Cursed Lycan's Scarred Mate
Chapter 32: Something is amiss

Chapter 32: Something is amiss

Vivian was going to be the death of both him and his Lycan, quite contrary to her predestined purpose of breaking his curse.

Regardless of his scepticism of her bloodline and history, Ronan was certain that he detested seeing her in pain.

No one would ever dare to hurt her again.

Not even his own beastly half.

"Did you pick out what you liked?" Ronan questioned, unwilling to release Vivian from his arms. She was perfect where she was. She was where she belonged.

"I only picked what was necessary and a few things for Avery," Vivian answered, anxious that she may have overstepped her bounds and lavishly spent the Lycan Alpha’s wealth. "We don’t need much."

"That won’t do," Ronan said, shaking his head disapprovingly. "I will tell Madame Shu to select other outfits for you and Avery. I told you I’m a fairly wealthy man, sweetheart. You don’t need to worry about draining my coffers."

While that may have been absolutely true, Vivian felt a sense of self-reproach for spending wealth she wasn’t entitled to. She wanted to argue, but Ronan silenced her by placing his finger on her lip.

"No arguments," the Lycan Alpha stated calmly without a hint of anger or sternness to his tone. He gently took her by the shoulders, turning her around so that she was facing the mirror again.

"What are you..." Vivian began to question while her face heated up from the sudden, solid heat of Ronan’s chest against her back.

The Lycan Alpha retrieved the amulet box from the confines of his pocket. He would have reserved the gift for a much more special occasion, but his impatience took control.

He wanted to reconcile with Vivian at the earliest, even if just a little.

"Close your eyes," Ronan requested and the she-wolf, although somewhat confused, did as she was told.

A moment later, she gasped when the coldness of something metallic was draped around her neck from behind. Her eyes immediately fluttered open, bringing her hand to her chest, where the amulet was nestled atop the valley of her bosom.

It was the alluring emerald amulet that gauged her attention earlier in the market area of Clawveld. And much like the emerald jewel, her eyes lightened up with surprise and joy.

She pivoted around on her heels, looking up questioningly at Ronan.

"You bought this for me?" Vivian asked, her voice soft as her pretty eyes wavered ever so lightly. "Why...you didn’t have to do this."

"I wanted to," Ronan voiced, a subtle smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he observed her reaction to the gift. "It’s the same as the colour of your eyes."

"Thank you... I don’t know how I can ever repay you for this, Ronan." Vivian was more than thrilled and overjoyed about the gift and it showed in the way her eyes beamed.

"Think of it as a peace offering for earlier," Ronan suggested, still somewhat afraid of giving the impression that he was overly caring when it involved Vivian. He didn’t want her to know the depths of his commitment. "You don’t owe me anything."

"Dane never gifted me anything like this." Vivian recalled that her ex-mate and husband declared that she was undeserving of anything extravagant. He never bought her gifts or nice necessities. "I really love it so much."

Ronan’s amber gaze flared with silent rage upon the mention of her ex-mate’s name. He knew nothing of the Alpha’s nature, but his blood boiled whenever the bastard was brought up.

His name didn’t even deserve to be uttered from Vivian’s lips.

"Ronan?" Vivian said questioningly, waving her hand in front of the Lycan Alpha’s face when his expression became too intense. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine," Ronan reassured her. He snaked an arm around her waist to prompt her to walk with him. "We’ll return to the inn and I’ll have Madame Shu deliver the purchases there."

Vivian nodded and followed alongside him outside the atelier. Earlier, when he stood idle outside the atelier, the Lycan Alpha observed the dynamic life of Clawveld.

However, there was a strange scent in the air that grew more potent and apparent now that he strolled through the market area with Vivian at his side.

He couldn’t quite perceive the origin of the scent. It didn’t belong to any of the distinguishable shifter scents prominent in Clawveld, nor any humanoid.

It was almost as if whoever the scent belonged to lingered in the shadows unseen, stalking their movements. Instinctively, Ronan gently tugged Vivian closer but not hurriedly enough to alert her.

His gaze scrutinised their surroundings as they walked, his sight scanning further beyond the distance ordinary shifter eyes could cover.

For a brief moment, Ronan could have sworn he caught the blur of a black-hooded figure moving on his left but it vanished faster than he could pinpoint.

Vivian wasn’t completely ignorant of Ronan’s vigilance and his stiffness. With her shifter side finishing, she could barely catch a whiff of different scents in the air but no doubt the Lycan Alpha had caught something.

Was someone following them?

The thought didn’t sit well with Vivian. Her mind already reeled from the worst case scenarios, such as Moonborn crossing the river into ShadowFall to pursue her.

Ronan wanted to investigate further, but not in Vivian’s presence. He didn’t want to contribute to her existing fears, so it wasn’t long before they returned to the inn he booked them in.

Vivian reunited with her niece, who appeared wide awake rather than fast asleep like she should have been. Ronan thought the whole affair was rather odd, but he didn’t want to be the object of Vivian’s anger once more.

Doubting and suspecting her niece would only infuriate her.

On the other hand, while he trusted the security of the inn, Ronan wasn’t quite keen on leaving the two omega females by their lonesome to return to his investigations.

"You had other supplies you wanted to get, didn’t you, Ronan?" Vivian spoke, combing through her niece’s hair with a brush. "We’ll be fine here. You can go ahead."

Smart little wolf as always. Ronan thought. Needless to say, Vivian was rather observant and quite adept at reading situations—skills he never expected she would possess. She knew something was amiss.

"I won’t be long," Ronan said with promise, before turning around to take his leave. There was unspoken understanding between him and Vivian. "If you need anything, the inn owners will provide it for you but try not to leave the room if possible."

Vivian nodded understandingly.

There was no point in concealing his intentions from her.