Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Chapter 20- Rejection

MAIA'S POV

"I'm sorry, Maia. I wished it was so easy to tell you everything. You have no idea how much I have been wanting to kiss you endlessly, make love to you, and have a family with you. I want them so badly. I really do," Lucius said.

Was this it? Did he take me out here to finally reject me?

A lot of thoughts were running through my head.

"If you are going to reject me, just do it already. Stop making me feel special and then ignore me for weeks. Don't make me go through so much pain anymore. If you are going to do it, just do it. Get it over with." I said, exasperated.

"Why would you think that I'm going to reject you?" he asked.

"Why would I not think that? I understand that you already have a family. I am not some home-wrecker kind of person. It's not your fault that you chose another she-wolf to become your mate, but I'm not going to stay here and be your side-chick. So, just reject me so that I can move on with my life. The sooner you do it, the better. That would mean you no longer have to hide from your wife and kid," I replied, my voice slightly raised.

"Maia, you got it all wrong. Besides, who told you that I have a wife and a kid?" he asked.

"Just stop lying, please. I already saw the pictures. Please stop making this harder than it should be," I begged.

"What pictures are you talking about? And where did you see them? Who showed them to you? I swear to you, Maia. I don't have a wife or a child," he asked, swearing that it was all not true.

"Do you think I am that stupid? You locked me up in the room of your wife, you genius! Of course, I went through the stuff," I replied, almost yelling.

What he did next made me furious. Imagine, he had the nerve to laugh at me! That asshole!

"Maia, that was not my wife's room," he said, laughing.

"Do I look dumb to you?" I asked, putting my hands on my waist.

"No. That was not what I was saying. What I was trying to say was that you got it all wrong. The room you were staying in used to be my mom's room. The pictures you saw there were pictures of her, and the one where she was holding a baby was a picture of her and me when I was still a baby," he said.

I looked at him and tried to see if he was lying.

'What if he is really telling the truth, Maia? You should at least give him the benefit of the doubt,' Avi said.

'I don't even know what to believe anymore, Avi. What if this is some kind of trap for us? Remember what Uriah did? After all, they are brothers,' I replied.

"How do I know that you are telling the truth?" I asked.

"Why would I lie to you?" he asked in return.

"I don't know. Maybe because you know that your wolf wants me, but you have already chosen another woman in my place," I replied.

"Maia, please stop saying that. It hurts me seeing you like this. Just the fact that you are thinking like this is very painful," he said in a low voice.

"Then tell me. Why am I locked up in the room? Why did you decide only to let me know now? Is it because Pamela is already gone? What? Is it because you don't want me to meet your chick? Or you don't want her to meet me, your side chick!?" I spat, asking.

"I told you, it's not like that! If you would only listen!" he exclaimed.

I was taken aback by the way he responded. He must have noticed because he apologized right away.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice. Please listen to me, Maia," he begged, apologizing.

"What more do I need to know that I don't already have proof of?" I asked.

"Maia, things are way more complicated than it seems. I was not hiding you in the room because I didn't want you to see Pamela. I just need more time to find the right timing to explain everything to her. But you should believe me when I say that the room you are staying in is my mom's room and not Pamela's. She does not live in the castle," he explained.

"Who is she then, and why are you hiding me from her if she is not your wife?" I asked.

He let out a deep sigh and looked me in the eye.

"Pamela is my chosen mate. She was supposed to be crowned Queen Luna last year, but I kept postponing it," he replied.

"You must have been very patient to choose another mate instead of looking for your original mate," I spat, my voice laced with jealousy.

"It wasn't like that, Maia. When I lost my mom, I was devastated. She was there for me. It just seemed reasonable at that time when I chose her as my mate. I wasn't sure if you were alive. I have been looking for you for four years," he explained.

"Then why did you not tell her that you found your mate then? Are you having second thoughts?" I asked.

"It's not that easy, Maia. We had agreed and planned this a year ago. It was only delayed because of the number of cases of rogues lurking around. Then, I met you. She is expecting to have the ceremony, and I can't just go up to her and tell her, 'Sorry. The deal is off. I already found my mate.' Of course, I can't do that. I need to talk to her and slowly tell her the news," he explained.

I felt a pang of jealousy when he said that he agreed to it. It was like he gave up on me and decided to just marry the first she-wolf he found.

"If you already agreed to it, you might as well push through the ceremony. You have to be a man of your words. Just reject me so that I can leave. You don't have to worry about me making a drama. As soon as you reject me, I'm leaving. I can take care of myself. I have been doing so for the past five years, so it's nothing new. Do it fast and stop wasting time," I spat.

'Maia! What are you doing?' Avi asked.

'Helping him decide. Clearly, he does not know his priorities, and I am showing it to him,' I replied.

'Maia, you don't know that!' Avi exclaimed.

'He just said it himself, Avi. I am not some pathetic she-wolf that would beg,' I spat.

"Did you not just hear what I said? I already told you that I want to be with you. I just need time to fix things. Why is it so hard for you to understand that?" Lucius asked.

"I totally understand, Lucius. If you are not going to do it, then I will. I, Maia Lyons, reject –"

I was not able to finish it because the next thing I knew, Lucius' lips were on mine.

The kiss was not like any other kisses we had. This time, it was like a kiss full of needs and wants. It was as if he was trying to express his feelings through the kiss.

I did not know how long the kiss lasted, but it was long enough to make my knees go weak and want for more.

"You will never talk about rejection anymore, okay? You are the only one I want, and you are the only Queen Luna of mine. Understood?" he said as his forehead was pressed against mine.

All I managed to do was nod my head.