Chapter 22
1607words
I strode away from the interrogation room with a heavy heart and overly irritated emotions while I held Flora by my side.
Though she was with me, all I could think of was Della and how she looked at me while talking earlier.
It's cold and determined. Though I would see a glimpse of pain every now and then, I could see the conviction in her eyes and hear the firmness in her voice.
When she said that she would sign the divorce papers with me and that she wanted it to happen sooner so that she could be free, her words affected me more than I let her see.
I was beyond upset. I wanted to pull her by my side and carry her back home, just letting her be with me and never let her leave.
Seeing the defiance in her eyes and how she bluntly retaliated right now made my heart ache. Flashbacks of our memories together rushed into my mind. She used to be that sweet girl who was always obedient—she'd do everything I asked without hesitation… but she didn't this time.
She wouldn't listen to me and looked at me with those cold and furious eyes that I couldn't seem to thaw.
My brows furrowed in confusion. I asked myself a couple of times what had happened and why it had happened. What had changed?
Thinking back over and over again, I was reminded of how Jackson was by her side every single time she retaliated against me.
That's right! It must be Jackson! He was probably the one manipulating and putting such words in Della's mind.
Realizing that I caught a breath as my heart clenched. What could be Della's relationship with the prince? Could he affect her decision so much like that? I know that Della loves me so much. She would understand what I did. There was no way she would betray me.
What could have happened? I fisted my hands and thought, 'This is all Jackson's fault!'
I halted and planned to turn back to get her even if I forced her, but I suddenly felt a hold on my arm and heard Flora's loud cries.
Her tears wet my sleeves. When I looked down at her, she looked up pitifully while her hold on me tightened, "Kylian, do you really want me to post a public apology online and tell them what happened? But—"
She sobbed and took a sniff before continuing, "But if I do that, my reputation and future will be ruined."
I looked at her and saw the tears in her eyes and how pitiful she looked with that fearful expression on her face.
Swallowing, I was lost in my thoughts as I softened, contemplating how to reply to her.
"Y—"
Thankfully, when she asked that question, a car stopped in front of us, and Henry emerged.
He walked around the car and opened the back door for us. With one hand on top of the door and the other inside his pocket, she looked at Flora and answered on my behalf, reminding him, "If you don't apologize and disobey the direct orders of the Lycan King's PR department, you'll face imprisonment."
Raising a brow and intently looking at her, he reminded, "You know that, right?"
Hearing that, Flora's cries intensified. She looked down at her belly and softly rubbed it. "It's not that I am billing selfish and unwilling to take responsibility, but I'm worried that my child will be a laughingstock once it is born."
She shifted her gaze and beggingly stared at me, "Please, Kylian. Can Margot do the post alone and apologize? Besides, she's an Alpha's sister and has a bipolar disorder. Once she makes the clarification, everyone will sympathize with her instead of laughing."
My mind went into turmoil after hearing her words. If she wasn't pregnant, I would have scolded her already and lost my temper.
Taking a moment, I closed my eyes to think before I took a deep breath and looked down at her as tender as I could, saying, "If you really cared about your pup's reputation, you should not have done what you did. You shouldn't have slandered my Luna!"
As much as I wanted to keep calm, I still failed to stay calm and let a bit of my frustration come out of my tone.
I took another deep breath and calmed myself before I added, "You and Margot's comments were too much, not to mention that you hired people to slander Della, which has been all discovered by the Lycan king."
Leaning down at her, I looked her in the eyes and warned, "If you provoke Della again in any way, I won't be by your side anymore."
Flora was stunned by my mild outburst. She looked at me for a while with wide eyes and disbelief before she started crying again.
My Goddess! Was all she could do was cry? It was getting irritating the more she did it.
She should really be thankful she's pregnant, or everything would be a whole lot different than it is now.
"I'm so sorry. It's my fault for being impulsive after I saw Luna betraying you with Prince Jackson. I didn't think of what the consequences might be. I'm really sorry; I'm so stupid to be your fated mate." She cried harder, covering her face with her hands.
Seeing her expression of how sorry she was, my heart instantly softened, and I wrapped my arms around her shoulder, pulling her into my arms while I patted her back with my other hand, whispering, "It's fine. Calm down."
My heart trembled with anger and irritation as I felt this stupid dated mate curse cursing through my veins again. The bond I had with Flora, my fated mate, was like a poison that was manipulating me. Whenever I see her crying or said, it's like I instantly feel the same and want to do my best to comfort her.
Even now, when I knew that she was in the wrong, I couldn't help but stand by her side and do my best to help her.
Even when it meant… hurting Della, my Luna.
Instantly, Della's pained eyes flashed in my mind, adding ache to my already torn heart.
What should I do?
Taking a deep breath, I pulled away a little from Flora and held her on both shoulders. Looking down at her, I explained, "Someone will take you back to the pack. You should take a good rest then."
"But how about you?" Flora asked.
"I'll come see you later." I motioned toward Henry and added, "There's something I have to discuss with Beta Henry."
She frowned, begging at me. "Will you see me get in the car?"
I nodded. "I will."
Later, the car that would escort her arrived. She waved her hand through the window, and I merely nodded.
Once she was gone, Henry came to my side and asked, "Is there anything else that's keeping you here in the Lycan Castle?"
I looked back at the gigantic castle behind us and heaved a sigh. "let's find a place to drink."
A few miles away from the castle, we found a lit-up pub house with a lit-up sign that said, "Moon's Pleasure."
The Moon Pleasure signage was inside a vast crescent blue moon, lighting up brightly amid the dark road around it.
Inside, we were greeted by various light colors flashing from the ceiling, and fog covered the floor up to our ankles.
Loud music was playing, and many people were dancing and grinding with each other on the dance floor without care in the world.
The scents of alcohol and smoke lingered in the air, too strong that it would probably give me a headache if I stayed there any longer.
Just as I was about to turn around and leave, Henry held my arm and pointed upstairs, "Alpha, there!"
I followed him and found that upstairs was more decent and luxurious. There were bars with high chairs in front, and the music was milder and more relaxing, while the lights weren't blinding. The drinks were also more expensive and decent, like everyone who was staying in the private booths around.
"This will do." I nodded in satisfaction, heading toward the bar.
"Two whiskey," I said to the bartender as I sat on the high chair in front of it.
"Are you really going to divorce Luna Della?" Henry asked, pushing one of the whiskys in front of me.
I furrowed my brows and looked at him confusingly. That news hadn't been announced yet.
"How did you know that?"
He shrugged and explained, "I heard it from the pack elders. Luke smashed a couple of vases when he learned you rejected your own Luna, especially after knowing that the pack will be a laughingstock then."
Raising his glass in my direction, he sympathetically added, "I must say, he's quite furious."
Hearing that, I suddenly tensed up. Knowing Luke was angry was never a good sign. Whether I like it or not, something terrible ought to happen.
My face turned serious as I gulped a massive chunk of whisky and let it burn my throat.
Frustrated, I slammed the glass down on the counter, causing a loud bang that made the others look in my direction. The mere thought of my father made me nervous.
Even though I had already become the alpha and was currently the one on the throne, I couldn't help but fear him—the man who would do anything to discipline me, even if it meant I bled.
