chapter 195
Janet held her breath, feeling his hot lips against her forehead.
As reluctant as she liked to admit, her heart skipped a beat.
Just then, a voice came from around the corner:
ââ¦Janet?â
Both of them froze.
It was Westinâs voice.
Janet, are you there? I think I have heard your voice.â
Westinâs voice came a bit closer.
Janet could already see his shadow cast on the ground and he was about to come around the corner-
She wanted to answer.
But Daran clutched a hand to her mouth and dragged her behind a tree.
Westin stepped out, looking around.
He didnât see anyone in this small yard, only the empty swing swaying in the night breeze.
Daran and Janet stood in the shadow of the leaves quietly, faceâtoâface with each other.
Janet glared at him, her eyes round with anger.
She tried to break free from him, but he held her tightly.
Donât move,â he murmured in a voice that only the two of them could hear.
Westin stood there for a few more seconds and then turned around and left.
Janet finally gathered the strength to shove Daran aside.
âWhat the fuck are you doing!â she growled furiously at him.
âHelp you avoid him.â
âWho said I want to avoid him? Maybe I want to talk to-
âNo, you donât,â he said firmly, âOne thing I can tell from your reaction tonight is that you hated his wolf.â
âNo, I donât hate it-â
âBut you are reminded of how drastically different he is from us.
Janet took in a deep breath.
Sometimes she hated how perceptive Daran was.
Yet she hated it even more when Daran made her decision for her.
âYou know nothing about how I feel, Daran,â she said coldly, âAnd let me tell you this: you are losing at this competition. Because I find Westin very charming and attractive, whereas you are just an egoistic jerk!
She turned around abruptly and stormed away without another look at his face.
The next few days went by quite uneventful.
Not because those two men stopped competing with each other, But because Janet had been hiding in Balvinaâs room, doing everything she could to avoid them.
You know you canât hide from them forever, right?â Balvina asked.
Morgana shrugged, âOr maybe she can. She is the Blood Moon Packâs Alphaâs sister slash Gamma. The Rogue King is her former subordinate. She has hundreds of thousands of soldiers at her command. She can very well tell those two guys to fuck off if she likes.â
Janet rolled her eyes, âYeahâ¦Tell them to fuck off and start a world war? I donât think so.â
The three of them were lying on lounge chairs on the balcony, enjoying the warm afternoon sun with glasses of iced tea by their hands, while the maids painted their toenails.
Morgana just came back from a 3âday trip with Kass. Kass had shown her the place where he grew up.
Balvina was a little skeptical of Morgana when Janet first introduced them.
But they were quick to become friends after finding a mutual interest in rock music and hunting.
âSo, whisper to us, Janet.â
Morgana took a sip of her iced tea and said, âAmong those two men, who are taking the lead right now?â
Janet sighed, ââ¦it is still a tie.â
âStill?â Morgana gasped, âI heard those two men busted their asses off trying to please you. Daran got on the ground and cupped dirt. Westin switched into his wolf for a couple of little thieves. And you still havenât decided yet?â
âShe is a hard person to please,â Balvina echoed.
âHey! You arenât being fair!â Janet protested, âYou are the one who gave me a limited time of 2 weeks and asked me to make the decision of a lifetime. I am under a lot of pressure.â
âOK!â
Morgana sat up from her lounge chair and looked at Janet, dead serious.
âLet us do a little game. Lightening rounds!â she said.
ââ¦OK,â Janet sat up straight as well.
âFlat or high heels?â
âFlat.â
âChardonnay or Pinot Noir?â
âPinot Noir!â
âGun or sword?â
âSword!â
âDaran or Westin?â
âWeâ¦â
She uttered the first syllable, and the rest of that word froze on the tip of her tongue.
Morgana clapped her hands, excited, âBalvina, you heard it, didnât you? She was about to say Westin. You like Westin better!â
Balvina nodded hastily, âYeah! But why did you stop yourself, Janet? Were you shocked by your own answer?â
Janet threw herself back to the lounge chair. letting out a long sigh.
âNoâ¦I know I am attracted to Westin. But the thing is-â
She rubbed her temples, frustrated.
âEvery time I want to make up my mind and go for Westin, a siren goes off in my head, like I am making a terrible mistake. Like just now, I wanted to say Westinâs name, but my brain stopped meâ¦What is wrong with me?â
Balvina and Morgana exchanged a look.
âI think you are just scared by your answer,â Balvina said. âYou knowâ¦because he is
a Lycan.â
Janet nodded in silence.
She guessed that was true.
Westinâs wolf spooked her.
And his homelandâ¦
Who knew where the hell was that?
âI guess I am leaning towards Westinâ¦But if I were to choose him, I have to be absolutely certain.â Janet said, âHe will want me to go to the Lycanâs land with him. I need to be sure that he is worth me doing that for him.â
âWell, canât you discuss this with him? See if he will stay here. You canât leave Blood Moon Pack, Janet,â Balvina said urgently.
âI will. But I doubt that he will say yesâ¦.he is the Lycan King, nevertheless. He canât stay in the werewolf land forever.â
Balvina let out a frustrated groan.
Morgana placed both of her hands underneath her head and gazed at the
â
crystalâclear blue sky:
â¦And you have to break this sad news to poor Daran. Imagine the heartbroken look. on his face. He will be devastatedâ¦Can I stay and observe while you reject him? I promise I wonât make a sound.â
Janet imagined the look on Daranâs face when she rejected him and felt a sharp pain. coursing through her body.
She didnât want to see that defeated and vulnerable look on his face again.
And she didnât want to hurt him.
But she didnât have a choice right now.
Whoever she chose, the other one would get hurt. That was something that she could not avoid.
ââ¦Donât say anything to him just yet.â
Janet said to Morgana in a deep voice, âI havenât fully made my decision yet. And when I do, I want to do the talking myself. Maybe I can soften the blow.â
Morgana shrugged, âSure. It is your call.â
A servant came out to the balcony and bowed to the three of them, âLuna Balvina, Princess Janet, and Lady Morgana, afternoon. Alpha Daran and King Westin requested to see you.â
âSpeaking of the devil,â Morgana giggled.
âYou have avoided them for too long. They are here to see you, Janet,â Balvina said and then turned to the servant. âSend them in.â
The servant nodded and left.
Moments later, he returned with Daran and Westin behind his back.
âAfternoon ladies. What a beautiful day,â Westin grinned.
âI hope that I am not intruding,â Daran said.
âYou are not.
Balvina sat up straight and looked at the two of them, âActually, I might need your help for something.â
They waited for her to continue.
âThere is a bottle of wine that I want for my weddingâMona Estate Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2016.â Balvina said, âI tried calling that vineyard, but the owner is not responding. Can you go down there and see what happened? And if of you can bring back a bottle for me, that would be nice.â
âAbsolutely,â Daran nodded.
âAnything for you, Luna Balvina,â Westin smiled.
The two men glanced at each other. Both are determined to win.
They turned around together and strode to the door.
any
You are putting them to another fight,â Janet whispered into Balvinaâs ears.
âYes. And the Mona Estate Vineyard is hundreds of miles away. A round trip will at least take them 2-3 days. That will buy you some peaceful time,â Balvina said, looking rather proud of her idea.
Janet chuckled.
âYou are amazing,â she said. âBut let me talk to Westin for just a secondâ¦â
She jumped off the lounge chair and rushed out.
âWestin!â
She caught up with him at the end of the hallway.
He turned around with that charming smile on his lips.
âWhat is the matter?â he asked, âDo you want to come with me to the vineyard?â
âNo, I just want to ask you.. After we mate, can we stay at the Blood Moon Pack-â
âNo,â he said without hesitation.
Janet was stunned.
â¦That was it?
No?
There seemed to be no room for discussion.
âCan we talk? Maybe we can have a middle groundâ¦â
âThere is no middle ground because you are coming back to the Lycanâs land with me.â
Westin smiled, as charismatic as ever.
But there was a cold gleam deep into his eyes.
âPlus, when we are mated, I donât want to give you the chance to sneak around with Daran anymore,â he said lightly.
âWhat the hell are you talking about-
âThat was you and Daran by the swing the other night, right? Hanging out with him after you said goodnight to me-
He chuckled, icily.
â-I am hurt, Janet.â