Chapter 63: Our Failure

Chapter 63: Our Failure
Questions swirled in my mind, each one pressing against the fragile barrier of my thoughts, demanding answers from Azarius. Yet, my wolf stirred restlessly within me, her instincts torn between surrender and resistance as Azarius held me close. His lips brushed against mine in a kiss that was anything but hesitant.
It was soft, yet deliberate, carrying an intensity that sent a shiver down my body.
His lips moved with a tenderness that matched the rhythm of my own, and I responded in kind, the passion building between us like a storm. There was no hesitation, no lingering bitterness. This kiss was different, profoundly so.
Unlike the kisses we'd shared since the day he found me, which had been tinged with an undercurrent of unresolved pain, this one tasted of unfiltered devotion. There was no trace of doubt or restraint; instead, it overflowed with raw emotion. Through his touch, his wolf reached out to mine, a wordless connection that spoke volumes, conveying a love and longing I couldn't deny.
As Azarius slowly broke our kiss, I tried to capture his lips, searching for that warmth again, but he growled softly and distanced his face a little when I opened my eyes. Lust mirrored in his eyes while his expression was full of passion and gentleness as he caressed my face.
"No matter what I said that time, that I hate you, it's not true. It's just my ego that fed me as I was badly hurt from your actions," he confessed. "From the moment I had finally found you, I felt wanting to own you, be mine again, and lock you up so you won't flee again. And beg you that you don't leave me again." His voice croaked, cupping both of my cheeks. "Mace, I almost lost my mind, thinking that I would never find you. Those seven years... I am only aching for you. No woman can ever replace you. It's always you from the moment you became my royal playmate, I had never laced my eyes to any woman. You were always the woman I saw to be the person I married, even if we weren't mated to each other."
"Azarius..." My voice trembled as my eyes glistened with unshed tears, my lips quivering. Before me, the Azarius I once knew was emerging, layer by layer, his guarded facade giving way to a rare, vulnerable side that I hadn't seen since our time in the cabin.
There was no trace of the bitterness or accusations that had once clouded his gaze. Instead, his expression carried something entirely different. It was an undeniable longing that reached out to me, raw and unspoken.
"I'm sorry for hurting you, for letting my anger take over and causing you pain, darling," Azarius said, his voice heavy with regret.
A gasp escaped me as I shook my head fervently. "You had every right to be angry, Azarius. I hurt you. I kept the truth from you—that I was your mate—and then I ran because I couldn't face my shame for what I'd done. I won't let you apologize—"
"But it wasn't your fault!" he interrupted, his voice breaking with emotion. "Father caused this. If it hadn't been for him, none of this would have happened. We would've been happy, together, just as we were meant to be." His words hit me like a tidal wave, and I bit my lip as he continued, tears falling from his eyes. "I failed you. I didn't see how he was holding you back, how he restrained you."
"No, Azarius," I said softly, shaking my head as I cupped his cheek. My gaze softened, filled with tenderness. "You didn't fail me. You've been a loving husband, a partner who gave his all, even when you didn't know I was your mate. It was me. I failed you."
Azarius shook his head, his expression resolute. "No, it was me."
"It wasn't," I insisted gently, my voice unwavering. "It was me."
"Macedonia..."
"Azarius..."
Our stubbornness left us both staring at one another, and then, almost simultaneously, a shared chuckle broke the tension, the sound filling the space between us.
"Fine," Azarius relented with a warm smile, leaning in to press a tender kiss to my forehead. "Then it's our failure... together.
I smiled while tears formed in my eyes. "Fine. If you insist, darling."
A soft gasp and tears cascaded from his eyes. "You're finally calling me darling, too," he said. "I really missed it." He looked at me with those puppy eyes that I hadn't seen for a long time. "I love you so much, my Luna Queen."
A warmth spread across my cheeks as my heart skipped a beat at the words I had longed to hear. My lips parted, ready to respond, but Azarius raised a hand gently, stopping me.
"Mace," he said, his voice low and strained with a mix of longing and restraint, "don't say anything yet. If you do, I might not be able to stop myself from... taking you right here."
My eyes widened at his candid admission, disbelief flickering in my gaze. But the intensity in his expression left no room for doubt.
He meant every word.
"I'm serious, darling," he added, his voice softening, though the sincerity remained. "There's still so much I need to say. Will you let me finish first?" he asked, holding my hand.
Looking into his forest-green eyes, I couldn't believe that this day would come that I would have the chance to stare at those beautiful orbs for so much longer. The undeniable love registered in his eyes was enough to make my wolf squirm.
"Let’s move to my chamber," I said, keeping my voice steady, though my nerves buzzed with tension.
Azarius arched a brow, his expression shifting from curiosity to realization in a heartbeat. A low chuckle escaped him as he turned and swung open the door.
The scene that unfolded was both ridiculous and telling—his brothers sprawled in a tangled heap on the floor, clearly having been caught in the act of eavesdropping.
"Damn it, Alucard! Get off me!" Atticus grumbled, attempting to push the weight off his back as Alucard groaned, rolling onto the floor with a thud.
"Alistair!" Atticus barked, glaring at the laughing figure standing above them.
"I’m Alejandro, you idiot," Alejandro snapped, his voice dripping with irritation as he nursed his side where Alistair had likely landed on him. "And you’re the one crushing me!"
Alistair, however, seemed unbothered by the chaos, clutching his sides as laughter spilled out uncontrollably. His amusement was short-lived as Alucard, now upright and scowling, smacked him across the back of the head.
"What’s so funny, Alistair?" Alucard growled, the irritation in his voice clear.
"What?" Alistair managed through his laughter, rubbing the back of his head. "I didn’t do anything!"
"You’re the reason we’re all in this mess," Alucard muttered, sending a sheepish glance toward Azarius and me. "This was his idea, just so you know," he added hastily, pointing a finger at Alistair with a nervous chuckle.
Azarius took a measured step forward, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over Alistair, who remained sprawled awkwardly on the floor. His voice, deceptively calm, held a razor-sharp edge.
"Would you care to explain, dear brother?"
The sugary-sweet tone sent a visible shiver through Alistair, his nervous chuckle betraying his discomfort. He glanced frantically at his brothers, silently pleading for backup as his throat bobbed with an audible gulp.
"W-Well, you see, brother..." Alistair stammered, his grin wavering as he darted a panicked look toward his siblings. His desperation was almost comical, and I had to bite my lip to suppress the laugh threatening to escape. "Come on! Aren’t you supposed to back me up? Traitors!"
His brothers exchanged amused glances, their expressions annoyingly innocent as they shrugged in unison. "We have no idea what you’re talking about," they said, their voices laced with mock sincerity.
A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I stepped closer to them. "Let them be, Azarius," I murmured, slipping my hand into the crook of Azarius’ arm. The tension in his posture eased almost immediately, and I could feel the faint tremor of amusement beneath his composed exterior. "I’m still waiting to hear everything you have to say." Tilting my head, I rested my chin lightly on his shoulder, offering him a playful smile.
Azarius exhaled dramatically, the corners of his lips curving upward in mock exasperation. "Alright, darling," he drawled, his tone dripping with mischievousness. "But all of you are dead to me later." He threw a pointed glance at his brothers, his voice sweet but menacing as he added, "I might even enjoy tying you up and practicing my aim with a few arrows."
"WHAT?" his brothers chorused, their jaws hanging open in perfect synchronization as Azarius turned back to me with a mischievous smirk.
"All of you have lycan blood. You can heal up instantly." Ignoring their protests, he gently tugged me toward the staircase, his fingers entwined with mine. "Come on, darling. I’ve granted them mercy... for now."
"AZARIUS! COME ON!" Their indignant cries echoed behind us, but Azarius didn’t so much as glance back.