Chapter 20
Alpha's Rejected Mate Returns as Queen
20 A Strange Feeling
Selma Payneâs POV:
Aldrich examined me very seriously, trying to judge the degree of âharshnessâ from my expression.
He took a sip of his drink and asked in confusion, âWhy? Youâre a Lycan. Who would reject you?â
âHe thinks Iâm a human, so... I donât think I care about Benson that much anymore. I could even easily recount the whole thing. I donât care about his rejection, but he said many things that hurt me.â
Aldrich took a big bite of the sandwich in his hand as if he was avenging me.â Before the transformation, a Lycan looks like a human. Doesnât he know that youâre a werewolf? You didnât tell him?â
I shook my head. I didnât know what he thought of my actions. Finally, he consoled me, âItâs fine. Itâs all because of his poor taste. He doesnât know what treasure he missed.â
I didnât know it was such a happy thing to be comforted by a friend. There were already tears in my eyes, but when I saw his serious face and indignation on my behalf, I couldnât help but smile. âYes, this is all his loss. He said a lot of nasty things and even asked me to die. A real gentleman would not treat any woman like this.â
âWhat?â He slammed the table and stood up. Everyone in the restaurant looked at him. I quickly pulled him to sit down.
âCalm down!â
âHow can I calm down when he treated you that way? If I had known you then, I would have thrown him into the river to wake him up. Fortunately, you were not affected by him. You are very important, and we all need you.â
I laughed bitterly in my heart. He had already affected me, but fortunately, I shouldnât have tried to off myself because of him. No matter what, Aldrichâs reaction touched me.
âRelax, Iâm still here. Donât take his words to heart.â I didnât know if I was telling this to him or for myself.
He nodded, and we continued to eat. After we footed the bill, we walked out side by side.
âHey, maybe you should try to get the girl you love back. Maybe sheâs ready now,â I whispered to him.
However, Aldrich shook his head. âWe might not be together for the rest of our lives. Our relationship is very complicated ...â
I heard his faint sigh. âIâm sorry.â
âItâs okay. Itâs all in the past now. Weâre friends, arenât we? You donât have to be so polite. â
I opened the car door and got in. He looked relaxed and said with a smile, âMaybe you should consider getting a boyfriend and forget about the unpleasant past, or tell me where that d*mned sc*mbag is. Iâll beat him up for you.â
Beat him up? In my mind, I imagined Bensonâs bloody nose and swollen face as he begged for mercy. This might be a good idea, but I was afraid I couldnât do it right now. There was no need to do it at all. Keeping him in my mind all the time wouldnât make me better. Itâd only make me sink deeper into depression.
âI donât think Iâm ready for a new relationship or a fight,â I said with a smile.
âIâm sorry, what do you plan to do? Are you going to let go of the person who broke your heart?â
I looked into his eyes. He was furious and sad about what I had experienced. I could see the anger flickering in his dark gray eyes. If Benson had appeared before us, he would have attacked him without hesitation. He looked much cuter now. Perhaps I should hug him and thank him for his concern for me, but I didnât like him earlier and bickered with him. It would be too strange to hug him now.
He got into the car, and a pleasant smell of the ocean spread in the small car. I couldnât control my wildly beating heart. This was a sign that I was slowly awakening, but I was upset now and didnât know whether to be happy or react.
He smelled so good, like a delicious cake waiting for someone to take a bite.
To avoid doing anything irrational while driving, I didnât look at him the whole way. Perhaps our relationship had eased up, but the atmosphere wasnât as gloomy as when we first arrived. He would tell one or two light-hearted jokes from time to time, making me hold my stomach and laugh non-stop. Even if I didnât speak, I felt very comfortable, except for the scent on his body that was getting stronger and stronger.
He parked the car in the garage, and the soldier waiting beside him immediately said something to him. Finally, he turned around with a serious face and waved at me to leave.
I licked my lips. I didnât know why I suddenly felt timid, but I still called out to him. He turned around and looked at me in confusion. Finally, I mustered my courage and hugged him. His arms were warm, but I let go quickly to avoid embarrassment.
âThank you. Iâm very happy to be able to go out and have fun with you today. I had a pleasant day.â
He looked at me with an ambiguous expression and smiled. âMe too, Selma. Iâve never been so happy before.â
I looked at him as he left, my heart thumping.