STARLETTE
“Luna?” The surprise in my father’s tone, equalling mine.
“Yes, Luna.” Maximus affirmed.
My father raised a questioning brow. “And why is that? She’s an Omega, remember?”
“She’s my mate.” Maximus retorted, and Father displayed a great deal of shock. His expression shifted from shock to disbelief, finally settling on disdain.
“How could you, the Alpha King, be mated to a mere worthless Omega like Starlette?” He repeatedly shook his head in disbelief. “They’ve got to be a mistake somewhere.”
“There is no mistake. Starlette is perfect!” Maximus’s tone suggested he was starting to get annoyed.
“She would ruin you! She’s no good!” My own father tried to diminish me.
“I repeat-” Maximus took an intimidating step forward, his jaw clenching. “She is perfect.”
I still haven’t absorbed his sudden announcement of wanting to make me his Luna, but the way he stood up for me, spoke about me in front of my father, melted all the rage I harboured towards him. My heart warmed, elated that I was being defended against my father. Something that had never happened before. It felt different; it felt good. I had always had to live with my father’s abuse without daring to talk back, and I had always longed for someone to stand up for me. It was so damn satisfying.
Noticing Maximus’s change in mood and knowing better than to provoke him further, my father sighed. “I think I should get going now.” He bowed. “I wish you the best, Alpha King Maximus.”
He left the room without saying another word to me.
Maximus looked at me, and we locked eyes. The talk of making me his Luna finally sank in as I stared into his eyes.
“Why did you lie to my father?”
A hint of confusion touched his features. “Lie?”
“Yes. You said you wanted to make me your Luna.”
“That was not a lie. I meant everything I said.” He sighed, closing the little distance between us and taking my hand in his. “Just give me the chance to love you; I promise to never fail you again.”
“But…” My mind raced for a billion reasons why I couldn’t be his Luna, and the first one that spilled out of my mouth was. “Lauren. She’s carrying your baby. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? You-”
He cut me in. “Lauren would be the mother of my child, not my Luna!” He pressed his lips tightly together and sighed. “Besides, I still haven’t decided what to do with her after delivering my pup. But one thing is certain; a woman of her character won’t raise my pup. I won’t allow her to corrupt my child.”
“Maximus.” I called, a deep form of affection clouding my eyes as I stared at my mate.
“Starlette, I promise to never let you down again. I made a mistake, a terrible one. Never again.”
I believed him. His tone was thick with sincerity, and the expression on his face matched it. Even the air around us seemed to carry that sense of sincerity. Damn, I could even feel it.
I believed him, and I knew the right thing to do was to give him another chance, to allow him to love me like I had always wanted. Even Iris howled in my head, urging me to forgive him.
But… I couldn’t help thinking about what he said in the past. He had threatened to reject me as his mate when he first laid eyes on me, and now he was proudly claiming me. I still couldn’t fathom his sudden switch. Peherps, people really do change for the better.
He squeezed my hand, snapping me back from my daze.
I sighed. “I’ll think about it.”
At that moment, all I wanted was to allow myself to dissolve into the love he promised, but I didn’t want to make an impulsive decision I might regret. Albeit why I needed time to think it through.
“No rush. I’ll give you all the time and space you need. I just hope it won’t take too long.” He said, the slight hurt in his tone evident.
I nodded. “Thank you.”
He nodded slightly in response.
I walked away from him, feeling slightly tired. Peherp, it was from severing the bond with my former pack, I thought. I had wanted to go to the library to start researching what I had just discovered about Lucius, but with every step I took, I grew weaker. So, I decided to retire to the bedroom instead.
I took a hot bath, hoping it would relieve the helpless feeling of weakness, but it only helped a little-not enough to make a significant difference.
Maximus was in the bedroom when I emerged from the bathroom, seated on the edge of the bed. He hoisted his head to look at me; the neutral expression on his face immediately turned to a frown when he noticed how weakly I walked. I was sure I looked pale as well.
“What’s wrong?” He jerked up and was beside me in an instant, scooping me into his arms. He walked to the bed and gently laid me down, his eyes searching mine. “But you looked okay just a few minutes ago.”
“I think the broken ties are weighing me down.” I suggested.
“No. The pain was supposed to have ended after the intense pain you felt earlier.”
I adjusted the pillow beneath my head until I felt comfortable enough. “I’m an Omega. I’m naturally weak.” I yawned with my mouth wide open, sleep quickly overtaking me. “That’s probably why.”
He caressed my cheek. “You should sleep. I hope you feel better when you wake up.”
I yawned again, nodding slightly.
The door suddenly flung open, and Bella waltzed in. “Starlette, guess what?!”
The excitement on her face faded when she noticed her surroundings. She quickly commanded her head to a slight bow. “I’m sorry, Alpha; I didn’t know you were around.”
“Now, leave!” He hissed.
She briefly glanced at me before quickly turning around and leaving the room.
I would have loved to know the news she came to share, but I agreed with Maximus at that moment. She needed to leave, as my eyes were so heavy that I couldn’t keep them open for another minute.