Chapter 149 A Condition
My heart skipped a beat, and my eyes enlarged in shock. Oswald knows my identity? How come? When did he realize I'm Filippa? Did Wyatt also know now?
My heart began to race at the realization, yet I tried to regain my calm. I took a deep breath and pinched my palm before looking at Oswald with feigned calmness, even though I was already jittery inside. "What. What are you talking about?" I tried to retort calmly, but unfortunately, I ended up stuttering due to nervousness.
Oswald leaned forward and whispered next to my ear. "Maia, don't let us play games. I have a lot of evidence prepared. I just wonder what the werewolf council will do when they discover that Wyatt brought such a type of person into the pack." He articulated in an enigmatic voice, yet I couldn't help catching the seriousness laced in his voice.
My eyes narrowed. Such a type of person to the pack? What did he mean? Is there something about my identity that's bad? The unknown made a surge of petrification course through me. My voice turned shaky. "What. What do you mean?"
Oswald straightened his back and separated from me. "Do you know the reason behind your parent's deaths?" He questioned.
My heart skipped a beat. All this while, I have always believed that my parents were killed by rogues.
However, recognizing the grimness in Oswald's tone and recalling Rex's words made me realize that things seemed to not be as simple as I thought. I shook my head and shakily replied, "No."
My features turned pale, my eyes were frozen open, beads of sweat formed on my face, and my body was shaking.
My life was already running smoothly; I didn't realize that it was time for my past to catch up with me. What will I do?
Oswald's expression turned grim, and he narrowed his eyes. "Wyatt bringing in and housing the werewolf pack’s traitor, turning him and the Hayes family into rogues is pardoning them." He declared
I froze, feeling as if my worldview had shattered. My eyes flew wide open. Trait. Traitor? My parents are traitors? Tears pooled in my eyes, and my body trembled as if I had been dealt a huge blow. I shook my head in refusal. My parents were very honest, how can my parents be… "That's a lie. That's not possible. My parents can't..."
Oswald chuckled as if he had just heard the most funny words; he leaned forward and patted my hair before retracting his hands. "Wyatt didn't mention the type of people he can't bring into the pack?" He gloated with a taunting smirk on his face.
Of course, Wyatt told me, but I never expected that things would take turns like this. I only wanted to build myself and leave the power axis pack after I got strong, but I didn't expect that I'd end up building a beautiful home with Wyatt instead.
Seeing the gloating expression on Oswald's face made me realize something: Oswald always wanted to separate Wyatt and me, and now that Oswald finally had a leash on me, it was as if he finally had the last laugh, and he'd make me pay.
I hadn't even sunk into the gravity of all that was ensuing, and seeing the gloating expression on Oswald's face made me seethe with rage. "Oswald." I gnashed my teeth together.
Oswald leaned away from me and raised his hands to declare his submission. "I'll leave." He articulated in a calm voice, yet his expression was one filled with cunning and several wicked emotions.
At that minute, I realized that if I allowed Oswald to leave the mansion, he'd be damning the whole Hayes family because of me. So...
No. No. I can't allow Oswald to leave just like that. I'd rather die than let harm befall Wyatt and the Hayes family because of me.
I grabbed Oswald's hand in panic, causing him to pause in his tracks. "Wait. No. You can't go. Please. Not Wyatt. I'm willing to be the outcast—to be the rogue. Anything you want. But please not Wyatt and the whole Hayes family. They are innocent. He only helped me. I was the one who wanted to escape badly and would do anything to escape from that place, so I lied." I explained imploringly.
My heart pounded in petrification. I should have been honest with Wyatt when we were getting close. I should have been honest with Wyatt before he couldn't do without me. It would have been easy for the both of us to separate, and I could have left with Rex without endangering the Hayes family, but now. What do I do? Because of me. Because of me. Tears slipped past my eyes.
"Mate, don't cry." Oswald coaxed softly and gently wiped the tears from my eyes, yet his lips that curved up as if he had just won a jackpot betrayed him.
He suddenly parted from me and stared at me seriously. "I have a condition." He declared
Upon hearing this, the frustration coursing through me diffused slightly. As long as I can get the Hayes family out of danger, then I am willing to do anything Oswald wants me to. I wiped my tears and stared at him seriously. "State your condition. I'll do it." I responded sincerely.
Upon hearing my words, Oswald leaned forward and inhaled my scent. He used his lips to brush my neck suggestively and wrapped his hands around my waist. "You know what I want, baby. Just once. I'll clear the trouble and won't trouble you." He conveyed
Upon hearing this, my mood sank, and I felt a chill course through my spine. I should have known that Oswald doesn't care about anyone else except himself.
Of course, Oswald's aim for coming here in the beginning was to trap me. I should have realized this.
I took a step back, parted from his hold, and shook my head. No. I can't take such a risk. I can't betray Wyatt.
As soon as Wyatt returns, I'll explain everything to him. Whatever Wyatt plans to do to me at that time, I'll gladly accept it. "Can you wait? I'll talk to Wyatt first."
Oswald smirked gloatingly and retracted his hands to the side. "The guards will return to the pack in less than an hour to report to the council members. Will they be willing to wait for Wyatt's response?"
Upon hearing Oswald's statement, I realized that Oswald didn't have any intention to help. I grabbed Oswald's hands, my body trembling and tears clouding my vision. "Oswald. You can't be like this. Wyatt is your friend. You can take it out all on me, not Hayes. Not Wyatt and the Hayes family." I implored
Oswald's lips curved up in a sneer, and he leisurely responded in a wicked voice, "Watch me."
My face turned pale, and I felt a surge of weakness, tiredness, dizziness, etc. overwhelming my whole being. How can he be heartless? How can he be so heartless to the ones he grew up with?
Oswald didn't cast another glance at me and leisurely began to make his way out of the mansion.
My hands shook. I know Oswald's stance was clear. Either I sacrificed myself or watched the entire Hayes family go down and pay for my sin. My fist clenched, not knowing what to do.
'Wyatt.' I tried to mind-link Wyatt, but surprisingly, the mind-link was already blocked by Wyatt.
I felt several mixed emotions overwhelm me, causing tears to stream past my eyes.
‘Wyatt. What do I do? I really don't want to betray you. I don't want to. You have always wanted to protect me, not knowing the type of person I was.
I'm sorry, but I'd rather you hate me than let you live an unworthy life.’
Slowly, a surge of determination overwhelmed me. "I'll do it."