underestimated Blackwood.
Ner had heard that the unique scent exuded by Blackwood bears an intimidating presence.
Through Kaylas reaction, she realized that the hearsay was true.
Kayla, unusually subdued, averted her eyes.
She looked visibly flustered.
Her long ears drooped back.
...Are you going to eat?
Berg casually asked Kayla, as if inquiring about her well-being.
Kayla, deep in thought, looked over at Ner.
Ner fixed Kayla with a sharp gaze.
...Ah, no. I... Ive eaten.
Kayla responded.
A smile ford secretly within Ner.
Berg, seemingly satisfied with the answer, continues walking.
As he opened the door to leave, Ner tasted a small victory.
It was always a given, after all.
Who would dare approach the mate of Blackwood?
...Finally, its over.
Berg muttered.
It seed like a comnt regarding Kayla.
Watching Berg let out a sigh as if he was shrugging off an annoying acquaintance, Ner felt even more satisfied.
Although he already had two partners, Berg truly appeared to look only at his chosen mate, much like the werewolf tribe.
He didnt cast a glance towards anyone else, except for herself and Arwin.
This fact brought Ner nothing but joy.
To that extent, things were alright.
If he only looked at two people, she could handle it.
...?
Suddenly, Ner wondered what she had been thinking.
What did she an by handle?
Regardless, Ner drew closer to Berg.
She put her complicated thoughts on hold for a mont.
Then, stealthily, she inhaled Bergs scent.
Mixed with the scent she had left on him, his natural fragrance blended in.
This new mingling of scents intoxicated Ner.
She might have overdone it with the pheromones last night... but she thought that maybe it wasnt so bad.
A genuine smile touched her lips.
With that smile, she couldnt take her eyes off Berg.
The End of The Chapter
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