Chapter 62

After Lucianne had gone through the sections of her own interest, they still had time so she went over to

other sections to see if there were books that her friends back home liked. When she realized that there

were, she also realized that she made a mistake negotiating with Xandar to only let her pay for lunch.

She gave her plan some thought before she turned to her mate and said, “Xandar, I’ve already got what I

wanted. But I want to get a few titles for some friends back home.” Xandar was absorbing her words as

he tried to decipher why Lucianne looked so uncomfortable saying that. She bit her lower lip in

uneasiness before asking, “Can you let me pay for the ones I want to get for them? They’re technically

not for me.”

Now Xandar understood what she was up to. He firmly insisted, “No. Lucy, we had a deal. One meal.

You’ve paid for it. I’m covering the ones you’re getting for your friends as well. And didn’t you just say

that the wolves will eventually warm up to us. What better way to speed up that process than for a Lycan

to get them gifts?”

Lucianne was thinking through what Xandar just said as she muttered, “Huh. When you put it that way…”

“Wow. It’s comforting to know that I won’t necessarily lose. I guess the trick is to use your own words

against you. Maybe I don’t need a teacher after all.” Xandar thought aloud with a glint in his eye.

Lucianne smirked and pecked a kiss on his jawline before she said, “Don’t push this, dearest.” Her gaze

then turned soft and sincere when she said, “And thank you. You really didn’t have t

0…”

Xandar stopped her with a sudden kiss on her lips. When their lips parted, Xandar bore his eyes into

Lucianne’s and he uttered in a deep voice, “Don’t tell me that I don’t have to get gifts for the people you

care about. Know this, my love: if it makes you happy, I’ll do it.”

She was looking at him with those bright doe eyes again as she uttered a shy but grateful thank you’. He

kissed her on the forehead before letting her get on with looking at the titles, Her last stop was the

section for children.

Xandar took a look and asked in a teasing manner, “Are you going to make me pay for a gift, for my 4-

year-old competitor, sweetheart?”

Lucianne looked at him in confusion before she registered that Xandar was talking about Russell. She

smiled and said, “Why, yes. If it makes me happy, you’ll do it, won’t you?”

He smirked before he squeezed the flesh on her waist and elicited her giggles. When she calmed down,

she said more seriously, “I wasn’t thinking about Russell. This is for Juan’s 3 year-old son, Liam. The boy

is very different from his older brother and sister. He loves books, especially if it’s anything to do with

stars and space. So I’m looking for something suitable

since I’m already here. I suppose this one will do.” She held a colorful book with a cover filled with

pictures of a rocket ship and planets against a backdrop full of stars.

Xandar kissed her temple at her thoughtfulness before he uttered sincerely, “It’s okay if you want to get

something for Russell too, Lucy. I was only joking earlier.”

Lucianne simpered, “I know, Xandar. But Russell doesn’t strike me as a book-lover. He likes building

things and piece together something new from scratch. This place won’t get his attention until he’s old

enough to learn from the experts.”

‘She’s right, he thought to himself.

After Lucianne had gotten that last book, the bookstore staff got a moving cart to transport all of

Lucianne’s picks from the locker to the counter. The staff even helped transport the books into Xandar’s

car. After thanking them, they left La Librairie and headed to a restaurant for dinner.

***

In the car, Xandar thought about how good Lucianne was with children. She seemed close to many kids

in her pack, and she even knew Juan’s son well enough to know what he liked. She’d only met Russell

twice and could already tell the child’s preference. He wondered if she ever thought of being a mother

herself, and Xandar was contemplating on how best to ask his question. “Lucy?”

I was

“Hm?”

He took a breath before he began, “What I’m going to ask is probably going to be.” he sighed before he

continued, “…too personal for this early stage. Just tell me it’s personal if it is. I’ll understand. Uh…” he

ran his hand through his hair while the other remained on the steering wheel before he asked, “Do you

imagine having your own kids someday?”

Lucianne snorted before she said, “Xandar, from how nervous and uncomfortable you look, I thought you

were going to ask about the number of people I slept with in the past.”

Xandar thanked Goddess he stopped outside the restaurant already when she said that. The number of

people she had slept with in the past? He was quite upset and even jealous that she had sexual

relationships with someone else, probably before all the mate-bond rejections. Wolves only start feeling

the pull of the mate-bond when they turn twenty. Many wouldn’t wait to get into a relationship despite

knowing that their partners may not turn outt

o be their mate.

Xandar knew that making Lucianne feel bad about her past relationships would just be unfair to her.

They hadn’t even met that time. She was very attractive now in her late twenties, imagine what she was

like in her teenage years. He himself might have drooled over her.

Lucianne took in his saddened look and said, “Xandar, just to be clear, I’ve never slept with anyone. And

yes, I did imagine having my own kids one day but I…”

He smashed his lips on her even before she finished speaking. He deepened their kiss with each brush.

Lucianne pulled his face away and asked in concern, “Xandar, you seem a little scared. What’s wrong?

What happened?”

He whispered breathlessly, “I love you.”

“I know, Xandar. But what’s wrong?” Lucianne asked. She was still not following.

Xandar still felt insecure so he took both her hands in his and pecked kisses on her fingers before he

said, “It’s just…For a moment, I thought you had a serious past relationship and I wasn’t sure if I was

able to compete with that. I just…don’t want to be less than perfect for you.” 1

Lucianne then muttered to herself, “Oh Goddess, that joke went too far.” She then took her hands from

Xandar and cupped his face as she apologized, “Xandar, darling, I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have said

that. How it came out was entirely wro-mmph”

Xandar’s lips were back on hers. He didn’t want her apology. He just wanted to be the one Lucianne

would ultimately choose to be with, the mate she would ultimately choose to make her happy for the rest

of her life. Xandar only let go of her lips when Lucianne needed air. He buried his face in her neck and

sought comfort in her alluring scent.

After catching her breath, Lucianne asked in worry, “Xandar, you okay?”

“Mm.” He responded as he continued inhaling the air from her neck.

“Are you sure?” Lucianne was still not convinced.

Xandar’s nose nuzzled her neck as he whispered, “I felt a little of the insecurity you mentioned last night.

It sucks. And I doubt what I felt was anywhere close to what you had to handle. I don’t know how you do

it, baby.”

Lucianne was even more lost, “Xandar, why would you have to feel insecure? Being in your position,

you’d never had anyone implicitly telling you or even suggesting that you’re worthless. And I told you

before that no one sees me the way you see me. There is zero need t o be insecure.”

He whimpered and buried himself deeper into her neck as his arms wrapped around her waist, “You’re

wrong, Lucy. Lots of people see you that way. You just don’t see them. But I see you this way the most

so you can’t pick someone else, okay? Please don’t pick someone else. It’s not fair.”

Lucianne groaned in annoyance, and her hands gently removed his head from her neck for her frustrated

eyes to lock with his fearful ones. “Xandar, what are you talking about? You’re my mate. Why would I be

picking someone else? I’m with you. I’ve never been with anyone

intimately before Sebastian Cummings. And we both know how that one ended so…”

“Did you two kiss?” Xandar asked.

Lucianne shook her head, “We never got close enough for me to be comfortable to share that kind of

thing with him. It was difficult to fully trust him and his family. And before you ask, n o. He didn’t smell me

like how you’ve just done either.”

“Did he kiss you at all?”

“Xandar, this really isn’t necessary, it’s…”

“I want to know.”

Lucianne sighed, “Just my hand. You know, like the usual gentlemanly kind of gesture. It really isn’t anyth

—” Lucianne gasped in utter shock at how Xandar was kissing her hands to the point of almost sucking

them that she stopped mid-sentence. She had to snatch her hands away from his tight grip before she

held his head up to face her.

When their eyes locked, she said in a low, firm tone, “Alexandar, I’m with you. There isn’t anyone else for

me. I don’t see anyone else, okay? Calm down. There’s no need to feel insecure. I’m with you, okay? I’m

with you.” 1

He smiled at her response. The fear in his eyes diminished. Xandar then tried to move up to her face to

kiss her on her lips but she held his head in place as she said, “We should get inside before it gets too

late for dinner, darling.”

“But I want a kiss.” He whined like a child. Lucianne smiled, and pecked a kiss on his lips before saying,

“There. Now, let’s go, my King.”