Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha
Chapter 36

HYCINTH’S POV

I was breathless. Literally. So much had happened and changed over the last few hours. I was reeling, struggling to keep up.

Leander dismissed the wolves, but a few remained behind to speak with him. While he chatted with the lingering wolves, I made my way over to Lucky’s cell. He’d had a front-row seat to the commotion. I was curious what he thought, but I also knew he wasn’t going to be happy with what he’d heard.

When I reached him, his intense glowing absinthe eyes belied his casual stance and signature smirk. He breathed, “Wow, Cinn, that was quite some show. I gotta say, after we talked earlier, that particular testosterone-fueled Alpha display was the last thing I expected to see. Wanna catch me up on what the hell happened?”

“I don’t even know where to begin,” I exhaled.

His gaze turned steel cold. “Why don’t you start by telling me what that d**k-eating fucker did to you and why you didn’t tell me about it before?”

I cringed. Yep, he wasn’t thrilled. I sighed, “I didn’t want you to worry.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw. He ground his teeth together. “That’s not an acceptable answer, and you know it.”

I cringed, looked down and then back up at him through my lashes. “I know. I’m sorry. I should have.”

Before we could say more, Lucky glanced over my shoulder and tension rolled through his chest. I turned to replace Alpha Cyril headed our way. When he reached us, his dark brown eyes studied me intently. He spoke with a slow drawl, his voice a deep, rich timbre, “I might have been wrong about you.”

“I, um…what do you mean?” I wasn’t quite sure what to make of his comment..

“You’re not like them,” he stated.

I still wasn’t sure what he meant, but it was clear he was referring to my parents, and he thought my being different from my them was a good thing. Maybe that comment was to be expected. He and my parents had a long-standing feud. It stood to reason he wouldn’t think highly of them. But there was something in his tone that caught me off guard. Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I didn’t know what he expected me to say, but I certainly wasn’t going to thank him for the backhanded compliment, so I simply murmured evenly, “Okay.”

I waited. But apparently, that was everything he intended to communicate because he just nodded toward Leander, who’d walked up while we were speaking, and then turned around and left.

I faced Leander. He said softly, “I’m going to take a shower. Will you be okay down here for the next thirty minutes?”

My eyebrow rose in surprise. Leander was going to let me stay with Lucky? Just like that? Alone? I queried, “Unsupervised?”

His mouth turned up. “Do you feel you need a bodyguard?”

I was so, so tempted to stick my tongue out.

Of course, I didn’t need a bodyguard. I could handle myself. And after today’s feral display, I doubted any Wolf would dream of touching me. “I think I’ll be fine,” I replied dryly.

He grinned, “Good.”

I couldn’t help returning his smile. I was pleased with my new freedom and his agreement that I no longer needed supervision.

“Ever, Gwen and a few other mated pairs would like to meet with us in thirty minutes in the study.”

My stomach dropped. It felt like days had gone by, but it had only been hours since I’d botched our Announcement Ceremony with my little outburst. Of course, the mated pairs would be upset. Leander noticed my hesitation. “Everything will be okay. I promise.”

His words and smooth tone washed over me- a protective cocoon that I could hide inside and be safe. I steadied myself. I needed to face them. There was not going to be a ‘good’ time. I just needed to do it-rip off the Band-Aid and see what bled. Hmm, maybe I was getting as bloodthirsty as Leander. I put the random thought out of my mind and refocused on the conversation at hand.

I gave Leander a small nod, which he returned. He then walked away with Ever by his side. I was glad he didn’t try to give me a parting k**s or hug, not when he still had Dagger’s b***d splashed all over the front of him. Ew.

When Lucky and I were alone, I pulled over a nearby chair in front of the bars, and he sat down on the small cot, his back resting against the concrete wall, one foot on the bed with his knee bent, to get comfortable.

He gave me a hard stare. “Start from the beginning. And this time, don’t leave anything out.”

I walked him through everything that had happened during our capture, what Dagger had done and what the other Wolf had said. Lucky’ face was set in a frown as he listened until finally, he hissed, “He got what he deserved.”

I didn’t want to talk about Dagger any longer or what had just happened. What was done, was done, so I didn’t bother to agree or disagree. I just sat there while Lucky contemplated. After a long moment, he spoke, “So, what now? Are you continuing forward with the deal you made for our freedom or has he convinced you to be his mate?”

“I’m continuing with the deal,” I assured him quickly, picking at my nails. “I’m going to make sure you get out of here.”

He studied me for a long time. I squirmed under the intensity of his gaze. When he still didn’t speak, I muttered, “What?”

“Cinn, I didn’t ask you that question because I was worried about my future. Regardless of what happens now, I’ll have my freedom.”

I tilted my head to the side. “What do you mean?”

“It’s simple,” he replied. “Either you go through with the deal, and both of us are set free. Or you become his Luna. I’d still be set free. As his Luna, you wouldn’t allow him to keep your brother locked up. And after today’s demonstration, I’m hundred percent confident he’d listen to you.”

What he said made sense. I was just surprised he said it. “You say that so casually… become his Luna’….but just a few hours ago, you were dead set against my being with him. Why the abrupt turn around?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Both his display of possessiveness and anger on your behalf, and your display with that Wolf. I don’t think you realize what you did and accomplished.”

“Accomplished?” I repeated.