Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Chapter 29 Sunflower

LUCIUS' POV

It has been a hell of a week for me. Ever since Maia said that she wanted space, I have buried myself with paper works. I didn't even remember the last time I slept or if I even did. All I knew was that I had to keep myself busy so that I wouldn't overthink what Maia said.

'I swear, if she rejects us, I'm going to block you for the rest of your life. Even if your life's on the line, I wouldn't shift so that you can fight. I will let you die in vain. Mark my words.'

Those were the last words that Lucian told me before he blocked me a week ago.

"Are you just going to lock yourself in your office? When was the last time you even took a shower, huh?" Neal asked, disturbing my peace once again.

"If you have nothing better to do, go train the warriors or something. Stop bothering me, Neal. Or better yet, go clean the dungeons." I said, annoyed.

"I don't care whatever you say, but it is my job to keep you in check and support you. Now, I won't support you when you are sulking or burying yourself in paperwork without even eating, taking a bath, or resting. If you want to keep working, go ahead, but make sure that you look after yourself. Stop acting like a child. She only asked for space since everything is hard for her right now. I'm not saying that it isn't hard for you either, but she just woke up with a mark on her neck. That's almost the same feeling when you woke up with your curse. So, give her some time. I'm sure she'll come around and when she does, you wouldn't want to look like shit." he explained before leaving the office.

I let out a sigh and leaned my back on the chair.

Neal did have a point and when I sniffed myself, I smelled pretty bad. Being cooped up in my office with no fresh air created a bad smell. I mind-linked one of the omegas to clean my office while I head to my room to take a shower.

I passed by Maia's room on my way to mine. Her room was just three doors away from mine. I purposely placed her in my Mom's room so that she would be closer to me. Being able to hear her heartbeat and smell her scent when I sleep was like a drug to me. It was my addiction.

Smelling her scent as I passed by almost made me tear the door open and just engulf her in a hug. It took so much control to stop myself from doing so.

I had to quickly take a shower because smelling Maia's scent was so intoxicating that it was driving me crazy.

As I sat back in my chair behind my desk, I picked up the file that I was going through before I left. It was the expansion request from the farmers. They were asking to expand the land where they could farm towards the eastern side of the pack grounds. According to the investigators, the land on that side was the richest land on the whole Ravenvault.

Their pleas were reasonable, so I approved their request. After signing the requests and drafting the certification of approval, I started planning on the business venture that I had been planning for the last three months. Just because we were the strongest pack in the whole Cruasia didn't mean we couldn't have the best town either. We were not all training and seriousness. We were also having fun and that was why we needed great business ventures in our town.

The people had been requesting a Nightclub, and I have been waiting for it for the last 8 weeks. I didn't think that a Nightclub was a great idea for the town. Werewolves were not easily affected by alcohol, but they said that it was not just alcohol and that there was also fun in nightclubs. I, personally, have never been in one as I never saw the usefulness in it.

I was about to read the file about the Nightclub request when I sniffed Maia's scent nearby. I almost jumped out of my chair and ran to the door to check when I remembered what she said. When I was about to go back to my chair, I felt her presence by the door.

Her heart was beating fast as if she was nervous, and her scent was so close.

'She must be by the door.' I thought to myself.

I did not waste any more time and yanked the door open. Indeed, she was there with her hand raised and about to knock on the door. It took me all my control to calm down and not jump up on her like a clingy mate.

Being this close to her was driving me crazy. I didn't even know how I was able to hide my bulge down there, but I did.

Talking to her in a very slow manner, as if she could break with my words, was difficult. When she said that she came to apologize for the way she acted, I just wanted to kiss her on the lips to stop her from blaming herself. She had every right to treat me the way she did. I'm surprised that all she did was ignore me. I thought that she would reject me or leave me the moment she found out that I marked her without her consent.

My heart ran a marathon when I saw her teary eyes.

'Oh shit! Did I do something wrong or did I say something that offended her? Ttttssss. Damn you, Lucius. Why do you have to be always so stupid!' I scolded myself.

My world stopped when she wrapped her tiny arms around my neck and hugged me. Sparks erupted all over my body. The heat radiating off her was so warm that I almost started sweating. It took me a second to compose myself and bring me back to Earth. I immediately wrapped my arms around her waist and hugged her as tight as possible without breaking her bones.

"Thank you." She mumbled.

My heart did a thousand somersaults with her words.

We stayed in each other's arms for a couple of minutes before I involuntarily let her go. I didn't want her to feel that I was suffocating her, so I had to let her go even though all I wanted was to keep her close to me. I sat opposite of her and watched her as she stared at the center table.

"How are you? Are you feeling stronger?" I asked, breaking the silence between us.

"I am good. Much better. Thank you." she replied in a soft voice.

"That is great. Is there anything specific you'd like to ask or do?" I asked, trying to get her to start a conversation or something.

"I wanted to ask if there are any lakes or rivers nearby. I would like to go if that's okay?" she asked.

"Of course. There are two lakes and five rivers all over the pack grounds. I can have Neal accompany you to one of them if you like." I replied.

"I think he is busy with some pack duties. It's okay. I can just go another time." She said.

"I don't think he is, but if you want to go, I can accompany you. If that's okay with you?" I replied, asking for permission.

"Won't I be disturbing you from your work?" she asked.

"Whatever that I'm doing can wait. Why don't you get ready while I have someone prepare some snacks for us to take?" I suggested.

She smiled at me and nodded her head.

"Thank you." She said with a small smile on her face before leaving the office.

I felt like I just won a planet. The happiness inside me was ready to burst out, and I just wanted to scream out of happiness and let it all out. Unfortunately, I couldn't.

I had Emily prepare a small basket of snacks and fruits to take with us. Once it was prepared, I had Emily bring it to my office. With the basket in my left hand, I knocked on Maia's room and waited for her to open it.

"Ready?" I asked as soon as she opened the door.

"Yes," she replied with a small smile.

She looked like a sunflower in her yellow and black dress. If I could just stare forever, I would have.