Defy The Alpha(s)-Chapter 783: Romance Does Happen After all

"Perhaps," Taryn said slowly, "she simply couldn’t accept the fact that her best friend had found a life outside of what she knew—the Free Fae. A mate at that."

He exhaled. "Bonds between interspecies, especially involving the Free Fae, had never been heard of. I assume poppy felt something was off. So she convinced Lila to investigate, and together they uncovered the darker side of Angus."

Hannah said nothing, completely drawn into the story. All Angus had ever told them was that his mate had run from him and returned to the Fae realm. No one had ever given her details like this.

"But even with the evidence they brought that Angus was not the hero he claimed to be, Seraphira refused to believe them." Taryn’s voice hardened slightly. "And no one could truly blame her. A mate bond goes beyond affection. It binds, blinds and makes one fiercely loyal to their partner, even to their own destruction.

"She and Seraphira had a terrible fight and Poppy was ordered to return to the Free Fae. Seraphira had no intention of leaving. She believed she had found a new life with Angus, and with their daughter, Violet."

Taryn’s jaw tightened. "But Poppy had always been stubborn. She refused to give up and kept persuading her best friend. When Seraphira finally learned that Angus planned to exploit Violet’s powers, she agreed to leave with her child. But by then, it was already too late."

Hannah wasn’t surprised. Her father’s greed for power knew no limits.

"Angus wasn’t foolish," Taryn continued. "He discovered their plan. And while mates cannot harm one another, that didn’t stop the rest of it from becoming brutal. Seraphira foolishly ordered Lila and Poppy not to kill her mate, only incapacitate him long enough for them to escape. Except Angus didn’t share the same sentiment as her."

Hannah’s eyes widened. What had Seraphira been thinking? How could she have been stupid enough to believe Angus would let her go without a fight?

The man had killed her sister, Rose, for the crime of falling in love and trying to escape the life he had chosen for her. For his mate? He would kill anyone who stood in his way.

Yes. Hannah could see it clearly now, how everything fell apart.

"They were outnumbered by Angus’s men. Poppy fought the hardest, trying to buy Seraphira time, refusing to retreat." His voice broke just slightly as he said, "She took the worst of it."

"It wasn’t until the fatal strike to poppy that Seraphira finally broke the bond between herself and Angus. That was the only way she could escape. So my wife left the Fae realm alive, and returned to me dead." he finished.

Though Taryn’s face remained composed, Hannah could see the pain etched beneath it. Without thinking, she reached out and squeezed his hand.

After a moment, he squeezed back.

Hannah tried to speak, but her throat clogged with emotion, and before she could stop it, tears spilled down her cheeks.

"I’m so sorry," she said hastily, wiping at her face.

She couldn’t help but remember the prison where she introduced herself to Violet, the pride in her voice as she claimed she was Angus’s daughter, therefore related to Violet. She had said it so easily. So boldly.

All of it right in front of Taryn.

Goddess, how must that have felt for him?

"I’m so sorry," she whispered again, the tears coming faster now, frustrating her. "And to think you ended up mated to the daughter of the man who killed your wife."

She let out a shaky, humorless breath.

"Seriously. What kind of enemies-to-lovers nonsense is this? I didn’t ask for it to be this complicated."

The words tumbled out of her lips, mirroring exactly how her life felt right now.

Hannah groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "You must hate me right now."

Taryn frowned. "No, it’s not—"

She cut him off immediately. "Don’t. Don’t suddenly sugarcoat it because there’s a bond between us." Her voice cracked despite her effort to sound firm. "How am I supposed to look you in the eye knowing what my father did to you? What he took from you?"

She inhaled shakily. "That’s why I’m going to make this easy for both of us."

Taryn stiffened. "What?"

She sniffed, wiping her face with the back of her hand. "I’m going to beg the Queen to send me back."

"What?!" Taryn shot to his feet.

But Hannah pressed on, the words spilling faster now, as if stopping would break her. "Once I’m back in the human realm, I’ll find my father. I’ll look him in the eye and remind him of Poppy, your wife. The woman he murdered." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And then I’ll end my life in front of him."

Silence slammed into the room.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" Taryn roared, fury blazing as he towered over her. "Have you lost all sense?"

Hannah stood as well, shaking but stubborn. "You don’t understand. Angus isn’t some hollow monster. He feels too but

he just buries his emotions. And I matter to him hence losing me will hurt." Her eyes burned. "If he won’t regret killing Poppy, then he’ll regret losing me. At least then—"

She didn’t finish because Taryn grabbed her, hauling her against him so suddenly her breath hitched. Their bodies collided, his grip firm, and unyielding.

Hannah swallowed hard. "W-what are you doing...?"

"Have you gone mad?!" Taryn snarled, his voice raw, and eyes red with barely restrained rage. "Who told you that your life was payment for his sins?"

"I thought you didn’t want me—" she started, but the words died in her throat under the intensity of his stare.

"That is my problem to deal with!" Taryn hissed. "I was wrong to have taken it out on you. Pathetic, actually, considering Violet is his daughter too—"

"But I’m the one he raised to be a killer," Hannah finished for him.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. They just stared at each other, the gravity of that truth hanging heavy in the air.

Then, without warning, Taryn reached out, cupped her face, and kissed her.

It was brief. Barely more than a brush of his lips against hers, but it left Hannah utterly stunned.

He pulled back first, his forehead resting against hers. "Forgive me for the way I spoke to you the other day, it won’t happen again."

He inhaled, as if bracing himself. "We—no. I will figure myself out. I’ll deal with my past. You don’t have to pay for it."

His thumb brushed her cheek, tentative. "Just stay. Let me do this right. I’ll court you properly and when you turn eighteen..." He didn’t finish the sentence, it was obvious what he was insinuating.

Hannah stared at him, her heart racing. For a moment, she wondered if this was some cruel trick of the bond or her own foolish hope.

Taryn looked nervous. "What do you say?" he asked.

Hannah’s lips curved into a wide, genuine smile.

Maybe there was still room for a little book romance after all.