Chapter 5
1441 Words
CHAPTER 5
Xander'S POV
I sat on the edge of my bed as the heavy curtains in my room blocked out the afternoon sun. I rested my elbows on my knees, my head pounding with lots of thoughts that refused to leave me alone.
It's been three months now. Three agonizing months since I last saw Lucia, since I tore her apart and walked away from her, convincing myself that I was doing the right thing.
But if only she knew I did it to protect her.
"Xander."
Rhea’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I didn't even notice her walk in.
She stood by the door with her arms crossed and her sharp eyes locked on me.
"Are you just going to keep ignoring me?" she asked, her tone laced with irritation.
I sighed, dragging a hand down my face. "I'm not in the mood for this, Rhea. I just…"
"Just what?" She stepped closer, her voice taking on a whiny edge, "You've been distant for months now."
I said nothing.
"This is still about her, isn't it? Lucia." She scoffed.
I still didn’t answer. I didn’t need to.
Rhea walked closer, standing between my legs, forcing me to look up at her.
"Xander, you need to move on. It’s been three months, and you and I are getting married soon. You can’t keep acting like…"
"Stop." I cut her off with a sharp voice, "Just stop, Rhea."
"Why?" She frowned, "Because you don’t want to hear the truth?"
I clenched my jaw, my patience wearing thin.
Her expression softened, and she trailed her fingers down my arm.
"You weren’t saying that the night we spent together," she murmured, "You wanted me that night, Xander. You took me."
I went rigid as I remembered the night she was talking about.
It was the one time I had touched Rhea in the past three months. And even then, I had been drowning in whiskey, lost in deep sadness. The entire time, I had been thinking of Lucia.
I stood abruptly, forcing Rhea to step back. "That night was a mistake and you know that," I said, my voice cold.
"A mistake?" Rhea's eyes flashed with anger.
"I was drunk, I wasn’t thinking straight. And if I had been, it never would have happened."
She let out a bitter laugh, "Unbelievable."
I said nothing, watching as she clenched her fists, trying to keep her temper in check.
"You know what, Xander?" She shook her head, "I just can't believe you're acting like this."
I exhaled with exhaustion, already tired and done with this conversation. "Just leave, Rhea."
For a moment, I thought she would keep pushing, but instead, she let out a sharp breath and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
The silence that followed was deafening as I ran a hand through my hair in fury.
This wasn’t just about Rhea, it was about Lucia, my only love.
I couldn’t get her out of my mind. No matter how hard I tried, she was always there haunting me and consuming me.
Every night, I saw her in my dreams. Every morning, I woke up with the crushing weight of regret.
I had spent the past three months begging my father to let me bring her back.
"You will let her go, Xander, if you still want to remain heir to my throne. She is nothing to this pack and she is nothing to me."
His words played in my mind, but what was the point of being a prince if I had lost the one thing that made me feel alive?
I couldn’t sit here any longer drowning in these thoughts. I needed to get out of this room before I suffocated.
I needed to talk to someone, and there was only one person who would understand me, my best friend, Kael.
…
Kael was exactly where I knew he’d be, the training grounds.
Sweat dripped down his face as he dodged an attack from one of the younger warriors. His black hair was damp and his brown eyes narrowed in focus.
He knocked the warrior down effortlessly, then turned to face me.
“You look like hell,” he said, grabbing a towel and wiping his face.
"I feel worse." I exhaled, running a hand through my hair.
He tossed the towel aside and crossed his arms. “Still thinking about her?”
I didn’t answer.
“That’s a yes.” He scoffed.
“I can’t stop, Kael," I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck, "I dream about her. I see her face everywhere. I…” My voice wavered, “I messed up.”
Kael studied me for a moment before exhaling. “You love her.”
It wasn’t a question.
I swallowed hard. “Of course I do,” I admitted, “more than anything.”
Kael nodded, as if he had already known the answer.
"So what are you going to do about it?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" I frowned.
He gave me a serious look, "I mean, are you just going to sit here and waste away? Or are you going to do something?"
"What the hell can I do?" I snapped, "My father won’t allow me to go after her."
Kael’s eyes darkened. “Since when do you let your father control everything?”
I paused.
You want Lucia back?" he continued. "Then go get her."
I let out a bitter laugh. "You make it sound so easy."
He took a step closer. "Because it is easy, Xander. You either fight for her, or you let her slip away forever."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut.
This entire time, I had been making excuses, hiding behind my father’s decisions.
But Kael was right. I couldn’t live like this anymore. I had to make a choice and I already knew what it was.
Without another word, I turned away from Kael and headed straight for the palace.
I found my father in his chambers, sitting at his desk with a glass of wine in his hand. He barely looked up when I entered.
“What do you want?”
I took a deep breath. “I’m going to look for Lucia.”
"No," He set his glass down slowly, "You’re not.”
“Yes. I am.” I met his gaze as I curled my hands into fists at my sides.
“I have already given you my answer, Xander," He uttered with a darkened expression, "You will not go after her.”
“Why?” I asked sharply, “Because she’s an omega? Because of what her father did?”
He stood abruptly and slammed his hands against the desk. “Because she is a disgrace to this pack!”
“She is my mate, Father.” I retorted boldly without moving a muscle.
“And I am your Alpha!” My father snapped as his eyes burned with fury.
“Not anymore.”
He froze the instant he heard that. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me,” I said, my voice firm, “I’m done obeying you. I’m done living under your rules. If losing my title is the price I have to pay to find Lucia, then so be it.”
“You would throw everything away for a traitor’s daughter?” My father asked in disbelief as his face twisted with rage.
“I would throw everything away for her,” I said simply.
The room was silent. Then, with a cold voice, he said, “Then you are no longer my son.”
The words struck me like a dagger to the chest, but I didn’t let myself react.
“I strip you of your title,” he continued in rage, “You are no longer the prince of this pack, you will inherit nothing. From this day forward, you are nothing to me.”
A lump formed in my throat, but I refused to let it show.
“Fine,” My voice was hoarse as I replied, “If that’s what it takes… then I accept it.”
“Get out of my sight!” He yelled in disgust, "Get out!"
I turned and walked out of his chambers as the weight of what had just happened settled on my shoulders.
I was supposed to feel bad, but for the first time in three months, I felt alive.
I had nothing now, no title, no home, no pack, but I was going to find Lucia and this time, I wasn’t going to let her go.
- Writer
