Chapter 43: SECOND SWEET BOND.

I came out of my room in my dark green gown, my hair turned into a ponytail, and I was walking barefoot.

I shut the door behind me, I went towards Oceana's room, but she wasn't in there, so I decided to go see if she was in the garden.

I strolled by, yawning and absentmindedly, and bumped into Adolph.

"Hey, watch your step," he said and darted up at me. I didn't know what to say to him, so I just left, walking past him with a shrug.

"Sorry.' I uttered, rubbing my forehead with both of my hands. I was really tired.

I guess it was due to me not having enough sleep last night because I was so worried about someone, my best friend, who is hell-bent on ruining her reputation because she found her mate, whom everyone considered her brother. I wonder if I were in her shoes and Carmine was my brother, will I take the same decision she took?

I think I will do it. I would want to get Carmine back and make him claim me and bond with me; he is my mate after all, so I'm getting him as my Alpha.

On second thought, I'm going to be thinking of the consequences, what sort of position my parents will be in, and what will become of my future if I get involved with Carmine.

In Oceana's situation, she isn't thinking about the consequences; she just wants to be with Gerard and bond with him and doesn't give a damn about what will happen to her.

I think the reason she is doing this is because of how she grew up with no one by her side.

When I say no one, I mean her brothers. She has always relied on them so much since she was a baby, and growing up without them took a toll on her shoulders, even though I was always by her side. I know she considers me her sister and her best friend, which makes me very important to her, but I think she loves her brother the most, more than me, which makes me jealous at times.

Sometimes I feel as if I am invisible when it comes to her brothers—someone irrelevant.

I shouldn't feel that way, but that's just how I feel, and it breaks my heart. I get lonely and need a companion and a friend by my side. She is there for me, but her brothers are always on her mind most of the time, and she would do anything to be with them, even as far as sacrificing the world for them. That's how much and how scary she loves them, and I know they probably feel the same way towards her.

I feel desolate when I'm with them, making me a third wheel that even if I left, they wouldn't even notice. I'm not holding grudges or anything like that, but it's just how I feel, and at times I wish she would give me as much attention as she gives to her brothers too.

Anything she ever does in her life is because of her brothers; there is nothing she doesn't do for them. Even my stuff isn't any of her concern if it doesn't involve her brothers in it.

I'm her best friend, right? I don't feel like it at times, but I feel like she comes to me whenever I'm needed. Like I said earlier, I know I shouldn't be feeling this way, but this is just how I feel right now.

Even Carmine doesn't know about my feelings for him, which is kind of awful.

I could recall how she will always dream of being with them for the rest of her life. When they left her, I knew exactly what happened and the real reason her brothers left, and it was because of Oceana. She caught Gerard masturbating in his room, and on that day, their parents quarreled nonstop and sent them away, but I couldn't figure out if it was because of Oceana seeing Gerard or something else.

I thought they would be back, but I was wrong, and Oceana never told me the truth or the reason they left, but I knew the truth.

As a kid, I was quite a curious kid that loved to search and play around in every nook and corner. I had the feeling that there was this forbidden love that wasn't supposed to happen.

On a fateful day, I caught Gerard in his bathroom; he was about fifteen years old back then, banging a slut, having a threesome, and keeping moaning Oceana's name. I felt disgusted, but I never told anyone what I saw, and I made sure to keep it a secret for the rest of my life.

No one will ever know about this.

I planned to tell Oceana, but I chose to keep quiet because Oceana wouldn't believe me, and she would go report me to Gerard, who would then scold me for invading his privacy and probably punish me according to the realm's rules.

I don't want such a thing to ever happen to me.

I was quite young, and spelling out those words would attract severe punishment to me, so I kept quiet and kept trying to act normal around them. I couldn't even tell my family because they wouldn't even believe me.

Oceana was my best friend. I knew what was about to happen, but I never told anyone, or rather, I had a clue this would happen because of the love Gerard had for Oceana. It wasn't a childish love; it was quite romantic, and the reason no one took him seriously then was because Oceana was still a little girl, no matter the love and affection he showered on her.

This is the realm, and anything could pop up and shove someone down at any time and ruin their life.

I sighed if only I knew that taking a little nap wouldn't ease the tiredness in me; I shouldn't have slept.

I think I should take some medicine before going to bed again.

"Where is Oceana?" he questioned.

I stopped and answered. "I've not seen her since she left me after training; she is not even in her room right now, and I have no idea where she might be."

My sister, Jane, told me she saw her leave while she was taking a walk around the palace earlier, where could she have gone? That was the reason I came out because I am worried she will do something so stupid; I am tired of trying to fix this issue; this is getting more complicated than it already was.

"You are living in the palace with her, you are supposed to know where she is."

"The fact that we live in the same palace doesn't mean we know each other's moves, and besides, we are in different wings, so I don't know." I'm also searching for her as well.

I was tired as hell; I kept getting flashbacks of what happened that night, and the image was giving me the chills. I hope nothing happens to her again. I should have told her what happened if Gerard hadn't warned me to keep my lips sealed.

"Something happened at the palace, right?"

"What are you talking about?" I frowned as he drew closer to me, and I wondered if he was aware of what happened to Oceana last night.

"I believe you are not blind, nor are you deaf. You've been hearing rumors about Oceana; you should try as much as possible to stop it."

"How can I stop it? You talk as if I'm not trying my best here, I'm also fighting and telling her to put a halt to all this mate stuff; not all mates are destined to be together, but guess what? She refused to listen to me. I'm trying my best here because I don't like what I'm hearing myself, and I don't want her getting into trouble because I care so much about her, but she isn't listening to me."

Adolph sighed as he rubbed his temples.

"We need to have a word with her; this is getting out of hand. My father is beginning to investigate these rumors, and he said to me that he is going to kill her by punishing her according to the rules of the realms, and if that happens, this clan is in for some meat."

That means everyone will be annihilated for overlooking Oceana's taboos like they claim it is to the realms.

This is really bad.

"I don't know what to do anymore," I sighed with fear. "Please, let's have a word with her, to stop...

"That's why I'm here, we seriously need to have a word with her together, make her listen, and then, I hope she understands our reasons behind why we are doing this for her reputation."

"I hope so.'

"Meet me at the oak tree outside the palace in the garden at 4 p.m.; I will be there, and make sure you come with her."

"Ok.' I nodded.

Then he muttered with a long sigh. "I hope she doesn't do something stupid. Why am I having a bad feeling about this?"

"We all know what Oceana is like, she never gives up until she gets what she fucking wants according to her desires."

Adolph and I turned to the direction the strange voice was coming from, and a young man emerged from the darkness. His steps moved with grace as he approached us, and his short blonde hair below his jaw was well combed at each side of his face with a neat center part. His bright green eyes were the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

"So, she finally finds out that Gerard is her mate. Guess I was late."

"Who are you?' Adolph asked, going into a defensive mood. "I have never seen you around here before."

Who was he? He seemed like an Alpha to me.

He softly chuckled, looked around, and rolled his eyes.

"This palace hasn't changed for one bit, it just keeps on getting more beautiful and neat, but no changes," he uttered.

"Who exactly are you?' Adolph persisted, looking at the Alpha, who was wearing a black cloak and gave a wide smile at his question.

Then and behold, his scent hit my nose, and my eyes broadened at the realization of who this Alpha was.

He laughed. "I am Oceana's worst nightmare."

His laughter was the sweetest and most wicked laughter I have ever heard.

He walked away from us, turning his back as he waved his hand. "Tell Oceana that Valarr is back; she will understand."

"Valarr.' Adolph whispered, and then we both gasped and stared at each other. "Oceana's second mate." We both said in unison.