His Last Choice

Chapter 6

His last choice

Chapter 6

Hailey took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, struggling to conceal the worry gnawing at her about where these events might lead. An uneasy silence settled for a moment as Celina watched Leon below, a smile playing on her lips.

Hailey hesitated to press further but felt a deep need to uncover the true reason behind her sister’s visit.

"What's going on, Celine?" she finally asked, her voice steady but edged with urgency.

Celina, still facing the window, turned slightly to meet her gaze, her expression becoming serious.

"Just like you, I’m here to stay," her older sister declared. The statement hung in the air, and even though Hailey heard it clearly, its significance took a moment to sink in.

"W-what?" Hailey stammered, her mind racing as she sought understanding.

Celina’s impassioned smile reappeared at the corner of her lips as she locked eyes with him, slowly approaching her destined spot.

“Dad and I made a pact: in exchange for my promise to marry you off to the man I love most, I will remain with him. You will marry, yes, but I will be the one by his side at night.”

She met Hailey's gaze, circling her with a sense of purpose. “Everyone may recognize you as Leon's mistress and bearer of his heir, but you must understand—he will never love you as he loves me,” Celina declared firmly.

After a brief pause, she continued, “And Leon has consented to this arrangement.”

Hailey's lips parted in shock at Celina's words. A chill enveloped her, as if cold water had been splashed over her, leaving her with a tight knot of discomfort in her stomach.

Hailey felt as though a heavy weight was lodged in her throat, rendering her speechless as Celina settled herself at the edge of the bed with her long legs crossed casually.

"You’re just unlucky because he came to me first, long before you even realized he was your mate."

Celina's persistent, sly grin was no accident; she knew Hailey harbored no ill feelings toward her, considering that Leon had agreed to this arrangement.

In the past, Hailey had nothing to compare with her older sisters. Besides their intelligence, they possessed the family’s remarkable agility inherited from the betas.

Though Celina had always maintained a cool demeanor towards her, it was only now that a sense of animosity began to surface.

"But don't worry; I can see you have no real feelings for him. After all, it’s not like you could fall in love with him overnight, right?"

"As long as you understand your place, we won't have any issues, my dear sister," Celina said, as if this were just a normal conversation.

Just then, a sharp knock on the door disrupted their serious exchange.

"My lady, I've come to attend to your needs. May I enter?" a voice called from outside.

"Oh, well, I’ll catch you later," Celina said casually, stepping toward the door, opening it, and leave.

Then a woman who Hailey guessed was roughly her age walked in, her arms laden with a basket and a white towel, ready to fulfill her duties.

"My Lady, my name is Rose, and I have been entrusted by our alpha to ensure that all your needs are met during your stay here."

"Is that so? Thank you," Hailey replied, quickly shifting her focus to her lone piece of luggage on the floor. But Rose stepped in front of her, determination in her eyes. "Allow me, my Lady. Let me take care of this."

"No, Rose, I can handle it myself."

"Please, my Lady, it is my duty to serve you. Instead, why don’t you change into something more fitting? You’ll be called for a small party shortly."

"A party?" Hailey asked, surprise flickering in her voice. A bright smile blossomed on Rose’s face. "Indeed! We are hosting a celebration in your honor as you join our pack."

"Wait a moment, let me assist you, my Lady." Rose’s enthusiasm radiated as she eagerly sifted through Hailey's luggage, determined to select the perfect outfit for her.

After rummaging through Hailey's luggage for a moment, the maid realized she couldn't find a suitable outfit for the party.

"Are these all your things?" she asked.

Hailey smiled slightly, a hint of bitterness in her expression as she noticed the maid’s disappointment. "I—I didn’t bring many clothes so I wouldn’t have a hard time traveling," she replied. In truth, these were the most beautiful outfits she had packed just a day before her wedding.

"Oh, yes, of course, you come from far away.

Anyway, never mind, I'll take care of it." With that, Rose stood up and hurried out of the room.

Hailey was puzzled by the maid's thoughts but shrugged it off, turning her attention back to organizing her clothes in the closet.

Meanwhile, Rose made her way to the attic's storage room, where the old belongings of the alpha's sister were kept. The alpha took great care of these items, holding on to them in the hope that his sister would one day return.

From the selection of elegant dresses, Rose chose one that she believed would suit the lady she was serving.

As Leon lay resting in his room, the door suddenly creaked open, jolting him awake. He kept his eyes shut, yet a familiar presence filled the air, and he instantly recognized who dared to enter. He inhaled deeply, recognizing the intoxicating scent that lingered in the air—sweet ice cream intertwined with the alluring fragrance of red roses. Suddenly, he felt a delicate touch as fingertips glided down his chest and ventured toward his stomach, igniting a thrilling shiver that raced across his skin.

The next moment, he felt her forcefully place one of her legs between his legs, and he completely felt her full weight resting on him.

"I've missed you," Celina breathed softly into his ear, stirring him from slumber.

Their gazes locked instantly, and Leon found himself captivated by the delicate way she nestled against him.

He knew Celina well; she thrived on playful moments like this, relishing the way she could tease his restraint with just her presence.

The thrill of her charm left him both enchanted and on edge, as he struggled to maintain his composure in the wake of her magnetic energy.

With her, he didn't have to hold back. He had enjoyed it before, and he still enjoyed it now. He thrust deeper again and again, standing behind her arched body on the surface of the round table, making her sing her moaned that he hid with one hand over her mouth.

But no matter how much he enjoyed it, this still wasn't enough; he wanted more, and he knew he couldn't get it from Celina, because the only image playing in his mind was the woman who owned the scent that had been pestering him lately.

****

"Leon, what's wrong?" Celina asked when he suddenly stopped what they were doing. She followed him with her gaze, but he didn’t look at her, not even for a moment. Instead, he picked up his clothes from the floor and put them on one by one.

"We need to go to the dining hall; they might be waiting for us. Get ready and just follow me there," he said.

"What? - Wait, let's go together - " "LEON!!!" Celina exclaimed as she realized the man had completely left her in the room.

As Leon strolled down the hallway on the second floor, he spotted a maid emerging from a room just a few steps ahead. She bowed respectfully, but he barely noticed her, his attention captivated by an enticing fragrance that wafted through the air. His gaze instinctively drifted to the slightly ajar door behind the maid. The realization of who might be inside set his heart racing; it felt as though his feet moved of their own accord, drawing him closer. Just two steps in, and his suspicions were confirmed—Hailey stepped out from within.

Their eyes locked, and for a heartbeat, it felt like the world around them faded into nothingness. The maid, sensing the charged moment, smiled knowingly and discreetly stepped away to grant them a sliver of privacy.

Hailey was aware that she shouldn’t harbor these feelings, yet each time Leon turned his gaze toward her, a thrilling wave of joy washed over her. But that fleeting elation was swiftly doused by the familiar, lingering scent of Celina that clung to him.

With a heavy sigh, she chided herself and pushed away the daydream. The image of what he might have shared with Celina twisted her stomach in knots. Before Leon could find the words to speak, she quickly averted her gaze, retreated into the room, and shut the door behind her with a resolute thud.

She pressed her back against the closed door, her heart pounding wildly as she clutched her chest, feeling as if it might burst from her ribcage. Lately, whenever she found herself alone with Leon, her heart raced with an intensity that left her breathless.

In this moment of escape, she fought to rein in her emotions, but a creeping fear settled in—what if next time, she lost all control?