Chapter Nineteen
Vincenzo
I can feel the gentle caress of the cool early morning breeze on my face tossing my disheveled hair sideways and revealing my sleep-filled eyes hinting at the remnants of a restless night. The breeze carries with it the promise of a new day as the sun’s rays paint the sky in hues of orange and pink, casting a warm glow over everything it touches.
However, as I stand by the window, a glass of wine in hand, my gaze fixated on the outside world, causing my thoughts to swirl with a mix of emotions. The wine swirls in the glass, mirroring the turmoil within me. The room is quiet, except for the soft sound of my deep sighs. The dimly lit room reflects my somber mood, as shadows dance across the walls. In this moment, I find solace in the stillness, allowing myself to process my emotions and find a way out of this mess.
“Hey…. Babe,”
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my thoughts pressing against my chest as Ava’s voice broke through the silence, and I turned around, forcing a smile to mask the turmoil within me. I clutched the glass tumbler in my hand, the cool surface providing a small sense of comfort amidst the chaos swirling in my mind. I didn’t even know that Ava was right there in the room with me and the last thing I wanted was to hurt her, to burden her with my own struggles. So, I put on a brave face, determined to shield her from the storm raging inside.
“Yeah, sunshine,” I whispered, pulling her into a warm embrace. With my other hand, I gently pulled her closer to me, cherishing the feeling of her presence. “How are you doing? I thought you were still asleep,” I murmured, planting a tender kiss on her forehead.
I looked down at her, still wrapped up in her nightgown, just like me in my cozy nightshirt. The fabric felt soft against my skin, reaching down to my knees, almost brushing against my feet. As I gazed into her eyes, a flicker of concern crossed my face. “What’s the matter?” I inquired, gently tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear while tenderly caressing her cheeks.
“You’ve been acting strange lately, Vincenzo, for weeks now,” she complained, her luscious eyes fixed suspiciously on me.
Letting out a sigh, I reluctantly averted my gaze from her. Were my actions too obvious? Yeah… I’m aware that I’ve been acting strangely lately, but I just can’t help it. The constant nagging in my head, the restless thoughts, and the lack of sleep are taking a toll on me. It’s been tough, you know? Tough with everything happening recently, especially her absence.
“I’m okay, you don’t need to worry about me,” I reassured, meeting her gaze once again.
“Really? I shouldn’t worry? I’m your mate, Vincenzo… It’s my duty to worry about you!” she exclaimed, her concern evident in her voice.
“Chosen,” my wolf snorted back, but I quickly silenced him. I clenched my jaw, feeling the tension in my muscles as I held onto her soft fabric.
With a sigh, I pulled her closer and closer to me while avoiding her gaze, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. Ava is a wonderful person, everything I could have wanted in a Luna. She comes from a higher rank, the daughter of the gamma, and has the potential to be a great Luna. But lately, I’ve been feeling uneasy around her. It’s like there’s a void in my heart that she just can’t seem to fill.
“I miss her,” I whispered to myself, my heart aching for Emma. Her absence is a constant reminder of what I’ve lost. My wolf still yearns for her, and that terrifies me. I traced my hand along the mate mark on Ava’s neck, eliciting a throaty response from her. It’s confusing… She bears my mark, so why does my wolf still long for another? Deep down, I can’t shake the feeling that Emma is still out there, somewhere. Though the question remains: where could she possibly be hiding?
“What’s on your mind?” she asked, interrupting my thoughts with her sudden question.
“I miss her,” I murmured, the words lingering on the tip of my tongue as I let out a deep sigh. But I couldn’t bring myself to confess my true feelings to her at that moment. “Just thinking about how to defeat that beast,” I lied, my fingers gently caressing her cheeks.
“Let your father handle that,” she muttered, her voice filled with concern.
“Why?”
“That beast is dangerous and ruthless. I don’t want you to risk facing him,” she responded, her words causing me to slowly withdraw from her.
“You think I’m not capable of facing him?” I asked, a mix of frustration and anger creeping into my voice. As I spoke, my father’s disappointed face flashed through my mind, infuriating me more.
“Oh, not really,” she said, moving closer and gently patting my face. “You’ve already claimed me. I just want us to solidify our bond before anything else. That beast may have disrupted our party, but I don’t want him interfering with our special moment,” she finished with a seductive smirk, her long lashes fluttering enticingly at me.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
“Hmmm,” I murmured, my voice barely audible as I took a slow sip of my drink. My gaze remained fixed on her, captivated by her presence. Without hesitation, I gently pulled her closer to me. Setting my glass of wine on the windowsill, I wrapped my hands around her waist, resting my head in the comforting nook of her neck.
“Don’t you miss her?” The words slipped past my lips before I even realized it.
“Miss who?” she moaned, her hands gently running through my hair.
“Your best friend, Emma,” I mumbled, feeling her tense up in my embrace.
“Emma,” she repeats, pulling away from me with a contemplative look in her eyes. “Nope… Never! Not even for a moment,” she declared, her voice surprisingly calm yet laced with a touch of harshness. Her words made me raise an eyebrow, intrigued by her response. “Do you miss her?” she questioned, giving me a skeptical gaze.
“I never wanted her, remember,” I said, smirking, but my words carried a bitter undertone.
“Then why did you ask?” I paused, her question swirling in my head. But before I could respond, she beat me to it. “Besides, she was caught up in the fire inside that building that day, so I have nothing to worry about,” she said, flashing a dangerous grin before pulling me closer to her.
Our lips were inches apart as she drew nearer again. “Kiss me,” she commanded, her voice filled with longing.
As I looked at her, I couldn’t resist the temptation and our lips met. While kissing her, my mind kept drifting back to Emma, her face haunting my thoughts. Yes, I do miss her, but I don’t regret the rejection because she still remains a low-life omega to me and to everyone concerned.
The moon goddess could have made it better by making her come from a high rank so that I could be proud enough to show her off as mine. Though at some point I was glad that I didn’t choose her because Alpha Matteo could have seen more reasons to ridicule me and view me as worthless as ever if I were to announce her and take her in as my mate.
She is weak and a blow to my status, but I can’t deny that despite everything I still miss her…… perhaps I think it is due to the mate bond though I expected the mate bond to be severed by now since Ava now bears my mark. But in all, my heart yearns for her presence, and it drives me crazy. It’s confusing, though. I don’t know if it’s the beast I needed to put an end to or if it’s Emma I needed to find. Everything just feels messed up!