My Mate Chose My Best Friend, So His Uncle Claimed Me novel Chapter 46

“It seems like Lucretius is going to be late for supper, Euphyllia.”

I turned at Romina’s voice behind me. I was already at the front porch, waiting for Lucretius‘ arrival, but it was already 6 pm, and until now, he hadn’t arrived home yet since he left this morning.

I thought the preparation would take him at least to finish it before the afternoon, but what was taking him so long to arrive? Did he encounter some inconveniences with the wedding organizer? Did he have an accident that no one was telling me about? Or perhaps I was just being an impatient person, couldn’t wait for someone?

Sighing, my eyes darted to the sun beautifully setting down over the horizon. “It seems like it.” I secretly clutched my skirt, feeling something hollow in my chest.

Realization was starting to hit me since earlier that Lucretius’s absence brought an oddity to me that I wasn’t used to. Although Romina was here, and also my other two nemesis could entertain, it still felt the manor was quieter.

I had already entertained Alpha Derrick and Luna Olivia this afternoon to distract myself, but still, I kept looking for his presence around the pack, which was bizarre for me to feel.

I wonder if I would feel like this in case Lucretius decided that I would be left here in this pack while he was working in the royal military.

Just by experiencing it already that he wasn’t here all day had made me feel drought like a wilted flower, how much more if he was far away and I was here to stay? How would I suppose to fill the gap of loneliness when he wasn’t here by my side?

I felt my heart being tugged as the evening breeze brushed against my hair felt colder without him here.

I couldn’t understand why I had to feel this. Our dynamic was different, yet I kept looking for his presence. I wanted to hear his voice, even though I knew I’d end up fuming mad at him for constantly teasing me.

This kind of feeling… It was so familiar I didn’t want to name it. I didn’t even want to contemplate it because if I did, it would be forever engraved in my heart and mind.

Romina walked toward me as her motherly presence blessed me. Looking at her, sometimes, I could have wished she were my mother–in–law. She was a loving and caring person who was quite the opposite of her son, who was a conniving bastard.

“You’ve been staring out there for hours,” she said, her voice teasing but gentle. “You’ll catch a cold before he even arrives.”

As if on cue, I simply brushed my hands on my arms when the breeze brought shivers down my spine. “I suppose I just lost track of time.” My lips twitched into a vague smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “I thought he’d be back earlier.”

I pursed my lips into a thin line, silently regretting that I didn’t insist on coming with him earlier this morning. But he entrusted me with some tasks, so I must fulfill them.

I wanted to be useful to him as someone he had just married in exchange for vengeance.

“You miss him.” She leaned against the railings beside, crossing her arms. “It’s written all over your face, Euphyllia,” she

stated in a sing–song voice.

My eyes slightly widened. “I–I am not…!”

Why would she think that? There was no way that I would miss that man! I wasn’t just used to his absence, that was why!

“Oh, please.” She playfully rolled her eyes, chuckling. “You keep glancing down the road every minute as if he’ll appear out of thin air.”

Her words made my cheeks warm, and I averted my gaze. “It’s not that. I’m just… used to him being around, that’s all.”

Perhaps I wasn’t used to not being teased by him. I wanted to add, but seeing the mischief in her eyes was telling me not to say it.

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Romina hummed, her eyes locking at the sky covered by an orange hue. “He’s been preparing for tomorrow. You know how he gets perfectionist and more meticulous to the last detail.”

And that sometimes caused him to get sick. I almost shook my head because, no matter if he was like this, at the end of the day, he was still a werewolf who could get exhausted with no breaks.

“I know…” I muttered, my gaze darting at the twilight–coated trees. “He just didn’t tell me it would take all day.”

I wasn’t certain if I was frowning, but the idea of not being involved in arranging things for our wedding was making me feel useless. That was also my wedding, and I wanted to help Lucretius as much as possible, even if I could only contribute a little.

I still wanted to help my husband.

As the sun had finally set, from an orange hue to a dark purple one, a strange flutter stirred inside my chest. My wolf, who was dormant and silent since this morning, suddenly perked up, her energy rising sharply. And my instinct heightened as blood rushed through my veins.

Then I felt it.

From the borders of the pack, I felt the faint ripple of a familiar aura against my senses. It wasn’t hostile, and I knew very well that, because of being the Luna, I could immediately identify it.

My breath hitched. “He’s here…” I murmured without realizing it, my back straightening all of a sudden.

Strange… He wasn’t even our mate, but my wolf was thrilled to know that his presence was finally here.

Romina blinked. “Already?” I nodded. “Oh…” Her smile widened. “My, being his Luna is such an advantage,” she said teasingly.

Before I could even respond, the sound of carriage wheels rolling along the road reached my ears. My heart started to race. It started off slow, but soon the pace quickened, feeling like I was being hunted by a predator.

The empty ache that had lingered all afternoon had vanished and was replaced by an unexplainable warmth that made me feel light.

And I couldn’t stop myself from feeling this, which I only felt for Redmund before.

I held my breath when the carriage stopped in front of the manor. The loud pound of my heart inside my chest almost made me pass out as soon as the door opened, and Lucretius stepped down. His short, neat brunette hair caught the lantern light.

For a moment, I just stood there, frozen, watching him. His stunning appearance always rendered me speechless. The genes of the Franciosa family highlighted their striking looks.

Well, except Redmund.

It was making me breathless to see such a fine, wealthy, good–looking man who offered me a marriage for vengeance against his nephew. I must say I was lucky that he was the one who took my first. I never imagined myself marrying into a wealthy family; all I wanted was a loving and hardworking man.

Lucretius’s sharp gaze softened when his eyes found mine.

And then I saw it.

A bouquet of white and soft–yellow chrysanthemums was hidden behind his back.

And my heart was skipping a beat.

“Euphyllia,” he said, his voice low, roughened by fatigue yet filled with something I couldn’t name. He closed the distance between us, and before I could utter a word, his hand cupped my cheek.

I could feel the warmth of his palm, the rough texture of calluses beneath his touch. Then, he lowered his head, and before I could even draw a breath, his lips pressed against mine.

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My eyes grew wider from his action as my breath hitched. I knew that this was a predicted action from him because we had to continue our act, but I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded by this.

The moment Lucretius started moving his lips, it felt like a soothing lullaby. I closed my eyes slowly, giving in completely, and responded by kissing him back.

The kiss was slow, passionate, and gentle. He was kissing as if he feared I might fade away if he pushed too hard, which was very unusual of him. The faint scent of cedar and smoke from him reached my nostrils, filling my senses.

My chest tightened, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. His thumb caressed along my jaw, conveying a shiver to crawl down my spine. My fingers kept clutching the front of his coat, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my touch.

It was undeniably odd to feel that the world around us seemed to fall away. I even forgot that Romina was still beside me, watching Lucretius and me sharing a passionate kiss as if we hadn’t seen each other for decades or centuries.

Lucretius nibbled my lower lip, slowly, and I felt an uncontrollable warmth that spread from my chest down to my stomach. That kaleidoscope of butterflies awakened inside and fluttered inside me.

The way my heart was beating too fast… It wasn’t matching the beat of every breath I took.

It wasn’t supposed to feel like this… this dizzying mix of longing and confusion because I only felt this toward Redmund before. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to pull away.

I felt as if I did that, I would be disappointed. The feeling of his lips on mine brought comfort and ease to me that I wasn’t certain if I had felt this from my former mate in the past.

By the time he finally drew back, I could barely steady my breathing. It was the effect of having his lips on mine. I couldn’t understand my body with the way it obeyed and surrendered to him.

His thumb kept caressing the corner of my lips as if he were memorizing the lips he had kissed just a moment ago.

“I missed you so much,” he murmured in a hoarse tone. His freckled hazel eyes were darker than usual, taking my breath away. “You’re definitely coming with me when I go back to the camp. I get too paranoid not seeing you all day, wifey.”

I blinked, unable to find my voice. What did he say? Did he really say that, or… was I just hearing things?

However, my pulse was drumming wildly in my ears. It was impossible that I didn’t get to hear it clearly. And I could still feel his kiss lingering against my mouth. It felt like he was still kissing me.

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