Chapter 81: Chapter 81

Liviana’s POV

“You’re not mad, are you?” Luan asked carefully.

I shook my head.

“Why would I be? It’s all in the past anyway. It’s not like you’re interested in her. As long she keeps her distance from you, I’ll be completely fine. But once she does make a move on you…” I paused and I looked Luan as my eyes glowed gold.

“I won’t be so nice” I warned.

I saw Luan gulp and nodded.

I smiled.

“Good. We understand each other” I said with a smirk.

I saw Abe, Beau and Cassandra shiver in my peripheral vision.

“You’re mad scary, Livi” Abe voiced out and Beau nudged him immediately.

I chuckled.

“You haven’t seen the first female Alpha’s true potential just yet” I said and gave Abe a smug smile.

Cassandra clung onto my arms.

“No no no. I have had enough Alpha Liviana tonight. Just be Livi for the rest of the party please” Cassandra said with her puppy dog eyes.

I laughed.

She seemed genuinely terrified.

“I can’t promise not to but I’ll try not to do it in front of you” I told Cassandra as I gave caressed her hair apologetically.

Cassandra stared at me in awe.

“I’m seeing so many different sides to you” she said as her eyes sparkled in glee.

I chuckled.

Then, there was the sound of the horns and the doors opened.

I stood frozen in place.

“His Highness, King Luis Grey” the herald announced.

My heart rate started to pick up and it seemed like I stopped breathing while everything turned into slow motion.

Luan’s father stood confidently as he looked down on the people in the ballroom.

Then, his eyes landed on me and our eyes met.

I saw the sudden shock in his eyes but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

For a moment, I wondered if I saw it correctly.

Still, I didn’t look away nor looked down.

I kept my gaze at him.

I saw how his brows furrowed at my actions then it was followed by a smirk.

My brows furrowed.

But I wasn’t about to back down from our sudden staring contest.

“Liviana” Luan suddenly called my name as he pulled me close to him by my waist.

I looked at Luan and saw an unreadable expression on his face.

“Are you okay?” I asked Luan.

Luan gave me a small smile but didn’t answer.

I turned to look at the king again but Luan immediately held me by the chin and made me look at him.

My brows furrowed.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him.

“Nothing” he said but I could tell he was lying.

I frowned and raised a brow at Luan.

“Either you tell me what’s going on or I’ll ignore you for the rest of the night because I’m not mind reader, Luan” I told him in a low voice.

“I just—it’s just—” Luan stuttered.

“Luan”

I froze in my place and shivers went down my spine.

I couldn’t even turn to look.

“Father” Luan said and he reached out for me and gently pulled me to his side and wrapped his arms around me protectively.

As soon as I turned, I saw Luan’s father, King Luis.

King Luis then looked at me up and down.

“You must be my son’s mate” the king said.

I was finally able to compose myself and I gave a smile.

“My name is Liviana, your highness. It’s an honor to meet you” I said as politely as I could.

But maybe I lied about the last part.

I didn’t even want to be here in the first place.

The King eyed me for a moment then he smiled.

But I still felt somehow tensed up.

And it wasn’t because I feared him.

There was something about him that I couldn’t point out.

Something that I didn’t like.

Something that made me feel unsettled.

“I’m glad to meet you too, Alpha” the King said with a smile.

He called me Alpha.

I gave the King a small smile.

Then, he turned to look at Luan.

“Let’s talk later after the party” Luan’s father said to him.

Luan’s grip on me tightened.

“About what?” he asked his father.

“Private matters” the King said.

Luan sighed and nodded.

“And as for your mate” the King said and looked at me again.

“Kindly join me for breakfast tomorrow” the King said.

I nodded.

Wait…

Why did I nod?

Did I just agree to have breakfast with Luan’s father?

“Good. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning” the King said.

Then, he excused himself and walked away from us to mingle with the other people in the room.

I was finally able to breathe properly.

Luan immediately looked at me and cupped my face in worry.

“Are you okay?” Luan mind linked me.

I nodded.

“I’m fine” I replied to him.

We couldn’t talk freely to each other without worrying about everyone hearing us.

“I think I need to get some fresh air” I voiced out.

Abe, Beau and Cassandra looked my way.

“Okay” Luan said and glanced at his cousins.

They gave him an understanding nod and Luan and I made our way out to an empty balcony.

The cold night breeze hit my face.

I took deep calming breaths as I held on to the balcony railings.

I closed my eyes tightly as I composed myself.

There was something about the current King.

Something that put me on the edge.

Something…dark.

“Baby” Luan called out softly as he placed his hand on my back.

“Come here” he said and gently pulled me to him in a hug.

He must have felt how anxious I was through our bond.

At this point, everything I feel, he can sense through the bond.

It goes both ways for Luan and I.

I can sense what he was feeling too.

Right now, he’s worried and conflicted.

I breathed in his scent to calm myself down and soon enough, I felt more stable.

“What were you thinking earlier?” I whispered.

I felt Luan tense up and I looked at him curiously.

Then, he sighed.

“I just felt like something was wrong the moment I saw you and my father looking at each other. I couldn’t point out what it was but there was something that changed in him when he was looking at you” he explained.

My brows furrowed.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

I didn’t quite catch what he meant.

“I’ve been with my father my whole life. I have memorized everything about him from his usual aura to his neutral expression to everything” he started then paused amd looked at me for a moment.

“But when he looked at you, there was something different. I couldn’t point it out but there was something that changed the moment his eyes landed on you” he said.

“It was as if he knew you even before he could know who you are” Luan said and I froze at his words.

But how?

Does it mean he knows who I truly am?

Or does he only know me as his son’s mate?

I thought about it.

I knew it wasn’t just my imagination that I saw the King’s shocked expression when he first saw me.

It was almost as if he’d seen a ghost.

I massaged my temple in frustration.

“I don’t think I want to go back in there” I honestly told Luan.

“It’s okay. Let’s stay here” he said as he cupped my face and caressed my cheek.

I sighed in relief.

If I see Luan’s father again tonight, I’ll go crazy trying to figure out what was wrong with him.

I might as well just go back to the hotel room.

But I couldn’t.

We couldn’t.

Luan needed to be here and I didn’t want to be the one responsible for his leave.

And to think that the party has barely just started.

This is exactly why I hate this kind of things.

Luan had Abe and Beau get us some food and we sat down on the seat in the balcony.

I had Luan’s coat on as I leaned on his shoulders while staring at the stars.

“Shouldn’t you be socializing with the others?” I suddenly asked him.

“I should. But I don’t actually have to. I’d pick sitting beside you while looking at the stars every single time rather than getting to know people who will only show me kindness because of my royal title” he said and I chuckled.

I felt the same way when I was meeting up with pack leaders’ from other packs.

I hated having to socialize with them knowing that they only look at me as an ‘advantage’ for their pack since I was leading one of the biggest pack in the country.

It was tiring having to keep up a front.

“I’m sorry for keeping you away from your responsibilities” I muttered.

“Don’t be. You’re my mate. The other half of my soul. And the future mother of my children. You’re more than just a responsibility. You’re even more important than that” he said and I smiled.

“How are you so sure that we’ll have kids?” I teased and Luan chuckled.

Then, he pointed at my stomach.

“I’m almost a 100% sure that there’s something growing inside of there” he said with a smirk.

My smile faded and I looked at him mortified.

“Take that back. Luan, we haven’t even graduated from school. I can’t be having a baby in the middle of my last year in school” I said.

Luan burst out laughing.

I glared at him.

Oh please, moon goddess, let it not be true.

I don’t want to be the senior who drops out of school because she’s pregnant.

Or the senior who walks around school with a big belly.

Luan kept laughing as I pouted at him.

He must think it’s so funny since he isn’t the one going to carry a living being inside of him.

“I swear to the goddess, Luan that if you end up manifesting me actually being pregnant, I’ll give you a beating or two” I complained.

He keeps insisting that I’d be pregnant.

And if that really ends up being true, I’m doomed.

“Oh come on. It’s a blessing” he said with a smile.

I frowned at him.

A blessing his face!