Chapter 101: Chapter 101

Avril yelped in fright and shifted back as the broken vase toppled down from the counter.

“What?” she heard Dakar ask. She exhaled and looked at him.

“You heard me right, Dakar,” she answered and stood straight, squaring her shoulders. If Dakar was going to judge her because she could not control the unfortunate events of her life, and became another man's woman—then she would not let that happen. He didn't have the right to be angry at her, or judge her. He wasn't God and this wasn't the afterlife. Heck, he himself hadn't stayed clean. Verona was 'one'. Whereas she only had Alejandro. Not like both cases were still not fornication though.

“They hurt you,” Dakar finally spoke after minutes of silence and just staring at her.

“They did that to you. Remdangit!” he turned abruptly and latched his palms unto the counter. Two pots hanging fell to the floor in a metallic clatter.

Avril stood dazed for a few seconds, then her brain seemed to register what Dakar was really talking about.

“I was never hurt with him, Dakar. Alejandro never hurt me,” she stated and he turned to face her with a question mark on his face.

“He took care of me. Well, not like you did on the island. But yes, Alejandro never let me know hurt. He never treated me like a slave, or an object only to be used in the bedroom. He let me roam about. Gave me freedom, and will. The only thing I couldn't do was run away. Because there was no reason to.”

Dakar's shoulder's slumped and his eyes seemed to calm.

“I... I didn't know. I thought you were subjected to...,” he trailed off.

“Maybe at first I was. I didn't want any of what life had to offer in Tijuana. I wanted to be back with you. But then, I knew that was a phase of my life I had to go through. Besides, my girls were there. They needed me. I needed them. I couldn't leave.”

Dakar peered into her eyes, as if to see if she was hiding the truth. Then he exhaled in relief and walked to her. He hugged her with one arm draped over her shoulders.

“I'm so sorry I overreacted. I thought you went through hell. I was ready to kill Alejandro again.”

Avril chuckled dryly.

“He's not that easy to kill. Except if you get locked in a small room with him.”

And yet he died...she thought.

Dakar unlocked from the hug, but his arm was still behind her neck.

“Apart from...the...,” he cleared his throat. But Avril knew what he was referring to.

“Was there anything else between you two?”

Avril titled her head sideways at him. He was asking to know if she and Alejandro had something else between them. Maybe feelings. Actually, definitely feelings. Dakar wanted to know if she had found love in him, but was only here with him now because he was dead.

“We were friends. Good friends,” she answered with a shrug.

“So were we,” came Dakar's solemn reply.

“Alejandro was not a man who had feelings the way you had for me. He was kind, sweet, gentle. But never one to fall in love. That's like child's play to The Lucian Brothers. I also never fell for him. It's kinda hard falling for anyone when you have a certain bracelet on your wrist, always reminding you everyday that there's someone you can't get over.”

“Everyday? You wore it everyday?”

“Everyday. Except if I'm going to a place I'm afraid it'd get stolen in a blink without even being unbuckled.”

A chuckle escaped Dakar's lips. He hugged her again.

“I've missed you so much, Avril,” he mumbled against her neck. She hugged him back.

“I missed you too much, Wolfie.”

“We have to get back to Remus. I cannot wait to rub it in Kastor's face that I found you.”

“Your father is one hottie, you know that?”

“By hottie, if you mean hotheaded, then I agree.”

Avril laughed and the sound resonated within his soul like a soothing balm on strained muscle.

“Come on, Avril.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her along.

“We're leaving now?”

“You don't want to?”

“I...well, I do. I miss Remus a freaking lot. But my lotuses. My girls I mean.”

“We are getting them, surely.”

“Then let's go.”

And that was how they hurried out of the penthouse, through the elevator and to the car. By the time they arrived the apartment building, her friends had already gone to the shop to find her but returned with barely any news of where she went.

“Hi people!” Avril's voice pierced through the loud sound of the television as her friends were lounging. They all looked at the door.

“Hey, where have you been?” Chidi asked immediately and sat upright.

“Mending old issues,” she answered and flipped her hair.

“I'm the old issue?” Dakar's baritone floated into the room. The girls' eyes widened and they all scampered to their feet, peeping out the door immediately. Dakar walked in and crossed his arms at Avril.

She rolled her eyes and smiled at her friends.

“Everyone, meet Dakar. He's a bipolar prince from a hidden kingdom who has social issues, and prefers to frown at everything in the world instead of smiling for just a second.”

Gasps escaped her friends' mouths.

“I do not think that is a correct description of me. But for the way I've treated you, I accept it.”

“What's going on here?” Nana asked Chidi.

“I wish I knew,” Chidi answered Nana.

“It seems like a rift has happened...in the universe. And two people from another timeline found their way to...our apartment,” Xiao Wéi answered.

Both Avril and Dakar rolled their eyes in unison, adding to the girls' shock.

“Come in, Dakar,” Avril said and pulled him in by the arm. The girls shifted back immediately.

“I don't bite,” Dakar spoke up because of that.

“Yeah, sure you don't. But you sure seem scary. And I don't approve of my baby girl being with someone as scary as you. I don't approve,” Nana retorted. Chidi and Xiao Wéi looked sideways at Nana with raised brows. But Nana wasn't joking.

“You put her through a lot. She spent two years in Tijuana wearing a stupid bracelet until her skin had a permanent outline of wolves and moons over her wrist. Then she finally met you, but you ignored her for months. Months, Prince Dakar. She was so scared you've forgotten her forever. Scared that all the memories you both shared on the island had gone to waste. But you remembered her all along. Yet you didn't care. If Avril is daft enough to forgive you so quickly, well I'm not.”

Everyone's mouth hung open except Dakar's that had pinned into a thin line. He was staring at Nana intently, but his face didn't hold any anger in them. His eyes were turning...misty. The silence in the room was so thick that it swallowed up the sound of the television even.

Chidi and Xiao Wéi squared their shoulders and stared hard at the prince. They were taking sides with Nana.

“Girls, he already explained everything to—” Avril finally tried to speak up but Dakar cut her short.

“I'm sorry. You're right. I messed up. I did wrong. I should not have hurt her like that when I claim I love her. It's just that... I've hardly had control over my actions. Even if I want to be good, I find myself doing the opposite. I apologized to her already. But I also want to apologize to you who were there for her while I hurt her. I'm sorry for hurting your friend.”

Nana blinked repeatedly as if she couldn't understand what just transpired. Even Chidi and Xiao Wéi behind her looked surprised.

“Did you just apologize to us politely?” Nana asked. Dakar didn't answer. She then smiled brightly at him.

“I'll consider your apology, my prince,” Nana said.

Avril chuckled and held Dakar's arm.

“I'm sorry. They're just too... overprotective of me,” she said to him.

“I'm glad you had people like them, Avril,” he responded and squeezed her hand. She buried her face in his chest and he patted her back like a baby.

“Let's excuse them,” Chidi whispered and the girls turned to leave.

“We actually have to get back to Remus, right now,” Dakar stated.

“They're not going to have our heads again, right?” Nana asked.

“No. Not in this lifetime or next,” Dakar answered.

“Hmm, I like the sound of that. Let's go then,” Nana replied. Dakar stared amusingly at her. He couldn't say whether he liked this one or not. She was too outspoken, and yet he liked that she didn't cower at his presence.

Two hours later, they all had left Verona and were on the way to the road that led to Remus.

“Why can't we see how we enter the road?” Avril asked because once again, she and even her girls had slept and woke up when they were already on the road.

“You are not authorized to know its location. Or how to get in. So you automatically sleep, lose consciousness or get distracted by something else when you're approaching the road,” Dakar answered.

“Only your father is authorized you once said,” Avril stated and looked at his face. She was sitting in front with him, while the girls sat behind.

“He gives permits. Just like a Visa. It expires differently. Some a day, others weeks. Mine is every ten years, until I'm Alpha myself.”

Avril didn't ask any more questions. She stole glances at her friends, and they secretly sneered about how weird it was to discuss in his presence.

Finally, they drove into the palace and the prince went straight to Avril's house. He parked in front and just stared at the building.

“You won't be staying here for long, Avril,” he stated. The girls at the back looked awkwardly

“The palace?”

“No.” He turned his gaze to her.

“This house. You belong at my palace... with me. Just like it used to be.”