Chapter 28: TWENTY-EIGHT

Released Lucas had a dark past? “What happened to him?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“I don’t know, he tells very few people about himself, only those who were there to witness it know.

And the only such person that knows is the caretaker, but she respects the master so much, I’m sure she wouldn’t tell anyone…”

“What are the two of you doing here?”

The loud dominant voice echoed reaching where the both of them sat, making them almost jump.

They turned and saw him standing right there in his robe, Ava didn’t miss the look on his face, the familiar look he carried, the same look of jealousy he had when he saw her that day with Ethan, that possessive look that showed he didn’t like her to do so much as sit within two feet of another man.

Lucas turned his face from her, giving Cian a cold stare.

“You were supposed to accompany Nani to the fields today, why are you sitting there talking to her?”

Cian stood up, giving a bow before speaking.

“I accompanied the caretaker yesterday master; and she doesn’t have any field gathering to do again today.”

“You haven’t answered my question yet, Cian.”

“I’m sorry master, the lady wanted to know about our pack’s history and the dawners, I felt it only right to spare some time to grant her wish.”

Lucas passed the look onto Ava who just stared between the two men. She was having such a good time before he appeared scaring the hell out of everyone. Why did he always have to ruin things?

They hadn’t done anything wrong, in fact it was only right that she should know more about her new home; but he didn’t know why seeing her all giggly and happy with someone else didn’t make him one bit comfortable, in fact it made him mad. He had been watching them for a while from the window of his chambers, and when he couldn’t take it anymore, he had marched straight down here. She shouldn’t be conversing with his beta and distracting him when he could be elsewhere attending to other matters that needed seeing to.

“Go and look for something else to do,” he ordered Cian.

Cian bowed again and left, and then Lucas turned back to Ava.

“To my chambers, now.”

**********

Ava followed him out of the garden, back inside and through the halls that leads to Lucas’s chambers. They entered the quarters and he let her into the bedroom first before entering and closing the door behind her. She bowed her head slightly as he turned to face her. Ava was now being obedient like she’d promised on the day of the soaping punishment.

“What Cian said about you wanting to know about us, is it true?”

“Yes.”

“I appreciate that a lot, but when next you want to ask anything at all, you come to me to ask. Cian didn’t bring you here; I did. Cian doesn’t own you; I do. Is that clear?”

Slightly tipping her head, “yes master.”

Silence stretched between the both of them, Ava didn’t know why he’d called her here, nor why he appeared disturbed that she was just in nothing more than a simple conversation with his beta. He continued.

“The other day, before I found out about your infidelity… I was about to make an agreement with you. I know I cannot keep you here forever against your will but…”

Why was he struggling with his words? And why was she so desperate to hear the next thing that would come out of his mouth?

“But I would like you to stay a bit longer, just for a little while; if you will agree. I found out I no longer have any use for you since your betrayal, it’s only fair that I let you return home so you can proceed with your joining ceremony, I won’t come after you nor challenge your mate after you do. You are free to leave at any time, but if you would stay for just a little while, I would like that.”

This man was confusing her so much, he said he has no use for her yet he’s asking her to stay for some time. What exactly did he want? Well, she didn’t care whatever he wanted. The only thing she cared about was the fact that he’d just allowed her to be released, and she very much ignored the part about him asking her to stay, of course she wasn’t planning on doing that. Why would she want to spend another second here if she’d already been given permission to leave?

He looked at her face and observed her body language. Of course, she wasn’t going to stay at her own will, he was a fool to think she would. At least now he wouldn’t live with the guilt of having had to force or abduct anybody to do anything for him. In that case, he would try to work things out with Kiara.

The dawners were free people living under a good reign and the alpha of their choice, he’d given them all he could. Every single person here joined this pack at their own will without compulsion for any reason. He’d thought about it and wanted the same thing for Ava; maybe she’d agree. He must have been stupid to think that she would agree to stay.

“When do you plan on leaving? He simply asked her.

“Right now.”

**********

The answer made his heart ache ten times even more. This lady he was strongly attracted to; this woman he couldn’t get enough of; this woman whose hurt caused him so much insanity he couldn’t think straight anymore. Now, she was more than happy to leave him again and she didn’t even blink an eye doing it. Why did one woman cause him so much hurt?

This was the time to be a strong alpha and not a weakling.

‘Man up!’ His wolf cautioned him.

Erasmus was right. He might want fulfillment, he might want happiness, he might want to be with his mate, he might want all the good things the mate bond has to offer; but he didn’t want it all to be from someone who didn’t want him in return. If she truly wishes to leave, then the best thing to do was let her go.