CHAPTER 70: REASON TO CHOOSE YOU

Kieran took a slow sip of the drink Jarvis had just poured for him. The two friends were seated in a dimly lit lounge, tucked into a quiet corner of the bar, away from prying eyes.

Jarvis leaned back in his seat, swirling the wine in his glass. "You’ve been distant lately," he remarked, watching Kieran carefully. "I heard about Leia is the Luna your elder brother has chosen. What’s going on there? Last time, you did mention that if Alpha Lucien succeeds in finding the last she-wolf then you three are going to share her."

Kieran let out a breath, setting his glass down with a soft clink. "We are giving her time to adjust," he said. "I told her that I liked her. But she’s not sure yet. She thinks Lucien still has a strong hold on her. So, she’s taking a step back to figure things out."

"You even confessed to her," Jarvis mused, downing the last of his wine in a single gulp.

Kieran let out a faint scoff as his fingers tightened around his glass. "Leia’s not like the other women I’ve known," he admitted. "She’s... different. She’s strong. But I don’t want to share her, not with Ronan, and definitely not with Lucien. Even if she claims to hate Lucien, we both know how persuasive he can be."

Jarvis arched a brow, setting his empty glass down with a soft thud. "You do realize the pack’s Alpha is your brother," he said plainly. "At the end of the day, you’ll have to play by his rules."

Kieran didn’t respond immediately but a muscle in his jaw twitched.

Reaching into his jacket pocket, Jarvis pulled out a golden envelope and slid it across the table. "Here."

Kieran eyed it with suspicion. "What’s this?"

"Tickets for a ferry ride," Jarvis replied with a sly grin. "A little giveaway for you and Leia. Somewhere away from Lucien’s eyes. Give her space, and a reason to choose you. Who knows, maybe she’ll end up rebelling against your brothers... for you."

"You bought these for me?" Kieran asked confusedly.

"No. My father started a business in cruises and ferries. So, I am handing out the tickets for its launch. It’s a two night and three days trip away from the pack. You can consider bringing Leia with you," Jarvis with a knowing smile.

Kieran hummed and realized that even Leia wanted to be away from Lucien’s scrutiny. It could be a nice excuse to be away with Leia for a while.

"Thanks, Dude," Kieran said and checked the tickets. Seeing the dates on the tickets, he furrowed his brows together.

"What happened?" Jarvis asked, pouring a second glass for himself.

"Umm... Nothing," Kieran said. ’Leia will be in heat at that time. I can’t take her outside at such a time and telling about it to anyone could be risky,’ he thought.

At the same time, he didn’t want to upset his friend by refusing for the tickets, so he chose to not go and make some excuse on a later date. Lifting the glass, he drank some more wine.

~~~~~

"Ronan, welcome back!" Leia greeted him warmly, wrapping her arms around him in a friendly hug and patting his back. "Grandmother isn’t going to return to this place ever," she added with a playful smile as she pulled away.

But Ronan had gone rigid at her touch. ’Does she not realize what her touch does to me and my wolf?’ he thought, trying to keep his expression neutral.

Lucien, standing nearby, caught the subtle shift in Ronan’s face. His eyes flicked to Leia, who was busy peeking inside a paper bag she held in her hands.

"Thanks for picking up pastries for me," she said, beaming up at Ronan. "I didn’t even ask, but you still brought them. That’s really thoughtful of you." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and hurried off to the kitchen.

Lucien’s gaze lingered on her retreating figure, a soft smile playing on his lips, until Ronan’s voice pulled him back.

"You sent away Grandma because she messed with you," Ronan said, "but she has done things like this in the past too." His eyes squinted in suspicion.

"She never dared to send anyone close to me in my rut," Lucien remarked. He didn’t tell him the real reason why he chose to send away their grandmother. He made a promise to Leia to restore Ronan’s individuality and respect in the pack. And it was possible only if their grandmother would never step in the mansion.

"Alpha, but the Madam wouldn’t have done this if Miss Leia hadn’t argued with her," Greta said, setting the water glass for Ronan on the table.

"What do you mean?" Lucien asked.

"Miss Leia said she would never help you with your rut and that Madam should find anyone suitable to be your luna," Greta stated. "I think Miss Leia was partially at fault too." She kept her eyes low, not daring to look into Lucien’s eyes.

Lucien ended up chucking to himself. Greta gazed at him, not expecting such a reaction from him. Seeing Leia coming with a tray in her hands, Greta excused herself.

Ronan observed Greta closely, wondering why she had to tell Lucien this now instead of telling him earlier.

"Let’s eat pastries," Leia said, looking at Ronan and set the tray on the table. She handed a small plate to Ronan and then looked toward the door. "Kieran didn’t come home. I wonder where he is," she murmured.

"Give me the pastry too," Lucien said.

"You can take yourself," Leia asserted and sat beside Ronan.

"Listen to your alpha, Leia," Lucien glared at her. She stuck out her tongue, annoying him.

"Tsk. Don’t you need to improve the conditions of omegas in the pack?" Lucien pressed.

"Are you blackmailing me now?" Leia asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"You could call it that, Little Omega," Lucien commented with a smirk. "Come here and feed me the pastry."