Half Faced Alpha
Chapter 36

Axton excused himself before Melissa finished with Natalia, as Beta Scott arrived with a ceremonial tunic for him.

"I made the color same as the color of Miss's dress. If it is too bright for you, I can change it."

Axton flipped the tunic he was wearing over his head and extended his hand to Beta Scott. He gave the clothes he had brought for him, then walked out.

Alpha Axton felt a little weird with the ceremony. He felt like something bad was going to happen, but he wasn't sure how or to who.

His body felt somewhat shaky, his heart thumping wildly out of nervousness.

He took a few deep breaths and a quick bath to calm his nerves, then tried to focus on something else. Something that would take his mind off the anxiety he was feeling.

He finished dressing, before Beta Scott reentered to help him with his hair.

"What do you prefer? A royal man bun, or put downwards?"

Alpha Axton simply shrugged, distracted. He felt a little taciturn, and couldn't bring himself to be excited.

He was rarely ever excited about anything, but still, this was bad.

"I went with putting it down. It covers the small scar on the side of your neck."

Aloha Axton turned. "I have a scar on my neck?"

Beta Scott nodded. "I saw it first earlier when we talked. I am not sure it was always there, though."

Alpha Axton reached out his hand to feel it, and Beta Scott guided his hand to the small jagged scar.

"I do not remember having it. I also do not remember being hurt there." Alpha Axton said, for some reason growing even more nervous.

"Should I bring the healer to check it?"

Aloha Axton nodded. "Do it fast so she does not have to wait for me."

Beta Scott nodded and walked away, running to the healer's domain immediately. He brought the aged woman back as soon as he could and she went towards Alpha Axton's room. He was waiting for her when she came, and Beta Scott wasted no time in showing her the scar.

She traced her fingers on it for a second, then leaned back. "It feels strange." "Strange?"

"Did you...get cursed? It feels like the onsets of a curse. Or some evil ailment."

Axton's brows furrowed. "I do have a curse, but Natalia heals me."

"Does she?" The healer asked, then sighed. "Then, you are fine."

Axton looked at her, then turned to Beta Scott. "Check if Natalia is ready."

Beta Scott nodded and walked out of the room, firmly closing the door behind him.

"What is it that you are not telling me?"

The healer shrugged. "I am not sure, but...maybe it left a scar on you. If she heals you, then it is fine. I bet it is just a marking. Something to show you are still afflicted. Most cursed do that, especially on werewolves like us." Axton stood, watching her eyes. "Swear, healer. Assure me that everything is fine."

"Why? Is the great Axton nervous like the rest of us? Have you started to realize how it feels whenever you step out of this house and cause terror? Have you started to realize how those of us...that you force to be left behind feel?"

Axton watched her eyes, then bit down on his lip. "Maybe instead of Natalia, you should be first."

She raised a brow. "Are you trying to send me to my husband?"

He closed his eyes. "Healer...I was wrong."

She bit down on her lip, her gaze steely, but her bleak dark orbs filling. "Did you just realize it now?"

"And I was wrong to realize it only now, healer. It has been ten years, but..." He took a deep breath. "I do hope you can forgive me. I will hold a proper burial for your husband."

She watched him, then took in a shaky breath. "Maybe that girl is some good omen."

He raised his head, and kicked his lips that had gone dry. "I think so, too." "But I am about to lose her,' he finished in his mind.

"I will make some herbal ointments for your scar. I hope it heals."

"Healer," He called as she turned to leave, causing her to stop in her tracks. "Have you forgiven me?"

"I have grown old, alpha. I do not want to hold any more grudges. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Narugi.com. Visit Narugi.com to read the complete chapters for free. All I would have wanted...was for you to admit...just how wrong you were. Ever since you came back, I held my breath, waiting for the day you would chose a victim again. But it has been ten years. My heart has gone weak...too weak for revenge."

Axton reached out for her hand, feeling the crinkled skin under his palms. "I will try my best."

He watched her as she walked away, feeling a little smile replace the downwards curve of his lips.

"She is ready now," Beta Scott said and Axton nodded, then put a few finishing touches to his dressing.

He walked out with Beta Scott who fell behind, escorting him to Natalia's room.

Alpha Axton knocked on the door, then waited for her to emerge. Melissa came out first, and with a knowing smile, opened the door wider for Natalia.

She walked out, holding the folds of the dress, her eyes searching as she slowly turned to Axton. He lifted his eyes slowly to hers, then let them leisurely travel across her body, temporarily forgetting his anxiety, and his fidgeting hands.

She had worn a royal blue princess dress, with a modest, yet flattering neckline. The sleeves were only small tulles that hung effortlessly on her forearm, and the beaded material hugged her body right to her knee, where it flared into a large combination of silk and chantilly lace.

Her hair was flowing behind her in big curls, the slight shade around her eyes making the blue shade of her eyes pop out even more.

He took on a deep breath, his chest filling with emotions he could not name. It broke his heart and chipped off the pieces every time he looked at her, and he clenched his hands into fists to stop the trembling.

"How does she look, alpha?" Melissa asked, peering into his eyes. Natalia searched too, looking for his approval.

He swallowed, unable to say a word.

'What a beautiful dress to lose you in,' he thought to himself, wondering why exactly he felt he would lose her.

But just like the anxiety he felt, the intuition was inexplicable.

"Seeing how our alpha is speechless, I guess I did a good job."

He blinked himself back to reality, then turned to her, managing a half smile. It did not quite reach his eyes, however. "How about, you compliment your beautiful mate with a promise?" Melissa said again, and this time, Axton nodded.

"A promise?" Natalia asked, and Beta Scott nodded.

"Mates compliment each other with promises. That is to show how good they replace a particular thing, and they only do it with each other."

Natalia smiled. "You do not have to do it, though." She hoped he would, but seeing how silent he was, she did not want to think she was pressuring him.

He took a step forward and gave her his arm, his eyes fixed on hers. Melissa turned her around when she didn't quite know what to do, then helped her lock her arms with his.

"I will be your home," He said.

It was a promise he intended to keep, but knew he would falter. A time will come when she would not want him to be her home, and that was one of his fears.

Natalia broke into a wide smile, and Melissa and Beta Scott exchanged knowing, highly impressed looks.

Axton didn't mind, all that mattered was the smile on Natalia's face. It was enough for him to keep going. To keep the curse away and his feelings alive. It was so potent.

He took a step forward and she followed, and both of them silently made it out of the house.

Beta Scott went ahead of them, and immediately announced their entrance.

"The grand alpha of crimson moon, Alpha Axton, and his mate and soon to be Luna, have arrived."

The grounds quietened with the announcement, and they approached, slowly.

Alpha Axton held his head high, his mind wondering just how many of the wolves around him felt wronged by him.

It was a question he never really asked himself, but now that he did, he wished he didn't have to.

Natalia kept a pleasant smile on her face, as everyone watched her with the utmost interest. They could sense she was human, but it didn't matter if she was the alpha's mate.

"Let the prayers start." Said Beta Scott once Alpha Axton and Natalia were comfortable, and the prayer session, held by the pack's seer started.

Axton momentarily closed his eyes, but instead of being thankful, he prayed. He hoped. For he and for Natalia. He wished to never lose her, but to get this burden off his chest. He hoped to free himself from the blood he had on his hands, especially the ones he knew Natalia would be ashamed of him for.

The prayers finished, but Aloha Axton kept his eyes closed.

"Axton?"

He opened his eyes and turned to Natalia.

"Yes?"

"Are you fine?"

He nodded his head. "Nothing could go wrong."

She smiled, feeling assured, then turned away again.

But everything could in fact, go wrong and he kept his breath baited for it.