CHAPTER 163: WALKING ME TO THE ALTAR

"Lucien still thinks I helped the hybrid. How do you plan to keep me out his radar?" Sorin asked, his grip tightening around the glass of alcohol.

Rurik tilted his head. "Weren’t you the one, who wanted to take down Lucien? Why are you even scared of him? Just keep doing your normal investigation regarding the witches," Rurik suggested. He wasn’t afraid of Lucien.

"Are you speaking in your right mind? Don’t you know what kind of person Lucien is? If he’s suspicious of me, then that means he will bring me down with evidence in front of the Alpha King," Sorin lowered the glass of alcohol, feeling anxious once again.

"You didn’t leave any clue behind, did you?" asked Rurik, tilting his head.

"I didn’t. But as per my sources, Lucius is investigating on me. He is damn sure that I helped a hybrid and set a trap for him," Sorin explained. "So, I think I can’t help you further. You need to find your own way to bring Lucien down. I don’t want to tarnish my reputation," he asserted.

"Sorin, you can’t leave in the middle. Don’t forget as much his demise will benefit me, it will benefit you as well," Rurik pronounced, bringing the glass to the table before. He looked around and leaned closer, "I am stronger than Lucien. My veins carry the blood of a witch, remember? So, don’t step back."

"Rurik, you did have chance to kill Lucien that night. But what you did? You show him off how mighty you are! You may think Lucien as a fool but I don’t. He’s a walking terror. After the witches became the reason of his parents’ death, he wiped the existence from their very land, which once existed. You might be stronger than him, but you’re not smarter."

Sorin rose to his feet and put his hands inside the pockets of his overcoat. "This was our last meeting," he said and walked out of his sight.

Rurik furrowed his brows together. "Lucien is weak at the moment. It’s a perfect chance to end him," he murmured, bringing the glass of alcohol to his mouth, chugging it down.

~~~~~

"Grandma? Why did you come here?" Leia pushed herself upright on the bed, wincing as she tried to stand.

"Stay there," Azalea said firmly. "You’re not supposed to move around too much."

By the window, Fleur glanced outside, her hair fluttering in the draft. She pulled the panes shut with a sigh. "The wind’s picking up. Looks like a storm’s coming."

Azalea settled on the edge of the bed across from Leia, studying her granddaughter carefully. "How’s the wound on your stomach?" she asked.

"It’s almost healed," Leia answered, her gaze shifting. "But what about you, Grandma? How are you feeling these days? Do you... feel any pain?"

Azalea offered a faint smile, though her eyes betrayed her fatigue. "Don’t worry about me, child. Even if I hurt, I can endure it."

Fleur sat down beside Leia, her heart aching clearly at her mother’s words.

"Don’t say that, Grandma," Leia insisted, her voice rising with concern. "If you’re not well, we’ll take you to the hospital—"

"I don’t want any medication," Azalea interrupted sharply, thus silencing her.

Leia placed her hand over hers and gave it gentle caresses. "I’m sorry for treating you badly when you were here. I can’t help but think that because of me you got separated from your grandsons."

"It’s alright, Leia. I was blinded by my arrogance. My grandsons are adults and they have the right to make decisions about their lives. And Lucien also sent me away from his sight because of what I did to Ronan. Poor boy suffered a lot in the hands of his father, then the pack and me," Azalea said, regretting for whatever she did to him.

"Mom, I used to tell you not to listen to Brother. He was too much involved in superstitions," Fleur muttered.

"Hmm." Azalea looked into Leia’s eyes, which carry a troubled expression.

"I know you will take care of my three grandsons really well. Kieran doesn’t stop talking about you whenever he sits with me. While Ronan’s eyes always follow you. As for Lucien, you’re the only for him. For you, he can do anything. I saw how protective they are toward you," Azalea stated, feeling happy that at least after she would be gone her grandsons would not feel alone.

"Mom thinks you should get married to them, Leia. This is her last wish, seeing you become a Calendrino, the Luna of this pack," Fleur stated.

Leia didn’t say anything and seeing the confusion in her eyes, Azalea asked, "Why are you quiet?"

"Nothing, Grandma. It’s just I have not thought about marriage yet. I’m just 24. My life suddenly changed when I was brought into this pack. The people are great here, and I’m learning everything slowly. To be a Luna of a pack, you don’t just need a beautiful face, but a lot more than that. While your three grandsons bring a lots of qualities in them, I only create problems for them. I hope you’re getting what I mean," Leia said, her brows slightly furrowing.

"Are you afraid of the responsibilities of a pack?" asked Fleur.

"Yes. I know nothing. I make sometimes naive and terrible mistakes. I am unable to even defend myself, let alone protecting the people in this pack and my mates. The Moon Goddess has granted me a fate bound to Lucien, Ronan and Kieran and I don’t defy it. I want to become someone better. Initially, I didn’t have a plan to part of this pack, but now when I want to, I wish to build my own identity where people also trust me," Leia explained to them.

"I get it. But you won’t learn everything overnight. It takes time, Leia. To build a pack isn’t easy and to take care of the people in it isn’t either. It takes time to understand everything. All these years, I wished my grandsons to settle down with their mates and end their loneliness. If you want time, definitely there’s no rush," Azalea stated, showing her understanding.

"Leia, those three brothers will never leave you," Fleur said with a gentle smile. "I can promise you that as their aunt. They were never interested in any relationship before, but with you... it’s different. The three of them finally seem complete. Of course, marriage shouldn’t be rushed."

"Thank you, Grandma. Thank you, Aunt Fleur," Leia replied, her chest easing as some of the heaviness lifted. Yet she could still sense the sadness in Azalea’s eyes, the unspoken wish lingering in her heart.

Leia reached for her grandmother’s hand, her voice bright with determination. "Grandma, I will marry them soon. Don’t worry. You’ll see your grandsons in their wedding suits, walking me to the altar."

~~~~

Kieran returned home at noon and went straight to Leia’s room.

He gave a soft knock before stepping inside, a broad smile lighting his face. "I brought your favorite ice cream," he announced, holding up a paper bag. Then his eyes widened. "Wait, what are you doing?"

Leia glanced up, a paintbrush still in her hand, sheets of paper spread across the table. "Oh! I was just bored," she admitted with a small smile. "So I thought I’d make some drawings for the kids in the pack while I’m here at home."

Setting the brush down, she walked over to him and peeked into the bag. "Did you bring some for Inara and Travis too?"

"They’re not even home," Kieran said, chuckling.

"What do you mean?" Leia asked, tilting her head.

"Inara begged Travis to take her to the public fair on the pack’s grounds. Almost everyone was invited."

Leia’s eyes lit up. "A fair? Wow! I want to go too!"

"I wish I could take you," Kieran said softly.

"I know I can’t go out yet," Leia murmured. She pulled the cups from the bag, handed one to him, and carried hers to the bed.

Perching on the mattress, she dipped the tiny spoon into the strawberry ice cream and took a bite. A delighted sound escaped her lips. "Mm, this tastes so good. Thanks, Kieran. You always know exactly what I need." She flashed him a grateful smile.

His expression softened as he settled beside her, opening his own cup. "Lucien will be back late tonight. He told me to remind you not to wait up for him, though you usually do."

Leia tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "Where did he go that he’ll be out so late?"

Kieran shrugged lightly. "I don’t know. He didn’t share the details. But whatever it is, it must be important."

"He must be investigating related to the attack that happened on him in the past," Leia stated.

"Yeah. God knows what goes in my brother’s mind. I hoped he would let me join him, but as always, he didn’t. But then, you also need me. So, I don’t mind it this time," Kieran said.

"Kieran, you are his baby brother. He doesn’t want you to get hurt. That’s why he keeps you away from all such things," Leia asserted, walking to him. "Open your mouth," she said.

He held the tiny bamboo spoon and made her sit on his lap. Then, he gently moved it toward her mouth, not breaking their eyelock.

As Leia ate that portion of the icecream, he lowered her hand and kissed her. His tongue trailed over her lips as he shoved it gently into her mouth, savoring the taste of the icecream.