The 5-Time Rejected Gamma And The Lycan King Chapter 23

“Juan, good to see you too, old friend.” Wainwright snapped out of his shock before he shook Juan's hand.

Luna Hale set her plate down before walking over to Willa who had already gotten up as they embraced, “We didn’t see you last night. We thought you both weren’t attending this year.”

“Oh no, we could never miss this.” Willa said in all smiles. “Lucy has been lovely, as always.” She shot Lucy a grateful glance.

Wainwright snorted and said, “Yeah. Until you put her on the battlefield.”

Gamma Sylvia then joined in with a giggle, “Then she’ll turn into a monster.”

Seeing Lucianne embarrassed with her hands covering her eyes, Juan added, “Let’s give Lucy more credit. She won’t turn into a monster. Lucy has been a monster since we were kids.”

Laughter spread around the table, and Lucianne’s narrowed eyes shot at Juan’s cheeky ones as she warned, “I’m getting you for this, Juan.”

“Oh yeah? When?” He challenged.

“Tomorrow. At training.” Lucianne smirked.

His grin fell and he looked terrified as his eyes went to his mate before he cursed, “Shit!”

Another round of laughter, louder this time. When Xandar laughed with them, he came to realise that he had never felt more welcomed in his life. People always obliged him but there was never any encouragement to speak freely, or for the people around him to be themselves. The atmosphere with the werewolves felt different. He liked it. He didn’t want it to end.

In between the conversations and the jokes, Xandar unceremoniously kissed Lucianne on her ear lobe and whispered, “Thank you, for getting them to talk to me.”

“You’re welcome,” she whispered with a shy smile. There was something about Xandar that made her question her preconceptions about mates. Whenever he spoke to her, she felt like she was free to say whatever she deemed fit. It was never like that with her previous mates. She had to watch her tongue to a certain extent around them just as she would anyone else.

Juan and Hale were, by far, the most understanding and open with her. They always made sure that she was heard. Even then, she never felt comfortable pouring out everything she felt with them. She voiced her thoughts, yes. But they were thoughts that have been filtered for them to be as inoffensive as possible. Sometimes, her response may still be offensive to the listener even after her thought-filtration processes.

Xandar was different though. He seemed to be encouraging her to be herself, her complete self. He wanted to know everything that bothered her and made her feel sad. Even after she told him about her past mates, she was moved when he showed her no sympathy, only anger at what she had to go through. His hardened expression in the living room only showed that he was working hard to understand the pain she had to endure. She hated being felt sorry for so when Xandar didn’t, even without her asking, she felt a sense of belonging. So much so that she even forgot that she was speaking to their King when they were alone in his villa.

“Your Highness?” A voice came from behind Xandar. Everyone at the table stopped speaking. Xandar stood grudgingly as he turned to meet Alfred Cummings, “Yes, Cummings?”

Sebastian, who was behind his father and also bowed, but very grudgingly. Alfred continued to hold his head down as he explained, “I wanted to apologize for Sasha’s behavior earlier. She got emotional and meant no harm to the Gamma. She wishes to apologize for her error if she’s allowed back into the meeting. May she be given a chance to make amends, your Highness?”

“No.” Xandar responded firmly, his eyes dark.

Alfred lifted up his head in surprise as he said, “I beg your pardon, my King? Your Highness, I can assure you that she did not intend to upset the Gamma. She was simply…”

Xandar didn’t even let the old man finish, “The Gamma she insulted is my mate. Tell Ms Cummings to count herself lucky that I didn’t initiate court proceedings for her behavior towards the future Queen. She was already warned last night when I was speaking to Luna Lyssa. I will not have her around here again.”

Alfred was lost for words. He glanced at Lucianne, who had an indifferent look as he played his last card, “Could she at least be present at the training sessions starting tomorrow, your Highness? We haven’t found out the truth behind the rogue Lycans yet, and I wouldn’t want her to be defenseless should we ever have to face the threat.”

Xandar’s eyes turned onyx, his voice was raised as he was close to exploding with Cummings’s relentless pestering, “Cummings, I SAID N—…”

“Xandar, that would be fine.” Lucianne was by his side in an instant. She held his arm affectionately and took his hand in one of hers, using the mate bond to calm him, “Just training will be fine. Everyone will be fighting with a partner so she won’t have the chance to bother me or anyone else. It’ll be fine.”

Xandar’s eyes softened as his eyebrows furrowed in concern when he asked, “Are you sure?” She gave him a small smile of assurance and nodded gently.

Hesitantly, Xandar looked back at Cummings and said, “You and your reckless daughter better realize how lucky she is right now. Training only. She’s not invited to anything else.”