The Alpha's Omega Mate-Chapter 131: Let her go.

~Kai’s POV~

I’ve lived a couple of years, each one bleeding into the next like an endless cycle of torment. But in none of those times have I ever been so stricken by a woman, so captivated by her sheer beauty as I was with this one seated in front of me.

It’s only been a couple of hours since she awoke and her presence already has me enthralled. She was—is— beautiful, so effortlessly so. And also very clueless about this.

Her wild laughs echoed around the house as she giggled at something her daughter had whispered to her and I would’ve smiled at the sight too if I wasn’t so green with jealousy, so piqued that Amara got to be so close to her while I could only watch them from a distance.

And thenI remembered... Amara... Her daughter.

Another man’s child...

The thought of another man laying his hands on my mate made me pissed. It made my blood go cold with rage so icy, it was something I’d never felt before. However, I was soon snapped out of this daze when the said child smiled in my direction, waving her dainty hands at me, "Alpha Kai, my mom says you’re a good man!"

I smiled despite the initial rage I felt earlier. I smiled because for some reason, she reminded me more of the ’Dahlia’ I’d been betrothed to than the woman she now was.

I glanced up to find my muse staring straight at me, her once pale face now alight with colour, her fiery hair swirling all around her like a cloud of fire.

She bowed. "Alpha Kai, do not mind her. She’s only a child."

"Call me Kai." I responded with a small frown, quickly correcting her so as not to experience a repeat of whatever that was. "I’d really love that."

Heavens, I hated it when she referred to me so formally like I was a man she was supposed to fear, not her mate. I hated when she would bow so low to me instead of just smiling. And I hated every moment she tried to be so formal with me. Every moment she looked at me like this thing between us was a mistake.

Like I am a mistake.

I saw the confusion on her face, then came the slight panic. She nodded at me but deep down, I instantly knew that she wouldn’t budge. She wouldn’t refer to me just the way I wanted her to. She was stubborn.

"How do you do now, my lady?" I asked instead, casually changing the subject into something lighter, and just as I did, I vaguely heard her let out a relieved sigh before she smiled-/ like really smiled. Her tense shoulders dropped and a warmth that wasn’t in her beautiful blue eyes earlier seeped into them.

She muttered; "I feel very well now, your Grace. How do you do too?"

For a moment, I couldn’t bring myself to respond to her. I gritted my teeth in mortification at her stubbornness when her words, so softly spoken, so carefully worded, continued to ring in my ears like alarm bells.

Yourgraceyourgraceyourgrace.

"I am well. Thank you." I finally ground out, crossing my arms over my chest as I stared straight at her.

Amara was munching on some grapes, and her mother— the woman who was currently doing everything she could not to look at me— was busy playing around with her hair.

I had almost begun to think that this was one of those scenarios where we’d just descend into an uncomfortable silence when suddenly, she spoke up. She said; "Your Grace, I’d like to talk to you about something."

HailMaryMotherOfChrist! As soon as this damsel said those words, my heart somersaulted. My wolf, which had been backed into a corner reared its ugly head in delight, and a smile I tried to fight, but failed to do so, spread across my face.

She probably likes it here. She wants to ask to be allowed to remain here, unbeknownst to her that I never had any intentions of letting her go. "What is it?" I asked.

Dahlia sighed, dropping her gaze as she began to fiddle with her dress. "I do not know how this may sound..."

Oh it sounds just great, sugar plum.

"First, I want to thank you for saving me. I know that I’d initially been stubborn. I had even tried to turn down your help, but I am grateful... so very grateful."

A blush crept up my face at her words, but after subtly reminding myself that men like me were never supposed to be found ’blushing’, I cleared my throat *in lack of experience* and sat up; "Dahlia, stop. I’d do it over and over again if I must."

"And I appreciate that, a lot" she whispered, "...but I’d like to leave. Today, if possible."

For a moment after she spoke, the room was plunged into a choking silence. I watched her face, trying to decipher if this was a joke... but no, it wasn’t.

She was serious! She indeed wanted to leave.

My face immediately fell; the smile I was sporting disappeared like it was never there in the first place. Words couldn’t describe how annoyed I instantly felt... how hurt I was, so I rose to my feet.

"Why?"

Now, it was her face which fell. "Shadowfang pack must be looking for me... and it’s not like I plan to return, I just want to ensure that I safely get into one of these nearby human villages before they do. I no longer want to live in a pack... or to be grounded by pack rules. I just want my daughter and I to be free."

"But Dahlia, I don’t think you’re healed enough to—"

"Alpha Kai, I am." She interrupted, but all I could think about was that damn name. That damn formality, and the damn way she bowed her head in respect.

AlphaKaiAlphaKaiAlphaKai.

I dropped my gaze to meet hers, noticing the way she unconsciously squirmed. "Okay," I finally rasped out, but do you know what hurt more than her will to leave?

The smile that instantly graced her face as soon as I agreed!

"Thank you."

"...but first, we need to talk about something else. I told you I know about your past, about your parents. Don’t you want to find out about them?"

At the mention of those words, she snapped her mouth shut. Her face fell. But despite the conflict on her face, and the obvious curiosity that reeked off her like a cologne, she shook her head.

"No. I don’t want to know about them."

The firm resolve in her voice. The way her voice broke, shaking with each syllable she said tugged at my heartstrings. I sighed, rubbing my face. "You don’t want to know how they—"

"They’re dead right?" She snapped, interrupting me, and when I nodded, confirming her question, she exhaled. "Then that’s all I need to know. I’d have been interested in what you had to say if they were still alive. But they’re not."

"...so you’re not interested in the fact that I am your betrothed? You’re not interested that we’ve been bound to marry for the longest time?"

While I spoke, I watched her watch me. She was speechless, her piercing gaze distant. A moment of silence passed between us and when I finally saw the resigned look swirling in those shiny blue orbs, every ounce of hope I had for us dissipated like a cloud of smoke.

Her voice was low, quiet. But the words she said were as clear as crystals, as sharp as a thousand blades cutting through my skin. Dahlia gave me a once over, her gaze softening for a moment as she said;

"The people who came up with that arrangement are dead. Gone. And so is the marriage. Now, I only live for my daughter... I only wish to be by her side, and I would appreciate it if you let it go."

If you let me go.

I gulped just as a strange liquid sprang into my eyes. "Okay."