Cursed Lycan's Scarred Mate
Chapter 120: A sweet confession

Chapter 120: A sweet confession

Orion studied Vivian carefully, aware that she was struggling internally to make a decision. While he never intended to pressurise her, that sort of outcome was inevitable.

If they didn’t act smartly and quickly, then Rowan would face a deathly and unfair fate.

Vivian needed to meet with Rowan at the earliest. She knew very well that she held no authority in Sabre Coven but at the least, her word should account for something since she was the subject of the Triune Circle binding ritual.

And then there was the matter of the incompatible lunar energy circulating in her body, but that would have to be resolved later.

"I don’t know much about what happened to give an opinion, Lord Orion," Vivian admitted, her eyes forlorn. "I wanted to meet Rowan myself since... I have to know for sure but right now I cannot say anything freely without knowing more."

Orion nodded understandingly. She made a fair point that could not be refuted.

"I can’t help but think that it’s worth asking questions. What if we’re missing something vital? What if... there’s more to the story, Mrs. Wolfsbane?"

Orion was determined to probe her thoughts. He very well knew there was already a seed about Rowan’s innocence planted into her mind; he simply needed to nurture it and make it blossom.

Vivian looked down, her lips pressed together as she rethought out the situation. Orion’s words stirred some realisation in her but there was also a sense of unease at the idea of Lady Morgana passing judgement without certainty.

Orion decided that he’d covered the necessary and important aspects of the matter and thus he should take his leave. He didn’t wish to pressurise Vivian any more than necessary, lest he have his head bitten off and chewed by the big scary Lycan known as Ronan Wolfsbane.

He rose gracefully from the window pane and smoothed out the crease lines in his coat.

"I won’t keep you for much longer, Mrs. Wolfsbane," Orion said with a smile. "I only wished to share my thoughts. You seem to me like someone who values fairness—and fairness, I believe, comes from seeking the truth, no matter how deeply it’s buried."

The weight of his words hung in the air and Vivian couldn’t deny the absolute truth in them.

Rowan, or any person for that matter, should never have to face a fate that they didn’t deserve.

Orion gave her a courteous bow. "Goodnight, Mrs. Wolfsbane. And thank you for listening."

And just as he left, Ronan returned. He strode towards the window, closing it to shut out the icy air breezing in. He grabbed a shawl from the infirmary blanket supplies and wrapped it around Vivian’s shoulders.

She remained deep in thought as he lifted her up and cradled her body against his on his lap.

"Why was the window open, hmm? It’s very cold out; you could fall ill, princess." Ronan’s tone was soft and caring.

Vivian noticed there were specks of snowflakes that were scattered about his hair, which could only mean he must have taken a stroll outside while she conversed with Orion.

The Lycan Alpha knew that his superior hearing senses would have allowed him to eavesdrop on the conversation; hence, he went completely out of the vicinity to give them privacy.

It irked him to do so, but Vivian’s wishes were more important than his Alpha ego.

Vivian reached out to brush the snowflakes out of his hair and the feeling of her fingers was enough to bring Ronan satisfaction.

"You aren’t going to ask what we talked about?" Vivian questioned, pressing her head against his shoulder.

"You’ll tell me if you want to," Ronan answered, his gaze following the snowflakes outside. "I am curious but I will not invade your privacy. I trust you enough to tell me if you think it’s important for me to know."

Who told this man to be so sweet to her?

If it were Dane, the wicked bastard would have demanded to know every little detail.

Rather, he would never have allowed her the privacy or a conversation with anyone else.

It wasn’t to say that she couldn’t see the conflict in Ronan’s eyes as clearly as day and he was very averse, but the fact that he buried his disagreement about the situation was enough to make Vivian warm up to him more.

This man was utterly dangerous for her heart and she didn’t know for how much longer she could resist the feelings that began to rouse.

"Ronan?" Vivian uttered his name, using it after a while of addressing him as my Lord.

"Yes, princess?" Ronan gave her his full attention, softening his tone as his eyes searched hers for whatever she wanted to ask.

"I like you," Vivian confessed, followed by a warm smile that shot straight through the ice walls around Ronan’s heart. "I like you a lot."

Ronan returned her smile and brought her hand to his lips to kiss the back of it.

"I like you too, princess."

Ronan never expected that Vivian would have been the first to convey such feelings and it made him wonder why he delayed ever admitting what little feelings were brewing within him.

However, he realised that the reason he never voiced any clear affections was because he needed Vivian to come to him first.

With everything traumatic that had happened in her life this far, he didn’t want to overstep his bounds and pressurise her to reciprocate what he felt deep down inside.

He didn’t know if it could be called love yet, but he wasn’t averse to finding out.

And now that she took a step towards him, he wouldn’t stop reaching for her.

Perhaps the Lycan Alpha’s decision to remain at arm’s length wasn’t entirely regrettable.

"Do you mean it?" Vivian asked sweetly, her emerald eyes beaming with hope. The sight was endearing and brought another smile to Ronan’s face.

"I mean it with everything I have," Ronan conveyed more deeply, cupping the back of her head to bring their lips to touch. It was a slow and gentle kiss that made all the difference in his words before he pulled back. "I don’t just like you; I adore you."

That sweet and honeyed confession made Vivian’s cheeks heat up with a rosy colour.

Adore was a strong word.

It wasn’t love, but it was a start.

********

The Dungeons Beneath Sabre Coven’s Estate.

Unfortunately for Rowan, when the other Wickans of Sabre Coven learnt of his criminal deeds, many of them had changed their attitude towards him.

He was nothing more than a criminal and they treated him as such when he was imprisoned.

They’d thrown him in one of the dungeon cells mercilessly and refused to listen to any attempts to justify his innocence. He simply seated himself on the cold, hard stone floor and resigned himself to what was about to come.

His head perked up when he heard footsteps, immediately springing to his feet as if hope had found him again. He rushed to the bars, gripping them as he waited for the figure to approach.

"Master Soran!" Rowan exclaimed with relief, breathing out a sigh. "Are you here to get me out?"

Soran, who still struggled with his decision, plastered a neutral look on his expression as he approached the cell.

It was such a pity that Rowan believed he was there to release him.

Soran sighed sympathetically in response and shook his head.

"I am afraid it is not so easy, lad," Soran remarked regretfully, his eyes softening to show the concern on the surface of them. "The evidence is clear enough and you are deemed culpable."

"What should I do?" Rowan’s gaze lowered as he asked with a voice full of disappointment.

Soran’s words had crushed all hopes that had just begun to surface.

"Well, lad, it’s simply a matter of time. The investigations need to be conducted and if you are fortunate enough, you’ll be pardoned if your innocence is proven. However, at the rate things are going... "

The silence was enough of an answer to Rowan.

Once Lady Morgana made a decision, even if investigations were to follow, she never revoked them.

There were truly little options left.

Why was he being punished this way?

What had he ever done?

Was this the punishment for keeping his constant blackouts a secret?

"You should never have gone into those ritual chambers," Soran remarked darkly, which also sounded somewhat foreboding. "That was your mistake, Rowan."