Chapter 16

The couple was currently in Tali’s room, Roman came by to pick her up so they could walk to the dining room together, but she wasn’t exactly done getting ready for the dinner yet. Roman crossed his legs, leaning back into the pink fur chair whilst watching his mate comb her hair.

“Goddess I can’t wait to finally call you mine,” Roman sighed lovingly, watching as Tali did her hair.

“Less than a week less to go,” Tali smiled. She too was just as excited as he was.

“Mm-hmm, then you’ll be my mate,” Roman got up and walked behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

“I really can’t wait, babe,” Tali looked at him through the mirror and rested her hand over his.

“Who would’ve thought we’d end up together huh,” Tali said, turning around and looking up at her mate-to-be.

“You always fought with me, was it because you secretly had a crush on me?” Roman teased, an evident smirk on his lips.

“Me? You were the one who always started it. At every social gathering, you know how much my parents had to bribe me so I would come along and play nice,” Tali reminded him, walking away to put on her earrings.

“That was you playing ‘nice?’” He raised a brow at her and chuckled.

“Yes, what’s wrong with it?” Tali raised a brow at him.

“You literally scratched the shit out of my arm once, it was bleeding, Tali,” Roman reminded her, he could remember that day vividly because he almost passed out.

“You most definitely deserved it,” She shrugged and pushed him aside.

“All I did was steal your cake,” He defended himself.

“And you still haven’t learned your lesson I see,” She laughed at him, he still stole her food from time to time.

“You’re just greedy,” Roman rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

“Says the one stealing my food,” She stuck her tongue out.

“Hey, dinner’s about to start you too,” Ainsley stopped by to tell the two.

“Are you ready?” Roman asked, earning a nod from Tali.

“Come on then,” Ainsley led the way down, Roman and Tali following behind her with their hands entwined.

The four of them sat at the table and began to pass the dishes along, everyone taking their preferred amount from everything. Tonight the cooks prepared Italian food and Roman sure loved that, the cook here made an incredible spaghetti. They all chatted and made plans, tons of them. In less than a week the princess would have her mate and it might not be the same as a husband, but the title was much more important. Being a mate meant he’d soon have to rule by her side as her king. Tristan couldn’t be prouder, there’s no other man he’d rather have his daughter with. If it was up to him, no one at all.

Everything went well until the doors opened and a blonde lady came walking in lead by the secretary and guards. That’s how they knew it must be something important, else the secretary wouldn’t let their dinner be interrupted.

Tali frowned, noticing who it was, and began to wonder why. “Skylar, what are you doing here?” She asked.

“I’m here for Roman Sterling,” Skylar answered, looking at the blond male. Roman raised a brow at her, he knew she must be here to cause trouble, but what kind?

“Is everything okay, dear?” The queen asked, calling her over a little closer.

“No. I am pregnant, Romie and you are the father of this child,” Skylar announced. Tali dropped her fork onto the porcelain plate.

“Excuse me?” Roman frowned, looking over at Skylar as she patted her stomach.

“Holy shit,” Tristan said, wiping his cheek.

“What the fuck?” Tali glared at Roman, he sure had some explaining to do.

“What?” The queen frowned.

“Come again, Skylar,” Roman cleared his throat.

“I’m pregnant Roman, that night we didn’t use protection,” Skylar exclaimed, coming closer to them.

“Roman, what the fuck is she talking about?” Tali just lost her appetite; she wasn’t sure if any of this was true, but no one would storm in here to make such an accusation.

“Haven’t you told her about us? You said you loved me, remember?” Skylar asked, innocently but Roman could see right through this. Was this revenge for rejecting her years ago? Or was she for real?

“Sterling, you have some explaining to do,” Tristan narrowed his eyes on Roman, he didn’t want to jump to any conclusions, but he was slowly losing faith in Roman.

“I’m not—I don’t ever remember telling you that, Skylar,” Roman stuttered, he could feel his heartbeat in his throat. His hands were sweaty no matter how many times he wiped them on his jeans.

“Just how you don’t remember sleeping with me huh? Well now I’m pregnant,” Skylar scoffed and shook her head.

“Roman, tell me it’s not true,” Tali rested her hand on Roman’s and made him look at her.

“Tali, I swear it’s not,” Roman hesitated, biting down on his lip as he looked at his mate. He didn’t want to lose her, he waited so damn long.

“Roman, tell her about that Friday night you came back to the Silver moon,” Skylar crossed her arms, she came for a reason, and she wouldn’t leave without being heard.

“The day we fought, and you stormed off?” Tali frowned and turned to her mate.

“Tali, I swear it’s not what it looks like. I went to a party, we met up and just chatted. Next thing I know we’re both naked in bed the next morning,” Roman started to explain, telling her all he really knows but the last sentence shocked the Snyders. None of them would have guessed this.

“You fucking asshole!” Tali screamed at him; it took everything in her to not push him off the damn chair.

“Tali, please,” Roman pleaded, beads of sweat on his forehead.

“Have you got any proof?” Tali questioned, looking at Skylar who froze for a moment then pulled something out of her bag.

“Here,” She held out a positive test to them. Roman’s mouth hung open as his eyes also widened.

“I wouldn’t have come if I wasn’t pregnant, but I figured this should come out before things become official,” Skylar explained, her eyes down toning how ashamed she was.

“Thanks for this, now kindly go back to your pack,” Tali said in a monotone, waiting till the guards helped Skylar on her way out. The king and queen remained silent, it was their daughter’s mate, she had to try and find a solution.

“Roman, how could you?” Tali swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. Once again this man hurt her, she gave him so much of him and was willing to give her all and it was as if it never mattered to him. Roman got up and wanted to defend himself but Tali started first.

“I practically begged you to mate with me so I wouldn’t have to go through the pain of another heat, but you played all high and mighty, Mr. I-want-to-wait and you just went around fucking others?” Tali stood up too and poked him in the chest as she spoke and let it all out, she was feeling more than betrayed.

“Tali, it was never like that,” Roman pinched the bridge of his nose, how was he supposed to defend himself when he barely remembered that night.

“So you didn’t cheat on me and betray our bond,” She crossed her arms.

“No, and there wasn’t even a bond yet,” Roman groaned then realized what he had just said.

“And there never will be,” Tali scoffed and looked over at her parents. Why couldn’t she have what they had? Was it too much to ask for?

“What—” Roman frowned, uncertain what she meant by it.

“Talu, are you sure about this?” Her father asked, already knowing where this was all leading.

“He lied, cheated and on top of that never came clean about it,” Tali explained. She didn’t like how she was treated and Roman didn’t deserve her. She looked over at her mother who just gave her a nod.

“Tallulah, please I can prove we didn’t sleep together, there has to be another explanation,” Roman pleaded, taking her hands in his.

“I’m not an idiot, Roman,” She pushed his hands away.

“What does this mean then, Tali?” Roman sighed, hoping it wasn’t leading to an end of them. Didn’t the Moon Goddess want them to be together specifically?

“I Tallulah Snyders hereby reject Roman Sterling of the Silver moon as my mate,” Tallulah announced, her amber eyes dull as she looked straight into his blue ones without an ounce of emotion showing.