The 5-time Rejected Gamma & the Lycan King novel Chapter 85

Chapter 85

After training and lunch, the alliance met at Xandar’s villa. They gathered in the King’s huge study, and the cousins got spare chairs and a foldable table out of the basement. They laid the report on the round table, and Toby and Sylvia offered to take notes while they discussed, reading through the report again together to see if their thoughts matched those of everyone around them.

Xandar noticed that Lucianne was checking the time every few minutes but he didn’t think much of it until her phone chimed in between their discussions. Lucianne stood from her seat as she said, “I have to go now. My ride’s here. I’ll see you guys in the dining hall tonight.”

Xandar reflexively held onto her elbow and asked frantically, “What ride?”

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion at his question as she replied matter-of-factly, “The ridet o take me to tea.”

“What tea?” Xandar asked in jealousy as he thought to himself, ‘Who is she meeting with? Does she have eyes for someone else? Someone better? WHO IS HE?!!’

Lucianne finally understood that Xandar forgot about who she was meeting. She smiled teasingly at her mate, and kissed him on his cheek before she said, “The tea with Annie, my indecent beast. Who else?”

“Oh.”Xandar relaxed before muttering to himself, “Right. That’s today.”

Christian chuckled at his cousin’s overreaction and said, “Let the Queen go now, cuz. My wife isn’t going to steal her away from you.” The wolves around the table were already chuckling as subtly a s they could.

It was only then Xandar realised that he was still holding onto his mate’s elbow like his life depended on it. He pulled her towards him to peck on her lips before uttering, “Link me if you need anything. And be safe, okay?” She blushed and nodded dotingly. The alliance members were throwing cheeky smirks in Lucianne’s way as she left the room.

Xandar’s eyes followed her out, and when they heard the front door shutting, Christian glanced at his cousin before saying, “Everyone, let’s see if the King focuses better with or without the Queen here.”

Zelena’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she exclaimed, “We should place bets!”

Xandar turned to his cousin and asked in a low, embarrassed tone, “Is this really necessary, Christian?”

Disregarding what the King just said, Toby got the ball rolling, “I’m betting with.”

Juan continued, “With.” Xandar threw Juan a look of disbelief but the usually-serious Alpha didn’t seem affected as he threw the King a cheeky smirk.

Zeke then yelled out, “I’m betting without.”

They went around the table until everyone placed their bets, leaving their King flustered.

When Lucianne opened the car door to the passenger’s seat, a familiar voice called out, “Aunt Lucy!”

“Russell? You came?” Lucianne asked in surprise at the little boy seated at the back with a safety belt fastened across his chest. Lucianne then turned towards Annie for an explanation.

Annie explained, “When he knew I was meeting you today, he didn’t stop asking if he could come along until I said yes.”

As Annie drove them to the cafe she had in mind, Lucianne asked about the families living with them, and Annie admitted that they were getting kind of bored, so much so that they offered to help the kitchen staff with the cooking.

“Well, it’s not just that. You weren’t affected when G-Greg said… those condescending things to you. And even the other night, Christian said you were harassed by a minister last year, and yet you don’t seem afraid.”

“But how? How do you find the power to stand back up again? I mean, you’ve taken quite a lot of hits. Christian keeps saying that Xandar’s biggest worry now is life throwing more things at you than it already has. Yet you seem okay. Better than okay, actually.”

Lucianne thought about her question before saying, “Well, I didn’t want to stay where I was. I didn’t want to stay sad, depressed and afraid. I was afraid of getting up and facing situations that would make me question myself again but I was more afraid of staying afraid. At least, if I tried to stand back up, I’d actually get a chance at freedom from everything that was weighing me down. That was all I was going for, to be honest, a chance at freedom.”

Annie digested what she said as she took a sip of her latte. After a moment, the Duchess asked,” But don’t you get tired of doing it over and over again, Lucy?”