Chapter Eighteen – Under the sun.
Chris POV
So this was what a day under the sun felt like. I felt my insides being fried as I stood waiting for Jaden to finish picking which hairpin to buy.
Did he have a mate? Why did he even need a hairpin? We hadn’t really got into personal talks as he always found a way to excuse himself.
I went closer to him and the seller. “The pink one is pretty, get that one.” I didn’t care if it was. I needed to get out of the sun.
He picked it and smiled at me. “You have the best taste, Alpha King.”
I smiled smugly. He had a way with words that impressed me but creeped me out to some level. It had been three hours away from my palace.
He returned to me dangling three hair pins. “Pretty? I bought this one for your mate, I hadn’t brought a gift coming. She’d like it?”
I gazed at the pin sternly, reaching out to it slowly. He let it go, not before hesitating. This can’t be given to my mate, she was dead.
For the last three years, I saw the difference between Sasha and Rih, in terms of beauty, character and our flow with each other.
Sasha’s blonde hair was the only ethereal thing about her but Rih had grace even in suffering. As I grew older, I saw the contrast.
Also, Rih would have given me a child by now. Sasha had lots of curses that were making her miscarry all the time.
“Alpha King? Do you think your mate will like it?” he asked again.
A frown came to my face. Doesn’t he know my mate was dead, why’s he pushing my buttons?
“Rih would have but she’s not here! If you’re getting a gift for my Luna, then get anything you want for her as she’d have to accept it!”
I noticed the hidden smirk on his face as I retorted. He had purposely asked that, hadn’t he? I decided to tarry longer in that topic.
“So tell me about your own mate?” I asked smugly, “Have you met your own mate?”
“Not yet.” He sighed. “I feel cursed sometimes and heavily envy those who finds theirs.”
Was he backfiring and making me feel more guilt for losing mine? I huffed and climbed atop my horse, we needed to head back to the palace.
“You’d find yours. Be lucky that you didn’t need a Luna to be Alpha.” I began riding to the palace.
He ascended his own horse and began riding behind me. “I did.”
I turned to him. “You had an arranged Luna then?”
“Contracted. I told her after three months, she can leave. She did, she’s my Beta’s sister.”
I looked down. It would have been beneficial if I had thought of that, but it’d be different for me. I couldn’t change Lunas by will.
And what if I didn’t get a second mate after I let go of the Luna? A sigh left my lips and I fastened my horse.
As we got closer I saw Vanessa and Sasha yelling at the maids of the palace. Sasha raised her hand to slap a maid and I rushed to stop her.
I attempted to push her back but seeing Jaden there, I stopped my horses, even if I sensed he knew I regretted our union.
The maids thanked me and ran away, with the way Vanessa glared at her, I knew they’d be handled later.
“What’re you doing with maids when you should be preparing for Jaden’s stay here? Weren’t you informed?” I tried not to raise my voice.
Vanessa peeked at the man behind me and faced me. “Who is the guest? We heard nothing, something happened in your study room so…”
“I am Alpha Jaden of Black Rose Pack.” Jaden said, walking to the ladies. I moved aside for him to make a bow to them as courtesy.
He didn’t and only handed his hands for a shake. They both accepted, smiling like idiots.
And what had Vanessa wanted to say happened in my study room?
“I heard that stubborn Jake Justin was soon to be Alpha. I never knew he had such a handsome elder brother.” Vanessa cooed, nudging Sasha.
Sasha kept a straight face, glancing at me, she only made a small nod when I gave no reaction.
Whether she admitted Jaden was handsome or not, was of no importance to me.
“Nice to meet you. And since preparations for my stay wasn’t ready, I wouldn’t waste your time no further and return to my pack.”
“What?” Vanessa and I yelled at the same time.
I cleared my throat. Perhaps she was looking for more avenues to flirt with him. While I was stunned he wanted to leave suddenly.
He made me stand for hours under the sun, moving from one stall to another, only to leave because he couldn’t stay here.
“I could rent a motel for you to be at, very comfortable. Forgive the irresponsible women of my home.” I seethed at Vanessa and Sasha.
Jaden hesitated. “Don’t be like that, Alpha King. I bet they tried their best and I’d be very uncomfortable at a motel. I’d just return.”
Vanessa’s face fell and she looked away. “I hope you visit next time, Alpha.”
“I hope so too, Princess.” He smiled at her.
Sasha hurried away with Vanessa so I wouldn’t scold her. They were times that she being my Luna sickened me, this was one of them.
Other times she was my Luna, I was either fairly pleased or just displeased. At least she was good in bed.
“You don’t need to escort me Alpha King, I’d just find my ways around.” Jaden called me from my thoughts.
I turned to him, I attempted escorting him to the main gate but decided against it, I’ve been under the sun for far too long.
“Very well, safe trip.”
He bowed to me and left shortly.
Strolling into my study room, I remembered Vanessa said something happened here. I mind linked to her from there.
“Did something happen in my study room?”
She scoffed. “A guard said a book was stolen. Like a record book but I doubt it’s important. Maybe the thief thought it was important.”
As she spoke, I ravaged the tables looking for the record book. It was indeed gone. It wasn’t useless, just not an official book.
It had all the plan and rewards of all the packs. Not anyone should have it, if they did, it’d be useless to them.
“Jake!” I snapped my fingers. Hadn’t I seen him holding it? But then he left for his pack a long time ago before that.
What was going on?