Desire for you- ALPHA RYAN Book 1
Chapter 57

ILAY

We had a cozy lunch at a small diner and I watched Liya eat her eggs in no time.

"Killy, I'm still hungry. Can I have an omelette?" She asked dutifully.

Kilian shook his head with a grin "What am I going to tell your mom when she gets wind of this... you're going to turn into a chubby, surely you're aware of that?"

Liya rolled her eyes and crossed her arms defiantly in front of her chest.

"I-I can become a chubby for all I care. After all, I'm not planning to become a model and besides, I run with you in the gym every day."

Kilian rolled his eyes with a grin, "You consider five minutes on the treadmill to be exercise?" He teased her.

"Yes!" she said, beaming, and looked over at me with a puppy dog look that no one could resist.

"Very well, you get your omelette." Kilian said and waved the waiter over.

My eyes fell on Milena, who was chatting to Cate. She was also beautiful and seemed to be very talkative. At least she didn't let Cate get a word in edgewise. Apparently they were both very close friends.

"Tell me about yourself, Ilay," she said suddenly, looking at me.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. You want me to tell you something about myself? Why did I always get nervous about questions like that? Especially as what was I supposed to say about myself?

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled at her "My story is long, Milena. I've been alive for over a thousand years"

Her eyes widened and she nodded in understanding.

"I was born in Daemon-Heaven as the prince of the demon king. Since we are all immortal, my position has not changed until now. However, I was assigned a realm, of which I am the ruler and make sure everything runs smoothly."

I thought about it and wondered what else I should tell her.

"I have a cousin, as the only relative in my realm, I do sports alongside my work and at the moment I've been very busy on your world, with your girlfriend." I smiled over at Cate, who looked embarrassed and bit her lower lip.

Milena nodded and looked over at Cate "I never thought you'd have two mates." She said with a grin.

Cate ran a hand through her hair "Well, I didn't expect that either... It's taken a lot of time to even process this."

"Oh yes, it did indeed," Ryan added, sipping a milkshake.

'Ilay?' Achira spoke up.

'Yes?'

'We have a big problem here... A big boss problem. Your father is standing in the living room...' she explained and I knew this could only mean trouble. Speak of the devil... I didn't think this day would come so soon.

I had to swallow and looked around 'Listen, I've got to go, duties call. Ryan, why don't you go back to the pack today, I'll be there as soon as I get everything done." I said to him. He looked at me uncertainly, as if he suspected something, and finally nodded.

"Dinner's on me, take care, I'm sure we'll see each other again soon," I said to Liya, who beamed at me and nodded.

"Bye Ilay!" She said in her sweet voice. I said goodbye to everyone and went to the till and paid for everything. When I was out of sight of the diner, I went back into the demon realm.

I reached the living room, where I saw my father and Achira standing next to him.

"Good afternoon, father," I greeted him and was immediately pulled into a hug by him.

"Ilay! Nice to see you again" he said and smiled at me. My father was a big man and you would have thought I was a copy of him. However, he looked older and more mature, you could estimate him to be in his mid-fifties and unlike me, he didn't have a single tattoo.

I nodded slightly "Indeed, it's been a long time" I replied and we sat down on the sofa.

"Listen, kid, I don't have much time and you know it," he said, his smile disappearing from his face again.

"I've heard some things that I'm not so happy about. Can you imagine what this is all about?" He asked me.

Could I imagine? Yes, as a matter of fact, I could imagine. Cate was probably the only reason he was there.

I nodded slightly and leaned back a little. I knew what was coming...

"You can't accept this relationship, Ilay. Not as long as this wolf is in the picture. I've gone through everything up and down, trying to replace a loophole for you, but it's impossible. Demon law says so, especially since she's a half-breed as well. It's a disgrace for you as a prince, I'd have to disown you if you accepted her with him. Do you understand what's at stake? I also know that you have waited years for your mate... But you would be giving up your life, you would no longer be a demon. In reality, you would be a ninety-year-old, bedridden old man on the verge of death." He explained to me.

I bit my lower lip and my heart was already aching.

I knew it would only be a matter of time...

"How long do I have to make up my mind?" I asked him, rubbing my temples.

He glanced at his watch and then looked at me again: "You have twenty-four hours from now. Tomorrow, at thirteen o'clock, you have to tell me." He said and swallowed.

"Ilay, I know it's hard to have to tell you this as a father, but I really can't help it. The Grand Council would chase us both to Lucifer otherwise..." he bit his lower lip and patted my shoulder.

"No matter what you choose, Ilay, I've always been proud of you. You were the only one of my sons who was always reliable and no matter what happens, I love you. You should know that." He said, smiling slightly at me.

I nodded and hugged him again "Thank you, father"

Even though his words were sincere, they were hard for me. I was given a choice and knew that I either had to reject Cate, to continue living my life as a demon or I renounced my demonhood and would be dead within a week....

Both prospects sucked.

Achira looked at me sadly and sat down next to me. She put her arms around me and I had to stop myself from crying in front of her and my father.

"See you tomorrow, Ilay," said my father, who stood up again.

I nodded, "See you tomorrow, father," I said to him and watched him disappear into thin air.

"I-Is that really the only option?" Achira asked me, also on the verge of tears. For her, I was the only relative she could reach. Without me, she would be alone again.

I nodded slightly and sighed "Those are the rules Achira... We can't change them and I believe him that he was looking for a solution..." I whispered softly and leaned back on the sofa.

"What are you going to do?" She asked me.

That was the question I was facing too.

I laughed softly and shook my head. I was suddenly angry and frustrated about all of this. I had known it in advance and yet I had hoped that it would be resolved. Somehow.

"I-I don't know, Achira... I really don't know." I said sadly and put my face in my hands.

Achira wordlessly put her hands on my shoulders and remained silent.

"Maybe talk to Catherine and Ryan about it for the first time... Maybe you can come to an agreement?"

She whispered softly and looked into the void.

"Come to an agreement? Agree on what?" I asked her confused and looked at her.

She shrugged her shoulders: "Catherine would be in pain if you died and she would be in the same pain if you rejected her. It all leads to the same thing, except that you die in one version and stay alive in the other..." Achira said and I finally looked up at her.

"If you reject her, then at best you could still see each other. On a different relationship level, as friends... If you die, you won't get anything out of it and she'll have to mourn you for the rest of her life." She said so quietly that I had to prick up my ears to follow her.

I thought about her words seriously and didn't know what to say. Achira was not wrong. It would be easier to reject her than for me to die and for her to miss me for the rest of her life. That way we could see each other occasionally, even if it would be hard to see her and know that she was no longer mine... At least that way I'd have peace of mind, she'd have Ryan by her side and she'd be okay. It would also mean I could always protect her...

I swallowed hard and sighed. "I don't know Achira... I'm about to lose it, if you ask me honestly"

"Can you even turn her down without her dying?" She asked me.

I bit my lower lip and nodded slightly "She can't reject me, but me rejecting her is actually possible.... There was never any question that I should reject her, so it was never an issue" I explained to her.

I looked at the fireplace and heard the fire crackling.

I couldn't bear the thought of having to turn Cate down. She would suffer so much... She was also pregnant...

It was stressing me out already. It was hopeless.

I cursed myself for even looking for her that day... I actually knew that either only I could have her or Ryan. With the "both" option, it was clear from the start that it wouldn't work. The law said so and I had no influence over it...

It was also clear that I was going to lose out...

There was no way out of this to come out happy. Turning them down would be the more sensible decision...

I shook my head with a smile and bit my lower lip. Ryan had won this bet even though we thought he had folded... Apparently the moon goddess was on his side... If only he knew about his luck...

Partly I didn't begrudge him it, but it still broke my heart. He was now a friend to me and I knew it would be difficult for him too...

Blimey and stitched up... Hell.

Achira hugged me from behind "Who knows, maybe we'll both end up depressed singles but hey, at least we'd have each other."

She tried to cheer me up, even if it didn't really work. I smiled for her love and nodded "You're the only thing I have at this moment, Achira... Thank you for your loyalty and faithfulness." I pressed a kiss to her forehead.

She nodded slightly "That's nothing you need to thank me for Ilay. That's what friends are for."