My Mate Chose My Best Friend, So His Uncle Claimed Me novel Chapter 2

I didn't remember how my feet carried me away from that scene, only that my chest felt like being squeezed so tight. The image of their lips pressed together was burned into me, etched so deep I couldn't breathe.

It didn't occur to me that I would be facing this kind of dilemma. I thought being a soldier meant I could endure any wound, whether it was poisoned by the wolfsbane or not. But I realized this kind of wound I had right now was different.

This was my fated mate, the one the Moon Goddess had chosen for me, the one who was supposed to be my other half, only to face this betrayal I never expected to happen to me.

Why was this happening to me?

The two people I loved the most... Why would they do such a thing to me?

I didn't know how long I had been walking, but by the time I stopped, I was already standing before a tavern, realizing that the night had arrived. I could hear the laughter, men's hooligan voices, and the jangle of mugs inside.

Gazing at the cracked windows, the bitterness hinted in my mouth because this was a place for soldiers to forget themselves. I had been hearing my comrades going to this kind of place when they were too tired from dealing with their duty.

And this was a place I never thought I'd step into... until tonight.

As I pushed the two-way swing doors, the strong scent of ale and smoke wafted in the air, almost making me gag. I must have looked crazy since some people turned to stare at me before returning to their beverages. I slapped a quarter on the counter and sat on a stool, ignoring them.

"Something strong," I muttered. My voice didn't sound like mine. I didn't really care anymore. I just wanted the strong beverage to kick me in.

My throat burned after the first drink, feeling like there was a fire burning it, but I enjoyed the sensation. The second made me numb. The pain in my chest turned into a jumbled mixture of anger, grief, and bewilderment by the third drink.

There were flashes for me with each swallow. Memories that I didn't have alone. Those memories, I proclaimed that I had been reincarnated and experienced the same pain.

I remembered being a healer kneeling by a river, as my hand reached out to my mate to accept me despite my occupation.

I remembered being a scholar, spending my whole time sacrificing my study to my mate as I begged him not to trade me for power. In the end, he chose it over me.

I remembered being a warrior as my superior I trusted, turned to another, leaving me heartbroken on the field.

And the worst of all, I remembered standing as a Luna from a pack I could barely remember the name of before I met the miserable fate of taking my own life because of the pain my Alpha mate had inflicted.

Lifetime after lifetime, I had loved. Lifetime after lifetime, I had been forsaken.

And I knew to myself that I had been in a different body, and each past life I had had the same betrayal linger. I didn't know why I had these memories, or was I going insane because of the betrayal of Redmund and Lilith?

And this timeline I was in... this was another reincarnation. I had lived in another body again and gained my memories from my past lives.

"Euphyllia..." I bitterly murmured my name.

In every lifetime, I had borne the same name for some reason. Realizing it brought chills down my spine.

I needed some answers. I wanted to know if I was still thinking straight.

The mug slipped from my hand, spilling what was left onto the counter. My vision whirled, but it wasn't just the drink. It was too much, all of it pressing in.

"Strange place for a royal soldier to bleed her sorrows."

The words slid across the room, deep and baritone voice laced with quiet amusement. I turned, heart stumbling as my eyes found him.

He sat in the shadows of the corner table, a man who could get anyone's attention with just his mere presence. Damn it!

Broad shoulders, short, neat brunette hair, a short beard, sharp jaw, freckled hazel eyes gleaming like steel under firelight. Not only that, an immense power was radiating off him, an aura that was too hard to ignore.

Everyone knew that face.

It was no other than Lucretius Xior Franciosa. A 39-year-old man who was the current Alpha of the Golden Eclipse Pack, one of the commanders of the royal military, and last but not least, Redmund's uncle.

And now, his gaze was fixed on me.

For a moment, I just stared at him, having a hard time mustering a response. Shit! I couldn't help but slightly frown, feeling agitated as I wondered why he was here in this place. And of all people that I had to meet, why him?

Why Redmund's uncle?

Was the Moon Goddess punishing me? Was this her way to slap on my face that I would always be hunted by Redmund?

The alcohol made it difficult for me to think straight, but his heavy presence was enough to make me sober in ways the drink couldn't.

My lips parted, but no words came out. I mentally pushed myself to at least say something, but I wasn't in my right mind right now due to my raw emotions.

"Lord Lucretius Franciosa..." I finally whispered, my voice hoarse. "Or must I say, Commander Franciosa..."

The way I mentioned his rank and name felt so bitter in my mouth. It felt like mentioning my mate, or must be because they were related to each other.

He arched his eyebrow, bringing the mug before taking a sip. "So, you know me," he said casually. I knew that I must suppose to greet him because of the difference in our ranks, but I chose not to. "Then again, who doesn't?"

The arrogance in his tone almost made me sneer. I had an urge to fly my punch on his face. Now, I knew how annoying he was.

No wonder a few of his peers didn't like him because of his airhead attitude. My comrades could put a term on him as an infamous commander, despite that he was good-looking and smart. I heard from them that he had a playboy reputation and he was using his appearance to his advantage.

I heard he could pull any woman with just a few sweet words. Even in that age, he could bed any woman he wanted.

I only met Commander Lucretius on occasional times because of the disparity of our work positions. He was always dispatched to handle some military affairs, while I was always staying on my work station, engulfed by the strategic books and maps.

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