Page 46 of Lycan King's Captives
Carina’s blood-red eyes lock onto mine, their depths swirling with a storm of emotions that unsettle me. Betrayal. Hurt. Anger. Fear. They all claw at me as she meets my gaze, leaving invisible scratches on her hardened exterior. If fire had a face, it would be hers at this moment, her eyes matching the burning embers of the fireplace.
“I just got off the phone with my father, Xandros,” she hisses, her voice a grating whisper against the pressing silence. “You’ve postponed our wedding!” she clenches her teeth.
I divert my gaze, the guilt coiling like a venomous snake inside me. I’ve always been able to face consequences head-on, this time, the confrontation is unwelcome. I know she is hurting, so am I. So is my mate.
My throat tightens, but I manage to maintain a calm façade. “I thought we needed more time to sort things out,” I respond, trying to keep my voice steady, not wanting to fight with her, not tonight.
“More time?” she laughs, the sound sending a chill up my spine.
“I thought it was for the best…for us until we figure things out,” I retort defensively, the words scraping my throat raw.
Carina erupts into a cold, haunting laugh, the sound echoing in the room like an icy death. Her phone lands with a thud on the silk duvet. “This isn’t about ‘us’, Xandros. It’s about that damned girl. That little mutt you’re so fond of.”
“Carina,” I warn, a cutting edge to my voice.
“No,” she cuts me off, rising from the bed. “That bitch is ruining everything. Everything was fine until you found her!”
My heart pounds against my chest like a drum, matching the tempo of my mounting anger. “Her name is Sienna,” I snarl, my canines baring instinctively.
Her burning eyes turn deadly, frosty even. “I agreed to let you keep her, Xandros. But I won’t let her steal you from me. Marry me, or I promise, I will remove her from the picture myself. I won’t lose to that little whore!” she screams angrily.
Her words ignite a rage within me, hotter than the roaring fireplace nearby. “You lost to her the day I laid my eyes on her, Carina!” I snarl, her face twisting at the betrayal of my words, clearly stinging more than any physical blow. She slaps me, her hand striking my cheek with a force that sends my head reeling sideways. I press my lips in a line, my hands fisting at my sides, anger coursing through me. Yet her hand wasn’t totally undeserved.
With that, she storms out of the room, slamming the door so hard it rattles the paintings on the wall, making one fall to the floor. A heavy silence fills the room. Alone and furious, I make my way to my office, the scent of rich mahogany and old books comforting me as I step inside the huge room. The floor to ceiling bookcases take up most of the space; this place has always been a sanctuary to me, just like my library. I sit down at my desk, the cool leather of the chair a stark contrast to the burning anger within me. I need to figure out what to do. I try to untangle the web of problems, spinning in my mind when a knock on the door intrudes my solitude.
Lifting my head, I glance up to see my father stepping into the room. Despite the situation, a sense of warmth washes over me. No matter how tough the circumstances, he’s always been a rock for me, at least when my mother isn’t watching.
My father steps in, his presence a beacon of stability amidst the chaos. “Heard you’ve postponed the wedding?” he asks, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.
“News travels fast,” I reply, a hint of a smile playing on my lips despite my turmoil. “Did mother send you to berate me?”
“Quite the situation you’ve found yourself in, my boy. Your mother is fuming, so I thought you could use some company. Misery loves company, doesn’t it?” He pours himself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid swirling in the crystal tumbler.
“Bring another bottle then, Father. This one,” I gesture to the half-empty bottle in front of me, “is reserved for my sorrow.”
He lets out a hearty laugh, reaching behind him to grab another bottle from the bar. “That sounds like a plan, son.” We sit here, in the quiet, nursing our drinks and unspoken thoughts. Despite everything, I can always find reason from my father, even if it is only behind my mother’s back.
As we enjoy our drinks, the comforting silence between my father and me gives way to a heavy atmosphere after a while; he’s holding back. “You’re doing it again, old man. Holding out on me,” I prod. “Just spit it out. Unless it’s about mother withholding…well, you know. That’s a mental image I’m still trying to erase after your last over-sharing of your bedroom horrors.”
His low chuckle reverberates around the room. “She does hold quite the grudge,” he quips, sipping his drink. I agree, knowing my mother all too well.
“Look, if you’re here to talk me into marrying Carina, save your breath.” He shakes his head, making me sit back, confused.
“No, son. I’m here to tell you not to discard the mate bond. It’s killing you, and I can see it.” I instantly stiffen, ready to argue about the necessity of the treaty, when he interrupts me. “The treaty has loopholes, son. Mates are one of them. The marriage to Carina isn’t public yet. We can still fix this mess.”
I raise my eyebrows, taken aback. “You want me to call off the wedding?” I ask incredulously, his words in front of my mother say the opposite. His soft sigh brings a wave of defeat through me.
“I just want my son to be happy. As for your mother, she won’t accept Sienna… not yet. Give her time. She needs to see past Sienna’s parents’ sins. I know it’s hard, and your mother has a knack for making things more complicated than they need to be.”
“And this loophole?” I ask, still unsure of his proposal. His eyes glint, a sly smirk pulling at his lips. “If the mate is found before or after the marriage, she can still fight for you. It won’t breach the contract or the treaty if she fights for your hand.”
The notion is preposterous. “Carina will kill her.”
“Then train her,” he retorts simply with a shrug.
“How can I train her if I’m not even allowed to be near her until after the wedding?”
“Find a way, Xandros. Or get Carina to accept the divorce. Just… figure it out.” He rises, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder before heading to the door. “And mom?” I call out, my heart sinking at the thought of confronting her again to tell her I won’t go through with marrying Carina. He pauses, turning to me with a knowing smile. “I’ll handle your mother,” he says, turning and pauses again.
