Chapter 34: Toleration

His question kept on echoing in my mind, even after we reached Estern Creek. And while Augustus didn't press me for an answer, his silence didn't leave me in peace either.

The blacksmith's shop was an easy find, being near the town's entrance. The blacksmith, a kind middle-aged Orcan descent, was more than happy to reserve the twin axes I inquired about earlier.

I expected Augustus to leave after dropping me off. He disappeared as soon as I got off of his motorcycle. But seeing his massive build leaning against the shop's outwall, smoking as if he was a chimney, my stomach dropped a few feet.

I don't want to be left alone with him again. Mother Goddess knows what I might or might not do if I get left alone with him for a little longer.

“I think it'll be better if you return first, Alpha. I intend to stay a bit longer,” I told him as soon as I walked out of the door, carrying the massive axes wrapped in velvet cloth with both of my hands.

He dropped the half-burnt cigarette that he was holding on the ground, and stepped on it. “Why are you always eager to dispose of me?”

“I simply don't want to take too much of your time. After all, you have your own Queen to serve…”

Augustus scoffed. “Well, it must be your unlucky day, Hestia, because you'd be stuck with me. The motorcycle's engine got busted. The repair shop told me it'll take a day to fix it.”

Curses.

“You're free to explore the town on your own. There's no reason why you should insist on staying by my side.”

I turned around, gathering all of my strength to carry Kieran's new axes and step away from Augustus, without any direction in mind.

But maybe he was right. It was my unlucky day. Because even after asking him to stop following me around, Augustus still did, following me like a massive shadow.

He lurked behind me, silently watching as I browsed through shops and stalls, getting a few trinkets for Lind and even Castiel along the way.

Every time I pulled out my wallet, he had already pulled cash from his own to pay for the things I bought.

When I realized that he won't stop on whatever he was doing, I pulled myself to a nearby local pub, hoping he'll stop following me around.

After all, Augustus wasn't one to drink. He hated drinking. Whenever he was at the base, his men wouldn't even dare taste a single drop, knowing he'd go ballistic.

The warm air inside immediately hit me, as the chatter and bustle inside settled in. A few Lycans raised their glasses at me from one corner, asking me to join them.

“She's with me,” Augustus' deep, commanding voice automatically answered as he pulled me closer to him.

He had dragged me to the second floor, where there were less patrons, before I could even utter a single word to the Lycans who invited me to drink.

“Why did you even go here? You know you can't handle your alcohol properly,” he scolded me as soon as I sat down.

“Things change, Alpha,” I casually replied, motioning to a nearby waitress to bring me two mugs of beer. “Kieran always brought me to the settlement's pub to drink. I've grown accustomed to it over time.”

He tsked, massaging his temple. “Still… We should leave. This place is giving me a raging headache.”

I shrugged. “I didn't ask you to stay, did I?”

Our eyes locked on each other, even until my drinks arrived. I grabbed one mug as I downed it, still glaring at him.

But Augustus didn't back down. Instead, he sat down, grabbing the other mug before drinking it in one go. He slammed the mug against the wooden table, before ordering a few more.

I reached for a mug, as Augustus downed two more. I had barely finished half of the mug when he called for the waitress once again, ordering another round.

“Aren't you drinking a bit too fast?”

This time, he shrugged at me, beer slightly spilling from the corners of his lips. “Didn't you say you wanted to drink?”

“Drink, not drown, moron.”

Augustus just chuckled. His face was already red, and with the way he downed those mugs earlier as if they were plain water, I know that he was already drunk. “Let's have a deal, Hestia Locke…”

“You need to sober up, Augustus,” I sternly said before trying to pull him up from his seat. “Come on, I'll book you a room—”

“Three more drinks,” he said, before calling for the waitress once more. “After that, I'll stop bothering you…”

He sat me down beside him, leaving me no choice but to oblige. I watched as the waitress removed the empty mugs before placing new ones in front of us.

He grabbed the first mug, drinking its contents as if there was no tomorrow. He slammed the glass hard on the table once again, his eyes firmly shut.

“I regret… not marking you to become my mate…”

I didn't answer. Augustus scoffed as his hand hovered over his second glass, as hesitation filled his face. As if he was waiting for an answer from me.

“You had your chances,” I simply replied before reaching for my own mug. “The past is past already, Augustus.”

A bitter smile crept on his lips as he downed another glass. I watched as his throat bobbed, my body engulfed in this foreign sensation that I couldn't explain.

And this urge… to snatch that mug from his hands and crash my lips against his, it was…getting stronger with every drop of alcohol that touched my throat.

“I hate… how you get close like that with my brother. I hate it when you smile at him when you do nothing but sneer at me, or treat me with nothing but hostility… I know I made a lot of mistakes, but can't you listen to my words, just for once?”

“How can I listen to you when your actions tell me a different story, Augustus? Besides… Kieran…he's my Vassal now. It's only natural for me to get closer to him.”

His jade eyes searched for mine. “Then if I become your Vassal once again, would you treat me like how you treat him?”

I looked away. “You know you can't leave your Queen unless death befalls one of you.”

A bitter laugh escaped his lips, as he downed his last mug. “Yeah, right…”

I sighed before getting up, hooking my arm under his. “Come on, you're drunk. I'll book a room for you upstairs.”

I struggled to keep my balance as his heavy body leaned against mine. After paying for two rooms, I dragged Augustus into his room before he turned into a drunken mess once again.

He crashed on the mattress, his hands fumbling on his shirt. Before I could even leave, I noticed messy, tangled red strings glowing around Augustus’ body.

“My dearest child, don't you think you should give Augustus a chance? After all, he's under a spell…” Mother's words echoed in my head.