Chapter 21
1660words
Kylian took a deep breath, pursed his lips, and fisted his hand, which wasn't holding Flora, before swallowing his anger and bowed at Jackson. "I hope you respect the customs of my pack, Prince Jackson. After all, Flora is pregnant and vulnerable right now."
"You…" A slight growl came out of Jackson's lips as he took a warning step toward Kylian.
My eyes instantly widened as I knew that he'd be striking him the next second.
Hence, I took a long stride and went beside him without thinking more and wasting any time. Grabbing his arm, I pinch him with my hand to catch his attention before I tiptoed and whispered, "Let them leave."
Jackson took a couple of deep breaths before he loosened his fist and let me pull him to the side, giving enough space for Kylian and the leach to pass by and leave.
However, Kylian remained unmoving. He glanced at me and said, "As my Luna, you should leave with me."
Did I hear him right?
Kylian looked at me with anger and intense scrutiny, probably thinking Jackson was indeed my boyfriend, as he had assumed earlier.
Seeing as how he could easily assume the worst of me and believe in the words of others, my heart continued to clench in unbearable pain.
One word from Flora made him believed that I had a questionable relationship with Jackson. The truth made me even sadder. Despite seeing Flora's true colors earlier, he still ignored the injustice I faced and protected Flora.
He's really the worst!
Now, all I wanted to do was cry and vent out all my anger, but I knew better than to let him see me suffer.
I wouldn't give him nor Flora the satisfaction of seeing me cry because of them. No! Over my dead body!
Standing straight, I looked at him and firmly said, "I've already rejected you as my mate, and we'll soon sign the divorce paper. I am free now."
Why should I come with them? To hurt myself further? To see them both cuddling and shit while I suffer in the corner, worthless in the eyes of many? Not a chance!
Irritation flashed in his eyes as he glared at me, silently telling me not to contradict him. Then, his hold on Flora tightened in a gentle manner as he pulled her closer to him while his eyes locked on mine.
"Della, you have to think carefully. An omega separated from a pack will not face a good ending," he warned me, acting as self-righteous as he always wanted to be.
I heard a snicker beside me. Following the sound, I looked at Jackson and saw him glaring at how Kylian was holding Flora.
Sarcastically, he nodded at him and said, with gritted teeth, "You are actually daring to old your mistress so dearly while you threaten your own Luna, Kylian?"
Arrogance and anger vibrated in Jackson's tone.
"Flora is my fated mate," Kylian explained, holding Flora protectively in his arms.
What a hypocrite, self-centered bastard!
"Fated or not, it doesn't change the fact that she's a mistress, right?" Jackson sneered with raised brows.
Obviously, it hit a nerve because Kylian pursed his lips but only swallowed, knowing that he couldn't argue further with Jackson, especially when what he was saying was the truth.
Instead of arguing further with Jackson, Kylian shifted his eyes back to me. Looking deeply into my eyes, I saw that he spoke so gently, yet it sounded so insincere. "I am doing this for your own good. Come back with me."
I narrowed my eyes, looking from head to toe, seeing how close my chosen mate held Flora in his arms without even taking a second to think what that would do to me.
My heart clenched in unbearable pain as questions filled my mind.
Was I that lowly in Kylian's eyes? He could say those words to me while holding Flora without considering my feelings. If I went back with him like he wanted, what would I do? What would become of me?
I sarcastically laugh in my mind.
Would I continue being an Omega-Luna who's not worthy of my reputation and kept being bullied? If so, I didn't want to live that kind of life anymore.
He said it was for my sake to go back with him, and yet he seemed to ignore the fact that my life was a whole lot more like hell living in that pack than anywhere in the world I could possibly be in.
Coldness radiated all over me, and I looked back at him coldly, smirking with bitterness as I said, "Not everyone is like you and your messed-up family, Kylian. Others could actually differ what's right from wrong without having a hard time."
"D-"
Kylian opened his lips, about to say something, but Jackson beat him to him and warned him, "Kylian, may I remind you, you are at the Lycan King's castle…"
Standing closer to him, threatening him with domination, he added, "You have no right to restrict the freedom of our royal guests."
"It's not…"
Once again, he was about to argue, but this time, Flora intervened. Squishing, she leaned closer to Kylian, seemingly afraid, and pitifully tagged his sleeve.
When she successfully got his attention, which was a piece of cake for her, she blinked her eyes several times and pouted his lips before looking down at his stomach. "Kylian, I don't feel so well… I was probably triggered by…"
Hesitantly, she glanced at me and continued, "Luna Della's stimulation earlier.
I scoffed in irritation as my name slipped from his lips again.
She pitifully added before I could scold her, though, "But I didn't want to blame Della. No, that's not it. I…" She looked up at him and added, "I just want to go back sooner. After all, my pup seems to be feeling uncomfortable."
What an outright lie!
"That bitch's belly is still so flat! The baby isn't even properly formed yet; how can she feel uncomfortable!" Trisha cursed as she pointed out the vivid thing that Kylian was so blinded to realize.
His eyes immediately softened as he looked down at Flora. Pulling away from her a bit, he took off his coat and warmly put it over her shoulder.
Once he made sure she was feeling warm, he coldly warned me, "You will definitely cry and beg me to let you come back soon enough."
With that, he turned away from me, pulling Flora away without giving me a second look.
My heart clenched in unbearable pain as coldness covered my every being. My legs went weak, and I sought support, which Jackson immediately gave me by holding me around my shoulders and letting me lean on his body.
Looking at his retreating body with another woman, tears finally streamed down my face.
Jackson held me tighter toward him, comforting me the best he could. I felt his chest behind me rising and falling heavily as his angry voice radiated in my body as he said, "I didn't expect you to be living a life like that all these years, Della!"
My chin trembled as I tried to control my tears, but I still failed and choked into a sob. Bitterness filled my heart as I told him, "Actually, before his fated mate appeared, Kylian treated me very well."
We were like every other ordinary couple. He'd pamper me and surprise me every now and then with breakfast in bed, give me gifts, and take me out on random dates. He'd even walk with me around the pack just because I felt like it.
My cry intensified as I was reminded of those blissful days. Of those days, he would gently hold my hand and bring it to his lips, kissing it softly before he would tenderly stare into my eyes and say sweet nothings…
I shook my head and smiled forcibly. "But everything changed after that woman arrived."
Laughing sarcastically, I let Jackson lead me to a seat. He crouched down and looked at me tenderly, holding my hand for support while listening to my aches.
"I was so foolish! I always thought that as long as I do well enough, Kylian would change his mind and treat me as he did before." I stared at Jackson and looked at him with pain, "But no… Jackson, that didn't happen. I…"
Taking a deep breath, I continued, "I gave up my self-esteem and dignity as I indulged Flora in bullying me. I didn't do anything to protect myself… Only when his family tried to push me into taking the blame for Flora did I learn how wrong I was."
I sighed and shook my head. "But what did they do? They bailed her out with a large sum of money and still wanted me to do the same—take the blame."
In Kylian's eyes… my innocence, freedom, and dignity are worth nothing compared to his beloved fated mate.
I never felt so foolish in my life as I do now.
"They're the ones foolish, not you. They're so blind they can't see how precious of a gem you are," Jackson sweetly said as he rose and bent a bit to engulf me in a bear hug, letting me know that there was someone who loved me.
Whispering in my ears, he told me, "All of these don't matter. As soon as you come back here, Kylian will just be a painful memory that you, a Lycan princess, will forget."
I nodded in agreement, but deep in my heart, I had a feeling that the divorce would not come as easy as we thought it would be.
Knowing Luke, Kylian's father, I think he would not so readily agree with it, but no matter what or who the hindrance was, my decision was made, and I had to leave that selfish and cold man either way.
