Chapter 11
To Xandar’s and Christian’s relief, Greg didn’t show up for tea or dinner. Lucianne continued t o introduce pack members to the King and his second-in-command as they both took note of what each pack was asking for. The wolves were surprised and grateful for the chance to be heard. Whenever Lucianne stood to take some food or drink alone, pack members she had never met would walk up to her with a problem that their pack is facing. They felt more at ease to meet her alone first before being introduced to the King himself.
She felt honored to bridge the packs with their King. The part she minded was having to risk meeting conceited pack leaders. In these situations, she will ask them a simple ‘so, can you tell me the kind of aid that your pack requires?’ before deciding whether she wanted to continue the conversation. Some Alphas and Gammas whom she had never met introduced themselves simply because they wanted to meet her. The conversations were appropriate so she took an interest in getting to know those she had yet to meet.
Somewhere in the middle of dinner, Xandar and Christian were discussing the aid the Moonhowl Pack was asking for after rogues destroyed their borders. Seeing that the pack members no longer needed encouragement to speak to Xandar, Lucianne got up for a second refill of wine. After filling her glass, she leaned against the refreshments table for a momentt o take a sip, taking a quiet moment to herself.
Suddenly, a warm breath graced her ear with a hushed, “Hey.”
She jumped to the side because she recognized that voice. Some of the wine from her glass splashed on the floor but thankfully the floor was dark-colored carpet so it didn’t make much of a mess.
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay, Lucianne?” Sebastian asked guiltily.
“Excuse me, there are people I need to speak to.” Lucianne said flatly, and tried to turn to leave.
Sebastian dashed to block her way. “I just want to talk.”
“You have no right to make demands.” Lucianne spat.
Sebastian looked uncomfortably at the floor as he muttered, “I know. There’s not a day that goes by that I wish I did differently, that I wish I did better by you. You were a gift, and I was a fool not to see that.”
Lucianne listened and said indifferently, “Noted, thank you.”
She tried to walk around him but he stopped her again. He said, “I know that I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I was a scum.” He chuckled sadly, “I’m a Lycan but what I did was low for any species, and I’m going to keep apologizing until you forgive me. I don’t care how long it’ll take.”
She rolled her eyes and said, “Save your breath, Cummings. I’ve already forgiven you. I forgave you for myself so that I could move on. If you think I did it for you or that I would ever do it for you, you’re dead wrong.”
She only took one step to her side when he blocked her again, hurt evident in his eyes when h e said, “Just… here.” He lifted up a book she didn’t see him holding and continued, “I got you this. I remember you mentioning your interest in learning about the psychology behind becoming a better warrior. I thought of you when I saw this. Just think of it as a gift from a friend.”
She looked at the book. If they were still mates, and if he hadn’t cheated on her or lied to her, this gift would’ve made her heart melt. Now, she didn’t feel anything. She took note of the title and the author’s name so that she could order it by herself later on and said, “We’re not friends. Now, step aside.”
“Just take it, Lucianne. You don’t even have to think that it was from me, please.” Sebastian pleaded.
From her peripheral vision, she saw Xandar’s figure approaching in quick steps. From the way he was pacing, it was clear that he was angry. Lucianne spoke in a low voice, “Sebastian Cummings, if you have the slightest shred of intelligence and wisdom left, you will step aside now. You don’t want to get hurt.”
He clearly didn’t know that Xandar was coming, which made him say, “I was already hurt when you rejected me, Lucianne.”
“Interesting choice of words.” Xandar’s voice came from the side as he slid an arm around Lucianne’s waist and held her close to his body. “Given that you were the one who gave Lucianne more than enough reason to do what she did.”
Sebastian was gritting his teeth after hearing Xandar’s words. Before either of them could say anything to each other, Lucianne prompted Sebastian, “You should go.”
Sebastian smiled meekly and longingly at Lucianne as he nodded before walking away. Xandar kissed her temple and asked in concern, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be? So, is the Moonhowl Pack going to be alright?” Lucianne asked.
Xandar smiled. “They’ll be fine, sweetheart. I’m more concerned about you. You don’t have to shove your troubles aside just to take care of people all the time, you know.”
She rolled her eyes and said, “I have seen and felt pack problems. Compared to what they have to go through, my troubles are nothing.”
“No. I will not let you think that. It’s my job to make sure that you don’t have to bear with your troubles alone.” Xandar said firmly as he held her by her arms.
Despite being moved by his words, Lucianne was in the mood to be cheeky. She cocked her head to one side and asked with a small smile, “That’s in the King’s job description along with
his long list of royal duties? Wow. Sounds very taxing.” Xandar smiled and played along, “It is taxing. Why do you think I need you as my Queen?” Lucianne showed a mock look of realization and went on, “Ah, so you just needed another helper to do the work. And to think I was something special to you. Gosh, this is quite embarrassing, your Highness.”
“Mmm…” Xandar was still in a mood to play. “Looks like I‘ve misled you.”
“That, you did.”
He smirked and uttered in his husky voice by her ear, “Maybe you should consider punishing me, my love. What will you have me do?” His warm breath tickled her ear, and that was when she smelled his arousal. Her cheeky mood was gone.
felt
Mass
she took his head into her hands, and gently pushed it back as she took a step back herself. His eyes were still looking at her coyly. The smell of his arousal was getting stronger, and Lucianne knew she had to
and said, “Embarrassed? Oh please, your Highness. I was just thinking about your punishment.” She let go of his head after saying that and crossed her arms. Perhaps the lack of skin contact
her closer to him,
when she clearly wasn’t one, then said, “Perhaps staying away
from his eyes. His arousal was put to a sudden stop. He looked like a child who had a toy snatched away from him as he abruptly pressed her body into his, and
in the direction of their table by his hand. He asked in worry, “You’re not really going to stay away
you?”
“No, Xandar. But you really need to control your arousal. We’re
behind them before he said apologetically, “From
our way, I would say they smelled
covered her face with
You were the one who started to
accused.
and whisper-yelled, “I wasn’t the one
hands raised to chest-level like he was shielding himself, then said, “In my defense, it’s very
that even a defense?!” Lucianne asked, eyebrows furrowed in
spoke like that, it just… turned me
language. You were the one who twisted the
his lips from curling upwards. He kissed Lucianne on her forehead briefly before he whispered with a slight shake of his head, “No, it wasn’t ” He took her hand and said sweetly, “I’ll control it. I can’t
moving towards the table to take her seat. The members of Moonhowl had already left, so it was just Xandar, Christian
common knowledge. I’m sure you know it. I don’t even know why I’m explaining it to you. And uh, cuz
Christian. “Did you even want to be on my side when you asked the Queen not to
am 0
on the side of truth and justice, your Highness.”
gazed at her profile, and gently pushed her hair over her shoulder to the back to see her full
OT
King.” He smiled in a daze as his fingers traced her hair down her
do
it wanted him to put their mate on his lap, hold her close, and keep telling her what an amazing Queen she would make until she believed him. After his uncontrolled arousal tonight, he didn’t dare try anything funny to upset her further. So, he continued to run his fingers through
of the dining hall, where Tobias was waving her over. She gave him a hand-signal to wait, and
took quick steps to where Tobias was with the other wolves. Xandar looked at her retreating figure in longing.
I allowed to ask why she’s like that?” Christian
OV
for an explanation. Christian rolled his eyes and said,” Cuz, you know what I’m talking about. Why does she think she can’t be our Queen? I mean, look at her.” They both looked at where Lucianne was. She was nodding and listening attentively to the pack members in front of her. Even from afar, they could see
doing.” Christian emptied his wine glass and added, “Without her, I doubt we’ll know half of the werewolves’ hardships at the
until Christian prompted, “I take it that I’m not
his cousin and childhood friend as he muttered, “I can’t give you the details. That’s for her to share. But I can tell you what is already general
surprise. “I’m sorry. I’m a Lycan but I’m currently questioning my hearing. You said she went
Christian still couldn’t believe
then narrowed his eyes.
her people survive? From her energy and grace, I didn’t think she was bonded to anyone before you. But
- Xandar was confused. “What do you mean? What self-control?”
probably shouldn’t have said that.” Christian muttered in
too late now. What did you mean?”
asked, “Have you touched or
and he tried to do it again in the car and back at the refreshments
you aroused when
incident near the refreshments
the ground at training this morning,
recalled his erection between his and
you smell her
wa
Ansv
but it wasn’t the answer they both wanted. She wasn’t as attracted to him as he was to her. Her body was not responding at the intensity that his body already was just by smelling her. The thought pained Xandar. Would she always be out of his reach? What could he do to be more sexually