Chapter 61: Chapter 61

I froze with shock. I understand Arya's point of view; Wyatt had revealed himself as the mysterious man in the picture, which means Wyatt was the person I was talking to. Although my words were directed at Oswald, since Oswald and I being mates can't be revealed, I have no evidence to prove that Oswald was the one I was insulting.

I sprang up and shook my head hurriedly to refute the claim. "No wait. It's not like that..." I tried to clarify myself.

Arya's mischievous smile deepened, and her brows were raised cunningly. She leaned forward, looking pleased with my struggles, and interrupted while winking suggestively. "So my brother had always pretended to be cold and indifferent?" Arya exclaimed with a cunning giggle.

I waved my hand and shook my head repeatedly. I was in a state of happiness a few minutes ago. Why do I feel like crying now? "Arya. Really, that's not it. It's not what you're thinking at all." I contended helplessly.

What if Wyatt gets to hear of this? He had just helped me! No. No. I must find a way to convince and prevent Arya from letting Wyatt know about this.

Arya stopped giggling after gauging my expression. She stretched her body and yawned leisurely before staring at me seriously. "Then?"

I sighed in relief when I saw that Arya had calmed down and was willing to hear my explanation. I gritted my teeth while planning to weave a lie that would make Arya believe me.

"Earlier, we both had a discussion, so I was a bit angry at him. I really didn't mean whatever I said earlier. Don't keep it in mind. Don't let him know." I tried to cajole her in a soft voice while praying to the moon goddess that Arya believed my lies.

After I completed my words, Arya fell into deep thought. I sighed in relief upon seeing her face smooth. It seems Arya believes my lie.

Suddenly, Arya frowned, and that made my heart skip a beat. Arya stood up and placed her hand on her hips.

"Why won't I? You seemed serious and hurt earlier. Besides, telling Big Brother things like this will make him learn. How can he make my sister-in-law unhappy for such a long time?" Arya's lips pouted unhappily as she chided Wyatt to give me justice.

My eyes widened upon hearing Arya's words, especially when she called me sister-in-law. Isn't she powering up my status too soon? Although Wyatt and I kissed, there was no status between us. Moreover, I don't need any justice.

Arya suddenly grinned cheekily. "Besides, it'll make your relationship sweeter. I have to tell him!" Arya declared firmly. Her beautiful eyes were shining as if she were making a heroic move.

My heart skipped a beat upon seeing Arya type on her phone.

Spontaneously, I reached out for Arya, but she quickly evaded me, slipping easily amidst grinning.

"Arya, no. Stop please." My face flushed in embarrassment as I tried to snatch Arya's phone.

"Okay stop." Arya suddenly called out while I was trying to get a hold of her phone, yet I failed vehemently due to her nimble skills.

Although I hadn't seen Arya in a fight, just a few minutes of struggling with her made me realize how low my strength was compared to her. I couldn't even touch her right hand, no matter how I tried.

Arya grinned wickedly and took a step away from me. "There's no use struggling with me; I've sent it." Arya declared proudly and placed her phone on the table.

My mouth parted in a gasp. "You didn't just do that, did you?" I cried out, embarrassment circulating through my whole system.

However, I tried to calm down due to a decision that surfaced in my mind: as soon as Arya left for the bathroom, I had to delete the text.

Arya shrugged leisurely and began to walk toward the bathroom. "I'm going to take a bath." She announced.

Suddenly, Arya stopped in her tracks. "Oh, there's no use trying to delete the texts behind my back. Big brother Wyatt had read the message." She conveyed, and that made the cunning smile on my face freeze.

I glared at Arya in indignation. "Today, I'm breaking off any relationship between Arya and me; we are no more…" Before I could complete my words, Arya placed a kiss on my cheeks and hurried into the bathroom.

Her words echo in my ears. "Sister-in-law, in your dream."

I huffed, paced my room, and bit my lower lip in anxiety.

Wyatt has read Arya's message, which means he knows that I'm at the hostel. At least I need to thank Wyatt for what he has done.

I hurried toward my phone, picked it up, and directly unlocked it.

'Thank you.' I swiftly typed it and sent it to Wyatt.

In the next second, my heart began to thump in remorse. What if Wyatt was still annoyed with me? What if he only kissed me on the spur of the moment? Should I delete it…

"It's nothing.' Before I could even process my thoughts, Wyatt's text surfaced, and that made the smile on my face freeze.

What does he mean, it's nothing?

'Did you consider the kiss nothing?' I couldn't help but type swiftly and send it to Wyatt while hoping to get his clarification.

I bit my lower lip and ruffled my tousled hair. I hope my mindset was wrong, and it's me being paranoid as usual.

'Reply to my clarification post as a mate does.' Wyatt's text surfaced on my phone a few seconds after I sent my response.

As a mate does?

A sense of dejection overtook my whole being. Perhaps Wyatt only kissed me to make a post, so the kiss wasn't special to him. Wyatt's clothing also seemed to be the same as the one in the afternoon picture, which made things look more perfect. Perhaps it's only for clarification.

I plopped onto the chair dejectedly and reread Wyatt's text while wondering what he meant. However, after a few seconds of hesitation, I texted back out of curiosity and confusion. 'How does a mate respond? I've never been a mate before.'

I've never been a proper mate since my mate is an indecisive jerk. Also, Wyatt and I aren't even mates; aren't we taking this too far? Although I had several thoughts running through my head, I decided to wait for Wyatt's response.

'Practice with it.' Wyatt sent ambiguously, and that made me confused.

I should act as if the clarification post was uploaded by my mate. I scratched my hair twice and bit my lower lip in contemplation. If Wyatt were my mate, what would I reply with?

'Thank you?' I sent the text with the mindset that perhaps appreciation would work.

As soon as I sent the message, I shook my head after a second of contemplation. Appreciation between mates must be basic!

And as expected, I wasn't the only one to have such an inkling.

'Crude.' Wyatt replied, showing his disdain for my sentence.

I touched my nose in embarrassment. It's really crude, I thought, and I tried to calm down.

I tried to rack my brain on what to say, but it felt as if my brain was blank—I couldn't think of a suitable response.

I shrugged and quickly typed back. 'oh. I'm lacking words.' Perhaps Wyatt will teach me what to say? I looked forward to it.

'Because of Oswald?' Wyatt sent again.

Unfortunately, what I expected wasn't sent, and it made my face flush in anger. I know that Wyatt meant that I was unable to send a reply because of Oswald. Did he think I'm scared of or care about Oswald? Never!

I didn't bother to reply to Wyatt; instead, I exited Wyatt's chat interface and tapped on Wyatt's post.

Suddenly, a thought of what to say surfaced in my mind, and I felt that a certain word would be good for leading everyone and, more importantly, for annoying Oswald, especially!

That damn jerk! He better be infuriated to death!

Since Wyatt thinks the kiss is for a show, I don't think he'll consider this anything special. With such thoughts, I shared Wyatt's post and captioned it. 'lots of love, darling.'

'I don't care about him.' I typed in return, feeling a bit proud. Somehow, I find my pride silly. Nevertheless, I felt proud of myself.

Wyatt finally tagged my response. 'Did you consider the kiss nothing?' and replied: 'Stop thinking nonsense.'

My eyes lit up, and a silly smile surfaced on my face. 'So I was being paranoid.' I inquired with a smile.

'En.'

Great! It's me being paranoid. Wyatt cared! I couldn't help swinging my legs and smiling sheepishly. Why did this little reply make me so happy?

'You did well.' Wyatt sent again and reacted with love to the post I had just made.

I giggled and pumped my fist in the air. Wyatt is really too sweet and nice. 'You too.' I quickly sent.

However, Wyatt didn't reply to my text anymore, but that was enough to make my day and make me joyful.

I began to hum my mom's song happily.

I was about to place my phone on the table and take off my clothes in a bid to take a bath and prepare for school, but before I was able to, my phone made a ping due to a text.

My expression turned cold upon seeing that Oswald had sent a message. Nevertheless, I tapped on the text, wanting to know what Oswald was about.

'Be composed. Do you realize that you've got a mate?' Oswald sent

A snicker fell from my lips upon reading Oswald's text.

I couldn't help but laugh, finding Oswald's response funny. After what Oswald had just done, he didn't find it shameless to call himself my mate. Oh, wait! So he actually recognized himself as my mate?

'mate? How's reacting to my mate's post and telling him a lot of love made me not composed?' I shamelessly typed this as a response while laughing at how infuriated Oswald would be.

How sad that Wyatt isn't my mate! Wyatt is multiple times better than Oswald! Oswald is simply a cocky and narcissistic jerk!

'Maia! You're doing this to infuriate me, right?'

'Infuriate you? Why will chatting with my mate infuriate you? Perhaps you've forgotten, but you're just the alpha of the power axis pack who has a partner. We have nothing to do with each other.' Eagerly, I typed and sent. I've suffered all because of him, and now he needs to feel the same.

'I'm your mate!'

'You, Alpha Oswald, is my mate? When? Where's your proof?' I laughed loudly after rereading my response to Oswald. Goddess, I enjoyed this so much!

'We had a good afternoon; you even begged me to kiss you twice.' Oswald shamelessly tried to make me recall.

My face flushed in embarrassment, but I quickly cleared my throat to calm down.

Hmph! Beg to kiss me twice? That must be when he was teasing me or when my lust acted up. Such a shameful recollection! Does he think I'll beg him in reality? Never! That's Nonsense.

'Oh. That? Isn't it basic? It's my mouth anyway. I'll beg whoever I want to kiss me however I want.' I happily sent again, taking pleasure in Oswald's indignation.

'You're very shameless!'

I giggled while trying to picture Oswald's current expression. So sad; I wasn't there to see it. 'Thank you, Alpha. You taught me well.' I typed and threw my phone onto the sofa, not bothering to chat with that jerk.

A thought surfaced in my face, and my face contorted in a hostile frown.

I can't and mustn't let Lorelei go scot-free for what she has done. I might be weak, but I'm not a pushover, and after all that happened to me in the red flame pack in the past, I'll never let anyone take me as a weak fool! With such thoughts, I tried to call down

I felt sweaty after the training with Rex, and currently, I feel uncomfortable, so I quickly walked toward the closet to pick up a clean towel and the dirty clothes that I had yet to wash. I have to wash my dirty clothes.

Suddenly, I had the urge to sweep the whole room, and since Arya had yet to leave the bathroom, I did exactly what I thought. I made my bed and Arya's bed before cleaning the room.

By the time Arya was out of the bathroom, the room was sparkling clean.

Arya's jaw dropped as soon as she exited the bathroom. "Woah, Maia. Incredible!" Arya threw a thumb up at me; her lips parted slightly, and she stared at me with eyes filled with adoration. "You're so good. You smell like refreshing flowers, know how to wash dishes, and even know how to clean up the house. You're so perfect, Maia." She praised.

A smile surfaced on my face due to Arya's praise, but I tried to suppress it. "Arya. Thanks for yesterday."

Arya nodded, picked up her phone, and stared at me with a mischievous look. She placed her chin on her palm and winked at me cutely. "Do you know how to cook also?" She inquired.

"Yes." I nodded sincerely.

"Then... Can you cook for me as a form of appreciation?" Arya's face flushed in embarrassment, and she lowered her head shyly as if she were afraid that I'd reject her.

I shrugged and agreed. "Ok." Arya had helped me a lot, so I wouldn't refuse to do such a simple thing as cook for her.

Arya's eyes lit up, and a smile surfaced on her face. "Yes, you're the best. How I wish I could find my mate quickly. I hope he's also perfect. Wait. Even if he's not perfect, I'll treasure him well." Arya nodded optimistically. "Wait, my brother sent a reply."

"Huh?" I stopped in my tracks and stared at Arya anxiously, wanting to know what Wyatt responded with.

Suddenly, Arya smacked her lips together and cried out in grievance. "No. Brother is unfair! How can he be so proud?"

Proud? I tilted my head in bewilderment, curiosity, and confusion. "What did he say?

"He says you're right," Arya replied dejectedly. Suddenly, she smiled. "I think you're right. He's really cocky." She reiterated, making my lips twitch. I don't think so.

My heart felt warm and sweetened. I'd been too worried earlier. Wyatt is smart and will naturally know that my words were directed to Oswald. Now I felt calmer and began to stride leisurely toward the bathroom. "I'll go take a bath to prepare for school." I conveyed.

Arya shot a feigned glare and waved her hand in feigned unhappiness. "Quickly go. It's not easy being single among couples." She puffed out unhappily, and I could only chuckle.

Arya is exaggerating.