Gloria took a quick wash as she didn't want to meet her husband with dirt on her body. After freshening up, she picked a black and white dress from the closet, matching her husband's favorite colors before making her way out of the bedroom she had shared with him for three good years.
"There you are!" as soon as she got out, she spotted her husband, who was coming her way, and a smile blossomed on her face.
There was no one more handsome than the man who was just in front of her. She loved everything about him. Even after knowing him for more than two decades, since they were childhood sweethearts, she just couldn't get tired of him at all.
Her eyes crinkled as she looked at him and cheerfully said as she sped towards him, "Husband! You are back!" her tone filled with longing for not seeing him in the past few days.
Simon looked at his wife with affectionate eyes, which didn't reveal much, and nodded as he opened his arms wide. "I am back! Did you miss me?" he asked as Gloria lunged into his arms.
Gloria wrapped her arms around his neck and raised her head, looking at the man who was taller than her affectionately, with eyes that did tell and nodded coquettishly, "Um. I missed you so much! Did everything go well?"
Simon's eyes flickered with an unknown glint before recovering into a smile and responded, "Let's just say that if things go according to what we have agreed on, then there is hope for the pack!"
When Gloria heard that, she pulled herself apart from him and jumped excitedly at the spot like a child exclaiming loudly, "Husband, are you not lying to me?"
Simon smiled helplessly as he looked at her and flicked her forehead lightly, chiding, "why are you jumping around like a child? Have you forgotten your status already?" his tone filled with teasing.
Gloria stuck her tongue playfully at him without any hint of changing herself and earnestly responded, "Hubby! I will remain your child. Just because we are the clan leaders, that shouldn't take away the joy of being ourselves!"
The status of being a matriarch truly was like a heavy boulder placed on her shoulders. Every time she was reminded that she wasn't just his wife, but responsible for the whole clan. It brings back memories and makes her feel worthless. She didn't want to feel that way continuously.
Simon smiled wryly at her without responding to that but changed the topic completely, "Gloria, I have something that I need you to know regarding the conditions pushed forward by the Frost clan. Let's go to the study and have a chat!" his tone sounding grave and serious. Gloria couldn't remain playful any longer, especially after hearing his tone.
She nodded at him and said, "Sure. I am quite curious about what they want!" but a bit scared inwardly. Something about Simon made her feel as if it wasn't all gold and glitter.
The couple left the passage and made their way to the study where Simon's personal bodyguard, John, was guarding.
"Good afternoon, matriarch!" John greeted her, and she returned the greeting with a smile before following Simon into the study.
His study was well organized and filled with his scent, which she really liked. It really made her feel as if she was being embraced by his touch every time she came to his personal space. That was one of the good advantages that she at least has – heightened senses of smell.
Gloria sat across Simon and looked at the man, who seemed distressed with whatever he wanted to tell her. That made her scared for a moment. Whatever could make her man look like that when the war was over, it shouldn't be anything good.
And if he couldn't solve it, then she was useless in the matter. What kind of help could she provide?
The foreboding feeling of being a waste started pressuring her once again, and she didn't like what she was feeling at all.
"Husband, you know that you can share with me anything, right? Just go ahead and say it. If there is anything that I can do to help, I will do my part. We are in this together!" Gloria mustered her courage and seriously said to Simon, hoping to reduce his burdens.
Wasn't that her job as well as both the wife and the matriarch?
When Simon heard that, his brows that were furrowed with worry, loosened. However, when he looked at her, he closed his eyes as guilt overwhelmed him and, without looking at her. He opened his mouth and revealed what was bothering him.
"They want you!" his voice rang repeatedly in her ears. She felt as if she was having an ear infection and her ears weren't hearing well.
She looked dumbfoundedly at him for a while and when he opened his eyes, suddenly she deflated upon seeing the helplessness that filled those eyes.
"You ….. what do you mean that they want me? In what sense are you saying?" Gloria asked with a shaky voice, anger spilling, as she looked at her husband, her hands clutching her dress beneath the desk.
It couldn't be what she was thinking, right?
Everyone knew that she was Simon's wife and the Willow Clan matriarch. She might be less educated and have her deficiencies, but that doesn't mean that others could trample her like that. What did they see her as?
Someone who could be traded among men?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
Simon's seeing her anger, an unknown emotion flickered in his eyes before vanishing without a trace. He looked at her with a helpless expression and hung his head low responding, "From what we talked about, that wasn't the case. The Frost clan leader asked specifically for you but it shouldn't be what we are thinking!"
"Then what? Why does he want me? You can't be probably thinking of sending me there, are you?" she angrily yelled at Simon, thinking about how these grown-up men discussed conditions and yet ended up including her. What were they thinking?
Simon raised his head and looked at Gloria with a wronged expression and replied, "dear, do I look that lawless to you? We have known each other since we were toddlers. I will never let you be wronged like that. trust me!" his words oozing with sincerity, Gloria felt touched and guilty for accusing him like that.
"I_" she wanted to say something but he cut her off saying, "I know that you didn't mean it and I understand why you are thinking like that. Anyway, I didn't get to finish. From what we discussed, it seemed like he is interested in your flora abilities. He wants to have you stay at their pack for a period helping with that as well as counseling their young ones. You know how they were rogues before. I think that they want to change that in the long run."
When Gloria heard that, she embarrassingly hung her head low and thought, 'It's embarrassing. I should have waited for him to finish instead of over-guessing. Now I have wronged him. How could I possibly think like that?' blaming herself for distrusting Simon.
While her head was hung low, she failed to see the sly smile that hung on Simon's lips for a moment before vanishing.
After chastising herself, she mustered her courage once again and raised her head to look at him and asked, "hubby, so they just want me to help with that?" wanting to be certain.
Simon guiltily looked at her but still responded with a nod. "Um, that's what they want!"
When she heard that, she heaved a sigh of relief. As long as it was her skills that they needed, she didn't mind exchanging that for the sake of the pack.
She owed the pack at least that.
Since it wasn't anything much, she smilingly looked at him, determination in her eyes, and resolutely said, "I will do it. Since it's something that I am good at, let me go. I will play my part as the matriarch and help the clan!"
Simon, upon hearing that, gratefully looked at her and stretched his hands on the desk. Without him saying a word, she put hers on top there as well and he held her left hand with his right hand, his gaze piercing hers and said, "Dear, I will always remember this! Thank you for your sacrifice!"
Gloria shyly looked at him without pulling her hand away and responded, "You are my husband. For you, I will do anything!" her words were very sincere.
Who made her love him to bits?