Free Web NovelChapter 33: Chapter 33
Kyra’s POV
The moment his fingers closed around my wrist, my entire body went rigid. Sylvia erupted in my mind with a snarl. "Don’t let him touch us! His scent will weaken your resolve!"
"Let me go," I growled, my voice laced with a warning rumble that came straight from my wolf.
His expression softened, and his eyes flickered with a strange emotion. Fear? Pain? I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. I had just talked to his mother and told her that I would not get involved in her son’s life anymore. It would be my shame if I didn’t act on my words.
"Can we... talk for a while?"
"About what, Nathan? About how you shattered our mating bond? How you chose Sophia over your rightful Luna?" Sylvia’s growl vibrated through my mouth.
"Please, Kyra. I want to clear things up between us."
Clear things. Right! He was right about one thing. We should talk about us and end us properly. We never had the chance for closure, and that’s probably the reason why I still held on to him and still hurt because of his broken promises. And just like an unmated pair couldn’t simply walk away without a proper dissolution of the bond—not when their scents were still so intertwined after years together—maybe I could finally let go of our bitter ending once we talked it out.
Sylvia whined in protest, but even she knew this conversation was inevitable.
I looked at him blankly and slowly nodded. "Fine."
I averted my gaze from him when he smiled and his eyes twinkled for some reason. He seemed so happy that I agreed to talk to him about us. I didn’t know what was on his mind, but I only had one thing in mind now... ending us completely. I needed to do that to be able to move forward.
He brought me to a familiar café. My lips parted as I paused in front of the shop. The exterior design of the café was still the same, and the ambience brought back memories. I felt like I couldn’t move my feet to enter the café, but I knew I had to. I had to say goodbye to the past, and saying goodbye to familiar places like this was no exception.
I took a deep sigh before entering the café. Nathan was already at the counter when I entered. He was waiting for me, but unlike before, I didn’t walk towards him. I picked a table and sat there comfortably. I saw him looking my way with a pained expression. I didn’t even understand why he looked that way.
He walked towards me after a sigh. I just watched him silently, my stares cold.
"What do you want?"
Does it matter? I scoffed in my head as I sensed bitterness in my own question.
"Anything," I answered languidly.
He stared at me for a few seconds before he nodded and walked back to the counter. He ordered for us while I waited until he came back.
I crossed my arms after he sat in front of me. "Where do we start this conversation?" fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"I just... want to know if you’re really with Kieran Carver."
I stared at him blankly. Why did it bother him? I’m not with Kieran, but even if I was, what was it to him? Why did it matter?
Sylvia howled with laughter in my mind. "Oh Moon Goddess, he’s jealous!"
He looked down. "Why him, Kyra?"
"Why not him?" I shot back. "At least his wolf knows how to stay loyal to his mate."
Nathan’s growl was instantaneous, his Alpha power flaring in response to my provocation. The other patrons didn’t notice—humans never did—but every wolf in the café suddenly sat up straighter, their animals reacting to the dominant display.
He stared into my eyes. "He’s your stepbrother."
I was about to say something sarcastic when an old woman approached us. I recognized her as the owner of the café. She knew us, and I also understood the meaning behind her sweet smile. She put our order on the table, still smiling.
"Oh, you two! I’m glad you’re still together. I suppose you’re married now?"
I immediately shook my head, but Nathan nodded at her. I looked at him in disbelief. What the hell was he doing? Claiming a mate bond that no longer existed?
The Mrs. smiled at me and looked at Nathan before she walked away. I bit my bottom lip and looked at Nathan with irritation after the woman disappeared from our sight.
"What was that?" I asked angrily.
"We were once married. It’s not like that simple nod would ruin your relationship with Kieran Carver." I sensed bitterness in his voice, but I wasn’t dumb enough to fall for the same trick again. I had once been fooled by his complicated actions and feelings. I didn’t want to disappoint myself a second time.
I grabbed my bag in anger. "Doesn’t mean you can go around doing whatever pleases you. Let me remind you, Nathan. We’re over—"
"Then why did you agree to come here if we’re over?"
My forehead creased. What? I couldn’t believe him!
"You said you wanted to talk. I came here with you to talk."
"What about earlier?" He swallowed hard. "Why did you visit the place where we used to go before? Why did you go to the lake?"
Where was this conversation really leading?
I gritted my teeth as my eyes sharpened. "Do you have any idea how hard it was? Loving you while you pined for her? Playing the understanding best friend while you mooned over your precious fated mate? I went there to say goodbye to the past, Nathan. Because I know closure is all I need. I want to live my life without you. Please, let me."
I walked out on him in a fury. I could feel Nathan’s gaze burning into my back, could practically hear Alaric’s mournful howl in my mind. I felt as if my frustration and anger would explode at any moment if I didn’t leave. I walked away without direction. I was about to cross the street when someone grabbed my wrist. My anger intensified after seeing Nathan’s face again.
***
Nathan’s POV
Her words were silver daggers to my ribs, each one striking deeper than the last. Alaric howled in agony within me, "She was never ours to keep."
I watched Kyra’s back painfully as she walked away from me angrily. She didn’t confirm it, but she also didn’t deny it. Did that mean she really had a relationship with Kieran Carver?
I balled my fists. There was something wrong. With me. The possibility of her dating Kieran Carver was driving me so fucking insane. Not because they were stepsiblings, but because there was something else. I felt like I had lost something truly huge.
"Lover’s quarrel?"
I looked at the old lady who owned the café. I didn’t know what to say to her, so I just smiled awkwardly.
She handed me a familiar box. From the cover, I could see the delicious pastry which had always been Kyra’s favorite.
"A way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach," she said, smiling sweetly. "Coax her just like before."
Her idea somehow convinced me. I just hoped she’d accept this as a peace offering and not see it as a bribe for what I did.
I offered payment for the pastry, but the owner refused, saying it was a gift from her. I accepted it wholeheartedly before I ran out of the café to follow Kyra. She was almost crossing the street when I caught her wrist. Her eyes reflected her anger as soon as she saw my face.
"What?"
I pressed my lips together and lifted the box of her favorite pastry. "I’m sorry..."
When I looked her in the eyes, I realized she was about to cry, but she held her tears back and heartlessly threw the box of pastry to the ground. I was beyond shocked as I stared at her face, now full of hatred.
"Kyra..."
"Why don’t you try to just forget about me and treat me like a total stranger, Nathan? That would be nice. Do me a favor, please."
I clenched my jaws, losing my cool. "I’m just trying to reconcile because I know I did you wrong. I just want us to be friends again—"
"Oh, don’t ever try!" She cut me off angrily.
"We’re best friends," I whispered, feeling as if something was suffocating my heart.
She laughed sarcastically. "Oh! Guess what? Being your best friend was worse. The time I spent with you as your best friend was worse, and there’s no way I’d make you my best friend again."
"W-What?"
"Did you know how long I had to endure you? God, Nathan! Befriending you is one of the stupidest decisions I’ve ever made. I regret it. So much."
I shook my head slowly. "You don’t mean that..." frёeωebɳovel.com
"Why would I lie about it? Besides, I don’t want to get involved with you anymore. Might as well make you understand why we can’t be friends again. I just hope you understand that and never bother me again. I have someone special to take care of already. I don’t need any excess baggage."
I couldn’t move or even speak. She said something that hurt so much and broke every piece of hope I had for our reconciliation. I was wrong. She never... treated me as a friend, and it hurt so damn much that she chose Kieran Carver over me. This was fucking insane!
The moment I’d let Sophia back into our lives, I’d signed the death warrant for whatever future we might have had. And now she carried another wolf’s pup.
Alaric collapsed inside me, his mournful howl ringing out. "We deserve this," he whimpered, and for once, I couldn’t argue.
