Chapter 10 DENIAL AND BODY TALK (1)
WILLA’S POV
Of all people, my fated mate had to be Gallahan Wick.
Was this a cruel trick? What did I do to deserve a man who, at eighteen, formed and led the Alpha King’s Culling Army to seize and loot human kingdoms, and capture, torture and subjugate innocent humans?
His hands were not only tainted. They were soaked with the blood of hundreds of people, both humans and werewolves, and I had let the very same hands hold me so intimately.
Guilt roared to life inside my chest all of a sudden, clawing at my lungs and heart. I felt like I had betrayed those who had entrusted the League of the Moon to fight the tyrannical regime of the Alpha King and his son.
I knew I already did when I turned my back on my comrades in the middle of battle. But this was a whole different story, a different kind of betrayal.
Gallahan was the real enemy. He wasn’t just a mere soldier of this war. Gallahan himself had led the crusade against humans, even fighting his own kind who couldn’t stomach his ideologies.
But…
But before there was Gallahan, there was Han.
Han who liked chocolates over ice cream.
Han who could be rough and gentle at the same time.
Han who was considerate.
Han who ran a bath for me and cooked a damn good stir-fried noodles.
Han who smiled rakishly, eyes twinkling with playful salaciousness.
Han who instantly thought of building me a greenhouse in our future home as soon as he learned about my love for gardening.
How could such a man be the Gallahan who had wreaked havoc on human kingdoms and reigned with terror.
Gallahan who was prejudiced.
Gallahan who harmed innocent lives.
Gallahan who stole lands.
Gallahan who was completely unrepentant, seeing no wrong in his deeds.
How could they be the same person?
My world seemed to fall apart as I continued to stare at Gallahan, unable to wrap my head around the fact just yet.
I had held hope, cradled it close to my chest, that somehow I could sway him to see how the Alpha King’s side was cruel and utterly wrong, and that their ways were abhorrent and should be ended, no matter the cost.
I knew changing his twisted views would be a long and arduous process; I wasn’t naive to think it wouldn’t be. Still, I was willing to put in the work.
I wasn’t simply going to give up on my fated mate, but…
But Gallahan Wick, General of the Culling Army, was a different story.
He was vicious and heartless to others who weren't his own kind or to those who weren’t on his side of this war.
“Han,” I began to say, but my voice quivered under the heavy weight of my emotions. “I… I couldn’t…”
His eyes, which were no longer glowing gold but bluish gray, looked stormy and cold, so unlike the ones that had looked at me just moments ago.
It was without a doubt that he was putting walls around himself now.
“You couldn’t betray your own people too,” he said, sounding a-matter-of-factly. “I know, Willa. I also know that you probably would have for the Han you knew a minute ago, but not for Gallahan. Not for the monster you now see me as.”
I shook my head. “Han, if… if only… I need you to understand that I am not just a soldier of this war. I am Willa Coraline Alfiero.”
Recognition flashed on his face for a fleeting moment.
“Yes, Han. I am the granddaughter of Greggory Alfiero, the leader and face of the resistance. I am also the second-in-command of the Peacemakers.”
I was sure that the weight of the information I had just divulged was sinking into Gallahan’s mind. I was sure he had already figured out that I was also no ordinary soldier in this war, especially that the Peacemakers was the group within the League of the Moon that was formed to go head-to-head against the Culling Army.
“Yes, Han. The two of us aren’t mere pawns of this fight. We are also figureheads, and we…”
My chest constricted so painfully that I had to pause to take a long breath, and for a moment, Gallahan’s gaze softened once more. But it was gone all too soon, making me wonder if it was just a figment of my imagination. Perhaps it was nothing but a quick and little illusion, born from my longing that I could keep the Han that I had known first.
“We wouldn’t work. You wouldn’t bend for me, and I wouldn't bend for you. There is no common ground in a war, Willa. The least we can offer each other is understanding that-”
“There is nothing to understand, Gallahan. Your side is waging a war on defenseless humans!”
Gallahan snorted derisively in response. The sound was wrapped with so much coldness and hatred that it made my hackles rise and my body shiver.
This was the Gallahan I knew from the tales recounted by his victims.
Cold. Ruthless. Calculative. Unfeeling.
I gulped down the forming lump in my throat, then dared to say, “There is nothing to understand about your land grabbing and vicious killing. What you are doing is wrong, Gallahan, and it will be remembered in history as such.”
“Victors tell the stories of the past, Willa. You are boldly declaring to me that your side is going to win.”
“Maybe I am.”
Gallahan rose to his feet, dropping his chocolate on the bed, uncaring of leaving a stain on the sheets. He then began to pace around, his agitation evident in every step he took.
I watched him in silence, trying to get a read of what was running in his mind. But I didn’t have to do it for long.
Because he suddenly stopped his pacing, whirled around to face me, and said, “You are too hasty in your judgment, Willa. But then again, it seems to me that you see the world as black and white. Perhaps I shouldn’t burden you with the expectation to have the ability to think beyond how things appear. Because you are too judgmental! Just like your people. You and everyone on your side are too self-righteous, so up on your high horse that you fail to extend understanding, let alone compassion, for others who don’t share your views.”