Too Late Ex, I'm Mated To The Lycan King

Chapter 6

Tonia's POV

At his words, everyone in the hall went so silent, one could have heard a pin drop. I suddenly couldn't tell if King Jayden's presence was just that overwhelming or if everyone else was just caught off guard by his statement like I most certainly was.

I craned my neck to him in surprise, only to find out that he was looking at me, just like everyone else seemed to be.

Logan sucked in a deep breath, his face contorting with a hint of humiliation and astonishment. His eyes trailed to the staring crowd and he clenched his jaw so hard, the veins of his neck were visible.

Lisa on the other hand looked as pale and white as the representation of a ghost in the dark.

Her rosy cheeks lost all colour and her lips parted repeatedly like a fish washed ashore.

"King Jayden, that is an unfair way to label my..." Jayden raised a hand, silencing him.

My gaze followed his hand and I made out the hard muscles that I knew lay beneath his shirt, prompting a recollection of last night's memories.

Hurriedly, I pushed those thoughts away, swallowing thickly as heat crept up my neck.

Jayden seemed to have noticed my action because he stared even harder at me.

He let it linger for a couple more seconds before lifting his head to glance at Logan who stood a few inches shorter than him, "Spare me the formalities, Alpha. I'm more interested in knowing why you would be willing to have another woman accompany you anywhere when you have a wife of such..." He paused, as if trying to carefully select his words.

I didn't notice it instantly but I had held in my breath in anticipation of the rest of his sentence.

I stiffened when his hands slid from my shoulder down to the small of my back while he kept his gaze forward and continued to speak like his action bore no significance, "I certainly wouldn't if I had a wife of such caliber."

Logan opened his mouth soundlessly, words refusing to form.

Lisa was instead the one to find her voice and she leaned in closer to Logan, her lips short of curling into a smug smile, "I apologize King Jayden, but Logan simply thought I would be a better match tonight."

Her words were perfectly worded, absolving herself of blame while portraying Logan as the passive initiator of tonight's development.

It also efficiently conveyed that she thought Logan didn't think I was a good fit for himself.

Either way, her words hit home, right where it hurt and my heart clenched painfully, after all, Logan hadn't even mentioned the party to me, much less invite me to accompany him.

The whispers that rose in the hall, coming from the people around me, further deepened the sting of her words.

Before I could shrink into myself, Jayden's deep voice rumbled with laughter. Even his hand that was in contact with my back shook, "A better match?"

His piercing blue eyes alternated to her, sharp with a penetrating stare that had Lisa squirming uncomfortably, "Child, the only thing you match is overestimation and shamelessness."

His voice lowered dangerously and he took a step forward, his whole frame further enveloping me, "You dare insult the woman I am shielding in my arms?"

Before his words registered, his scent did first, assuaging my senses with musk and sandalwood and when they finally did settle in, my eyes bulged.

He...was he...

Lisa faltered and her lips trembled under his scorching gaze. She bit down on her lip and tugged subtly on Logan's arms.

In response, Logan stepped forward, shielding her behind his back protectively.

A sight I found sore to my vision.

He used to shield me like that from his family and anyone out to ridicule me but he hadn't even deigned to do that last night.

"King Jayden, please, Lisa didn't mean..."

Just like before, Jayden didn't let him finish, "I wasn't speaking to you," He cut him off with a cold, clipped tone, "Know your place Alpha. I tolerate many things, but not disrespect towards a woman under my protection."

'Under...under his protection?' I stuttered inwardly, trying to make sense of how that phrase came into existence.

Those words of his carried weight and he didn't seem like he was carelessly throwing them around. It made my chest clench tightly to know that he was shielding me from someone I shouldn't even need protection from.

He lowered his head to glance at me again and I imagined I saw something primal flicker between his gaze, "Raise your chin and straighten your back," he commanded, speaking in a voice only he and I could hear.

Subconsciously, I did as he asked, forcing myself to stand straighter.

It also helped me notice that for the first time since I met him, Logan looked smaller next to someone else.

"Now then," Jayden continued, a hint of cruel amusement seeping into his voice as he faced Logan and Lisa again, "I refuse to entertain any cordial relationship with a man who would humiliate his wife in such a manner."

Logan tried to argue. I knew because his frown deepened but eventually, he said nothing.

My guess was that he was tongue-tied. Jayden had said nothing that strayed too far from the truth.

He indeed was trying to ingratiate himself with the Lycan king, I was sure everyone here arrived with the same agenda in mind-To strike connections

with the Lycan king of Crestfall Lycan Pack.

"And you," His icy stare pinned Lisa, "Do not ever presume to speak in my presence ever again. The mere idea of it is disgusting."

The crowd buzzed, alight with whispers again. Logan hands curled into fists by his side while Lisa trembled with what I assumed was fear and humiliation.

It could have been both and I didn't mind either of it.

"King Jayden, please reconsider-" Logan was once again sidetracked by Jayden who chose this time to completely turn his back on him.

The dismissal felt like a King addressing or in this case, refusing to address a servant.

"You don't feel it, do you?" He asked, his eyes fixated on me.

His words threaded through my thoughts like silk and I blinked hard, my face wrinkling with confusion, "Feel what?"