Chapter 4 Four

Morwenna's stance. I knew the past had a cruel way of haunting me. But I never expected it to come back in the form of a name I swore I'd never hear again. "Your former mate is here." I didn't move, I barely breathed. I had spent the last few days trying to forget Aedric, trying to rip his name from my soul like a weed that refused to die. But now, here it was, blooming in the dark corners of my mind, choking me all over again. My heart pounded, a deep ache. I swallowed past the lump in the throat, forcing myself to meet the messenger's gaze.

"What?" My voice came out strangled, too fragile. The first man who had ever held my heart, the same man who had torn it apart without hesitation. "Leave," Leofric said, dismissing her with a flick of his fingers. He scurried away without another word. Silence settled between us. I should have left. I should have walked away, pretending none of this affected me. But my legs wouldn't move. My heart pounded against my ribs, the old wound that Aedric had left behind bleeding anew. I felt Leofric's gaze burning into me before he even spoke. "So," he drawled, "your past comes crawling back." I clenched my fists. "I don't care." He let out a low hum, circling me like a predator. "You're a terrible liar, little one." I turned to face him, my pulse roaring in my ears. "It doesn't matter," I said through gritted teeth. "Aedric is dead to me!" He tilted his head, watching me closely. Then, with slow moves, he reached for me. His fingers brushed my chins, tilting it upwards until I had no choice but to look at him. "Tell me," he murmured. "Do you still love him?" I sucked in a sharp breath. The question got harder than I expected. Did I? The memories clawed at me. Aedric's hands in my hair, the way he looked at me like I was his whole world. Before he shattered me. Before he chose another. I straightened my spine, refusing to let him see my weakness. "I'm fine." A slow, humorless smirk curved his lips. "Are you?" I hated how easily he saw through me. Hated how his gaze stripped me bare, exposing every unspoken fear. "Tell me, Morwenna." He took a step forward, his voice deceptively soft. "Do you plan to run back to him? To the man who threw you away? Humiliated you for another lady?" My breath hitched. "That's not..." "Answer me." His voice was a growl now, low and threatening, vibrating through my bones. "Would you have crawled back to him if I hadn't claimed you first?" "You don't own me," I said through gritted teeth. He chuckled, but there was no amusement in it. "No?" His thumb brushed over my jaw, featherlight, but it burned. "Then why do you tremble when I touch you?" He leaned closer, so close that I could feel his breath against my skin. His lips curled in a small smile before leaning further, causing his lips to brush through mine. I swiftly dodged his lips, my heart pounding as I held my hand close to my chest. Damn him! I turned my back to him before he could see the truth in my eyes. "I'm not discussing this with you. I'm so tired for the night already." "I don't belong to anyone," I snapped, turning to him. He didn't stop me. He just smiled. "Keep telling yourself that, Morwenna." I hated how easily he unraveled me, how quickly he found every weak spot I tried to hide. It felt as though we had known each other for years. For a moment, I felt something strange flicker in my chest. And worst of all? I hated that a part of me wanted him to keep going, to keep teasing, and take Aedric out of my head. He was a past I'd rather not remember. "I'm going to bed." My voice was cold, so was my face. "Don't test me, Morwenna. You won't like the consequences." Though his voice was cold, my body trembled with excitement. But I refused to give him the satisfaction of a response and I walked away. A few blocks away from the Breeder's Chamber, I recalled the cold shoulders I was given earlier that day. "I better find somewhere else to stay until they fall asleep." I thought to myself. After some minutes of wandering around, I found a small, fascinating garden where I sat on a bench, staring at the stars. Suddenly, my nose picked a familiar scent. I thought it was just rumors spread by those who were fascinated by the King's new plaything. "Morwenna?" The voice came softly. I tilted my head, my eyes wide open in shock to see Aedric standing across the garden. "What are you doing here?" I questioned, standing to my feet. He took a step forward, hesitant, as if afraid I'd vanish. "I had to see you." I crossed my arms, my body taut as a bowstring. "Why?" My voice cracked despite myself. He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Because I made a mistake. I should have stayed with you." Rage flared in my chest, hot and uncontrollable. I stalked toward him, shoving at his chest with both hands. "A mistake?" My voice trembled. "You call what you did to me a mistake?" "Morwenna, please..." "You rejected me, Aedric! I thought you really loved me, I thought all my pain would end with you. I thought I had found the one to hold my hands when I'm down." My vision blurred with unshed tears, but I refused to let them fall. "You humiliated me. Broke me. Stood still when I was being auctioned as a plaything to different men who looked at me with lust filled eyes. And now you regret it?" I let out a bitter laugh. "How convenient." Pain flashed across his face. "I was wrong and scared." "It's been just two days, isn't it too early for you to regret? Scared?" I scoffed, letting out a hollow laugh. "And now that I'm claimed... Sold to another, you suddenly have the courage to fight for me? Feel the need you could have done better?" His jaw clenched. "You don't belong with him. He's a monster and you know it." "At least, that monster is good enough to flaunt me to his subject, stand up for me when I was looked down. What have you ever done for me, Aedric?" I paused, a tear rolled over. "You watched while my family walked over me, when the Pack member called me weak, and you picked my sister over me, your mate?" "I'm ready... I'll do everything you want, Morwenna. Parade you around the entire Pack, make them know you're my mate. I'll do anything you want." His voice came as a desperate plea, almost trembling. Too soft to be coming from an Alpha. I took a step closer. "That's the problem, Aedric. Leofric doesn't need to parade me before they know I'm his. He makes what's his obvious!" "Please..." A mild growl cut him short. It was Leofric. He stood at the entrance of the garden, golden eyes gleaming with dark smiles as he looked at me. I instantly bit my lips in regret, knowing he'd heard all I said. But as he shifted his gaze to Aedric, his face squeezed into rage. "You have a death wish," Leofric mused, stepping closer. "Or you're just stupid." Aedric turned to face him. "This has nothing to do with you." "You dare cross my territory, walk into my Pack and try to force my woman away with you?" He let out a low, threatening growl as he moved closer to me and grabbed me by the waist, marking his territory. Aedric's eyes flashed with rage, but he knew better. He was no match for Leofric. Leofric was his King as well. Leofric's smirk vanished. "Everything about her has to do with me." Before I could predict it, Leofric struck, faster than lightning. One second his hands were wrapped around my waist. The next, his hand pinned Aedric against a tree, his hand wrapped around his throat, claws digging into his skin. "You dare touch what is mine?" His voice was death itself. Aedric gasped, struggling, but Leofric didn't waver. I should have been afraid, and tried to stop him from hurting Aedric. But that moment made me realize something. I was ready to let go of Aedric. Perhaps this monster in front of me was the perfect mate for me. Perhaps this was where I belonged, with a monster who loves.