The 5-time Rejected Gamma & the Lycan King novel Chapter 4

They continued their meal. Then, Cummings came around the table with the two who followed him. Xandar was speaking to Alpha Juan but when he noticed Lucianne’s eyes wandered to the side, he turned to see the minister standing before them sheepishly. “Forgive our intrusion, your Highness. May we sit with you? Perhaps we’ll take this opportunity to make amends for my poor behavior earlier.”

 

 

 

The King smirked. “That’s not for me to decide, I’m afraid.” He looked at Alpha Juan and said, “Alpha Juan, the discretion is yours and your Luna’s. I have no qualms even if the minister’s presence is refused.”

 

 

 

Alpha Juan’s gaze turned gentle when he asked his Luna, “What do you think, baby?”

 

 

 

Xandar envied how sweet the couple before him was. He could only hope that he’ll be allowed to call Lucianne his ‘baby’ soon. He hadn’t even begun calling her ‘Lucy’ yet. He didn’t mind taking it slow, so long as she was comfortable.

 

 

 

They were clearly mind-linking until Luna Hale smiled meekly and said, “Perhaps we should take this opportunity to make amends.”

 

 

 

“Thank you, Luna Hale.” Cummings said, and dropped into the seat next to Alpha Juan.

 

 

 

“Lucianne?” A deep voice came from behind her.

 

 

 

Lucianne turned around, and when she saw who it was, she stood without a smile and greeted the Lycan, “Sebastian Cummings, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

 

 

 

Sebastian looked uneasy as he trembled over his words, “Uhh… it’s good to see you, too. H—How have you been? You look beautiful, by the way.”

 

 

 

Xandar was practically shooting daggers with his eyes at the man who was talking to his mate with such yearning. He only managed to control himself because he saw how uninterested Lucianne was.

 

 

 

She responded in a flat tone, “I’ve been doing well, thank you. If you can excuse me, I would like to finish my meal now.”

 

 

 

Before she could turn back around to sit and resume eating, Sebastian exclaimed, “No! Lucianne, wait!” He was about to reach for her arm but her agility enabled her to step back before he caught hold of it.

 

 

 

 

 

Xandar leaped out of his seat, and growled as he stood in front of Lucianne, shielding her from Sebastian. The word ‘mine’ was at the tip of Xandar’s tongue but he didn’t want to take that choice from Lucianne. He remembered the previous night when she was reluctant to consider being with him for the rest of her life. He didn’t want her to feel like she was coerced to give in to the mate bond.

 

 

 

“Your Highness, I—” Sebastian looked startled. He peeped at the indifferent Lucianne before bowing to the King and said, “I apologize.”

 

 

 

He then moved to sit in between his sister, Sasha, and his father. Sasha was sitting right next to Xandar. She wore a backless bright red dress showing a lot of cleavage. In Lucianne’s head, she was rolling her eyes. ‘What some females would do to get the attention of the opposite sex’, she thought.

 

 

 

“So, Lucianne, what have you been up to since last year?” Sebastian asked as he poked into the food on his plate, breaking the awkward silence at the table.

 

 

 

Xandar tensed up but next to him, Lucianne shrugged as she avoided Sebastian’s soft gaze and responded, “The usual. Training. Fighting. Teaching.”

 

 

 

Sasha started speaking animatedly, “Oh, it must be awful to have to learn all of that! It takes away so much energy and time!”

 

 

 

Lucianne blinked at Sasha’s comment, and cocked her head to one side as she said, “I can’t think of a better way to spend my time and energy but I do acknowledge that everyone has a different set of priorities.” Xandar smiled at his mate’s diplomatic response.

 

 

 

“Oh yeah. I know about that. Being the daughter of the Defense Minister, I can’t really escape the importance of combat. But given the choice, I’d rather settle down with a mate and have his babies, not having to worry about safety and all of those things.”

 

 

 

Lucianne smiled flatly in her way. “Not having to worry about safety is a viable priority, I suppose.” Alpha Juan covered his mouth to hide his smile. He and his mate had known Lucianne for so long that they could recognise her sarcasm from a mile away.

 

 

 

 

 

In fact, Sasha was the only one at the table who seemed oblivious about it as she continued, “I know, right? And I must say, you are so brave to sit next to our King! I mean, most wolves I know would shun away from Lycans, and for what? I don’t know. But here you are, next to the strongest Lycan. Don’t you feel small?”

 

 

 

Before Lucianne could speak, Xandar asked coldly, “Why should she feel that way?”

 

 

 

Her eyes brightened when she met Xandar’s cold ones as she chuckled lightly before explaining, “Well, your Highness. Not to brag but we are a superior species so…”

 

 

 

“Superiority in size and strength is no match for a superiority in character.” Xandar said.

 

 

 

“Oh, such wise words from our King.” She laughed coquettishly. Lucianne sipped her water as she wondered whether she could escape this unwanted exchange. In the end, she only hoped that her Alpha and Luna would not leave her alone with the Lycans.

 

 

 

Luna Hale seemed to have read her mind as she mind-linked, ‘Don’t worry, Lucy. We’ll be here as long as you need us.’

 

 

 

‘Thank you, Luna.’

 

 

 

Sasha then leaned in a way to show her cleavage as she asked “So, what have you been up to, your Highness?”

 

 

 

“Work.” He replied flatly as he looked at the wall ahead and sipped his drink.

 

 

 

“Oh, you work so hard for us. It almost makes me feel bad as one of your subjects. What do you do for rest?”

 

 

 

“Sleep.” He said equally uninterestedly, and Lucianne almost snorted at his emotionless response.

 

 

 

“Hmm…” Sasha then whispered, “Want some company for tonight?”