Toe-curling Remarks

Chapter 78

A wave of tension gripped me when Alucard remained silent. Even his touch had unexpectedly grown cold, and his gaze appeared distant, as if fixed on nothingness. Shock was evident on his handsome face.

"Um... Alucard?" I blinked, attempting to capture his attention, but he seemed lost in his own thoughts as if his mind had ventured elsewhere. "Alu...?" This time, I snapped my fingers in front of him. "Are you alright?"

Alucard flinched. "Uh..." He kept blinking so many times as I watched his face look like a ripe tomato before covering his mouth with his hand. "G-Give me a moment, Faustina..."

Confused, he looked away. His reddened cheeks never dissipated, and his expression was still in a state of shock.

Seeing him in that state made me scoff and chuckle. "Are you that surprised that I said that, pudding?" I asked teasingly, predicting that he was acting like this because of my statement earlier.

His face went into a deep crimson, which confirmed my suspicion. I couldn't help but chuckle as I found him adorable.

"Don't laugh... Unexpectedly, you would say that when I haven't asked you..." Alucard frowned, but he tried to hide his flushing face.

I chuckled one more time. Although I found him cute, this was the first time I cackled in front of him. It felt like... I was opening up to him more.

"I really heard it, right?" His eyes looked hopeful. "You want us to rekindle our mate bond..." His voice gradually died down as if he was still uncertain that what I said was true.

I nodded. "Yes. I am giving us a chance again, pudding." This time, it was my turn to blush, admitting what he needed to hear. "You have changed... I think it is worth the risk again. Just please... don't hurt me like what you did in the past," I pleaded.

Alucard's eyes became sullen. I could tell that he wanted to open that topic, but his lips were sealed before he heaved out a sigh and took my hand.

"No, that won't happen again. I promise." He stood up and knelt before me, making my eyes widen in surprise. Then, his eyes were getting misty as he clasped my hands and brought them to his lips. "Thank you..." His voice croaked. "Thank you... I have been waiting for this day. The Moon Goddess knew how I prayed for this." He leaned to my hands as he began to sob.

My heart broke as my eyes started to sting. Hearing his voice breaking apart as he showed how he was torn, it was hard to ignore that Alucard endured being tormented by the rejection he did to me.

"I love you so much to the moon and back, Faustina. No matter how long I waited... It's all worth it, as long as it is you."

Tears cascaded down my face as I reached his face to wipe those tears gently. But Alucard halted my hands and didn't stop kissing them.

"Moon Goddess, I love this woman so much..." he sobbed, looking at me lovingly.

I bit my lower lip before I hugged him. Alucard embraced me back as his sobs were louder this time.

The whole restaurant was filled with our cries, a sign of releasing the past that anguished us. It took us a long moment before we finally got back together and continued what we came here for.

Our conversations were meaningful and memorable as we both caught up to one another. We told each other what happened during those years we were apart and how things had been going back then.

After that, Alucard brought me to a place where we could see the kingdom. It was from a cliff. It was only just the two of us, no guards and everything.

The beautiful scenery added more romance, especially as we let our wolves try to communicate with each other. They were syncing as if they longed for each other.

Then, he asked me for a dance. It was the same thing he did on my birthday, and I giggled as I said, "There's no music here, you silly."

Alucard gently swayed me before he kissed my temple. "Next time, we will dance to music. But if you are going to ask me, I'd rather we do this because I can listen to your heartbeat beating for mine as you listen to mine, too." He smiled and winked at me.

I couldn't help but smile and hug him so I could lean my ear on his chest. "Fine, you win, pudding." I playfully rolled my eyes, which earned a chortle from him.

We were enveloped with silence after that. It was a peaceful silence that I had never experienced until now. It was also gorgeous to hear his heart pounding so fast, and I could assume we had the same rhythm.

"Dollface."

"Hmm?"

Out of curiosity, he was still swaying me when I looked up when he was quiet after calling me. Our eyes met as I saw the love written in his eyes.

"What?" I felt unconscious all of a sudden.

This was Alucard's signature move. He would stare at me for as long as he could do with full adoration in his eyes.

"You look like the mother of my children," he uttered and smiled sheepishly.

I frowned as fast as the lightning bolt and slapped his arm. "Asshole... I'm really the mother of our pups." Shaking my head, I tried to get away from his arms, but he wouldn't budge.

"And you look like the love of my life," he teased.

I rolled my eyes, trying not to smile at his corny statements. "You haven't changed from being as corny as ever, Alucard." I glared at him when I saw him wriggling his eyebrows.

"You look like the woman I want to marry soon."

I huffed, ignoring how my wolf was being melted by his statements. "Halt now..." My cheeks would certainly be crimson right now.

I wanted to hide my face at this moment, but Alucard held it and looked at me directly in my eyes. "We are going there anyway. I am going to marry you soon. But for now, we are still getting to know each other. If you are going to ask me, we can wed right now."

That earned me a smile before I playfully beat him on his chest. "Alu..."

"What? I have waited for this, you know." He cupped my face and drew his face closer. "Like I said to our children, you're the only woman I see to marry. No one else, Faustina. You have to believe that," he said softly. "Why would I call off my engagement with Charity if I wasn't telling the truth, right?"

Upon mentioning her name, the mood always killed our moment. But seeing the sincerity of Alucard's eyes vanished all of my worries from her.

I nodded and cupped his face. "I believe you now, pudding. You never stop blabbering about it for those months you kept pestering me."

He frowned. "I'm not pestering you. It's the truth..." He huffed and twitched his lips before sighing as he kissed my forehead softly. "I will continue uttering those phrases to you, including the words 'I love you, Faustina.'"

I slowly opened my eyes after that kiss on my forehead and the words he said right now. Seeing the sincerity exposed in those beautiful forest-green eyes graced by the moonlight never failed me.

It was the same expression I used to adore years ago. And it was the same expression that made me believe that he really loved me and ended up breaking me apart.

And now, I was prepared to risk my heart again as my wolf told me we could still bestow him another opportunity to make things right. I wouldn't want to stay in the shadows and pretend I had no feelings for him.

Agreeing, I embraced him tightly, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Do your best, pudding. I might utter those words you long to hear..." I murmured, understanding his desire for me to express those particular sentiments.

Alucard returned the hug, and I sensed him nodding. "Certainly, dollface. That's my intention..." he said, kissing my neck. "...No more running away, my greatest love. I won't allow you to do that again."