Pursuing My Rejected Alpha
Chapter 48

"I beg for your mercy!" Elder Rick spoke up. He grabbed both of Lucien's shoulders before the latter toppled toward the table.

Ronan protectively pulled Lucien to his chest and let the latter lean against his chest.

Heat emanated from Lucien's body. He was running a fever.

"All of this talk has caused Lucien extreme mental anguish. He had done nothing wrong. He should not have to put up with this mess!"

"I am okay," Lucien said in denial, his head dizzy from fever. "I just feel under the weather, that's it."

He refused to be seen as weak in front of all these people.

He too was an alpha werewolf, damn it!

If they started treating him like some weak she-wolf, he was going to go berserk.

Conrad Woodland pinned Lucien with a sympathetic gaze.

.....

"I know that Mr. Clearwater is a victim in this situation, but so is my daughter. At least Mr. Clearwater has a place as the pack's future Luna. What about Lillian? She is having Ronan Silverback's baby boy. The heir to the Silverback family. Is her contribution in producing the heir to the Alpha line inconsequential?"

Conrad turned to look at Dane Silverback.

"Mr. Silverback, what do you have to say?"

For the first time since they arrived at the meeting, father and son exchanged glances briefly. Both of them averted their eyes at the same time.

"This is Alpha Ronan's personal matter," Dane Silverback said coldly. "I expect him to handle it properly."

Ronan lifted his gaze and shot his father a glare. Dane narrowed his eyes at his son and met his eyes again without hesitation, as if challenging him to speak up.

The onlookers in the room could sense the building heat between the father and son.

The silence was deafening.

"A son cannot survive without his mother," Lucien spoke up in the end, drawing everyone's attention at once.

"Lillian Woodland should join the Infinite Eclipse Pack as the mother of the heir."

Ronan widened his eyes at the person in his embrace.

After saying what he had to say, Lucien kept his head lowered. He refused to look into his mate's eyes.

Funny how Ronan said that this issue would be settled in five months but they had not even talked about how it should happen.

The boy must stay because he was Ronan's son.

What about the mother?

She, of course, must also stay.

Because otherwise, that boy was not going to have a father and a mother at the same time.

Ronan already had a bad relationship with his father.

His son must grow up in a better circumstance.

Lucien just needed to focus on that.

"Well, that is a start for sure," Conrad said, his tone a lot meeker after Lucien provided a solution to his problem. "The Infinite Eclipse Pack is lucky to have such an understanding Luna as Lucien Clearwater." Lucien felt numb inside.

The critics from outside were like merciless knives that stabbed into his heart, but praises did nothing to alleviate the pain.

Because in order to get the praises, Lucien had to hurt himself again and again.

He was so tired.

He was so sick of the circus.

Ronan Silverback could barely believe his ears.

Of course he did not plan for Lillian and the baby because, heck, he was not supposed to take care of them at all!

Theoretically, yes, he could make a fake promise to give Lillian the Luna position even, but he could not do that in front of Lucien. It would break Lucien's heart.

Ronan had been trying to play a political tug-of-war. Delay any decision, and keep feeding the Ironclad Claws Pack candies until the five months were up.

He did not consider Lucien's mental state during this so-called tug-of-war.

For once, Ronan saw Lucien's true state of mind.

His mate was exhausted mentally and physically.

He had been hurt so many times because he did not know anything about the deal between Ronan and Lillian.

For once, Ronan doubted his decision.

Was it right to keep Lucien in the dark? Should he not tell his mate what was going on?

'I told you,' Beowulf growled in Ronan's head. 'I told you to tell Lucien what is going on. It is all your fault, Ronan. You are the one who hurt Lucien. Not Lillian, not the baby. You did!' Ronan squeezed Lucien's upper arm.

'Lulu...

'Lulu, talk to me'

'Lulu, there is something that I have not told you before!

"

'The baby is not mine. I have struck a deal with Lillian to uncover the truth about my mother's death.

"

'Lulu...?'

Ronan swallowed hard.

Why did Lucien say nothing in return?

Was he too upset by Ronan's passiveness that he did not care for Ronan's reasons anymore?

"Alpha Ronan? I think that what the Luna said just now made sense. Do you agree?" Elder Aaron asked.

"Whatever," Ronan snapped in displeasure.

"Alpha Conrad? Miss Woodland? Is this good enough?"

"Yes," Conrad answered hurriedly. "I believe it is sufficient for now. Lillian darling, is there anything that you want to add?"

Lillian's gaze drifted from Ronan to Lucien who was still tightly pressed against the Alpha's chest.

"None," she said in return.

"Alright then," Dane Silverback looked at everyone around the table. "Case is dismissed."

After they reached a good conclusion, the tension of the meeting was relieved.

The elders left one by one, followed by Conrad Woodland. Dane Silverback eyed Ronan and Lucien, but he left without a word.

Inside the room, only Ronan and Lucien were left.

"We should go," Lucien sighed. "Sorry for the abrupt suggestion, but I saw no room for discussion. You can decide on your own what to do later on." Lucien rose to his feet. Ronan grabbed his wrist, prompting Lucien to look back.

"Lulu, why did you not answer?" the Alpha asked.

Lucien furrowed his brows.

"Answer what?" he asked, not understanding what Ronan meant.

"My calls...?"

'Using Mind Link? Lulu?'

"This is the only time you call for me."

Ronan's heart went cold.

Lucien could not hear him.

The Mind Link between him and Lucien was broken.

Ronan hoped that it was only a glitch in the system, but it was not.

Ronan tried speaking to Lucien via the Mind Link again and again, but the result remained the same.

Their Mind Link already ceased to exist.

But why?

On top of being fated mates, they were bound to each other. It should have strengthened the connection between them, shouldn't it?

How did it break so easily?

What did it mean?

Ronan wanted them to bite each other again during s*x. That was his last resort in order to restore their Mind Link. Unfortunately, Lucien's fever refused to go away.

After they came back from North Ridge Forest, Lucien remained sick for days.

.....

It was so serious that Healers poured in and out of the Alpha's dwelling just to attend to Lucien day and night.

And because the Luna was down with a fever, s*x was prohibited. Even sleeping together also fell off the table.

"Why?" Ronan furrowed his brows in confusion. "I can keep him warm at night."

The Healer, an elder one, coughed into his fist and answered in a flat tone, "We are not sure yet what kind of disease the Luna caught. Until we replace out, we beg the Alpha to please stay safe. Besides, it would give the Luna some rest." "Lucien can rest with me by his side," Ronan pointed out.

The Healer gave him knowing, suspicious looks.

"We do not think that the Alpha can suppress his desire for the Luna. The Luna would recover faster if he does not engage in any s****l activities."

Ronan was stunned to hear the Healer's honest words. Was he that salacious in the Healers' eyes?

He had never once forced himself on anyone, let alone a sick person!

How did he earn himself such a terrible reputation?

Were his walls not sound-proof???

Since the huge apartment only had one king-sized bed, the Alpha ended up sleeping on the living room's couch for the time being.

In the middle of one night, Ronan suddenly woke up. He felt that something was amiss, so he went to check up on Lucien.

His mate was wide awake.

"Ronan?" Lucien coughed a few times when he saw the Alpha in the dimmed bedroom. "I kept calling for you... Why didn't you come earlier...?" Ronan swallowed hard.

Lucien didn't know that their Mind Link was broken.

Ronan gathered his mate into his arms and pressed a kiss on the latter's forehead.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "I was asleep."

"Mmh... I see."

Lucien's hands traveled along the ridges on Ronan's back and sank into the latter's hair. His hot and irregular breath blew at Ronan's chest.

"I am sorry," Lucien apologized. "I don't know what's wrong. I want to get better soon..."

"Don't be sorry," Ronan said.

He was the one who was deeply sorry. Thanks to him and his poor decision, Lucien had to suffer.

Again and again.

Maybe it was because he was sick, but Lucien's body felt so small, so weak. Lucien used to be strong physically as well as mentally. Seeing his mate in such a weakened state hurt Ronan's heart immensely. "Do you feel uncomfortable?" the Alpha asked.

"I am okay," Lucien caressed Ronan's upper arm. "Stay with me, please."

Ronan knew that the Healers would scold him in the morning, but he still climbed into the bed and held Lucien tight.

Lucien's hand went to grasp Ronan's jaw. He then craned his neck in order to kiss the Alpha.

When their lips were but millimeters apart from each other, Ronan averted his face. If he kissed Lucien now, he would ask for more.

Lucien's lips parted in surprise. A glint of disappointment and hurt flashed across his caramel-colored eyes. There had never been one time when Ronan refused his kiss.

"Why?" Lucien asked. "Do you not want me anymore?"

"I do!" Ronan pulled at Lucien's waist and pinned his mate under his body on the bed. "I love you, Lulu. Of course I want you."

"Then sleep with me," Lucien narrowed his eyes at Ronan, demanding the Alpha to act on his words.

Ronan swallowed hard. Any other day, he would jump Lucien's bones. Just not now.

"... We can't. Lulu, you are still sick."

Lucien chuckled. What kind of ridiculous excuse was that?

"You wanted to f**k me when I was in the hospital back then."

""

Of course Ronan did. He would have done Lucien right then and there if Lucien had agreed to it.

"So why not now?"

Ronan raked through his dark hair and groaned in his head.

Because I feel guilty.

Because I am the one who made you sick.

Ronan buried his face in Lucien's chest and let out a frustrated roar.

Lucien sighed.

"Forget it," he said in a resentful tone before he proceeded to push Ronan away.

"Go away. I don't want to do it anymore. Leave me alone."

"Lulu, don't be angry..."

"I am not."

Lucien fought away the tears.

"I hate this!" he shouted.

He hated the fever.

He hated the nausea.

He hated the dizziness.

He hated himself.

He hated everything.

"My love, it's alright. Ssshh..." Ronan buried his fingers into Lucien's hair and gently massaged his scalp. Instead of being grateful, Lucien glared at Ronan and pushed him away again.

"I said, go away."

"No."

Ronan refused to leave. Instead, he peppered Lucien's back and neck with kisses while coaxing him with soft words.

Tired of shooing Ronan away, Lucien eventually stopped resisting. His eyes fluttered shut and the tension in his body melted away. At last, he fell asleep.

Early in the morning, Ronan got dressed and left.

Lucien opened his eyes when he heard the apartment door closed behind Ronan.

'Lucien, what's going on?' Landon demanded.

'What do you think is going on? He doesn't replace me attractive anymore!'

Yes, that was the problem.

It had been days since they were intimate with each other. Ronan must be so tired of having to deal with a sick mate.

'I want to get better soon... cough... cough... Otherwise, I am going to lose him...

'You should give Ronan some credit,' the wolf disagreed. 'His love for you won't disappear just like that!

Lucien smiled to himself.

.....

Deep inside Ronan's heart, did he not also think that Lucien was a selfish person...?

If Lady Adele Fangblade were still around, Ronan would have stormed into the St. Clarence hospital and asked for his mother's counsel. Unfortunately, she was not.

Asking his father was not an option. Ronan also did not want to ask any elder because he did not want his pack to have a lesser impression of his mate. They were mated just a few months ago and suddenly their Mind Link did not work anymore. That was never good news.

Although pack members were supposed to not side with the Alpha, they always did. This was what Ronan personally witnessed when the marriage between his parents fell apart.

Out of other options, Ronan went to the Silent Walkers Pack instead.

Alpha Annalynne was stunned to see Ronan in her pack house in the morning. The only times Ronan cared to come and visit was when Lucien was still living there. After that, he never came. Heck, he did not even send Christmas cards and New Year's greetings! "I need to speak to your mother," Ronan said. Annalynne could hear some distress in his tone.

""

It must be said that it was very rare for an Alpha to seek an audience with another pack's average member. If Alice were not the mother of Ronan's mate, Annalynne's firm answer would be no.

If Ronan wanted to talk to Alice, the topic could only be one, namely Lucien.

.....

If Lucien is the topic of the conversation, it is no longer a regular audience but a family matter.

Annalynne thus invited Ronan to the apartment that she shared with her mother.

Alice Clearwater was surprised to see Ronan there.

"Alpha Ronan, what an unexpected visit," she said in amazement.

"Yes, sorry to disturb your peace. Mother, I need to ask something."

Before Ronan popped his question, he looked sideways at Annalynne. The woman was leaning against the wall behind him.

"Sorry, Alpha Annalynne, do you mind leaving us alone?"

Annalynne rolled with her eyes. Never mind that she was the Alpha of the pack, this was also her apartment! What made Ronan think that he could throw Annalynne out like that?

"Anna, go and make some tea," Alice said while she gestured for Ronan to take a seat.

"Mom!!!" Annalynne protested right away.

"Get me some cinnamon and ginger cookies from Mrs. Bailey's shop as well."

""

Mrs. Bailey's shop was in Blue Hill City.

By the time Annalynne got back, Ronan would most likely be gone already. Alice Clearwater literally asked her daughter to get lost in the nicest way.

Annalynne stomped off the room unhappily.

After her daughter left, Alice directed her gaze at Ronan.

"What happened to my son?"

Alice's jaw nearly fell to the ground.

"Our Mind Link is broken," Ronan said helplessly. "I want to know in what circumstances it happens and how I can fix it."

These two men sealed the mating bond only a few months ago! How did their Mind Link fail so quickly?

But then again...

A series of images and videos from the internet flashed through Alice's mind.

"Mind Link between mated werewolves is established not because of the mating bond but because of their shared affection and feelings for each other. Alpha Ronan, could it be that your feelings toward my son wavered?"

Alice had good reasons to ask this question.

Ronan shook his head vehemently.

"No! My love for Lucien has only grown stronger from day to day."

Alice raised her eyebrow.

"Does your love also grow stronger for Lillian Woodland?"

"No!" Ronan denied.

"Please, Mother. You have to believe me. I do not love her. I only love your son. Lucien is my one and only."

Alice heaved a deep sigh.

"I trust you," she said, earning herself a relieved sigh from the Alpha.

If Ronan's love for Lucien dwindled, he would not come to the Silent Walkers Pack to speak about Lucien at all.

"But then it only means that Lucien's feelings for you have changed."

Ronan steepled his hands above his knees and pressed his forehead against his hands in frustration.

He had guessed that much. If the Mind Link was not broken by him, then surely by Lucien.

"How can I fix it?" Ronan still asked.

What could he do to restore Lucien's feelings for him?

Alice sighed.

"The dynamic between a couple is unique on its own. Alpha Ronan, you and Lucien have gone through a lot of adversities. See this as another one. You will face a lot more in the future. You two have to learn to deal with each other. This is only a minor setback." Ronan lifted his head and gazed at Alice in anguish.

"Sorry to ask, Mother, but how many times does your Mind Link with your husband fail during your marriage?"

""

...

Good question.

Alice pursed her lips.

"Never."

"Did you never fight?"

"All couples fight."

Their biggest fight was when Lucien had to sacrifice himself for Gordon's: ake. Even then, their Link remained

"Alpha Ronan, when did you last use your Mind Link? Do you know the exact time it broke?"

Ronan shook his head. "I only noticed a few days ago, but it could have been broken for a longer time."

Ronan groaned into his hands.

He did not even know when it happened.

He was so pathetic.

Lucien was bleeding from his heart in front of him but he did not notice.

His mate managed to fool him with a lot of smiles and "I am fine"s. The truth was that he was not fine at all. And that was why his love for Ronan gradually disappeared.

"Goddess, I can't believe this. I can't believe that Lucien's feelings for me would disappear this quickly."

Ronan barely ended his sentence when he heard the sharp sound of someone snapping after air.

"How dare you," she hissed. "How dare you accuse my brother!"

When he turned around, Annalynne was already standing behind him. The woman's eyes were a pair of burning, fiery balls.

In the next second, before Alice could do anything to stop her, Annalynne already pounced at Ronan and landed a slap across the Alpha's face.

A crisp sound tore through the air. Ronan's head was forcefully turned to the side following the direction of the slap.

Anger quickly rose within Ronan's heart.

The Alpha turned to glare at the junior who dared to hit him, but the fierce expression on his face quickly disappeared when he saw Annalynne's tear-streaked face.

Healed from the ugly scars that marred her appearance, her crying face was remarkably similar to Lucien's.

His anger melted away, replaced by a feeling of helplessness.

"How dare you," Annalynne repeated, her lips shaking from both fury and sadness.

"I told Lulu to leave you, but he kept defending you. He kept telling me to be more understanding. That you, being the Alpha that you are, deserve to have an heir. That we should allow you the joy of fatherhood. He kept telling me not to make a fuss. And here you

are, standing shamelessly in my pack house to badmouth my brother in front of his mother!"

Ronan's mouth dropped open.

.....

It was as if he were seeing Lucien in front of him, telling him openly about his pain and sorrow.

Images of Lucien lying on the bed weakly crossed his mind.

He rarely initiated s*x.

It was always Ronan who seduced him night after night and plundered his body until he could not take it anymore.

What was it that Lucien wanted to tell him last night?

"I love you," he could almost hear Lucien say, tears streaming down his face like two rivulets. "Stay with me. Be with me. Don't leave me alone."

"Oh, Goddess..." A whisper escaped the Alpha. He could not believe what a fool he was.

How could he even begin to think that Lucien stopped loving him?

Whatever the reason for the disappearance of the Mind Link, it was not Lucien!

Everything that Lucien did was for the sake of their relationship!

Lucien had been protecting him all these times!

In front of Ronan, Annalynne bawled her eyes out.

"My poor, precious brother... Return him to me if you don't know how to take care of him! I will go and pick him up now...!"

The rest of Annalynne's words were stuck in her throat. She gave a light gasp when she was pulled into a hug.

"Sorry," Ronan whispered in a hoarse voice.

"I am sorry that I hurt you. I am sorry that I hurt him. Lucien is forever the sun and moon of my life. I am not going to let him go. Not as long as I still have a breath to draw."

Annalynne sniffled into Ronan's shoulder. She knew ages ago that Ronan Silverback, this bastard, was never going to leave Lucien alone. To Annalynne's greatest dismay, Lucien too did not want Ronan to leave him.

"Don't you dare hurt my brother again," she said. "Don't you dare doubt my brother's sincerity again."

"I won't," Ronan promised. "I have to go now. Lucien needs me."

Ronan left just like that without saying his goodbyes. He was in such a rush.

Annalynne wiped her tears and pursed her lips.

Alice stared at her.

"What is it, Mom?" she asked, confused by her mother's weird gaze.

"Where are the cinnamon and ginger cookies that I asked you to buy?"

A few hours later, Ronan arrived at the Infinite Eclipse Pack House. The ride back and forth between Great Lake City and Blue Hill City was beyond exhausting, but he could not wait to throw himself in Lucien's arms again. Impatient to wait for the elevator to come down, he scaled two steps at once and climbed the staircase all the way to his apartment.

"Lucien!!!"

The Alpha was stunned when he saw that the bedroom was empty. He expected his mate to be in the bedroom still, maybe enjoying breakfast in bed.

But Lucien was not there.

The bed was made, and the pillows were stacked beautifully at the head. There was no trace of Lucien.

"Lulu...???"

Ronan went from room to room, but he was unable to replace Lucien. His heart was filled with trepidation. Did Lucien leave again? Where did he go? Did anyone see him?

Just as Ronan ran out of his apartment, he came across a Healer. One of those who tended to Lucien in the past days.

"You!" He snapped, grabbing the poor man on the shoulders. "Did you see the Luna? Where did he go???"

Instead of stuttering an "I don't know, Alpha" that Ronan was so used to hearing, the Healer blinked at him and answered, "Reporting to the Alpha, the Luna is in the audience hall addressing a few issues."

44"

What the hell?

He was gone for a few hours and Lucien, this hardworking employee, got to work right away???

What issue could be so urgent that he could not ask others to handle it for him?

Ronan rushed to the audience hall. When he finally arrived, he pushed the door open forcefully.

"Lulu!"

Inside the hall, there were more people than he thought. All of them fell silent when they saw the fuming Alpha at the door.

At the farthest end of the room, Lucien sat in the Luna's seat. He used one arm to support the weight of his upper body. The other hung lifelessly at his side.

On his right side was Cassie who had her arms crossed in front of her chest.

On his left side was Quinn, who held a bunch of documents that she was showing Lucien.

Lastly, in front of these three people, also sitting on a chair, was Lillian Woodland.

Ronan's mouth went dry.

"What are you doing here?" He asked Lillian.

The pregnant woman stared at him.

"Has Alpha Ronan gone senile at such a young age?" was what she really wanted to say, but she changed it to an "I am here to move into your pack" accompanied with a graceful smile instead.

"Oh, f**k," Ronan cursed under his breath.

There was nothing Ronan would love to do more than sweep his mate into his arms and pamper him just like what he demanded the previous night.

Unfortunately, Lillian's arrival turned everything into naught.

"Ronan," Lucien called.

Gazing

"Come here and sit."

at his mate with an unreadable expression on his face, he tapped at the seat next to him. The seat of the Alpha.

Ronan closed the distance between them in long strides.

Once he arrived in front of Lucien, he tilted the latter's chin and sucked on his lips gently.

Although Cassie and Quinn were both married and used to physical intimacy, they still blushed at the sight of the two men kissing.

Lillian averted her gaze in order to not roll with her eyes. If she were really carrying Ronan's child, she would be quite pissed to see them openly display their affection like that.

.....

"You still have some fever," Ronan whispered with a displeased frown.

"Only a little more left," Lucien replied.

The ends of his eyes were a little red. He looked aggrieved.

"Go back to sleep," Ronan insisted. "I will handle it here."

"No. I am to be the Luna. I need to be here," Lucien would not budge from his seat.

Ronan pressed a kiss on Lucien's cheek.

"You are the Luna," Ronan whispered into Lucien's ear.

"That position is yours, Lucien. It will never be anyone else's."

"Mnh..."

Watching the soap theater in front of her, Lillian would love to scream out the fact that she neither wished to be the Infinite Eclipse Pack's Luna, nor wanted to join the pack.

Cassie bent her knees in front of Ronan curtly before she spoke up, "Reporting to the Alpha, we are discussing where Miss Woodland shall stay upon her entry to the pack." "Anywhere would do," Ronan replied rashly.

She was not to stay longer than at most three more months, anyway.

This discussion was completely unnecessary, even more so when Lucien was down with a fever.

This was naturally a fact that was only privy to Ronan and Lillian.

The others did not expect to hear these words.

Cassie's mouth dropped open.

Lucien raised an eyebrow.

Quinn's grip on her documents tightened.

"As the mother of your son, logically she should stay where you are," Lucien pointed out. "Is that what you want?"

There was a hint of admonishment in his words, similar to a blade that could cut into a block of ice.

"What??? No!" Ronan blurted out without thinking. "That's not what I meant when I said anywhere!"

Be it a fake relationship or not, Ronan did not want Lillian to be the third wheel in his relationship with Lucien. He was treading on a precarious, narrow path himself.

"

Lillian wanted to bury her face into her palms so badly. What a disaster.

Lucien coughed into his fist.

"I do not have any experience in this matter. How is it settled usually?"

Cassie and Quinn exchanged looks. There had only been one special case in the Infinite Eclipse Pack where the Alpha had children outside of the mating bond. They were of course thinking about Dane Silverback. Other Alphas, to the best of their knowledge, had been properly adhering to the

unwritten rules of werewolf society.

First the wedding, then the mating, then the children.

Who dared to open their mouths to badmouth the previous Alpha, though?

Of course none of them.

The two women were thus more than happy when Ronan decided to take the lead and answer the sensitive question.

"Based on a precedent, the mating bond is above everything else, including the existence of children out of mating bonds."

Which was to say that Ronan did not want Lillian and the baby to intrude on his relationship with Lucien.

Then again, Lillian Woodland was not some insignificant rogue she-wolf of low birth. Her status commanded respect.

The baby in her belly was also the only heir that Ronan Silverback would ever have.

That should mean something, right?

Lucien's gaze drifted to Ronan. He already stepped over Ronan's authority when he suggested letting Lillian join the Infinite Eclipse Pack. Now that Ronan was personally there in the audience hall, he could decide things. Lucien was only there to acknowledge his

decision, whatever it was.

"Please give your direction, Alpha," Lucien said.

Ronan's eyes moved from the mate next to him to Lillian Woodland.

"A nice residence of her choice shall be provided for Miss Woodland along with maids to take care of her needs."

The fact that she was not to stay with Ronan and Lucien was implied.

Ronan pinned Lillian with a stare.

"Do you have any objection?"

"Not at all," Lillian beamed with a smile. "I am now part of the Infinite Eclipse Pack. The Alpha's will is my will."

Cassie and Quinn continued their discussion with Lillian in the audience hall.

Ronan pulled Lucien from his seat and out of the hall. Once they were within the privacy of their four walls, Lucien pulled his wrist out of Ronan's grip.

"I am

not an invalid, Ronan," Lucien said with a frown. "Stop babysitting me."

"No. If I do that, you will go and attend to some Luna responsibilities again."

Lucien

chuckled.

"Is that not what a Luna is supposed to do?"

"Yes, after the wedding. Before the wedding, all you need to think about is our upcoming wedding."

Ronan put his arms around Lucien from behind.

"Lulu..."

Lucien freed himself from Ronan's embrace and looked away from him.

"Sorry for last night," he said. "It was the fever. And constant nausea. I was being unnecessarily difficult."

Ronan sighed in his heart.

"Lulu, it is fine to be upset."

"I am NOT

upset!"

Lucien whipped his head toward Ronan and glared at him.

"Stop putting me in the same box with all of your whores!"

Ronan rubbed at his forehead.

"Baby,

we talked about this, do you remember?"

Lucien narrowed his eyes at him.

"What am I supposed to remember?"

"You promised to share your burden with me."

Lucien sucked in a deep breath sharply.

"Didn't I?" he said, casting a cold glare in Ronan's direction. "You rejected me and left."