Lucianne was shocked to hear that King Lucas’s bonded mate took her life after being rejected. After taking in her stunt expression, Xandar said, “Now do you see why all of us keep telling you that you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for? Mind you, she was a Lycan. So she was supposed to be biologically stronger than a werewolf to withstand the bond snaps.” Lucianne started chewing slowly again and shook her head sadly. “It’s just…sad.” She sipped her drink before she continued, “It’s sad that she might have lacked the psychological and emotional support that I have. Without my friends and Juan’s family, I don’t know where I’d be.” “Hm…I guess I never thought of it that way.” Xandar said. 

The waiter showed Xandar and Lucianne to the table that Xandar had specifically reserved earlier. It was a secluded corner booth. After placing their order, the waitress drew the see-through curtains and left them alone. Lucianne reached for Xandar’s hands across the table as she asked in concern, “Are you okay?” He smiled and kissed her hand, more normally this time, and said, “I am now.” Lucianne returned his smile and said, “So uh…your question on kids. I’ve always thought about having my own before the string of rejections. After the latest mate bond snap, I actually made peace with the fact that I may never have children of my own. The plan was to adopt a child when I was ready, like when there were fewer rogue attacks so

‘How bad was it?’ Lucianne wondered as she watched Xandar’s handsome face show a visible streak of discomfort at the mention of Aunt Charlotte.   Xandar took a breath before he said, “Whenever I visited, she would sit me down and ask how many girls I’ve slept with in the past week, or how many girls I’ve ever taken out on a date, how many drinks can I handle before I got drunk, who and how many have willingly stripped in front of me. Her face showed that it was fun for her to ask these things but to be on the receiving end of those questions was just…” Xandar shook his head in disapproval, annoyance and dismay before he said, “I am so glad I don’t have to deal with her anymore. That was the one funeral I attended in pure happiness.”   “Oh wow. That was bad.” Lucianne muttered, and had to shake her head to bring herself out from what

The next morning, Lucianne got out of bed and almost tripped over one of the many paper bags of books in her room. This made her recall the entire day she spent with Xandar, and she smiled to herself in the dark as she changed for her morning run.  When her white wolf was approaching the same spot she went to every morning, she caught the scent of acacia wood and forest trees before Xandar’s Lycan came into view. His animal got up from where it was sitting and approached her slowly. Its lilac eyes fixed on hers as he mind-linked, ‘Morning, beautiful.’ ‘Good morning, Xandar. I don’t recall having a date this morning.’ She teased.

Juan shot up from his chair, and threw his clenched fist at the rogue’s jaw, breaking it with an audible crack. Xandar pulled the rogue by his prison clothes across the table towards him.  The King’s eyes already turned onyx as he growled, “You sought to murder our Queen. If you think you can live your life without painful repercussions for what you did to MY mate, I’m telling you right now you’re going to live a long cycle of torture and recovery. Now, answer me, who sent you?” And they felt it. Everyone did, even the wolves from the next room. They felt the King’s Authority ra