Forbidden Mating With The Alpha

Chapter 13

The atmosphere at the dinner table was completely different compared to the morning's, and the others were different along with it. Layla was the one who had changed the most into a different person entirely. She was nice, in the sense of the word, and spoke in a humble tone than then the snobbish one she usually spoke in.

The table was lively but Lucy and Creed were the only ones who kept to themselves. Lucy could not bring herself to comprehend the sudden changes. Karena spoke with Yelena the entire time and to her surprise, Robin and Layla managed to have a decent conversation without the latter bringing up the farmer's upbringing.

Kiko ate considerably less, which was more shocking to Lucy. Everyone was trying desperately to impress, or perhaps they were trying to prove that they could be civil around each other. They took Dante's warning to heart. They did not want to face any consequences such as no longer being compatible to marry Creed.

The selection had been a difficult one and many others were considered before the final six were picked. They could easily be replaced and they were all aware of it. Despite their fears, the truth was that Lucy was the only woman Creed considered against his father's wishes. He could care less about how they behaved as long as it did not tarnish the royal family's name.

Lucy was seated in her own seat and would constantly spare a glance at Creed, especially when Layla, who was closest to him apart from Karena, would attempt to strike a conversation with him. Karena was too nervous to speak to him, meaning that Layla could speak to him for the rest of the dinner if she wanted to.

"You're nervous," Yelena said in between bites. Lucy hadn't taken a bite in a while and Yelena noticed. She had been glancing between her shaking fingers, Creed and Layla.

"You can tell?" Lucy asked.

"It's obvious," and Yelena replied. Indeed, Lucy was nervous. Layla was extremely beautiful that night and she was jealous. But as much as Creed proved that he loved her, wanted to make her his first wife, she still had her doubts.

When Creed decided he had heard enough from Layla, he struck a random conversation with Karena who hadn't anticipated it. She blushed like a teenager standing in front of her crush and stammered as she spoke back to him. A painful Crack formed in Lucy's heart. Her expression did not change but Yelena was able to tell what her thoughts were.

"You should take my advice. The sooner you get used to this, the easier it will be for you. You aren't the only one who feels that way," she motioned towards Layla with her work. Concealing her emotions was one thing Layla was not proficient at. She attentively listened to Creed's conversation with Karena, her face changing to reveal her emotions everytime something was said that made Karena blush.

"You don't seem to have a problem with it," Lucy asked Yelena. Her calm demeanor was fascinating to Lucy, and she hated to think that it was so simply because Yelena did not show much interest in Creed.

"I'm from a royal family in a nearby kingdom. I've known Creed since we were children. I hardly see anything charming about him." In any other situation, Lucy would have found Yelena's words to be humorous, especially the way she said it. She stuck out her nose as though she thought herself more dignified than Creed was. It was clear to Lucy that they had a dear friendship with each other.

But since they were both royals, their ages close and because the king was interested in uniting the kingdoms for a reason that was not yet clear to Lucy, they had to get married to each other. Hearing this story, it became near impossible for Lucy to develop any jealousy towards her. Yelena was not interested in Creed in the romantic sense.

"I've know Dante for as long as I've known Creed," Yelena continued, surprising Lucy as she did not expect Dante to be part of the topic. Yelena turned her head to look deep into Lucy's blue eyes with her hazel ones.

"Don't get too close with him," where her final words before she turned her head to continue her conversation with Karena. Lucy was baffled and did not know what to say. Had she been seen with Dante? If so, what did Yelena really think of her relationship with him. There was hardly a relationship between them. Any misunderstandings could create a lot of problems for the both of them.

She looked across the table at Kiko. The auburn-haired woman was sitting politely with an dish. She would not have seconds brought to her because, as we already established, she was trying to prove herself to be a lady, but the fact that she finished eating before anyone else was suspicious enough.

"Kiko, can you accompany me to the kitchen?" Lucy asked across the table. Ida heard from behind her and approached her.

"Is there something you want to get for you?" Ida asked and Lucy glanced twice at Kiko's dish. Kiko now had her hand around a glass of water. She wouldn't drink it and she scratched along the surface with her nail. Ida quickly caught on, nodded, and moved back to her previous position.

Kiko did not question why Lucy wanted to accompany her. All she heard was 'kitchen' and her ravenous appetite needed to be quelled. As soon as they entered the kitchen, Kiko hurried to the dishes in waiting and started to eat her fill.

"Are all of you always this hungry?" Lucy asked as she stood by the door. By 'you' she was making reference to the vampires that everyone seemed to have been except for her. Kiko shook her head.

"Only my family... Everyone has a large appetite," she spoke, pausing every now and then to eat.

"It's my father's side of the family. You should see my uncle. He once ate until his metabolism couldn't keep up. You should see him now." Lucy could not imagine what her uncle or other family members were like. But she seemed to have been enjoying herself as she ate.

"Do you know why that is?" Lucy asked. For the first time, Kiko stopped eating and looked at her instead of speaking between bites.

"We have an unquenchable appetite because we can never satisfy our bodies. My great-grandfather once devoured a human during desperate times," as Kiko continued to explain her family's past, Lucy's skin became cold and a shiver ran up her spine.

"Ever since, he would crave human flesh but he made an oath that he wouldn't ever again. What he didn't know was that his children and other generations to come would inherit the cravings. We eat a lot to try and appease our appetites." Lucy did not know what to say. She was too stunned and frightened to say anything. She regretted ever asking why.

Kiko resumed her eating and Lucy became sick because she finally knew the reason behind her strong cravings.

"By the way, thanks for asking me to come here. I don't know how much longer I would've lasted in there," said Kiko.

"Of course. I knew you needed it," and Lucy responded. She was learning so much about the different backgrounds of the people she would soon become a family with. It was fascinating and frightening at the same time. Some vampires weren't so different from humans and others lived in their own world.

"What do you think about... the prince?" Was the question that followed when Kiko had enough to satisfy her craving. Kiko sighed and turned to look at Lucy.

"What do you think of him? Frankly speaking, the only ones who are giddy about this arrangement are my parents," she explained. There would be no end to surprising developments that day. So far Yelena and Kiko had no romantic interest in Creed. She was somewhat reassured about her love for him and his for her, but the reasons why the women weren't interested in him were curious ones.

"Don't misunderstand. He's handsome and kind. Very good looking, in fact. But anyone would have a hard time adjusting if they were suddenly told they would be married in the next few days," she said, sitting down at a chair nearby. She motioned for Lucy to join her and she pulled a chair closer for her to sit in.

"You didn't want this either?" Lucy asked.

"I wouldn't say I didn't want it. I had no plans for my future that involved marriage... or anything else for that matter. I simply lived through life without any worries. If not for this, I would probably end up like Layla, a maiden at 27," Kiko scoffed. To live life without any goals was quite unorthodox. Lucy wondered if she ever had any goals before losing her memories.

Did she ever want to get married before? Did she go to school and have any plans at starting a career?

"You said you don't have any memories, right?" Kiko asked and Lucy nodded.

"Have you figured out what you want to do with your life from here on?" Lucy pursed her lower lip in thought. In the end, she shrugged.

"I'll get married, I guess," she said and Kiko laughed.

"Marriage isn't life, you know. What'll happen after you get married? You'll be a royal and won't be able to work or wait day and night on your husband. You won't do any housework either," Kiko said and she made a fair point.

"What do you suggest I do?" Lucy asked.

"Figure that out on your own. Pick up a hobby or continue to develop your magic-" she quickly closed her mouth.

"What was the last part?" Lucy asked, having missed what Kiko said at the end before she became quiet.

"D-Don't worry about it!" Kiko abruptly stood up, "We should get back to the others." She walked towards the door before Lucy could say anything and walked out. Dumbfounded, Lucy stood up but didn't move for a moment. Their conversation was going so great. Kiko was about to give her a piece of advice she terribly needed but suddenly ended their talk.

She feared that it could have been because of something she said or did. Either way, they had been in the kitchen long enough and it was time to return to the dinner table.