Chapter 35 Chapter 35: I Must Be Sincere
Chapter 35 Chapter 35: I Must Be Sincere
Klay Talcon's POV:
"Alright, I admit it. I followed a poorly conceived plan to just show up there without being invited," I told my Beta, Keegan, as I looked at him sitting there on the opposite side of my desk. "I just had to make sure she was okay, all right?"
He didn't seem all that pleased with the excuse I came up with just then. I knew there was a completely different reason for me to be there, but I had yet to tell him that. It had to partly deal with who was keeping her company, among other things. Also, in lieu of things, I didn't tell anyone where I was headed. So, that in itself, Keegan did worry about me.
Once I found out where Alaric was taking Leila, as his destination was the next town over, I couldn't see a reason not to go. Right then, I looked back up at Keegan. His arms were still crossed in front of his chest as he narrowed his eyes at me.
I knew he was still disappointed in me. It was his job to keep me safe, in a way, and in that, I failed to inform him of where I was going. I said I was going to one place, when in fact, I didn't do anything at all, as I previously told him. I went to the next town over to find her. She was my fated mate after all.
Should I just leave her to the cunning plans of others? Especially one who would do anything to get what he wants? As I sat there, I knew he was hoping I would see his point on the other topic he had brought up, one I preferred not to discuss, as that would mean I would admit what I didn't want to. That's when I spoke up on that point alone.
"As to what we previously discussed," I started my rant on that subject as he stared at me intently. "There's no way."
"That's what I see, Alpha Klay," he tried to tell me, but I still wasn't convinced. "Tell me, can you still read her thoughts?"
"Well, of course, who else would have known that she didn't like anything that Alaric ordered for her earlier! So I thought to do it instead," I told him when I leaned forward in my chair.
It was in that moment that Keegan lowered his chin, driving his point further that I was falling for her even more, even though I didn't want to openly admit it at the time. I sat back in my chair, feeling visually defeated by his point. I even spun my chair slightly to the side, running over my thoughts about my current thoughts. In a way, he was right.
On the one hand, I was still royally upset with Leila for even considering going out with my rival, Alaric Stone, in the first place. I had previously tried to tell her that he was very cunning, but did she believe me... NO! Then, on the other hand, no matter what Keegan told me, I refused to believe the fact that I was falling more in love with her.
I needed to show him, along with everyone else, that she wasn't who I wanted, even though I could still read her thoughts when I focused on her. Still... did that mean anything about our connection?
"Would you say she likes her hair up?" Keegan asked me, cutting into my thoughts right then.
"No, not at all," I said, spinning back to face him as I interlocked my fingers and placed them on the front edge of my desk. "She would prefer to have her hair neatly brushed and hung low with one side partly hanging over her shoulders. Except when she is working at the cafe. Then it's pulled into a loose bun to keep out of her way with a pencil or other writing utensil stuck through it."
He lowered his chin even more, uncrossing his arms, and it was in that moment that I realized what he was doing. Anytime he asked something specific about her, I would know whether she did or didn't like something, how she wore her hair, for instance, or what colors she liked and didn't. How would I know that if I didn't care to pay attention to her?
"How about I say this then," he said at first, as I sat up straight in my chair. "I will acknowledge that only someone like you will likely pay so much attention to the various details that involve someone not associated with you, or within the pack, that is."
I took in a deep breath and held it for a moment. I realized no matter how much I might fight it, he was right. I, being Alpha, paid a lot of attention to things, but when it came to Leila, I paid even more attention to detail.
One instance was that I could tell something had happened after they left the restaurant. It wasn't like last time when she needed saving. I could tell she was even more irritated with Alaric, and that put a smile on my face. I reached forward, grabbing my cell phone from the top of my desk, when I leaned back in my chair once more.
"What are you going to do?" Keegan asked right then.
"Well, I will attempt to make it up to her, obviously," I said as I proceeded to text her. "I'm going to send her a text, but the question is, what am I going to say that will cause her to want to meet me. And where?"
"You can have her meet you in a secluded place. The park in town, perhaps. At mid-morning?" He asked me as a suggestion. "Most would be at work or otherwise busy. Would that work?"
"Yes, but what could I say that would get her to agree to meet me?" I asked him, again pondering the idea.
"How about this, Alpha Klay," Keegan started to say. "Tell her you found a new way to break the bond and need to test it to see if it could work. If she really wants to break this bond, will she meet with you when you suggest? Then, you can do as you please by trying to make it up to her."
"Very good," I told him as I started to text her.
As I waited there, I was anxious that she might not agree when I heard her thoughts.
'He wants to meet?'
I looked up at Keegan, trying not to get anxious, as I didn't want to be rejected in this. I had intended to apologize for making a fool of myself and, by that, no doubt embarrassing her at dinner.
Suddenly, my phone chimed as the screen lit back up. I looked down at it as Keegan sat forward in his chair when he asked, "What did she say?"
I swallowed hard, opening the text screen to reveal her message. It read: 'I will meet you on one condition. On the fact that you promise to never act that way again.'