Chapter 72

P.O.V Lyall

My whole body ached. My head felt like it was going to explode and I could barely move.

But there was something strange going on.

The emptiness in my chest and the familiar smell of that bed made me jump up: I was back home and the nightmare of being rejected was real.

“I'm glad you're awake,” my mother's sweet, comforting voice filled my ears.

She walked over to my bed and sat down next to me. I laid my head on her leg and stayed there, in silence, while her delicate, powerful hands stroked my hair.

“It's going to be all right, my boy,” she said after a while.”

“No, Mom, she made her choice. My great-grandfather always told me that power blinded him when he let Grandpa go. Now I understand... She preferred the throne to me.”

“And why, instead of clinging to your grandfather's mistake, don't you cling to what your father did? He fought for me until the last moment.”

“She rejected me, Mom. It was barely two days since my mark was on her neck... she broke our bond. There's no way out of it,” I replied to my mother, but the pain I felt as I said it was overwhelming.

“I'm sure she had her reasons. Let's give it time,” she said and stood up, holding out her hand for me to join her.

“How many days have I been asleep?”

“A week, the messenger who brought you in said that you had just come into heat and been rejected and if there was anything that could be done to ease your pain, so we let you sleep until the worst was over.”

“Probably John, I think the only flame of loyalty in that place. I'm going to miss him.”

My mother smiled and said: “I think we'll see him soon, I believe he's been enchanted by the beauties of Valgerd.”

I didn't understand what she meant, but I think my head was too confused for anything.

I followed my mother into the dining room, where my father was meeting with some werewolves responsible for the borders, but as soon as he saw me coming, he dismissed the men and came running to give me a hug.

“All hail Alpha Lyall, my beloved son, who is back!” He said and after hugging me, he left a kiss on my cheek.

I missed this place so much, my family, my home, but without a doubt I would trade all this comfort for the simple possibility of being by my companion's side.

***

We were sitting at the table eating and chatting when a messenger arrived to deliver a wedding invitation.

“I can't believe they had the audacity to invite me to this circus,” I said angrily as I stood up. ‘I'm going for a walk around Valgerd, I need some fresh air,’ I said to my parents, who just nodded.

I changed into my Lycan and started running. I needed to release all the energy and frustration in me.

The mark on my neck was driving me crazy and as much as I had been rejected, it still hadn't disappeared, as if the universe wanted to punish me for every second away from Ebon.

I passed a few Valgerd residents, who simply waved and looked at me with admiration, very different from the way I had felt looked at in recent weeks.

I went to a place where everyone hated me to win my love, but all I got was contempt.

“Hi, glad you're back!” Rebeca's delicate arms wrapped around my waist, while her head rested on my back.

“It's good to see you again,” I turned and looked into the eyes of the beautiful woman in front of me, perhaps the most beautiful in Valgerd.

“I'm sorry for everything that happened to you. I didn't want to see you suffer like that.”

“It's okay, I'll get over it... I don't know how soon, but I will.”

“And why don't you get married? I'd love to become your wife,” I looked at her in awe and pulled away a little. Rebeca was one of Emilly's daughters, my mother's best friend. We were brought up as brothers and the slightest possibility of making her my wife makes me nauseous.

“Damn it Lyall! Don't look at me like that! It's disgusting! You're just like my brother,” She said as if I were the crazy one and not her who had just asked me to marry her.

“Can you explain this daydream to me then? As far as I know, I heard my little sister had just asked me to marry her.”

“I know you and I know that you're broken inside and even though you've been rejected, you haven't been able to get the vampire out of your head,” he began to explain.

“But a wedding would only make things worse,” I said. “Touching another woman seems impossible at the moment, and by the moon goddess! I'd rather cut my arm off than touch you.”

“That's exactly why I'm proposing to you. I need someone to agree to marry me, but who doesn't dare touch me.”

“And why don't you choose a warrior you like or simply wait for your predestined mate? You can lead a normal life like anyone else,” I said.

“I've already found my mate, but I want to get married to break the bond.”

“Rebeca, if you don't want your partner, although it's painful, just reject him, I don't understand the difficulty, unless...”

“Yes! He's a bloody vampire! I'm desperate, I need to get rid of this bond as soon as possible, then you just have to reject me as a wife and I'll be on my way.”

“What's his name? I can ask a friend I made over there if he's a decent vampire.”

“I have no idea and I don't want to know. It was one of the vampires who brought you back to Valgerd. And he seemed to be as shocked as I was. I definitely don't want a vampire by my side,” She said with tears in your eyes.

“Calm down, Rebeca... I can't give you an answer right now, but I promise I'll think about it, anyway, don't do anything stupid. Don't go telling anyone about your crazy plan.”

She smiled through her tears and we walked back to the pack house together.

***

“Don't you think it's time you took your place as Alpha? I promised your mother a vacation,” my father joked, but I knew deep down that they wanted me to get out of this sorry state I was in.

It was about ten days since I was back home. We were sitting at the table having breakfast. My father's beta was also there with one of his daughters, Rebeca, a very common scene in our morning routine.

“I'm not ready yet, Dad, I'm still not back to my normal state,” I replied.

“What do you mean? It's been many days.”

“I don't know why, but I'm still feeling the effects of the rejection and tonight I felt so much pain, it felt like my body was going to burst into flames...”

“It must be because of what happened yesterday,” Rebeca's father said.

“And what happened?” my father asked.

A little awkwardly and choosing his words, he finally answered: “Yesterday was Queen Ebon's wedding. They threw a huge party and it was a very busy night because...”

“Enough! I don't want to hear about this traitor anymore. Nothing that comes from her interests me. I'm also going to get married and get on with my life,” I interrupted my father's beta, as I couldn't bear the thought of hearing about Ebon being touched by another man.

“And who you're going to marry, I don't think it's the most convenient at the moment,” my mother chimed in.

“Rebecca. We'll have a simple ceremony as soon as possible,” I replied, drawing startled looks from all those present, except Rebeca, who looked at me with gratitude and relief.