Cursed Lycan's Scarred Mate
Chapter 31: A promise

Chapter 31: A promise

Ronan stood idly outside Madame Sunny Shu’s atelier. With his back pressed against the outside wall and his arms crossed over his chest, he wasn’t exactly the most welcoming figure.

A few women intending to browse through the atelier thought better of their decision having chanced upon Ronan, who was very much an intimidating brick wall himself. The women sauntered by, avoiding the atelier.

"What am I supposed to do?" The Lycan Alpha frustratedly ran a hand through his long, dark curly hair. "I want to trust her... I said I would accept her, so why can’t I?"

I told you that if you can’t be the mate she needs, then I will be him. It is useless for you to keep me away from her. The Lycan’s voice sounded in his mind like an unwanted guest.

"I don’t want you anywhere near her anymore," Ronan growled back, his tone much like a snarling threat. "Today was the last that I ever let you take control of my mind again."

You will regret it. His Lycan argued back, but Ronan stubbornly dismissed the beast.

He reached into the pocket of his pants, where he hid the boxed amulet, before giving Vivian his shirt and taking out the secret gift. His gaze lingered absentmindedly on the designs of the box, his mind adrift somewhere else.

Would it matter if he gifted her the amulet?

When the door to the atelier rattled open, Ronan hurriedly pocketed the box again and straightened up. Madame Sunny Shu stood there on the threshold with a disapproving glint in her glare and her hands perched on her hips.

"What did you do to upset the lass?" Madame Sunny Shu posed her question frankly, not withholding her inquisitive tone. "You aren’t exactly the smoothest man when it involves the ladies, but I ought to think you’d understand your mate."

Ronan scoffed and shook his head.

"If I’m receiving advice from a former fugitive, I must be going senile," the Lycan Alpha remarked, equally not withholding the abruptness in his tone. "Is she ready? I have other supplies to stock up on before we leave Clawveld."

"Why does she have so many bandages? She seemed visibly uncomfortable when my assistants were handling her," Madame Sunny Shu said with a drawn-out hum.

"Was she in pain?" Ronan immediately became alert, uncrossing his arms as he straightened up again away from the wall. "Did she complain about any burning sensations?"

"None," Madame Sunny Shu confirmed, arching her brow. "You seem awfully worried. Why don’t you check on her yourself?"

Ronan’s jaw clenched taut with concern as he stormed past Madame Sunny Shu, practically bulldozing his way through the door and making the bell ring harshly.

The atelier’s owner chortled to herself, entertained by the urgency in Ronan’s reactions to her little white lie.

The Lycan Alpha barged his way through the atelier, hastily dashing past other customers until he reached the dressing room.

"Viv—" Ronan began, his intense amber eyes desperately searching for Vivian, but his voice was caught in his throat when the she-wolf slowly turned away from the mirror to face him.

Ronan’s gaze remained wide and fixated on Vivian’s new appearance. He stood at the threshold of the dressing room, too stunned to utter a word.

In all his years of mingling with other female shifters in casual relationships before the birth of his mating mark, the Lycan Alpha had never been so captivated by a woman before.

Vivian was absolutely gorgeous.

He’d known she was beautiful and alluring since before; however, now she complemented the dusky lavender gown she wore even more. The way her hair was styled left much to be desired, showing off the supple curves and contours of her neck.

The dress clung to her curves and bust in all the deliciously right ways and Ronan’s gaze darkened further.

Unexpectedly, Vivian’s expression brightened into an exuberant smile as she twirled around, admiring the flair of the pleats on the dress’s skirt. It was a tenderly childish mirth Ronan was pleased to experience.

Vivian was even more beautiful when she smiled.

Upon noticing his arrival, the she-wolf quickened her steps in his direction. She practically threw her arms around his midsection, embracing him fiercely by surprise.

Ronan’s body felt immobilised and now it seemed his heart was no longer just beating rapidly from anxiety or from being short of breath after dashing through the atelier.

Wasn’t she upset with him? Why was she hugging him?

"Thank you, Ronan," Vivian conveyed sincerely, her voice soft and filled with gratitude. "Thank you for doing this for me." She tilted her head back to look up at him with a warm smile. "I didn’t think I could look so pretty."

Ronan’s gaze softened immediately. Vivian was so very much toying with his iron heart. The ice walls he erected around it were beginning to shatter and crumble and he could no longer fight the will to let them break.

Vivian had not forgotten their little argument earlier; however, she was not one to display ungratefulness to the man who was generous enough to buy her beautiful outfits and pay for her pampered treatment.

Needless to say, she was still upset, yet her grudge was insignificant at the moment.

Hesitantly, Ronan lifted his hand and gently cupped her cheek while his gaze softened warmly for her.

"You’re beautiful, Vivian," the Lycan Alpha expressed, his voice so calm and pleasant to the ear. "You always have been."

Vivian shook her head with a soft laugh.

"I’m actually quite pretty now," she said. "My hair isn’t unkempt and my skin... looks like it’s glowing."

She was truly excited and happy and Ronan could not have wished for it any other way.

"I’m glad you like it." Ronan nodded, brushing a thumb across her cheek. "I heard you were in pain." His brows creased with worry. "Is it burning again?"

"The pain and burning are subtle," Vivian explained. "It’s there on the surface, but I can handle it for now. I feel slight discomfort when moving but it’s nothing really." She waved her hand dismissively.

"It’s not nothing, Vivian," Ronan said insistently, his voice taking on a more stern tone. "I told you that if you’re in pain, you need to tell me right away. Whether we argue or not, you have to come straight to me and let me know. Are we clear?"

Vivian pursed her lips, feeling like she was being scolded but she was no stranger to the unmasked concern in Ronan’s gaze. It wasn’t his Lycan this time; it was purely his own emotions.

"I will, but it wasn’t bad so I didn’t think much of it," Vivian justified and Ronan playfully pinched her nose, making her squeal dramatically. "What was that for?!"

"Being a bad girl," Ronan teased, pressing a kiss to her nose a moment later. "I’m a prick, Vivian but you need to be honest with me. Can you promise to do that?"

"I promise," Vivian agreed, charmed by the Lycan Alpha’s gentleness. She wanted to remain stubbornly attached to her anger awakened by their earlier spat, but the man was so sinfully charismatic she couldn’t even try if she wanted to. "I promise I’ll be honest from now on."

The Lycan Alpha’s eyes crinkled when he flashed her a grateful smile.

Vivian was doomed.

This man was going to be the end of her if the searing Wickan magic diminishing her lycanthropic abilities didn’t lead her to her death first.