CRYSTAL'S POV "Dinner?!" I squealed with widened eyes. "T-together with you?" I sputtered with my hands flailing frantically.He nodded."Yes. C'mon, let's go. I'm famished." He urged, cocking his head towards the door.I hesitated as I tried to calm my ragged breathing. I found it surprising that Xavier would suddenly ask me to go for dinner with him! I thought I would find him so pissed off that I left without a word but surprisingly, he wasn't at all and now, he was asking me for dinner?Was this a dream?! How was this possible? Or was there something I should be aware of? I sucked in several deep breaths and gingerly rose to my feet, my brows were pinched together in confusion. Reading the expression on my face, he said after a chuckle."Oh, you thought we were going on a romantic dinner together, just the two of us?" He ribbed with a sly smile forming at the corner of my lips. I pulled my lips between my teeth as heat instantly rushed to my cheeks. I nodded shyly, tugging
CRYSTAL'S POV What did she just say? Did she just call me a filth in front of everyone?Oh my God! I was so embarrassed to look at their faces. I bit my bottom lip and forcibly swallowed the tender fish that I was chewing down my throat, almost choking on it.I hastily reached for the glass of water on the table and gulped its contents down my throat.Alpha Xavier didn't even say a word in defence. He kept chewing on his food with precision.I was too stunned to speak as I gaped my mouth open slightly."I don't think I want to be here, seeing that the slave girl has probably touched the food!" Luna Racaheal vented with so much aggression scrunching up in her brows as she pointed at me.Honestly, what did I ever do to that woman that made her loathe me so much? It wasn't my fault that I was claimed by Xavier to become his mate. He chose me as his mate.Leo's gaze was shrewd and assessing as they bored through mine.I lowered my gaze to my clasped hands. I clutched my hands together s
CRYSTAL'S POVNice dress, by the way, Crystal." Leo said, suddenly, startling me.What the fuck was he thinking, saying that to me?!I sucked in several deep shuddering breaths to calm my rattling nerves.What do I say in return? The way Xavier stopped chewing and was staring at me, waiting for my response, was making me uneasy.I shifted relentlessly with my breath hitched in my throat. I tried to speak, but I was at loss for words. What do I even say to that? A thank you? It might only enrage Xavier since he had instructed me not to say a word.I gulped and averting my gaze from Leo, I nodded again towards Xavier's direction, acknowledging his permission to release me and then I scurried away without looking back to see the expression on Leo's face. I didn't want to see it. That man has gone bullocks! I wondered what came over him all of a sudden. Why does he suddenly want me back after abusing me earlier? Was I a game just to get back at his brother, Xavier?I heaved out a deep sig
XAVIER'S POVI watched her leave the dining room in a rush, knowing damn well it wasn't a bathroom break. She was so uncomfortable throughout the dinner and as much as I hated to admit, I felt a twinge of guilt wounding its way into my stomach.It was as if she was inside a bubble and was floating around aimlessly alone. I wanted to reach out so badly and hold her hands, pulling her into the fold.But I had to keep up with my usual demeanour, especially in front of Leo and Luna Rachael. I didn't want them to have anything against me.The fear in her eyes as she poked absentmindedly at the vegetables, made something flutter in my heart that I couldn't put into words.Why does my heart move towards her, as if her gentle, clueless presence was pulling me, attracting me to her like a magnet?It was insane. She has been drifting into my thoughts lately and I couldn't control it.Shit! The rules were simple: No love, no strings attached to avoid complications. And now I was the one brea
XAVIER'S POV"What the hell are you doing here?!" I hissed with annoyance wrinkling at my brows.She shot me a lewd smile and drew closer."Why can't I be here? I came to get some air too. It's been quite a day." She puffed out a deep sigh as she rested her arm on the railings.I huffed out an exasperated groan. "Alicia...what if Leo catches you here? He's your boyfriend now. You should spend more time with him, not me."She scoffed, rolling her eyes."His name brings me disgust. Will you just forget about your brother while we are together? I'm here with you, Xavier, not with him. Stop ruining the moment with the same old story."I arched my brows at her."Same old story? You're not in love with my brother, are you?"Her brows pinched together in disgust as she shook her head aggressively."Of course not! Why would I be?""Then why did you end things with me, Alicia?" I quizzed, fixing her a suspicious stare.She looked away and gazed at the moon. A tight-lipped smile graced her red
CRYSTAL'S POV I had been waiting for Xavier all night that I didn't know when I slept off.Waking up, I felt groggy and tired and super famished. That's right, yesterday at the Royal dining room was a total disaster. I was derided by Luna Rachael for no obvious reason, and I had used a bathroom break as an excuse. Xavier had instructed that I wait for him in the inner chambers. I had waited all night but he didn't return so I fell asleep.I turned on the other side of the bed to see if he was still asleep, but to my surprise, he wasn't even in bed.I glanced at the wall clock and the time read, 9:10 am. It was still early in the morning, and he wasn't even in bed.Maybe he was in the shower or perhaps went for one of his usual so-called walks. He probably went off to see Alicia again.My heart fluttered in annoyance.Well, whatever. It wasn't like it was any of my business anyway.I yawned and stretched. What I should be concerned about right now was what I was going to eat.As if
CRYSTAL'S POVI yelped in shock as the booming voice from the door startled us.I gasped in astonishment to see Xavier's huge frame filling the entrance of the door.That wasn't the only reason I was shocked. My eyes dipped lower as my jaw gaped wide open like a fish on a hook to see the beautiful banquet of flowers he was holding on his left hand. Flowers?!! For me? Was he really serious right now? What the hell was going on here? Was there some sort of contest going on because why on earth did the Fernández brothers both come to give me an expensive looking banquet of flowers? Or perhaps it wasn't meant for me but for Alicia? Don't be lame, Crystal, the look of puzzlement in his eyes said otherwise. It was most definitely for you!Hold on! Someone, please wake me up .This had better be a dream!! I'm screaming mentally right now and flapping my hands like a bird! Xavier just got me flowers???!!! What for?!But this wasn't the time to get excited. We have far more important things
LEO'S POV"Fuck!" I grunted in pain as I held my side. It hurts like hell and my neck was burning with pain as well. I was in so much discomfort that a guard ran towards me to give me a hand."Alpha Leo! What happened to you? Was there an attack? I will send for-"I waved him off and smiled weakly."It's alright, Austin." Austin was my personal guard . He was always stationed at my chambers.He nodded but his brows were still pinched together in concern. He supported his arm around my back as we staggered to my chambers.I was limping in pain and I couldn't breathe properly because of the scorching pain searing in my chest.Damn Xavier! I would never forgive him for this! He ruined my one perfect chance to reclaim Crystal Thorne, my mate whom I had once rejected. And on top of that, he had disgraced me in front of her. The way he easily beat the hell out of me made me cower in embarrassment as I fumbled out of the inner chambers. Shit! Now, all thanks to Xavier my stupid brother, C