Chapter 142: _Got The Alpha Prince Figured Out Lucian’s POV
"He just left... And you let him?" Axel asked for the umpteenth time as he and Lucian treated themselves to some drinks at the crystal dome restaurant. Lucian glanced around the restaurant, clicking his tongue when he remembered this was the same establishment the Beta and Elian had gone on a date... Before they got attacked by a laser gun-wielding assassin. "What did you expect me to do, Beta?" After taking a gulp from a bottle of moon dew, Lucian arched an eyebrow. "He made his choice and I couldn’t tie him up and keep him." Axel sniggered, brushing his right hand through his hair from across the table they sat on. "Right. But knowing you I wouldn’t be surprised if you did that. You know, Lucian you—" "Don’t tell me I followed you two morons here to watch you arguing over drinks." Aurora chimed from her seat which backed the crystal glass walls. She paused from eating her steak and salad, her eyes flicking from Axel and Lucian once before she continued. "Yes, Elian made his choice. But the truth is, you two gave him no choice." Aurora blurted, pointing her eating knife at Lucian just then. "Especially you, Douchebag." Lucian’s forehead creased but he didn’t say anything in rebuttal. Because deep down, he knew she was right.
"He just left... And you let him?" Axel asked for the umpteenth time as he and Lucian treated themselves to some drinks at the crystal dome restaurant. Lucian glanced around the restaurant, clicking his tongue when he remembered this was the same establishment the Beta and Elian had gone on a date... Before they got attacked by a laser gun-wielding assassin. "What did you expect me to do, Beta?" After taking a gulp from a bottle of moon dew, Lucian arched an eyebrow. "He made his choice and I couldn’t tie him up and keep him." Axel sniggered, brushing his right hand through his hair from across the table they sat on. "Right. But knowing you I wouldn’t be surprised if you did that. You know, Lucian you—" "Don’t tell me I followed you two morons here to watch you arguing over drinks." Aurora chimed from her seat which backed the crystal glass walls. She paused from eating her steak and salad, her eyes flicking from Axel and Lucian once before she continued. "Yes, Elian made his choice. But the truth is, you two gave him no choice." Aurora blurted, pointing her eating knife at Lucian just then. "Especially you, Douchebag." Lucian’s forehead creased but he didn’t say anything in rebuttal. Because deep down, he knew she was right.
He’d scared off his mate and only began trying to change when it was too late.
"I just can’t believe he’d leave without at least telling me goodbye." Axel shook his head after several seconds, his golden eyes glinting regretfully. "That’s the least he could do. It’s... Unlike him."
Lucian stared at him curiously, tapping his fingers on the cool bottle of the moon dew.
"So, you’re trying to say if you were there to tell him goodbye... You would be cool with him leaving? Even if we don’t know how long he’s gone for?"
Axel’s expression was calm. Too calm if Lucian was being honest.
The Beta was the only one among the two of them who’d knotted Elian. That meant his emotions for Elian should be stronger.
More intense than his in fact.
As annoying as that sounded to Lucian, it was just facts.
So... Why did Axel seem so withdrawn?
"Like I’ve told Elian before..." Axel began with a wry smile, tilting his head slightly as he stared at Lucian. "You might be his first kiss. Lord Kyren might be... Well, himself. But I’ll always be the one who was the quickest to accept him. So I’m not bothered about him having other mates."
He paused, his eyes seeming distant, as if he was pondering something.
Lucian squinted, curious to know what that was.
Eventually, Axel shrugged. "Even if he’s skedaddled with another man across the freaking continent."
Before the conversation could get any more tense, Aurora cleared her throat. "Alright, enough of this. You two are acting like Elian’s dead. I’m sure he’s doing pretty well in the Dark Lands."
That’s the thing though... Lucian didn’t want him "doing well" in the dark lands.
He wanted his mate right here by his side.
"The next time we might see him would be next month. During the full moon masquerade ball." Axel grabbed the moon dew bottle from Lucian, pouring himself a glass. "That’s if Lucian’s squabble with the Alpha king didn’t scare off the Rogue king."
Lucian’s jaw tightened when he remembered the encounter with his father earlier.
"Squabble? Dad almost pummeled him from what I’ve heard." Aurora snorted, letting out a wry sigh. "You need to keep your emotions in check, Luce."
Lucian smiled sarcastically at her. "Thank you. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind next time Father sponsors yet another mysterious organisation trying to harm my mate."
That managed to make Aurora keep shut.
Lucian was about to click on a holographic screen that popped up to place an order for food when he picked up incoming footsteps.
He swerved his head to the side just in time to see three teenage girls walking toward him with bashful smiles and lavish clothes.
Noble girls no doubt.
"Ugh, fan girls," Aurora muttered under her breath even though she wore a kind smile when they got to the table.
Lucian barely spared them a glance before he continued drinking.
"Uhm, excuse me?" The girl standing in the middle, a blonde with sparkling blue eyes, was the first to speak. "Good... Good afternoon, Alpha Prince. Good afternoon Beta Axel. I—"
"Straight to the point or leave," Lucian grunted, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Aurora kicked his ankle underneath the table just then, causing him to flinch before glaring at her.
"Forgive the Alpha Prince’s mood." Axel took charge of talking this time, smiling warmly. "He’s had a... Tough day. Would you like an autograph?"
The girls barely flinched despite Lucian’s outburst, one of them even holding back a giggle.
Goddess, a lobotomy was sounding more alluring these days.
"Actually, we were here to ask the Alpha Prince if he’s officially single again." The girl in the middle chimed with a confident voice.
Lucian’s brows furrowed as he finally raised his head, staring at the girl who stiffened when she realised his "mood" wasn’t an act.
"What are you? Sixteen?" He queried. "Besides, I have a mate. I thought that was well known in the Empire. The continent, in fact."
He noticed how the girls glanced at themselves, as if what he said just now was delusional.
At that moment, his eyes scanned the restaurant properly and he realised lots of people were giving him sorry looks while whispering to themselves.
Some stared at their holographic tablets while glancing occasionally at him, adding further to his confusion.
Even a blind man would realise something was off.
"We’re only asking because of this video that started going viral a few minutes ago." Another girl with braided hair spoke up this time, stretching her right wrist out.
There was a bracelet on her wrist which glowed before a holographic screen was projected out of it.
On the screen was a familiar scene that sent instant shivers down Lucian’s spine.
It was a recording from earlier today.
Specifically, when Elian walked out of the palace with Kyren, and Lucian yelled after him.
"People are fawning, your highness." The girl with braids giggled as if any of this was funny. "The empire is divided into those who feel sorry for you and those who say you deserve it for how you treated the Omega at the mating ball. But as for me?"
The girl puffed her chest proudly, the holographic screen disappearing when it got to the part where Kyren’s battleship lifted off.
Lucian’s eyes twitched but the girl didn’t catch on to the shift in his emotions and continued.
"What’s another two years? I’ll wait, Alpha Prince. As long as you wait for me."
The girl in the middle shoved her friend just then. "Ugh! As if! I’m the one who dragged you two here in the first place."
The girl with braids sneered. "You’re always trying to steal the spotlight, Nora!"
Lucian’s head swelled at the embarrassing situation.
Talk about an insult to injury...
Someone out there recorded him during what he thought was a vulnerable moment... And uploaded it into the inter web for all of Lunaria to see.
To witness the shame of his mate leaving his hands.
And among the people who’ve seen it, the Eastern Wolves Council were definitely part of it.
"Girls!" Aurora yelled out just then, like a mother scolding kids. "I’ll be anywhere but here if I were you. Lucian isn’t—"
"Why don’t you all quit talking about what Lucian should or shouldn’t do and focus on your lives for once?" He blurted, unable to take it anymore.
Aurora froze, her eyelashes batting as he rose to his feet.
He didn’t even need to release an ounce of his aura for the girls to back away. A single glare was enough.
"Lucian," Axel grabbed his wrist just then, forcing him to bring his eyes to him. "Let’s calm down for a second. Where are you going?"
Lucian only let his gaze linger on the Beta for two more seconds before yanking his arm free from his grip.
"I’m going away from all this." He remarked plainly, his voice rising by an octave.
Everyone in the restaurant was probably hearing him, but fuck it.
"Lunaria and its people like to act like they know me. Like they’ve got the cold, arrogant Alpha Prince all figured out." His eyes dragged past faces staring at him as he spoke.
Many stiffened with fear while others looked away, trying to hide from his eyes.
But he ignored them.
"No one has scratched the surface of who I am. So if anyone wants to judge me based on that video... They can fucking go ahead."
With that, he stepped away from the table, waltzing toward the exit.
"Lucian!" Aurora called out behind him but he ignored, quickening his footsteps as the whispers and glances drowned out his thoughts.
Right now he could only think of one thing and one thing alone:
He needed to get Elian back. No matter what it fucking took.