Chapter 195


    J held her breath, feeling his hot lips against her forehead.


    As reluctant as she liked to admit, her heart skipped a beat.


    Just then, a voice came from around the corner:


    “…J?”


    Both of them froze.


    It was Westin’s voice.


    J, are you there? I think I have heard your voice.”


    Westin’s voice came a bit closer.


    J could already see his shadow cast on the ground and he was about toe around the


    corner-


    She wanted to answer.


    But Daran clutched a hand to her mouth and dragged her behind a tree.


    Westin stepped out, looking around.


    He didn’t see anyone in this small yard, only the empty swing swaying in the night breeze.


    Daran and J stood in the shadow of the leaves quietly, face–to–face with each other.


    J red at him, her eyes round with anger.


    She tried to break free from him, but he held her tightly.


    Don’t move,” he murmured in a voice that only the two of them could hear.


    Westin stood there for a few more seconds and then turned around and left.


    J finally gathered the strength to shove Daran aside.


    “What the fuck are you doing!” she growled furiously at him.


    “Help you avoid him.”


    “Who said I want to avoid him? Maybe I want to talk to-


    “No, you don’t,” he said firmly, “One thing I can tell from your reaction tonight is that you hated his


    wolf.”


    “No, I don’t hate it-”


    “But you are reminded of how drastically different he is from us.


    J took in a deep breath.


    Sometimes she hated how perceptive Daran was.


    Yet she hated it even more when Daran made her decision for her.


    “You know nothing about how I feel, Daran,” she said coldly, “And let me tell you this: you are losing


    at thispetition. Because I find Westin very charming and attractive, whereas you are just an


    egoistic jerk!


    She turned around abruptly and stormed away without another look at his face.


    <hr>The next few days went by quite uneventful.


    Not because those two men stoppedpeting with each other, But because J had been


    hiding in Balvina’s room, doing everything she could to avoid them.


    You know you can’t hide from them forever, right?” Balvina asked.


    Morgana shrugged, “Or maybe she can. She is the Blood Moon Pack’s Alpha’s sister sh Gamma.


    The Rogue King is her former subordinate. She has hundreds of thousands of soldiers at her


    command. She can very well tell those two guys to fuck off if she likes.”


    J rolled her eyes, “Yeah…Tell them to fuck off and start a world war? I don’t think so.”


    The three of them were lying on lounge chairs on the balcony, enjoying the warm afternoon sun with


    sses of iced tea by their hands, while the maids painted their toenails.


    Morgana just came back from a 3–day trip with Kass. Kass had shown her the ce where he grew


    up.


    Balvina was a little skeptical of Morgana when J first introduced them.


    But they were quick to be friends after finding a mutual interest in rock music and hunting.


    “So, whisper to us, J.”


    Morgana took a sip of her iced tea and said, “Among those two men, who are taking the lead right


    now?”


    J sighed, “…it is still a tie.”


    “Still?” Morgana gasped, “I heard those two men busted their asses off trying to please you. Daran


    got on the ground and cupped dirt. Westin switched into his wolf for a couple of little thieves. And


    you still haven’t decided yet?”


    “She is a hard person to please,” Balvina echoed.


    “Hey! You aren’t being fair!” J protested, “You are the one who gave me a limited time of 2


    weeks and asked me to make the decision of a lifetime. I am under a lot of pressure.”


    “OK!”


    Morgana sat up from her lounge chair and looked at J, dead serious.


    “Let us do a little game. Lightening rounds!” she said.


    “…OK,” J sat up straight as well.


    “t or high heels?”


    “t.”


    “Chardonnay or Pinot Noir?”


    “Pinot Noir!”


    “Gun or sword?”


    “Sword!”


    “Daran or Westin?”


    “We…”


    She uttered the first syble, and the rest of that word froze on the tip of her tongue.


    Morgana pped her hands, excited, “Balvina, you heard it, didn’t you? She was about to say


    Westin. You like Westin better!”


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Balvina nodded hastily, “Yeah! But why did you stop yourself, J? Were you shocked by your


    own answer?”


    J threw herself back to the lounge chair. letting out a long sigh.


    “No…I know I am attracted to Westin. But the thing is-”


    She rubbed her temples, frustrated.


    “Every time I want to make up my mind and go for Westin, a siren goes off in my head, like I am


    making a terrible mistake. Like just now, I wanted to say Westin’s name, but my brain stopped me…


    What is wrong with me?”


    Balvina and Morgana exchanged a look.


    “I think you are just scared by your answer,” Balvina said. “You know…because he is


    a Lycan.”


    J nodded in silence.


    She guessed that was true.


    Westin’s wolf spooked her.


    And his homnd…


    Who knew where the hell was that?


    “I guess I am leaning towards Westin…But if I were to choose him, I have to be absolutely certain.”


    J said, “He will want me to go to the Lycan’snd with him. I need to be sure that he is worth


    me doing that for him.”


    “Well, can’t you discuss this with him? See if he will stay here. You can’t leave Blood Moon Pack,


    J,” Balvina said urgently.


    “I will. But I doubt that he will say yes….he is the Lycan King, nevertheless. He can’t stay in the


    werewolfnd forever.”


    Balvina let out a frustrated groan.


    Morgana ced both of her hands underneath her head and gazed at the


    –


    crystal–clear blue sky:


    …And you have to break this sad news to poor Daran. Imagine the heartbroken look. on his face.


    He will be devastated…Can I stay and observe while you reject him? I promise I won’t make a


    sound.”


    J imagined the look on Daran’s face when she rejected him and felt a sharp pain. coursing


    through her body.


    She didn’t want to see that defeated and vulnerable look on his face again.


    And she didn’t want to hurt him.


    But she didn’t have a choice right now.


    Whoever she chose, the other one would get hurt. That was something that she could not avoid.


    “…Don’t say anything to him just yet.”


    J said to Morgana in a deep voice, “I haven’t fully made my decision yet. And when I do, I want


    to do the talking myself. Maybe I can soften the blow.”


    Morgana shrugged, “Sure. It is your call.”


    A servant came out to the balcony and bowed to the three of them, “Luna Balvina, Princess J,


    and Lady Morgana, afternoon. Alpha Daran and King Westin requested to see you.”


    “Speaking of the devil,” Morgana giggled.


    “You have avoided them for too long. They are here to see you, J,” Balvina said and then


    turned to the servant. “Send them in.”


    The servant nodded and left.


    Momentster, he returned with Daran and Westin behind his back.


    “Afternoondies. What a beautiful day,” Westin grinned.


    “I hope that I am not intruding,” Daran said.


    “You are not.


    Balvina sat up straight and looked at the two of them, “Actually, I might need your help for


    something.”


    They waited for her to continue.


    “There is a bottle of wine that I want for my wedding–Mona Estate Vineyard, Cabe Sauvignon,


    2016.” Balvina said, “I tried calling that vineyard, but the owner is not responding. Can you go down


    there and see what happened? And if of you can bring back a bottle for me, that would be nice.”


    “Absolutely,” Daran nodded.


    “Anything for you, Luna Balvina,” Westin smiled.


    The two men nced at each other. Both are determined to win.


    They turned around together and strode to the door.


    any


    You are putting them to another fight,” J whispered into Balvina’s ears.


    “Yes. And the Mona Estate Vineyard is hundreds of miles away. A round trip will at least take them


    2-3 days. That will buy you some peaceful time,” Balvina said, looking rather proud of her idea.


    J chuckled.


    “You are amazing,” she said. “But let me talk to Westin for just a second…”


    She jumped off the lounge chair and rushed out.


    “Westin!”


    She caught up with him at the end of the hallway.


    He turned around with that charming smile on his lips.


    “What is the matter?” he asked, “Do you want toe with me to the vineyard?”


    “No, I just want to ask you.. After we mate, can we stay at the Blood Moon Pack-”


    “No,” he said without hesitation.


    J was stunned.


    …That was it?


    No?


    There seemed to be no room for discussion.


    “Can we talk? Maybe we can have a middle ground…”


    “There is no middle ground because you areing back to the Lycan’snd with me.”


    Westin smiled, as charismatic as ever.


    But there was a cold gleam deep into his eyes.


    “Plus, when we are mated, I don’t want to give you the chance to sneak around with Daran


    anymore,” he said lightly.


    “What the hell are you talking about-


    “That was you and Daran by the swing the other night, right? Hanging out with him after you said


    goodnight to me-


    He chuckled, icily.


    “-I am hurt, J.”