Chapter 7
1030 Words
Tonia's POV
Jayden's eyes didn't leave mine while he spoke and I could see myself reflected in his orbs.
The way he looked at me made me feel like we were the only two people standing in the hall even though there were multiple people surrounding us.
His gaze held so much weight it made me want to take a step back just so I wouldn't have to stare into his steady blue eyes but his hands remained firmly at my back, stopping any movement from me.
I blinked again, genuine confusion deepening the lines on my forehead, "What are you talking about?"
"The bond," he responded simply with a deep and steady voice that didn't falter, "The pull of fate between us."
My lashes flickered again with deepening puzzlement.
What bond?
What pull of fate? Did he even know what he was talking about? It sounded more like gibberish to me.
I held back an awkward chuckle, trying to step out of the proximity he had pulled me into but he moved his hands, snagging it around my waist and grounding me firmly.
Logan's eyes dropped to where his hands held my waist at the same time that mine did and we both glanced at Jayden with mirroring looks of astonishment.
The look only lasted a second on Logan's face before it twisted into a scowl.
The crowd that had been buzzing like a hive of bees became even more heated, their gaze turning more sharper, directed and judging.
I couldn't blame them though, the whole situation was likened to a scandalous meeting between couples and I had no doubt it would make tomorrow's headline.
Even without thinking deeply, I could already picture the commentaries.
"We share a bond," Jayden added in a much firmer tone.
My chest lurched then tightened at the statement but even after pondering over his statement for a minute, I still didn't understand what it meant.
Instinctively, my gaze snagged to Logan and I saw his eyes gradually widening as if he was gaining clarity on Jayden's words while I remained oblivious.
Individually, I knew what each word of his meant but strung together, I could not for the life of me make out what they were supposed to hint at.
Looking back, maybe deep down, I already knew, even before Jayden declared in a loud voice that rose above the murmurs, adjusting his position so he was all that appeared in my mind of sight while leaning in so close his minty breath fanned my face.
"You are my mate, Tonia."
My eyes enlarged to twice their normal size and every syllable crashed into me like a rolling wave.
"Wh... what?" I sputtered in disbelief, failing miserably at closing my gaping mouth.
I wasn't the only one overtaken by shock, Logan was too and so was Lisa who clung to him.
Logan looked like he had gotten hit by a truck while Lisa's eyes were as wide as saucepans.
"Did you hear that?"
"He just called her his mate!"
"This is unbelievable!"
The hall had exploded in an uproar.
Logan stepped forward, his sudden movement releasing Lisa's grip on his arm. His movement silenced the crowd or it could have been the wrangled disbelief with a seasoning of anger on his face, "This is out of line. As much as I respect you, king Jayden, this is absurd."
His knuckles crackled as he clenched his fist tighter, "Tonia doesn't even have a wolf, she was born wolfless, so how could she be your mate?"
I wondered the same thing but that did not mean I appreciated how Logan didn't hesitate to air my business to the public.
Granted, it wasn't hidden knowledge that I was wolfless but him announcing it to the public like that still pricked me like a needle.
"How can she possibly be your fated mate?"
"Silence!" Jayden snapped.
The temperature around us seemed to go a few degrees lower and his eyes narrowed into slits, "Do not speak of things you do not understand."
His aura and authority was as smothering as a wet blanket and it clamped over Logan who looked like a child caught stealing.
He pressed his lips together, pulling the anger I could see clouding his vision into restraint.
"Wait, he does have a point, this isn't possible. I don't have a wolf," I finally voiced, trying to piece scattered puzzles together. "You must be mistaken, I haven't even shifted, so how could I be this mate you speak of?"
Jayden's whole demeanour seemed to soften, even his shoulders relaxed, "You are and I am not mistaken. Even now, I can feel the bond thrumming between us. Without a doubt, you are my mate."
A plethora of feelings washed over me again, the most prominent still being disbelief.
If this was an illusion my mind had conjured, I wanted it to shatter before I got caught up in it and so I could think clearly.
My gaze alternated back to Logan and then Lisa beside him and I saw a strange gleam flash through her eyes.
Something like panic woven deeply with envy.
That look alone was enough to affirm that I wasn't imagining anything.
Everything that was happening was real.
Jayden must have noticed the facts settle into my mind because he continued to speak, "It's about time I found you and I couldn't be more glad I did so tonight or God knows how much more you would have been disdained."
His words were directed towards Lisa because he turned a sharp predatory look on her. It was different from the look he gave me last night, when it seemed as though he wanted to eat me up.
This one was more threatening, more hostile and menacing, "I vow on my honour as King, I will continue to protect you just as I have done tonight but to do that, I need you to come with me, claim your rightful position as my mate and Luna."
So many outstanding occurrences were happening tonight but this...this outweighed everyone else.
Jayden's words dropped like a bombshell, hammering against my chest.
Luna?
Claim my place?
Leave?
- Writer
