Chapter 29

Chapter 29
Rowan's POV

I wasn't sure if my response of walking away from the table was the best. But I knew that their hateful comments were the worst. Couldn't we just have a meeting without them bringing that up? 

Even worse, they brought it to my doorstep, and it didn't show any regard for the fact that the meeting was happening in my place.

I just stood there on the balcony trying to cool off, but it wasn't working. I felt like going back into that room and going physical on all three of those dickheads. But then that would be easier said than done. The consequences that would follow would be way more than I could handle.

If only my mate was still right here with me, I wouldn't have to be going through all of that crap. Everything seemed to boil down to Ronan again. I hated the way everything felt out of my control.

I began to wonder what Ronan could have been discussing with them and behind my back. But on only second thought I didn't care as I just stood right there looking at the expanse of the territory.

Thoughts of reaching him through the mind link came to my head, but I discarded them as I was too angry to think of anything else at the moment.

“Ugh…!” I punched the concrete railings about the balcony as I desperately needed to vent my anger somehow.

“Are you all right, sir?” A tender female voice asked from behind and that caused me to slowly turn back in slight embarrassment as I thought I was the only one witnessing my fall out.

I'd been thinking it wasn't made until I turned back to see one of the prettiest women I had ever set my eyes on, adorned in clothes that breathed nothing but royalty. Her black hair was really dark and shiny and her face looked like something that had hopped right out of a fairy tale into reality.

“Who are you?” I tried my best not to be too nervous having someone like that appear from nowhere was more than I could take. “How did you come in here?”

“Uhm…sorry about all that…” she seemed nervous herself, like she was expecting some kind of punishment for having trespassed. “I'm Claire… Alpha Dorian’s daughter…”

“Oh…” it took me a while to place any form of resemblance between her and one of the men who had changed my mood into what it was at the moment. “You all are already here for the…showcase…”

“What…?” She laughed as my choice of words amused me as well. “Showcase…now that's new.” She obviously had a sense of humor that was completely different from what her father had. “And I am guessing you are…”

“Alpha Rowan…” I noticed fear overtake her as I mentioned my name. It was obvious she hadn't seen me before and was finding out that she was speaking to the person whom they had gathered for. Just what shock could be greater than that.

“Oh my…” she stammered as she could barely look at me. “I'm sorry I didn't know you were the one. I shouldn't have come here in the first place… I was just a bit bored and tired of sitting in the lounge…”

I felt really awful as it looked like we were about to have a good conversation before I told her who I was. Now she was looking like she had just seen a ghost.
“Please don't be scared. From the way I feel right now, the so-called showcase might not happen…” I tried my best to clear the awkward feeling of intimidation that had crept into the air between us. “I really don't know what your father and the others are trying to achieve with this.”

“It's not like I actually want to be here.” She was being brutally honest and that made me even more curious to know what exactly she was about. “The announcement came quite suddenly. I hate being rushed, especially into things I'm not ready for. But then what's making you so upset?”

I was quiet for a while as I really began to think about what was really making me mad. It was quite awkward how hard it was for me to answer that question immediately.

“That's quite a long story,” I finally said as I was uncomfortable with leaving her without a reply.

“With the way I’m bored right now, I don't think I would really mind hearing a long story about what's making an alpha feel so bad.” She seemed like she had regained her confidence to speak to me. “You can go on, if you don't mind.”

I thought about it over and over as it felt really strange, having to tell my entire life story to a complete stranger. But she looked like the only person who was ready to give me a listening ear. That was besides Brian.

“Well, it started with my twin brother chasing my mate away.” I still didn't feel comfortable sharing it, but I had already begun. “And now they are trying to get me to make a choice of a Luna though my mate is still out there possibly in trouble.”

“That must be a lot for you to handle on your own. From the way it sounds, it looks like your people are all against you and your happiness.” Her understanding was very admirable, and it happened to make her look even more beautiful. “It must be a really hard existence for you here.”

“Well, it was clear that being alpha didn't make them respect the fact that I have an opinion of my own.” I let out a sigh as I just didn't know why I was sinking into that conversation a lot. “Seems like you happened to relate so perfectly to my misery.”

“It's not very different from what I'm facing with my father.” She smiled a bit. “I don't think I can remember the last time I was given the opportunity to make a choice for myself. But I believe you can always make a choice as the Alpha or your title will just be a mere decoration.”

“Wow…” I couldn't deny how hard and deep her words hit. “Thank you so much, Claire for your…”

“Rowan…” Ronan interrupted. “It's time…”

I froze, my pulse slamming in my ears, because the way Ronan’s voice cut through the air didn’t sound like a simple summons at all, it sounded like a verdict, and whatever waited beyond that door was about to shatter everything I thought I still controlled.