Louie’s POV
Upon hearing my words, Archie promptly furrowed his brow in displeasure. His voice, tinged with a layer of irritation, cut through the moonlit ambiance. "Why did Alisha send you here?" His query was straightforward, but beneath the surface lay a maelstrom of emotions that only someone intimately acquainted with him could get.
Archie's reaction fell well within my expectations. Given my familiarity with Archie, I could easily discern the depth of his possessiveness and concern for Alisha. Thus, I proceeded to explain, "After you finished eating and left, Alisha seemed somewhat worried about you. However, she couldn't leave herself, so I came instead."
Archie's departure seemed to trigger Alisha into action. She promptly rose and fetched a glass of water, though she hesitated for a while before deciding not to leave. I suspected her concern for Archie led to this decision. I took the glass from her and softly informed her that I had something to discuss with Archie.
Archie's expression softened somewhat, his gaze shifted momentarily towards the direction where the dining room was, and he then inquired with a hint of suspicion, "That heartless woman is worried about me? Hmph, if she truly cared, she wouldn't have pressured me into eating that wretched garlic-infused sausage! Thank her for having me experience such torment."
His words seemed to linger in the air, a bit too candid for the situation. And he seemed to realize he shouldn't have voiced such sentiments in front of me. He quickly added in a somewhat contrived tone, " Of course, for the sake of marital harmony, concessions are made, compromises upheld. After all, she is my wife." He emphasized the last sentence.
I fully comprehended Archie's intention behind these words. With a sigh, I extended the glass of water to him, saying, "You should rinse your mouth first."
After a brief hesitation, Archie accepted the glass. The moonlight tonight was rather dim, obscured by drifting clouds that intermittently unveiled slivers of moonlight. These silvery rays caressed the flowers, casting an air of melancholy upon the scene.
I didn't lie to Alisha; I did have something to discuss with Archie. But right now, I'm struggling to find the right words to bring up the subject. I'm pretty sure Archie has his own questions for me too. After he finished the water, he just stood there in silence, holding onto the glass. A breeze rustled through, and the distant waves crashing against the rocks filled the air. I closed my eyes briefly, then let out a soft chuckle, breaking the quiet. "Don't you want to ask me something?"
Archie turned his head towards me. Even in the dim moonlight, I could catch a hint of chilliness in his gaze. "Yeah, I do. How did you end up meeting Alisha?"
Meeting his gaze, I replied, "I didn't actually meet Alisha. The person I crossed paths with was Theresa. She was abandoned on a lonely road during a rainy day, looking lost and vulnerable. I helped her find her way home, and in return, she invited me for a meal. It's as simple as that."
Archie's brows furrowed, as if explaining something, "We had a quarrel that day, and I didn't actually mean to drive her out of the car. Plus, I had no idea it would rain later."
I shook my head, "You don't need to explain all that to me. Maybe Alisha cares about these little details, but they don't matter to me." Pausing for a moment, even though what I had to say next was hard to voice, I knew I had to make a decision. I couldn't let my presence threaten Archie and Alisha's relationship.
"Archie, I'll admit it. I've developed feelings for Alisha. She's made me start to..." I couldn't even finish that sentence before Archie's anger erupted. He reached out, gripping my collar and pulling me closer. "How dare you! Alisha is my wife! The Luna of the Golden Crest Pack! I won't let her go to anyone else!"
All the pent-up frustration I'd been carrying burst forth in that moment. I couldn't hold back as I yelled at Archie, "You've hurt her! She even wanted to leave you! You don't have the right to her!" Alisha's words in the coffee shop echoed in my mind, how she struggled in a relationship, enduring pain and turmoil, longing for freedom.
Archie heard my words and flew into a furious rage, launching a punch straight at my face. "Don't even have any design on her! She's mine, forever!"
I didn't hold back and retaliated with a punch of my own, shouting back, "Enough! If you truly want to be with her, why haven't you marked her? If you had marked her, she would have your scent, and I wouldn't have confused her identity, leading to all of this." It was because I thought she was an ordinary werewolf that I allowed myself to sink into these feelings, and then, helplessly, I fell in love with my cousin's wife. How absurd it all seemed.
My words seemed to stoke the flames of Archie's anger. His face twisted into a fierce snarl, his fangs bared, and his eyes reddened. He roared as he delivered a heavy blow to my abdomen, "You know nothing! Who are you to accuse me? You have no right to meddle in the feelings between Alisha and me! Get lost!"
My abdomen writhed in pain, the agony spreading to my limbs, and my vision suddenly turned pitch black. Archie, this guy, really hit me hard! I shook my head, trying to regain some clarity, then retaliated with a kick aimed at Archie. "You didn't cherish her! You don't deserve her!"
After receiving my kick, Archie bellowed and charged at me, "She's mine! If you dare to covet her again, even if you're my cousin, I'll tear you apart!" He finished with a punch that knocked me to the ground.
I couldn't help but cough a few times, and then, looking up at the furious Archie, I fearlessly said, "Archie, if you really care about Alisha, then take good care of her and don't make her sad. Alisha has always treated me as a friend; she doesn't know my feelings for her, so I'm willing to bury all of this deep inside me. As long as you both can be happy, I'm willing... I'm willing to bless you."
Finally, I voiced those words. I had originally planned to confess to Alisha after returning from the Blood Dawn, but now it seemed I might not get that chance. I had been grappling with how to handle my feelings and confront Alisha and Archie for the past few days.
I knew the best course of action was to voluntarily withdraw, sparing Alisha any distress and preserving the brotherly bond between Archie and me. However, my heart was reluctant. After clashing with Archie, the pent-up emotions within me found an outlet, and I finally said what I wanted to say.
I lay there, battered and bruised, feeling utterly drained of strength. Gazing at the moon emerging from behind the clouds, for some reason, my eyes felt a bit teary.
Archie paused for a moment, walked past me, and left behind a cold remark, "Our affairs don't require your interference."
As I watched the moon, bright yet cold, I silently responded in my heart, "Archie, this is my final chance for you. If you break Alisha’s heart again, I'll definitely take her away from you."