Free Web NovelChapter 72: Confrontation of Jealousy
The guard raised his hand in salute when he spotted Tarian.
Tarian was a mid-level officer of the royal guard and a part of the Riker family. This meant he was among those tasked with managing the current crime scene investigation.
Upon seeing Tarian, the guard felt a rush of nerves. But he quickly regained his cool, only to then feel embarrassed because he had unwittingly shared some case details with a young girl.
He didn’t know that Kestrel’s psychic power had affected him.
Seeing Tarian’s serious face, the guard nervously asked, "What’s the issue, sir? Is there a problem with these two?"
Tarian looked upset. His deep gaze first fell on the alpha standing behind Kestrel, then took in the mess in the room, and finally rested on Kestrel herself.
"Kestrel," Tarian managed to control the uneasy feelings bubbling up inside him, and asked calmly, holding back harsh words, "What brings you here?"
Kestrel was overwhelmed by a wave of conflicting emotions her tendrils captured—sadness, heartache, anger, jealousy, loss, madness—which were all confusing and too hard to understand, so she gave up trying.
She didn’t know what to say, so she repeated an excuse she’d heard many times.
"I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help it and made a small mistake," Kestrel said nonchalantly, feeling she’d even nailed the nonchalant shrug. "He was too attractive, I couldn’t resist."
She had heard this excuse over and over before. Those alphas who had been unfaithful to their mates all used this line, so Kestrel thought it must be a good reason.
When she saw Tarian holding another girl’s hand, he’d given her the same weak apology, "I’m sorry, Kestrel. I just couldn’t help myself."
She and Tarian were done. Making this excuse was all she could do.
She acted kindly and gently, like the perfect "ex"-fiancée. Kestrel even wanted to pat herself on the back for her performance.
The truth was, nothing had happened between her and Ren, but she didn’t want to explain. This deception could help Ren, and it also gave her a strange satisfaction, although she didn’t understand why.
Tarian clenched his teeth—Kestrel’s reply was cold; she didn’t even pretend to care. ƒrēewebnovel.com
Tarian knew that Kestrel had just come back, so this alpha was likely just a casual relationship from the party. But he couldn’t picture Kestrel doing such a thing. The Kestrel he knew didn’t care for such events and didn’t mingle with any alphas other than him, unless required.
But seeing her now, after a short time, Kestrel seemed to have changed completely. The Kestrel he knew wouldn’t crack jokes or use such a sarcastic tone.
When Kestrel was with Tarian, she was like a doll, always living in her bubble, rarely speaking, and showing no emotion. But now, her words had a hint of playfulness in her eyes, which brightened her already pretty face and made it vibrant. She looked like a butterfly that had finally broken free from its cocoon after a long sleep—now soaring towards the open sky, no longer nestled in Tarian’s hand.
While they were apart, Tarian often found himself asking about Kestrel. He heard many stories - she had been stationed at the East Shore outpost, even journeyed into the Polluted Zone.
Even among the royal guard, her name would pop up now and then, the alphas casually talking about the beta who dared to tread where they hadn’t.
"A beta in the Polluted Zone?"
"Can’t believe it! A beta with that much bravery?"
"And it’s a female beta at that."
"Wow, I’d like to meet her."
"Actually, it would be quite useful to have a beta in a warzone. Using beta pheromone doesn’t always work."
"That’s true. It would be a lifesaver to have a beta around in tough times. It just never seemed possible before."
They had no idea that the fearless beta they admired was supposed to be Tarian’s wife.
Tarian found this ironic. When Kestrel was with him, he didn’t feel her psychic grooming was irreplaceable. But now, any other beta’s grooming felt shallow and ineffective to him.
He couldn’t feel that freeing feeling Kestrel had given him, where his heart was purified, the darkness and gloom faded away.
When Tarian broke things off with Kestrel, his father was livid.
"You fool," old Riker hissed, "You don’t know what a 70% compatibility means. You can’t comprehend her mental strength. You’ll regret this."
Tarian was stubborn then, he ignored his father’s warnings. He felt he’d never regret it; instead, he believed that Kestrel would.
But Kestrel just took off their engagement ring, threw it into a sewage drain right in front of him, and walked away without a second glance.
After that, Kestrel accepted an outpost assignment, went into the Polluted Zone, mingled with other alphas—and now, she easily found a lover at a party.
She became wild, breaking all rules.
Tarian didn’t understand why he couldn’t let go of her. He knew he should move on, forget her, but the worry wouldn’t leave him. Even some mental grooming couldn’t ease his unease.
The unease built up, as if something was lost, forever beyond reach.
Tarian looked at Kestrel, his eyes red.
Kestrel seemed oblivious and innocent, unaware of the turmoil in Tarian’s heart.
"Kestrel." He took two steps forward, trying to pull her closer.
Ren, standing behind Kestrel, stepped in, moving in front of Kestrel to protect her.
As Ren moved, Kestrel noticed a change in his posture.
"Whoa."
"What’s going on?"
"Little Fish seems to have turned tough all of a sudden."
Kestrel’s tendrils, which had been drooping, perked up.
Ren’s shirt was still the same wrinkled one, even missing a few buttons at the top. But the person wearing the shirt seemed different— his gaze was icy and threatening, a quiet strength radiating from him. His actions had a natural authority, like a truly dominant alpha wolf.
Ren’s shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, offering a glimpse of his chest. His strong arms made his shoulders look incredibly wide, yet his waist was slim. Along with his long legs, his body shape was just right.
He glanced at Tarian, his eyes cold and full of scorn.
