Chapter 87
Lily POV
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I froze, my hand hovering over a jar I’d been about to place on the shelf. “What?” I asked, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.
He was watching me closely now with a blank look on his face. “You heard me. Vanessa and Lucas are holding their mating ceremony soon. Guess he’s moved on from his little obsession with you p>
My stomach twisted. The idea of Lucas being with Vanessa felt… strange. I wasn’t jealous – far from it. But Vanessa was the exact opposite of who Lucas was. She was wild, the kind of wild I didn’t know if he could handle. They were so mismatched – different personalities and all.
Kai tilted his head, studying me. “You don’t seem too upset about it,” he remarked.
I shot him a strange look. “Why would I be? Lucas and I are ancient history p>
His smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. “Then why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost p>
My gaze dropped to the floor. “Of course, I’m worried about Vanessa my sister. She’s not the kind of person that can stay with someone like Lucas. They’re not alike in any way p>
Kai’s jaw tightened and for a moment, he looked like he wanted to say something but held back.
“I think they’re good for each other,” he said after a pause. “And if she’s not, that’s her choice p>
I nodded, though my mind was racing.
Kai, however, wasn’t done. “You know, Lily he said, his tone shifting to something softer, almost vulnerable.
He never calls me by my name unless he’s pissed about something. “I’ve been patient with you. I’ve given you space to figure things out. But I need to know – where we stand? You still haven’t gotten back to me regarding finally choosing.
I looked up at him, my heart pounding. This was it. The moment I’d been avoiding, not because I didn’t want to choose, Kia, but because I wasn’t sure I was ready to admit how much I already had.
“You said you were worried about Briella and now she’s gone and my mom is beginning to accept you, what else do you want before you give me a reply p>
“Kai,” I began, my voice trembling slightly, “I p>
Before I could finish, Kai interrupted me, his brows were already knitted in annoyance. “You know what? Forget it,” he snapped. “I can’t keep waiting forever, Lily. If you’re still hung up on Lucas or afraid to take this step, just say it p>
“I’m not hung up on Lucas!” I shot back, my temper rising. “And I’m not afraid, Kai. I just p>
The tension between us crackled like static electricity, and for a moment, it felt like we might either explode or crash together. But just as I opened my mouth to finally tell him how I felt, a knock at the door interrupted us.
Kai turned, his expression darkening. “What?” he barked.
The door opened, and Beta Liam entered, his gaze flitted from me to Kai and then back to me with an apologetic expression. “Alpha, I hate to interrupt, but I’ve been trying to reach you via mindlink and you won’t let me in. Anyways, we have an urgent matter that requires your attention p>
Kai ran a hand through his hair, clearly torn between his responsibilities and the conversation he desperately wanted us to finish. “Fine,” he said tightly. “I’ll be there in a minute p>
Beta Liam hesitated glancing between us again. “It’s… about the northern border. We need to act quickly p>
I heard him curse under his breath before he turned back to me. His eyes searched mine as if he was trying to read my mind. “This isn’t over.” He said.
I nodded, watching as he turned and left with Liam.
After Kai and Liam left, I couldn’t stop replaying the conversation in my mind – the way Kai had looked at me, the frustration in his voice, and the tension that had crackled between us. I had been ready to tell him the truth, to stand by his side the way he stood by mine.
But now, I wasn’t sure if I’d waited for too long.
I also noticed something else, Kai had totally misinterpreted my reaction when he told me about Lucas and Vanessa. I could see the way jealousy had brimmed in his eyes, and that was my motivation. I checked my watch and there was still time.
I need to find out how I could cut ties with Lucas to prove to Kai it was him I love and no one else.
A few minutes later, my heart pounded restlessly as I walked briskly toward the library at the college. This wasn’t the first time I had come here for answers that I was too ashamed to ask someone else.
I was hoping that at the end of the day, I would know if there was a way – any way – to sever whatever bond that still lingered between me and Lucas. Though our connection had weakened after he rejected me, I didn’t have my wolf back then, so perhaps… I might still be connected to him like that.
I needed to be free of it. For myself. For Kai.
The library was quiet with only the occasional hum of someone flipping through a book. I inhaled deeply, loving the way the scent of books and aged wood calmed me instantly. I moved through the shelves, heading straight for the section that dealt with mate bonds.
There were so many books on the topic, so I was skimming through each of the books, trying to see which one would be best for me. Finally, I settled on a book that had browned with age and scanned the pages until I got to a page that said Severing mate bond.
“When the bond is incomplete or rejected by one part, it weakens over time. However, true severance would require both mates to consent, or intervention by an elder with the gift of severance p>
I frowned. Consent from both parties? That wasn’t likely. Lucas wouldn’t give up his hold on me, not without a fight.
Deciding to read more about the book, I replaced the rest of the books and started leaving when I bumped into someone.
“I’m sorry!” I whispered as I bent down to pick up the book, I had just selected which fell to the ground. But the other person was faster. When I looked up to thank them, I paused when I saw Kevin – Kai’s cousin. His eyes glinted with amusement.
“Fancy running into you here of all places,” Kevin chuckled. “It’s been a minute, Lily… how are you doing?” he asked.
“Kevin,” I said, putting the book instinctively inside my bag. “What are you doing here p>
He shrugged. “I could ask you the same thing.” His gaze travelled to the book in my bag before he sought my gaze again. “You seem like you’ve got a lot on your mind. A book on mate bond?” he chuckled. “Is this about your ex’s mating ceremony p>
I stiffened. Of course, the entire pack would know about Lucas and Vanessa now, but not everyone knew I and Lucas were involved once except people like Kevin who had ties with Alpha Kai.
“No,” I said firmly. “It has nothing to do with Lucas p>
He raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. “Hmm. Sure it doesn’t p>
He came closer to me and that was when I picked up a familiar scent. I had perceived the scent earlier but had dismissed it but now that he was standing so close to me, the scent wafted up to my nostrils again.
Although it was faint, it still clung to him and I recognized who it belonged to immediately – Briella. Though the scent wasn’t fresh, it was strong enough to still be on him which meant p>