CHAPTER 74
AUDREY’S POV
Giving me the key to his library, like it was going to make up for all the disrespect and insults he showered on me. Asking me to forgive him like he even meant those words….
“Audrey!”
“Sorry.” I muttered, pulling myself out of my personal thoughts.
“What did I say last?” She asked, looking somewhat disappointed.
“Emily…..” I sighed. “I’m sorry, please don’t be mad.”
“Only an inconsiderate person would be mad at you. You’re clearly going through a lot of ups and downs with your mate. I can’t imagine how draining it must be for you.” She exhaled, hesitating to say her next words. “Are you really going to reject him?” She looked worried. I honestly didn’t have an answer to that. Did I really have the guts to do that? I know he hurt me, but…..
“Don’t you also plan on rejecting his father after the war?” I chuckled dryly, but she remained silent.
Immediately, I looked up at her.
“Emily?”
“I heard you.” She said, licking her lips.
“I know you did, which is why I’m surprised you’re not giving me any response.”
“Well, I don’t know!!” She sighed. “I don’t know.” She held her head in her hands. “Xavier is….. really sweet. And thoughtful. And patient. And kind. And attentive.”
“When you say ‘attentive’, does that mean you’ve been spending some time with him?”
“Oh Audrey, I have really been. And I don’t even know how it all started. He just really understands me. He gets me my favourite flowers every morning, we play games together, he listens to me sing, and even joins me sometimes.” She chuckled.
“The king sings?” I asked in surprise.
“You don’t know half of it!” She groaned in excitement. “He has this wonderful bass that would melt your heart. It’s even more interesting to hear, when he sings alongside me.”
“Interesting.” I found myself genuinely smiling since the past week.
Everyday, I woke up to flowers at my doorstep, and I knew it was from him. But I was still so mad. I really wanted to just forgive him and get past this cloudy period in my life, but I was constantly held back by my anger.
“I know right.” She sighed, a smile of satisfaction on her face.
“Is it safe to say that you’re falling for your mate?” She went silent at my question again, an uneasy look on her face. I didn’t need her to tell me she hadn’t really thought in that direction. “It’s fine, you don’t have to answer me now. Moreover, is still a bit too early to know if you do.”
“It’s time for lunch.” She rushed out, disregarding my words. I smiled to myself. She was really falling for king Xavier, but was still having a hard time admitting that she was. I mean, she was falling in love with a man she initially thought was only good enough to be her father! Life was really unpredictable. Most of all, I was glad to be a part of their love story. “Audrey, it’s lunch time.” She repeated, to which I nodded. I had actually been having my meals brought up to me for the past week. I wasn’t even attending trainings, and Denver and Dalia have literally been breathing down my neck.
I planned to resume training today, but ended up changing my mind.
“You promised you were gonna show up for lunch today.” She pouted.
“Sure.” I smiled, without even thinking it through. I was no weakling. Staying indoors all week was only going to show that my current situation with Logan was eating me up. I stood up from the bed and Emily released a gasp. I quickly turned back to her, unsure why she looked so shocked.
“Emily, what is it?” I asked, feeling concerned already.
“Au.. Au… Audrey!” There was a tone of panic in her voice, and it only got me more bothered. “Your… you’re….” She pointed at me, and I wondered what she was on about. “Your neck. Your mark is gone!” What?!
I rushed to the mirror and turned my neck to it. I couldn’t explain the way I felt in that moment. I was shocked and…. scared. What did this mean?
“What’s going on?” I muttered.
“I don’t know.” Emily whispered, walking towards me. “I had thought I was only imagining it four days back.”
“What do you mean?” I turned to her.
“Well,” She fumbled with her hands. “I may having noticed it was fading. But I thought I probably wasn’t seeing it clearly.” She rushed out.
“There is nothing clearer than this, Emily!” I whisper-yelled in confusion.
“What does this mean? Is your tie to Logan completely broken?” She asked, and I felt my heart drop to the pit of my stomach. I know I said I was going to reject him, but…
“I need a scarf.” I blurted out mindlessly, going to my wardrobe and searching through my bags. Finally, I found a vintage scarf and quickly tied it around my neck. I didn’t even know what I was doing.
“Would you still go for lunch?”
“Yes.” I nodded, breathing so deeply and trying to act like the most insane thing didn’t just happen to me. “Let’s go.”
I took her hand in mine, and we walked to the dinning room together. It was in moments like this that I deeply missed Rosa. No matter how much I tried to keep calm, I just couldn’t. I could feel the inner heat within. Heat of fright. What did this really mean?
“Heyyyy, you’re just fine.” Emily whispered to me.
Just as we got to the dinning room, she left me and made her way towards where king Xavier sat. ‘So much for friendship’, I chuckled. I wasn’t complaining though. Infact, their progress made me so happy.
I looked around and saw that the seat next to Logan was empty. If I remembered clearly, that seat was also empty the last time I showed up for dinner. That was the night Logan had fucked me and told me he was going to marry her. I couldn’t help the frown I had on my face.
Just then, Heather made her way into the dinning room and walked to stand beside me.
‘How are you enjoying your vacation from happiness?’ Her voice filtered through my mind. ‘Trust me. If I can’t have him, no one else will’.
Enough of having this bitch playing with her mother! I had been hoping Logan would stand up for me against her, but since I was clearly on my own now, she had to know I wasn’t someone to be toyed with.
She hadn’t even seen it coming when I turned to her, and held her jaw so hard. I heard gasps from the officials in the hall, but that didn’t deter me from showing her the tip of an iceberg, of what I was capable of doing.
“Ahhh!!!” She yelled out, her eyes quickly turning redder.
“You feel that pressure in your head?” I asked. “That’s your brains pleading to be let out. They want to go….. boom!” I gave a taunting smile. “A little more push from me, and your brains would be exploding out of your head. Don’t mess with me, Heather.” She had this look of fear in her eyes, and it made me feel soooo satisfied. Good.
Taking my hand off her and turning towards the rest, I was surprised to see Logan just behind me. I watched as his gaze fell on Heather, and his next words made me heart stop.
“Heather, Audrey is your Luna. I wouldn’t be tolerating anymore disrespect from you.”
“Logan.” She whispered in shock. “You’re really leaving me?” What did she mean by that?
“It’s almost two weeks since he did. When are you going to make your peace with that?” Isla’s voice was heard, and it made my brain roll in confusion. What was happening?
I looked at Layla, and she didn’t seem shocked. Neither did Liam, or king Xavier, or even Emily. They all knew that Logan had broken up with Heather? But…. I thought….
How come no one said a word about it to me? Even Emily.
I tried not to let my shock show, and just made my way to the seat next to Logan. I didn’t care if I planned on rejecting him. I was going to be a Luna in every word, for as long as it lasted. Including sitting beside the Alpha.
I could hear footsteps retreating and after a few seconds, Logan came to sit beside me. He seemed surprised I was sitting there, but I quickly tore my eyes away from him.
“I’m glad you’ve finally decided to join us today, dear.” King Xavier gave me a warm smile, which I reciprocated.
In no time, we were all eating and chatting. Luckily, Denver sat just beside me, so it was okay to say that I had a swell time. Though all the while, I could feel Ares’s gaze on me. It was really uncomfortable in a way, and I just hoped others didn’t notice it.
“Why do you have a scarf on your neck?” Denver suddenly asked, and I went silent.
‘Denver, not now’. I said through our mindlink, but it turned out I was too late. Layla already heard him.
“Now that you said it, it makes me wonder as well.” She chuckled.
“The weather is chilly.” I forced a smile, and they all frowned.
“It a very hot afternoon, Audrey.” Liam reasoned. “You even have sweat breaking out on your forehead.”
“I just feel like using a scarf.” I shrugged, and he nodded, dropping the topic. I released a low sigh of relief, and continued munching on my meal.
Lunch was almost coming to an end, when Logan whispered to me.
“Please tell me you’re fine.” I looked at him and we locked eyes. He seemed so concerned, and for a moment, I just wished all these didn’t have to happen between us.
“I’m good.” I replied curtly, and turned to Denver. Almost immediately, I felt Logan’s hand on mine, underneath the table. Gently, I pulled my hand away from him, making his hand fall on my thigh.
He seemed unmoving for a moment, before he started to gently caress my exposed skin.
‘Get your hands off.’ I muttered through our mindlink, frightened by the sweet feeling his hand gave. He paused his movements instantly, and withdrew his hand from me.Owned by NôvelDrama.Org.
“It was a wonderful meal. Thank you.” I said, and proceeded to pull the napkin I tucked into my cleavage. Unknowingly, I had pulled on the wrong thing. The next thing I knew, my scarf was coming off, and falling to the table, leaving my neck bare. It took me a couple of seconds to realize what had just happened.
I released a reflex gasp, and quickly tried to pick up the scarf, but Logan’s eyes had already fallen on my neck.
“Audrey.” Layla muttered, sounding shocked. She had probably noticed it too. Seeing as it was of no use covering my neck anymore, I let it be. “Audrey your mark is gone.”
“What?” Liam whispered in disbelief, as his eyes fell on my neck too. Oh, goddess! “Impossible.”
For the first time since we started eating, I held Logan’s gaze long enough to see his emotions lay bare. He was scared.
“What does this mean?” He finally spoke up, fear lacing his voice.
“I don’t know!” I slightly yelled in exasperation. “I don’t know.” I repeated, standing up from my seat and was about walking away.
“I do.” Two different voices suddenly said, making me look around for who they were. It was Isla and Isobel.
They did? The looks in their eyes, showed that they really did. Why was I scared? Maybe it was because I had this feeling that our mate bond had been broken. That we were no longer…..
Wait! But I still felt those sparks when he touched my thighs. He was definitely still my mate….. Right?