With Hailey openly claiming Bane, I knew what was going to happen with Fang. Just as I had expected, he leaped forward to attack Hailey. I immediately caught hold of him by his shoulders, using my body as a shield in front of him. He was heavy and his strong muscles barely fit in my arms. 

“Fang!” I stopped him just inches from Hailey as she smirked at him without flinching, “I think we should let them decide.”

Fang growled at me, “what gives you that idea?”

What did he mean by that? His bitter eyes bore into me. Fang was sure furious at not getting me to agree with his thoughts. He really had a problem with accepting other’s thoughts. I pushed him back with a force I never felt before and growled, “they have all the right to decide this for themselves. Bane, say something, you idiot.” I glared at him and for the first time, I saw his expressions change. Even if it was for a few seconds. 

He clenched his jaw before saying, “The Alpha-“

“What has Fang got to do with this?” I snapped, stepping forward to stand between him and Fang. Fang was influencing his thoughts even by looks and this was not done. “It’s your life,” I grunted at Bane. 

Bane looked at Fang and then back at me. If anyone should be dominating in this situation, it had to be Bane. Hailey had already made her decision. It isn’t so tough for Alpha’s to know what they want. The only person who would make a difference of opinion for Fang’s hard-headed brain was Bane. I grabbed him by his collar and made him look into my eyes. Bane took sighed after a long stare, “I don’t mind coming to her house but it is also quite unacceptable the way Cermesi clan works.”

“Leave that to me, darling,” Hailey already started throwing those couple calls, “I will make sure you stand tall like a king and reign beside me.” 

“Stop talking,” Fang was quick to interrupt. He pushed past me, bringing me by his side, and grunted at Hailey, “Bane stays.” It was obviously the dumbest thing about Fang. He acted like a small kid. Even we had first met, he was so obsessed with the thought of making me his. He used to act like he wanted possession of every part of my being. Though it was not the case now with me, Fang had to let it not be the case with others as well. 

“What are you going to do by keeping him by your side forever? Marry him?” I asked Fang. There was no telling what was going to convince him when, but one thing I could definitely try was pinching that Alpha nature of his. 

Fang’s lips twisted in a sinful smile and I knew there was no winning him this easily. “If you are fine with it, sure,” came his unexpected response. 

“Why would I be fine- my God Fang! Can you focus here,” I yelled at him before throwing his arm off my shoulder. Even at this time and this moment, he dragged me into it. Did he never even think about others when I was around?

“Not when you are this alluring,” Fang pulled me by my waist as our sides bumped, “and I can’t focus when you are going against my thoughts.”

“People are allowed to have their thoughts,” I countered. It was the same thing I had repeated a million times to him and yet he could never get it straight through his head. Over it all, why would I even succumb to the pressure of his thought? I did not want to impress him with that ass-kissing behavior. 

“Enough, you lovebirds,” Hailey interrupted us. She was clearly bored with all this stupidity and I wasn’t going to lie, it was a little frustrating to see things going round and round in circles. “I know what the problem here is, Fang,” she said, “Look, this is no 17th century. The kings now have a better system with their mates and I wish to change the same in our clan as well. That would mean I will keep myself to one man, let him rule beside me, and give him equal power in handling the clan politics and be the face as well. Obviously, I will share those responsibilities.” 

Fang calmed down hearing that and for a matter of fact, even I was shocked at how much Hailey was being understanding. However, Fang clicked his tongue to say, “And you think the others will accept.”

Hailey raised her brows in ridicule mixed with pity, “Pfft, my clan is only my extended family living under one roof. Besides, I will be the queen the moment I marry and the diplomatic rule is not really my thing.” Yeah, that was definitely something even I wouldn’t doubt. Hailey, as a people’s ruler, is a sight I could not imagine being possible under any circumstances. It is lucky she wasn’t the princess of this kingdom or… or she would have snatched what she wanted. 

Would that be so bad if I tried it? To take what I was always raised to do, be who I always was? 

I shook my head, pulling myself out of those thoughts, “Fang, let your brother decide.” My tone had suddenly turned mild, and there were so many things that had started troubling my mind.

“On one condition,” my train of thoughts immediately left its track. These conditions of Fang could be a bad thing for the new couple but when I looked up, his dark eyes were fixated on me. What? wait, why was I being a scapegoat here? Just because I put in a large encouraging word in. Fang held my finger in his hand and brought it up to his lips, “you will be my date tonight.” He then kissed the back of my hand as if he had made a request, but his words were clearly an order. 

My face flushed a little with an unusual feeling fluttering in my stomach, “I… I thought it was going to be that way.”

“Yeah,” Fang confirmed, “I just wanted to ask you and hear a yes from you.” His smile was as devilish as ever as he leaned forward to bring his face just inches from me. My body got stiff, being more aware of the place we were standing in. It wasn’t exactly filled with people, but it was a public place. He smirked, seeing how he still had some effect on me before whispering, “Willingly.”

I looked at his lips as I let his breath settle in on my skin. My eyes shifted back to his eyes and I cleared my throat. What was I even getting so worked up for?

“It is just a date,” I stood straight to match his eyes, “I don’t mind as long as you know that your hands belong by your side.” Where was this courage inside me even coming from? There was so much I could not accept before and here I was willingly being Fang Warchild’s date.. Never in my wildest dream had I imagined putting myself in the hands of the devil while here I gave away to my own self.