A Second Chance For My Lycan King

Haunted memories

Stefan's POV

The remaining few days that followed the convention, I could only watch Eve from a distance. Whenever the thought of approaching her crossed my mind, it was met with the memory of our cafeteria encounter. That moment when she had snapped at me and told me that she wanted me to stay away from her and that she did not have any feelings for me any longer.

Her words did hurt me, I wouldn't lie. It was the first time that she had snapped at me this way and made me feel this awful. Never had a woman's rejection cut me so deeply. Matter of fact, no other woman had ever made me feel this way. I wouldn't even have entertained another woman speaking to me in such a manner. But with Eve, it was different. It felt different.

Eve was an mystery, a puzzle I couldn't solve. There was a shift in her, a subtle change that left me searching for answers. Yet, for all my confusion, I found myself unable to tear away from her. She held me captive, her presence a binding spell I was powerless to resist.

It was as if I was under some ancient enchantment, a love charm woven into her words and deeds. No matter how hard I tried to break free, the invisible bond between us remained unbreakable.

I couldn't help but wonder if this was how the late Alpha whom she had once mated to, had been entrapped by her. The rumors of her bewitchment suddenly seemed all the more likely as I found myself head over heels for this woman who had rejected me.

I had now fallen a victim of her allure, a willing captive of the spell she had cast upon me, unable to release her from my thoughts even as she had spurned me. Still, I liked this feeling. The sweet bitterness of this enchantment thrilled me.

Finally, it was the last day of our convention and once the last meeting was over, everyone got up and started shaking hands with each other. An air of accomplishment hovered over us. They reached my seat and repeated the same with me, happy satisfied smiles on their faces.

"It was truly an honor attending this convention with you, Lycan Stefan," one of the attendees said to me with a broad smile. “I hope I get the privilege of meeting you again.”

"Thank you," I replied, my voice betraying a hint of preoccupation. I was still on the lookout for Eve amidst the sea of people, my eyes darting from face to face, but she was nowhere to be found. It seemed that she had managed to slip away, maybe in a deliberate attempt to avoid me.

That evening, when I returned to my suite for a good night's rest before my departure the following day. As I stepped inside my suite, the sight of Emilia lying down on the bed in the dimly lit room caught my eyes.

She lay there, her figure illuminated by the soft light of the room, the scarlet hue of her lingerie contrasting beautifully with her pale skin. Her blonde hair cascaded in tousled curls down her back, framing her face in an alluring manner. A small, enigmatic smile played on her lips, the corners upturned in a mischievous smirk.

“Hey.” She whispered to me in a gentle whisper.

But even with her seductive display laid bare before me, my response was one of detachment. Maybe it was because of my exhaustion from the day's events that weighed heavily on my mind.

“Hey…," I replied to her, the acknowledgement barely audible. I turned away again, heading towards the closet to undress.

As I proceeded to take off my inner shirt, I felt her hands drift across my back, caressing the contours of my body. Tender kisses were planted on my skin, each touch sending a ripple of electricity through my body.

Then, she embraced me from behind, her warmth enveloping my frame. In a voice that was both low and sweet, she asked,

“How was your day?”

"Tiring," I replied in a low tone, my hands struggling to unbutton my shirt.

Emilia gliding around to stand in front of me. Her delicate fingers brushed against mine, taking control of the buttons.

She met my gaze for a moment, her eyes shining with a playful glint. A coy smile curled at her lips as she bit down on her bottom lip, teasing me with her flirtatious expression.

"There," she let the shirt slip from my shoulders, her fingertips grazing my skin in a way that sent shivers down my spine.

As the material fell to the ground, I felt a surge of desire, my body responding to her touch. I hardened under her gaze, my breathing deepening as the tension between us grew.

Emilia moved closer, her arms slipping around my waist. Her gaze was electric and her voice, dripped with desire.

"Do you want me to help you forget about the stress of today?”

"I don't know," I let out a soft exhale, "I just want to be left alone."

My eyes drifted to the bathroom, the idea of a warm shower and a good night's sleep beckoning to me. And tomorrow, I should be in my castle, in the familiar comforts of my own space.

“Oh, no. You don't.” Emilia chuckled lightly and tiptoed, pressing her lips against mine in a kiss. At first, I hesitated. But the kiss was warm and inviting, and soon I was drawn in, kissing her back.

She deepened the kiss and as we kissed, touching each other's bodies and moving slowly towards the bed, the image of my kiss with Eve crossed my vision. I tried to shake the image from my mind, willing myself to focus on the present but it wasn't working.

The images of Eve haunted my mind, refusing to fade away. From the first glimpse of her at the convention, to the moment our lips met in a forbidden embrace, the smile she had shared with her friend, the way her eyes had pierced through me with contempt, the bitter words that had stung me like a poison dart, all of these moments replayed in my mind like a haunting echo of my past.

I pushed Emilia away, my hands stronger than intended and she stumbled backward, the suddenness of my rejection catching her off-guard. She fell onto the bed, her eyes wide with shock and confusion.

"What's wrong?" she stammered, her voice tinged with hurt. "Did I do something wrong?”

"No," I replied, my voice a hushed whisper, "It's not you. It's me." My hand ran through my hair in a futile attempt to calm the turmoil within me.

I inhaled deeply, attempting to soothe the anxiety that thrummed beneath my skin, but it did little to calm the storm that raged within. I needed to escape, to put distance between myself and this space, this memory, before it consumed me entirely.

I hurriedly slipped my shirt back on, with Emilia watching in stunned silence. Her mouth hung open, words failing her in the wake of my sudden change of heart.

"I don't understand," she finally managed, her voice trembling as she struggled to grasp the situation.

"I just need some fresh air," I muttered and hurried out of the room, shutting the door behind me.

A minute later, I found myself at the hotel lobby, collapsed into a seat by the bar. A woman sat nearby but I ignored her presence, my eyes focused on the barman.

"I'll take a drink," I muttered, my voice low and flat.

"Uhm...excuse me, mister." The woman's voice came, in a drunken slur. "Can you lend me some cash to settle the bartender? I forgot my wallet in my suite.”

Irritation washed over me as her slurred plea grated against my already frayed nerves. I had come here to have some quiet time alone, not to be billed by some drunk alcoholic of a woman.

With a heavy sigh, I turned to face the woman. The dim lights of the bar concealed her features, but a faint glimmer of recognition sparked within me. As our gazes met, I was met with sapphire eyes, large and piercing, their intensity fueled by alcohol-soaked intrigue. She squinted her eyes, her focus narrowing as she tried to confirm my identity as well.

"Stefan?" Eve's voice was a blend of incredulity and disbelief. Her gaze hardened as she scoffed.

"Why am I not surprised that he's stalking me?" she mused, her words dripping with sarcasm.

I matched her scoff with one of my own, my eyes flashing with defiance.

"Stalking you?" The absurdity of her accusation grated against my pride. I would never subject myself to that. Not when I could have other people watch her for me.

Eve dismissed me with a dismissive flick of her hand.

"And forget about lending me money to pay for my drinks too. I'll find another way to handle it."

My lips curled into a smirk, intrigue piquing my interest as I took in her intoxicated demeanor. "What other ways do you have in mind?"

“Why do you care?” She snapped at me again, her eyes shifting back to me. “You've never cared.”

I felt a pang of guilt and regret in my chest as her words sank in. She was right. Maybe I never used to care back then but I did care about her now. It was surprising how it happened but I did.

“Why would I want you back if I don't care about you then?”

“I don't know.” She shrugged. “Maybe because this is all a game to you.”

It hurt me that she would think that way about me. But then again, I deserved it. I was guilty of hurting her in the past and I understood if she was still finding it hard to believe me now. But I was determined to let her see how much I have changed and how badly I wanted this time around.

"I'm not playing games with you,” I met her eyes with unwavering conviction. "I meant every word when I said I wanted you back.”

She paused and her gaze lingered on my face as if she was inspecting any signs of a crack that might expose any dishonesty.

God! I ached to pull her close, to taste the sweetness of her lips once more.

"I don't believe you," she said and then reached for her purse. As she tried to stand up, she faltered unsteadily, the alcohol taking its toll.

Before she could topple, I was there, my arms encircling her waist to keep her from falling.

"You should slow down," I advised, my voice hushed with our faces mere inches apart. I wondered how many bottles of alcohol she even drank.

I glanced toward the bartender, reaching into my pocket for a few bills, which I then laid on the counter in front of him.

"For her drinks," I explained and the bartender bowed his head in gratitude.

I returned my attention to Eve, her drunkenness adding a charming layer of innocence to her already alluring visage. A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I helped her hop on my back.

"Come on," I said, leading us away from the bar, "let's get you back to your suite.”