Chapter 90: Chapter 90

JONEA

When I realized I’d gotten too lost in that kiss, I pushed Daran’s chest as hard as I could, breaking whatever had just happened between us. The lingering warmth on my lips confused me, but I forced myself to remember: I couldn’t allow myself to enjoy something like this. I couldn’t betray Aland. How could I let myself get wrapped up in another man’s touch while fighting so hard for the chance to be free and reunited with Aland?

Daran looked at me, breathing heavily, obviously unsatisfied with how abruptly I’d ended things. His face showed confusion, almost like he was trying to figure it out. He asked softly, “What’s wrong, Jonea?”

I looked down, unable to meet his intense red eyes, which were still smoldering. “This is… wrong, Daran,” I whispered, mostly to myself, reminding myself of the huge risk I was taking by letting my guard down with him.

Daran looked bewildered but took a small step closer. “I wasn’t lying when I said you mean something to me. At first, I thought you were just… passing by, like a season that comes and goes, leaving no real mark on my life. But I was wrong, Jonea. Explaining what we are is hard, but to me, you’re not just part of that contract… You’re special.”

Hearing his confession made my heart pound. Just that one admission started to break down the walls I’d spent so long building. I knew if I listened to more, I wouldn’t be able to hold back anymore. I’d thought I’d frozen my heart for good, but suddenly, feelings I’d buried began to resurface—for someone completely different from Aland. Inside, I felt scared—scared that I would fall for Daran and betray the love I’d been holding onto.

“No,” I interrupted him, desperate to stop him from saying anything else. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising panic in my chest. “Daran, you… you’re like family to me,” I said, my voice trembling as I grasped for an excuse that wouldn’t make him hope for more than that. “That’s what I meant when I said you were special.” I tried to sound convincing, even though something inside me was screaming, knowing I was lying.

His expression changed slowly, disappointment clear in his eyes, but he stood there in silence, waiting for me to say more, almost as if he didn’t believe me.

“When I think about it, I can’t exactly call you… like a father. You’re much older, sure, but your face…” I paused, trying to force a laugh, “is way too young for that role.” I paused again, watching his reaction, hoping he’d understand the message I was trying to send. “And you can’t be my brother, either. So… what should I call you, Daran?”

I knew these words would hurt him, but maybe it was for the best. If Daran could keep his distance and stop holding onto feelings for me, it would make things easier for both of us. After all, I just wanted to get through this contract. I needed him to find a way to break my curse so I could be free—free to find Aland again, free from this curse, even if it meant giving my blood to Daran. That was the price I’d decided to pay.

I forced myself to hide any guilt behind a strained smile, but Daran’s eyes stayed fixed on me, like he could see everything I was truly feeling.

He stood there, stunned. His mouth opened slightly, like he wanted to say something, but no words came out. His deep red eyes stared at me, searching my face for answers, hoping for something I couldn’t give him.

But I stayed silent, unable to say more, afraid that one more word would break me. Let him think I was lying. Let him think it was just a trick. Maybe it would make all of this easier.

Finally, Daran turned and walked away, leaving me standing alone in the doorway. I held my breath as I watched his back disappear, without a single word more. No anger, no demands, only a sudden silence that somehow hurt more than anything else.

When his figure finally disappeared, I bit my lip, holding back the emotions that threatened to overflow. Each step he took away felt like an open wound, a pain I never expected would hurt this much.

That night, under a cold, quiet sky, I stood alone, struggling against tears that filled my eyes. I knew I’d hurt Daran, that I’d wounded his feelings. But I had no choice. I couldn’t let myself fall deeper into this dangerous emotion. I couldn’t betray the love I’d been holding onto for Aland.

Yet, no matter how much I tried to convince myself I’d done the right thing, my heart still felt empty and hurt. It was like something important had been ripped away tonight, something that might never come back.

And in the lonely cold of the night, I realized that with that one decision, I’d sacrificed a part of my own heart—for something I couldn’t be certain of.

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DARAN

I couldn’t stop thinking. My mind felt full, but weirdly empty, like everything was just circling around without getting anywhere.

Did… Jonea really just reject me? How could she? Rejecting the love of the Lycan King? My pride felt trampled. But along with that, there was something new—an ache I hadn’t felt before.

Without realizing, I started grumbling as I went to the kitchen to get a drink. I raised the glass to my lips, taking a long gulp, only to realize… there wasn’t a drop of water in it. I looked at the empty glass in confusion.

Owen, sitting at the kitchen table, noticed and just shook his head, getting up to pour water into my glass. I watched him in silence, still half-lost in my own thoughts. His eyes held that same mocking glint as he handed me the glass filled with water.

Just then, Jonea walked past us quickly, almost running, her face red as she hurried to her room without looking at me. Her whole posture screamed embarrassment.

Owen chuckled, glancing at me with a smirk. “What’s wrong, man? Fighting again?” he teased, tone dripping with sarcasm.

I stared down at the glass in my hand, running through everything that had just happened between me and Jonea. I took a sip and mumbled, “Or maybe I should just be grateful she still thinks of me as family?”

Owen raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he looked at me. “What are you muttering to yourself for? You usually roar like a lion when you’re upset. That’s your thing, isn’t it?”

I snapped out of my thoughts, realizing he was still in the kitchen with me. Before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “I… just told her how I feel.”

Owen choked on his drink, coughing as he tried to stifle a laugh but ended up spitting out his drink. He looked at me, half-amused, half-sympathetic, wiping his mouth.

“And?” he asked, clearly wanting the full story.

I sighed, feeling embarrassed and confused but unable to stop myself from telling him. “She… she said I was like her father.” The words tasted bitter. “That’s basically a rejection, right?”

Owen gave me a knowing look, shaking his head. “Man, if a girl says you’re like her dad, you’ve been rejected, like, a hundred times over. Rejected to the ends of the universe, buddy! I’ve never been rejected that harshly. Heck, no girl’s ever said that to me, even…”

I slammed my glass on the table, making Owen freeze, cutting his words short. The room grew tense. He looked at me carefully, almost like he was putting things together.

“Wait… are you talking about Jonea?”

I avoided his gaze, too ashamed to admit it. My heart ached, a feeling I’d never felt as the Lycan King. Everything Owen said, even if he meant it as a joke, only twisted the knife in my chest.

Taking a deep breath, holding in all the turmoil in my mind, I left the kitchen without another word, leaving Owen standing there, baffled and staring at the questions now crowding his head.

I walked out, steps filled with confusion, hurt, and maybe… a hint of hope I couldn’t quite let go.