by Jennise K
Still, I waved back to acknowledge him. “Hey!”
Turning towards River, I reached out and gave him a hug, patting his back as hard as I could. “This is for good luck! Go make me proud!”
“Hey! That hurts!”
“I know! I’m just teasing!” I chuckled as I felt him hugging me back. “I’m so happy for you, River.”
I could feel River grin. “I’m very happy too, Olli.”
~
“Why did you make Adyl and Fin pick me up?” I asked Romanov as we drove into the manor’s driveway.
“I didn’t. Adyl called and said they missed guarding you, so I let them drive you over to my office,” Romanov grinned, turning towards me as he parked the car and turned it off.
Just what did I do to deserve such loving people? I couldn’t help but smile at the good news I’d been receiving today.
“You make me very happy, Livi.” Romanov looked at me, then a soft smile on his lips. Here was the best news of them all.
I beamed at him as I reached forward and pressed my lips onto his cheek. “You make me very happy, too—most of the times.”
Romanov grinned at me cheekily before he leaned forward and pecked me on my lips. “Did you read my text?”
“Which one?”
“The last one.”
Frowning, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and looked at his message.
My eyes widened at the implication of his message.
“I’ll make you very, very, very happy tonight then,” Romanov whispered cheekily into my ears, and I squealed, immediately opening the door and jumping out of the car.
“Hey! Wait for me!” Romanov half laughed, half yelled after me as I continued running towards the manor entrance. My face, I was sure, was already beetroot red.
I rushed into the manor, our childish squeals and chuckles echoing around the large manor’s walls when suddenly, I came to a complete stop.
Before me, Grandma Liz sat on the sofa, both her and my luggage packed in front of her.
“Caught y—”
Romanov’s voice gave away halfway as he came to a stop behind me. I did not need to ask why he just did. I was sure he had just seen what I was seeing.
“Children, I am not refusing you both from being soulmates and being together. However, all I ask for is that this end until you, Romanov, have fixed this curse. You are a beast, and you will be able to protect yourself. My child will not. Let’s admit it; you can’t give me your full guarantee that my grandchild will not be hurt. Please understand this old grandmother who is trying to protect the last living child of her daughter.”
I could feel Romanov shaking against me. His anger was boiling again. And it was going to boil until he would tip over.
I was shaking, too, not with anger but with panic. I suddenly didn’t know what to do. So, I just stood there, feeling Romanov grow madder and madder behind me, watching Grandma Liz’s sad but determined face.
Then Romanov stopped. His hands untangled itself from around me, and he took a step away—away from me. Wide-eyed, I turned around to see why.
His eyes had now turned to Grandma Liz. His eyes were wide as if in realisation. Still, he remained silent.
I blinked, not knowing whether to hold him or just stand here.
Then he spoke.
“You’re…you’re the gypsy, aren’t you?
Chapter 35
8th March, 2008
A Saturday evening
The Park
25 Burberry Avenue
London, England
March 8, 2008 was one of the many surprisingly brilliant and bright events for the members of the Fredson family. Grandma Elizabeth visited again, and everyone could not be found in cheerier spirits.
It was Saturday, so the family could finally gather themselves properly together without the responsibility of school or work. The weekends were theirs, and family time had always been a big priority in their loving household.
And so it was. The morning had consisted of a proper English breakfast—thanks to the wonderful cook, Mr. Willie Cheshire. Right afterwards, there was a bit of light reading by the family of four, plus one for the grandma, in the living room. Not surprisingly, with Grandma Liz’s tales from her life back in Australia, the readings had been done to the lightest. But not soon after, all four members had given in, egging the brilliant and, at the moment, quite amused Grandma to reveal more stories about her life in Australia.
Although it was expected to be eaten on the table right away, lunch was something that no one really had the eagerness to get themselves to eat whenever the eccentric aged lady visited. They were having too much of a nice time with each other to break away from their family time. Still, under the supervision of Ruth Fredson, a happy mother of two and a renowned neurosurgeon, lunch was never left untouched (or any other meal for that matter).
The oldest child in the family, Elisabeth Medaleen Fredson—the beautiful and jovial ten-year-old named after her grandma—sat beside her mother with a deck of cards, showing her younger sister her new magic trick. Olivia Amaleen Fredson, younger than her by four years, cuddled next to her father as she watched her older sister with wide, excited eyes. Mr. Fredson chuckled at his daughters’ antics before turning his attention to his wife and mother-in-law who sat discussing the latest news about the large spread of family they had.
When lunch was finally announced, none of the members felt the need to walk towards the dining table. However, all eventually did with smiles and words of encouragement about how delicious the food smelt. And it did. In fact, lunch that day in the Fredson household tasted better than all the lunches they’d ever shared together.
“Are you sure you want to take the children to the park in the evening, Mum?” Ruth asked her own mother, putting down her fork and knife on the plate.
“Yes, I’m sure! You and Orion have not gone out together for such a long time, and since I’m here to take care of the kids, it’s a perfect opportunity for a date! Don’t worry about anything, darling! Leave the two demons to me.”
“Oh, Mother, don’t you think you’re being a little too mean to my two little angels?” Orion Fredson spoke with mock disapproval as he reached for his youngest and pinched her cheeks. The first year primary student beamed at her father as she showed him her lunch-coated baby teeth. “Love you, Dada!”
“Sometimes I feel like you spoil the two a little more than you should, dear.” Grandma Liz chuckled at her son-in-law as she shook her head and took another bite of the deliciously baked chicken.
“Mother is right, Orion. Sometimes you spoil the two into oblivion. Imagine how thick their heads will be if they grow older. That’d be simply unbearable for us at an old age.” Ruth sighed quite dramatically, knowing how her eldest daughter was staring at her with a look of disbelief.
“Mum! I thought you were on our side!” Elisabeth shot out, staring at her mother with her mouth wide open. “This won’t do! This won’t do at all!”
“Won’t do!” Olivia shot out too, copying her older sister as she shook her head dramatically.
“Oh, shush, you two.” Ruth grinned at her daughters, wrapping a tissue paper around her finger before she softly wiped away the slobbering gravy from Olivia’s cheeks.
Her youngest, Olivia, had been a sickly child since birth. It always worried Ruth deeply. So, she had to admit—much to her shame—that she cared for her youngest to the point of still spoon-feeding her. Her husband complained often, expressing that maybe her eldest, Elisabeth, would feel the difference in the attention given to her and her younger sister. However, Ruth knew her child. Elisabeth herself, although just four years older than her kid sister, mothered Olivia around just as much as she did. Ruth was always thankful that her eldest, although mischievous and bubbly, was very mature for her age.
“Mummy, what’s a date?” Olivia questioned innocently, chewing her food before gulping it down noisily.
“A date, sweetie, is when you spend time with someo
ne you really like.” Ruth beamed down at her daughter.
“Are we going on a date then, Gran?” A curious Olivia turned towards her grandma.
“Why yes, darling! I do believe we’re going on a date!” Primrose Elizabeth reached to pat her grandchild’s hair.
“I like going on dates with Izzy.” Olivia gave her sister a shy toothy grin as she confessed her love for her sister once again.
Immediately, a happy Elisabeth reached to her left where young Olivia sat and pinched her cheeks. “Izzy like going on dates with you too, Olli.”
“Ah, it’s always so wonderful watching these two interact. You’re thankful they turned out to like each other so much. Prudence and you could never get along at all!” Grandma Liz shook her head, a distant look in her eyes, remembering a few of their catfights.
Ruth, on the other hand, only grinned at her mother. “We had too much large of a gap to really bond well as sisters before, Mum. Although, we do get along just fine now, don’t we? In fact, I had a talk with her just yesterday. She will be coming over during her high school break this year.”
“Is that so? Ah, Orion, I must ask you to hide all sharp objects then. I can only fear for the worst.”
Orion let out a loud laugh at that, while Ruth let out an embarrassed “Mum.” The two little girls, on the other hand, remained blissfully unaffected by the currently very boring conversation taking place amongst the adults. They planned their trip to the park instead.
~
The weather really was quite brilliant. Although the skies were clear, and the sun was shining brightly on the heads of the residents and tourists alike of London, there was barely any humidity in the air.
It was a cool and bright day, something the Londoners often prayed for before going to bed.
Primrose Elizabeth had a wide, dazzling smile on her lips as she watched her elder grandchild swing her younger one on the swing set. As she watched the beautiful scene before her, she was sure that today would always be a day she would remember during times when she grew tired of the fast-pacing life. Ageing was always such a depressing reality check to bump into lately.
While her grandma sat a few steps away, Olivia, on the other hand, was having the time of her life. The blissfully innocent years of her life really were treating the youngling kindly. She let her head fall back as her sister swung her higher and higher. Bubbles of laughter escaped both brown-haired, doe-eyed sisters as one swung the other higher and the other watched the world with wonder the higher she went.
“Higher, Izzy! Higher!” Olivia giggled deliriously as she grasped the rope tightly with her small fingers.
“Alright! Here we go!” Elizabeth grinned at her kid sister before pushing her higher. Her own rumble of laughter graced the park when her kid sister let out a delighted shriek. “Izzy! I see the lake!”
“Do you really?” Elisabeth smiled at her sister. “That must be a pretty sight!”
“Would you like some ice cream?” At the mention of ice cream, both sisters turned towards their grandma excitedly.
“Can we get frozen yoghurt? I see a parlour across the street,” Lizzy asked, her voice a little hopeful. She knew her grandma detested yoghurt. To think of what she would feel about it being frozen had already prepared Elizabeth for a no even before she had asked the question. However, Elizabeth was no chicken. Besides, one would never know if one never tried.
“Hmm.” Her grandmother scrunched her nose as she thought about it before she nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”
The older woman turned towards the maid her son-in-law had hired only but a month ago. “Pompy, we’re going to get some frozen yoghurt. Take care of Olivia for a few minutes, will you? Don’t let the little devil out of your sight!”
Pompy’s eyes travelled to the content young child standing beside her—looking around the park with wide eyes—and she smiled. “Yes, ma’am,” the younger woman turned back to Grandma Liz with an assuring smile.
“Oh my God, Gran, thank you! You’re amazing. Have I ever told you that?” Elisabeth squealed as she jumped on her grandma in excitement and pulled her into a big hug.
Seeing her sister’s excitement, little Olivia grinned happily too before her eyes wandered back to the park as she observed the strangers around her again.
Taking the great big world with wonder, she watched as a couple passed her by, smiling at each other.
“He will propose tonight,” Pompy spoke dismissively, not paying attention when the little girl turned to look up at the older woman with curious eyes.
“‘Move,” a gruff voice muttered suddenly behind the young girl. Taken aback, Olivia quickly shuffled back as she began turning her head, trying to see who had spoken to her.
The boy seemed no taller than her sister. He was dressed completely in black, his hands fisted on his side. Olivia frowned, trying to see his eyes, but the older boy’s jet-black hair covered them as he swept past her. Immediately, Olivia’s hands reached out and grasped the boy’s shirt, pulling him to a stop.
At once, the young boy’s head snapped towards Olivia, and she found herself cowering under his glare.
“Let go,” the ten-year-old Romanov muttered slowly, watching the spot where her tiny hands were curled around the fabric of his shirt’s sleeve.
“May I see your eyes?” the young girl asked brightly, ignoring the older boy’s order.
This time, the boy looked up at the silent but curious-looking maid who was standing beside the young girl looking down at them. “Is she crazy?”
“One day you will know,” the maid answered and smiled mysteriously, and he thought it made sense. An odd young girl with an even weirder nanny. Had it been some other day, he would have behaved in a much more proper manner. His future alpha king training required him to be approachable and endearing all the time. However, today he could not.
Today was his mother’s one-year death anniversary. Today he was grieving. Wasn’t that why he had come here without telling anyone instead of being at the family lunch? To silently be able to grieve? To get away from all the pre-written and rehearsed speeches? To be sincerely in solitude? Were the fates really going to toy with him today? Had they not toyed him enough ?
This time, the young man turned towards the little girl instead. He was losing patience. The horrendously short temper he had started to develop ever since last year was beginning to show its horns.
He stared at the smiling girl’s face as he went to swat her hand away. Then his fingertips touched the soft skin of the back of her hand, and his entire world stopped.
As the powerful sense of calm and contentment washed over him, his eyes widened. His hand now completely covered the little girl’s tiny one.
Olivia tilted her head to see his eyes. And then, his eyes snapped to hers. Again, Romanov felt his heart stop in his chest for a milli-second as she grinned at him widely.
“Woah, you have golden eyes. Like a wolf’s!” The girl grinned at him excitedly. “I’m Olli! What’s your name?”
He looked at his hand that was holding hers. Feeling his cheeks grow hot, he immediately shook his head until his hair covered his eyes once again.
“You think my eyes look like a wolf’s?” he asked the happy-looking Olivia in a dry tone.
Everything felt weird. The constant feeling of emptiness in his chest since the day he had seen his mother fall off the balcony was suddenly replaced with a strange warmth. His chest felt warm. Just who was this girl? Why did he suddenly feel like he was complete again? Why did he suddenly feel so alive? Why did he suddenly want to stand here with this strange kid forever? Why did he feel like he could die protecting her?
At his response, immediately Olivia’s grin widened, and she nodded enthusiastically. “Yes!”
The boy blinked, surprised at the girl’s quick response. He nodded, peeling his hands from hers, and he took a step back. Automatically, the girl took a step forward, her grip still on his shirt. “What’s your name?”
He thought abo
ut it for a moment.
Could the little girl even pronounce Romanov? She couldn’t even say her own name.
A few seconds later, however, he thought of an idea, and his lips curled slightly upwards. His eyes found little Olivia’s bright ones, and his smile widened.
“You may call me Beasty.”
“And what do we have here?”
Both children turned towards the person who spoke, and while one grinned, the other froze.
“Grans!” Olivia squealed excitedly as her eyes fell on the frozen yoghurt in her grandma’s hand. Her mouth watered as she watched the cup of frozen yoghurt, and she didn’t even realise when her fingers, which were clutching the older boy’s shirt, fell to her side. Excited, the young Olivia made a move towards her grandma when suddenly, she was pulled back by a strong hand.
Witnessing the boy’s action, Primrose Elizabeth immediately paused. Her eyes widened on the boy as a familiar sort of dread washed over her.
“They belong,” Pompy mumbled softly beside her. Her words, though evasive, were completely understandable to the older woman. She quickly took a step towards her grandchild and the boy.
“You! Get away from her!” The grandmother hissed at the boy as her own hands wrapped around Olivia’s arm. Oh, she already knew what was going on. The child’s unnatural protectiveness was an old sign. She knew by experience. However, she also knew how wild and dangerous their kind were and how irrevocable this bond could be, which only meant irrevocable consequences as well.
Her grandchild was too young to be bound to a beast. She would not let anyone take her child’s right away. It was her right to choose. Primrose had made her own decision, and so would her granddaughter. If fates had it and they met again, that was. Right now, she was too young to have her freedom snatched away from her. She simply would not allow it.
“Rome!” two older boys suddenly called, rushing towards them. Reaching the group of people, the taller of the two turned toward his cousin, his face full of concern.