The Alpha King's Mistress Chapter 109: Start Over Again?

The movie screen bathed us in a warm glow, popcorn kernels raining down on our laps. We sprawled on Nicholas's velvety couch, watching a random comedy movie. Earlier, I had been reading a book in his bedroom when he appeared at the door, carrying a bowl of popcorn and asking if I wanted to watch a movie.

Five days had passed since the incident. Everything seemed to have returned to normal for everyone else, but not for me. I tried talking to Nicholas about returning to the cabin and working again at the flower shop, but he refused. He even accompanied me in discussing my resignation with the owners of the flower shop and Sammy.

Honestly, the care he showed was something I appreciated and was happy about, but I was starting to get concerned because I had secrets. I knew that when he learned about it, my heart would shatter into pieces. The revelations I had learned in the past days still lingered in my mind, never leaving for a second, and the heaviness of guilt in my chest grew with each passing day.

But that wasn't all. These days, I haven't seen Samantha or Olga around. I tried asking Layla and the other maids, but they remained tight-lipped. Maybe Isaac was right. Perhaps Nicholas had already banished them from the pack.

"What the heck was that?" Nicholas chuckled, catching my attention as he sat next to me.

I glanced at him and saw his relaxed expression, leaning casually on the couch. The movie was some lighthearted rom-com, predictable but funny. Every now and then, a goofy grin stretched across my face. Nicholas would laugh, his deep rumble vibrating through the couch and straight into my chest.

At one point, the character tripped and landed face-first into a giant cake. I burst into laughter. Nicholas, always the strong one, held back a chuckle, but his shoulders shook with suppressed amusement. In the corner of my eyes, I noticed him reaching over to a single kernel.

"Open wide," he whispered.

I didn't even glance at him, keeping my gaze fixed on the screen, and obediently opened my mouth as he popped the kernel into it. The sweetness instantly exploded on my tongue. It was just a popcorn kernel, I knew, but I could feel his gaze lingering on my lips.

"You have something," he murmured, his thumb brushing the corner of my lips.

I snapped my head toward him, my heart skipping a beat. "Do I?"

He leaned in with a smirk on his face, his breath tickling my ear. "Right there," he said, his voice barely a whisper.

His lips brushed against my skin, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I quickly focused my attention on the screen, feeling my cheeks grow hot followed by his laughter. I tried to focus on the movie, but I failed.

Nicholas chuckled, his hand finding mine in the dark. "You might make the screen disappear from how intensely you're staring at it," he murmured, his voice warm and close.

The movie ended with a predictably happy ending, the credits rolling as Nicholas started to draw circles on the back of my palm using his thumb.

“That was surprisingly good,” I said with a giggle.

“Yeah, it is,”

I looked at him, sensing there was something on his mind by his tone. “Is there something wrong?”

He leaned back against the backrest, staring at me. "I know you've been asking others about Samantha and Olga," he muttered, his voice tight.

“I have.”

“I think it would only be right for you to hear it from me. I ordered Samantha to be banished from the pack, and I forbid Olga from stepping foot here in my house.”

My assumption was correct. I smiled at him, “Thank you for telling me.”

He shrugged, “We actually talked about something else.”

“So, what… Did you two talk about it?”

His gaze met mine for a split second. “I made a choice.”

“Choice?” Then it slowly dawned on me. My heart sank. Please tell me he didn't talk to her about the Luna thing…

I pulled my hand from his hold, looking straight ahead. A lame coping mechanism to prepare myself for what he was about to say.

I Cleared my throat, “And?”

“Remember your condition?”

I frowned, my voice sharp as irritation started to build up in me, “What condition? Please, just tell me what your choice—”

To my surprise, he suddenly grabbed my chin, turned it towards him, and kissed me hard. His hand slid to my nape. As if on instinct, I gave in, opening my mouth for him. He kissed me hungrily, and I found myself putting my hand on his broad chest. I felt that strong desire within me, wanting him. When we pulled away, he had a smirk on his face, while I breathed heavily. Shit. I want more of him. I raised my eyes at him, seeing him already staring at me, and my lipstick smudged on his lips.

He said low and breathy, “You told me that I was only able to kiss you when I would be choosing you as my Luna, remember?”

My eyes widened as realization sank in, “You….you mean….” I felt tears start to form in my eyes.

He smiled, kissing my forehead, “Yes, I told Samantha that I am not planning on making her my Luna. I want you to stand beside me. I want……for us to start over again.”

My breath hitched in my throat. The words, laced with raw honesty and an emotion I still couldn't name, shattered the wall I had so meticulously built around my heart. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring his concerned expression. However, the weight of my secret threatened to crush me.

He must have mistaken my silence for rejection, his brow furrowing.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, Nicholas. It's just... I never thought… Are you serious?" My hands were shaking, and my wolf even howled in delight in my subconscious.

He gently brushed away a stray tear with his thumb, the touch sending a jolt of electricity through me.

“Yeah. I never felt so happy with my choice. I want you, Florence"

"I never thought… you would choose me"

A small smile graced his lips, his eyes holding mine, both scaring and exhilarating me.

"Honestly, I never thought I would as well. And then, when you were hurt… seeing Berion lose control like that, it confirmed everything. I can't bear to see you hurt anymore or lose you. That’s why I want us to start over again."

His words hit me like a physical blow. Every part of me wanted to reach out and grasp the happiness he offered. But the truth, a truth that could shatter everything he felt for me, lay heavy on my tongue. Guilt gnawed at me. How could I accept us starting over again when the very foundation of what we have was built on a lie? I was the spy he had been searching for, the one he considered a murderer.

The words of confession formed on my lips, but they died there unsaid. The fear of rejection, of losing him before we had even begun, choked them back. I forced a smile, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue.

"Thank you, Nicholas," I whispered, my voice trembling like a leaf in the wind. "This means more than I can express."

He pulled me into a tight embrace and even kissed the side of my head. At that moment, I clung to the illusion, a fragile hope that I could find a way to confess the truth before the consequences of my actions destroyed everything we were building together.