Chapter 265
1308words
Though I didn’t sleep well last night, I still woke up early and prepared everything I needed to visit the ruby mines.
“Mommy!” Aaden ran toward me as soon as he saw me entering the dining room for breakfast.
Instinctively, I bent down, caught him, and carried him in my arms. Pinching his cheeks, I lovingly asked, “Did you miss me?”
“Very much, Mommy!” he shouted, kissing me on the cheeks right after, letting his lips linger on there for a couple of seconds.
“I missed you too! Let’s eat,” I replied as I sat him down on his chair before I walked toward Albert and kissed him on the cheek.
He served me food, but I could only smile and give him a small thanks as I involuntarily avoided his eyes.
Since he managed the issues in Wakeland before, he had been in a big conflict with Drake. I knew he would stop me from going if he learned what my plan was, so I decided to keep it a secret from him.
While we were eating, Aaden and Alebrt started chatting, but I remained silent. My thoughts drifted back to what kept me awake last night, filled with fury.
After a long time of hesitating last night, I finally managed to click the play button on the recording. I was planning to sleep right after hearing it, but I didn’t know it would anger me so much after learning Mason was more of a scumbag than I imagined.
Back at the Shadow Hush bar, one of his friends warned him about my arrival in Wakeland and even scared him off by retelling some of my deeds back in the Dark Moon Pack when I was punishing the sinners.
“You got to be careful, man. I heard that Princess Della isn’t as timid as she was rumored to be when she was in the Dark Moon Pack. It’s said she can actually be quite ruthless and doesn’t care about ranks.”
Another friend of his added, “Yes, I heard about that too! Someone raped one of the Omegas in the kingdom, and the man was injected with wolfbanes and fed to the wild wolves. It’s terrible!”
I could still vividly remember his words as if they were engraved in my mind.
"In Wakeland, my family rules. We are the royal family here! That so-called princess Della is nothing without her father’s protection. If she acts like a good little princess, we’ll allow her to stay. But if she steps out of line, she’d better watch her back. Accidents happen all the time—especially to women who used to bow to a man’s mistress and let herself be an omega.”
My hands tightened into fists while I held my utensils, nails embedded in my palm.
‘The nerve of him…’
He really dared to brag openly about the crimes he did and how he violated all those innocent women. He even recounted horrific details of his inhuman acts as though it were some twisted badge of honor. He even laughed about the suffering he had caused, mocking the families who swallowed their grief for fear of offending his powerful clan.
His sneering voice echoed in my mind as his words replied in my mind. "It’s not my fault they let me get away with it. They know better than to cross me. A princess? Please! She can’t even protect herself."
Recounting everything I heard from the recording made my heart blaze with anger.
Hearing Mason’s outrageous and monstrous acts, I could now understand the rage and sense of injustice Drake must be feeling.
All his acts and how much he hated Mason… It all made perfect sense.
Mason didn’t just kill his sister. He destroyed her entirely and made her suffer humiliation. But despite all that, he couldn’t do anything. He had to endure it in silence like so many others.
And that silence allowed monsters like Mason to flourish.
But those times were done. It won’t happen anymore.
‘Not while I’m here,’ I silently vowed to myself, feeling my heart clenched with pain.
“Della!”
I was jolted back into reality when I heard Albert’s booming voice echoing in my ears, paired with Aaden's hard tap on my shoulder.
Blinking a couple of times, I was shocked by everything I was thinking about and forced a smile.
After sweetly tapping Aaden’s head, I turned and looked at Albert with a facade of worry, “What’s wrong?”
Albert sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in a hint of restrained annoyance. “I’ve been talking about the wedding plans, and you’ve been completely lost in your thoughts. That’s rude.”
“Yes, Mommy,” chimed Aaden after drinking his milk, causing a milk mustache to decorate his upper lip. “Daddy’s been talking for ages. You’re not listening!”
Guilt instantly coursed through me.
They’re right. But I couldn’t help it! Mason’s words had left me raging.
But after seeing my son pouting his lips, I let out a sigh, and all my anger vanished into thin air. “You’re right; it won’t happen again. Continue eating,” I replied to Aaden as I wiped off the milk on his lips.
“I’m sorry too, forgive me?” I forced a playful and sweet tone as I reached over and held Albert’s arm. Looking him in the eyes, I smiled and vowed, “I promise I’ll pay attention.”
“Yes, Daddy, forgive Mommy. She loves you!” More than Aaden’s sudden aid, his word of choice surprised me, but I still kept a smile on my face and watched as Albert’s frustration softened.
Playfully narrowing his eyes, Albert stretched his arm out and teasingly tapped Aaden’s nose. “You little rascal, you really know how to protect your Mom!”
We all let out a small laugh with that and watched as Aaden continued eating.
After a few seconds, I felt someone staring at me and looked up. Meeting Albert’s eyes, I saw a flicker of curiosity remained in his gaze.
“So,” he said, folding his arms and taking the opportunity to talk to me seriously because Aaden was busy with his food. “What’s been on your mind so much that it’s more important than the wedding?”
My chest instantly tightened. This was the question I’ve been trying to avoid since this morning. I couldn’t tell him the truth—not about Drake, not about Mason, and certainly not about my plans of confronting the Rogues.
It would only upset him.
“It’s... about the ruby mine business,” I responded with hesitation as I instantly lowered my gaze.
Albert tilted his head, skepticism flickering in his eyes. “The mine?”
“Yes,” I replied quickly, hoping to end it at that. “Remember? Mr. K wanted to buy it. I need to check it out.”
He studied her for a moment, and my heart started to beat faster with worry.
Thankfully, before he could press further, Sapphire entered the dining room with a file in hand.
“The car is ready, Alpha,” she announced briskly.
Taking the opportunity to escape his question, I hurriedly rose from my seat.
“I’ll check on the mine today,” I said casually to Albert while grabbing my bag from the side.
“I’ll come with you,” Albert said, pushing back his chair.
“No,” I said firmly, surprising both him and myself with how quickly I replied.
Albert froze mid-movement with his hands still on the chair’s armrest and with a space between his thigh and the seat, his brow furrowing as he looked up at me.
I looked into his eyes and felt a wave of guilt wash over me. I noticed a whirlwind of emotions flickering within them in just a moment—confusion, pain, and disappointment—which were the feelings I often caused him to experience.
For three years… I’ve always ended up hurting him while he does everything to make me happy.
Why am I always messing things up?
