The tavern was enveloped with silence.
Perhaps, they were flabbergasted that a handsome, good-looking man had come to chime in and enter this cheerful place. I would also be mesmerized since Valerian was not wearing expensive clothing but some cheap clothes just like me.
I guess he dressed simply so no one would notice that he came from a noble family. So others would mistake him for a commoner, an Omega, or a rogue.
“If you are frightened, you should have chosen to return to your packs instead of drinking here,” Valerian said as he strode towards the counter and asked for a drink.
“W-We know that… We are really planning to go home…” the other one said.
“Yes! I… I agree! We should definitely go home!”
“Then, go home if you wish to keep your families alive,” he said.
I silently watched the people who started murmuring, wanting to know who this person was who suddenly entered. I was fully aware of his scent that reached my nostrils as I saw the side view of his face.
That contour nose, chiseled jaw, and plump thin lips… I used to trace my fingers on those features I had come to adore after we made love. I flinched at that memory.
It felt nostalgic and melancholy at the same time.
But my heart leaped out of my ribcage when Valerian turned on my way. Our eyes met, which made me hold my breath.
I looked away and distracted myself by emptying the mug of beer. “One more,” I told the innkeeper while I felt my behind that a few people were leaving the tavern.
“Aren’t you returning to your pack, my lady? It is dangerous if you are going home later,” he said as he provided me with the mug I wanted to drink.
I paid for a copper coin and smiled. “No. I am on vacation. And you do not have to worry about me.” I felt ticklish when in my peripheral vision, Valerian was still looking on my way.
I must do something to avoid him. I was not prepared to meet him again. I was expecting to meet him in the Solacia, not here in this town. And what on earth was he doing here in this town anyway? It was not like he had some business or what.
Also, it had been awkward since our last meeting. I cried, which was unexpected on my part.
But if I went away, he would notice I was avoiding him.
I met his eyes again. My wolf felt skittish just by seeing him. His scent was distracting me since his scent was the same as my favorite flower, hyacinth. “It’s you again,” I said nonchalantly as I eyed him up and down.
Even though he was wearing simple clothing, Valerian still looked gallant and dignified. His Alpha aura was emitting, almost making me curl up like a ball.
He looked surprised and in disbelief. But then, he took a sip of his drink while looking in my direction as if he was enchanting me. “Indeed…” He eyed me up and down. “And you’re the one who cried all of a sudden.”
I grimaced but ignored his statement. “It seems that this time you are following me. Don’t tell me that you followed my scent here?” Ah… I wanted to hug him and tell him everything would be alright, even though I was not tasked yet to attack his pack.
A sly smile drew out on his lips. I almost swooned over it. “Oh? Perhaps, I really am then…” He drew closer and leaned forward. “Who wouldn’t want to waste an opportunity to see his mate again, hmm?”
I arched my eyebrow, finding him hilarious. “Ah, so you claim me now as your mate?” I found myself drawing closer to him. I eyed his face up and down before I smirked. “Pathetic…” I whispered before I withdrew and scoffed. Shaking my head, I emptied my drink before I decided to leave now.
I noticed a few patrons were staying since many left because of what happened to the five Alphas who were massacred. This was what Papa wanted, to instill fear around the people here.
His ultimate goal was to annihilate all the Alphas he hated. I meant, he hated all of them.
I straightened my back when my wolf alerted me that our mate was following us. I calmed my heart down before turning to Valerian, who had an amusing expression.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I arched my eyebrow.
Even though I wanted to be with him, my heart couldn’t stop beating so fast. Yes, I missed him so badly. I even wanted to ask for forgiveness for what I did in the past, but I doubted that he remembered that.
“You haven’t told me your name,” he said.
“Why are you even curious about my name? May I remind you that you found me an eyesore when we first met?” I even crossed my arms over my chest so he could be aware that I was not interested in him and paid heed to our mate bond. However, through inside, I wanted to accept our mate bond. But I wouldn’t want to weird him out.
Valerian’s lips drew out a small lazy smile. “Well, don’t we have the term change of heart?”
I stared at him. Was this man… trying to hit on me? Yes, I understood that he was my mate, and I had already known his behavior in the past, but! He was trying to flirt with me!
Should I be happy about this?
I scoffed, shaking my head. “I do not even like to be fated with you. I do not know why the Moon Goddess fated us.” That was a double-edged sword right there. It hurt to say those words, but I must act spitefully since this was my real personality.
Valerian looked surprised. There was a hint of pain expression, but his sly smile was still plastered on his handsome face. His chartreuse eyes were glinting in glee.
“And do not smile at me like that. I am more used to seeing you being grumpy as if the world is against you.” I turned my back to leave. I wanted to talk to him but must stay on my ground. I was not easy to get.
I smiled in delight, seeing that the town looked so festive every night. There were still people here at this time, so I would like to stroll around a little bit.
“Lilith.”
I was about to take strides to leave when Valerian spoke out of nowhere. Much more to say… what he said made my heart drop to the ground.
“What did you say?” I gulped and turned around to see Valerian looking at me intently.
“Lilith,” he repeated as he took strides in my direction.
My heart ached to hear that name. “How did you…” I paused, not knowing what to say.
In my previous life, Valerian used to call me by my second name, Lilith, as a sign of politely asking for my affection. Did he… investigate me?
But… Valerian must not suppose to know my name yet. He had never investigated me, even in our first meeting back then. It must suppose to have happened before I left Solacia!
“As an asking for a truce, would it suffice that I shall bestow you this lilith flower?”
“Huh?” I snapped back and looked at him before I lowered my gaze, where he was showing me robust foliage and robust, vibrant purple blooms. I jumped to my ground, didn’t expect that he would show a flower before me.
And what did he say?
“L-Lilith flower?” I parroted, caught off guard.
“Mmm!” Valerian nodded and offered it to me. I thoughtlessly took it from him since I did not expect him to bestow me with a flower. “Consider that as a truce.” He winked.
I stared at him. Albeit he was handsome and charming, and he could make my heart wild right now, I still couldn’t believe that Valerian happened to have a flower for which I was named for the second name.
“What do you mean truce?” I stepped back as his scent was distracting my whole being. “There is no truce, you dumbass airheaded noble!” I huffed and turned my back.
“Will I ever see my mate again?” There was a teasing tone in his voice.
I creased my forehead, feeling bizarre at this behavior of him. He was never like this in my previous life. What I remembered was he couldn’t accept that I was his mate. I meant, more on, he denied it.
And what I only did back then was tease him that he was my mate.
And what he asked was the same question I did back then. If I would act like him in my previous life, then my response to that question was,
“Over my dead body.”