Chapter 01: Do You Love Me?

Chapter 01: Do You Love Me?

I can’t remember how many days have passed. But I can clearly remember how I came to this place and ended up loving the man I knew I couldn’t keep. I held onto the wall, watching him standing next to her. He was carefully placing a ring on her finger.

“Let’s raise our glasses to celebrate this wonderful couple, Reagan and Giselle. May your engagement be the beginning of a lifetime filled with love, laughter, and countless beautiful memories. Congratulations!”

Tears escaped from my eyes as I felt the unending pain surge within my soul. It’s too painful to see the person you love being with someone else. Giselle, you must be happy now. I closed my eyes, wiping the tears away from my cheeks.

Everyone seemed so happy about their engagement. Just who am I to go against them? I looked down, trying to hold my sob. I am no one. I don’t know my identity or even my true name. A few months ago, I was brought here by the man they called the king. King Reagan Maximilian Valor, the tyrant king of the Lycan Kingdom.

And he… he was unexpectedly my mate. I don’t want to hope too much, but since the day he came to the auction hall. I never knew I would be greedy. I want his love. I want his attention. I want everything he could give me.

That dream is impossible to have. He was my mate; I should sit next to him and become the queen of this kingdom, but my fate is different. I’m here to be his breeder. My sole duty is to give him an heir.

I bit my bottom lips as I laughed bitterly. With one last glance, I slowly turned my back on them. Starting to accept the truth and forcing myself to forget my feeling for him.

They were standing in front of everyone with a smile on their faces. How could he smile like that? How could he never think about considering my feelings. After everything we’ve been through, in the end, he will always choose her.

While walking back to my room, I chuckled. “How foolish of me. I sneaked out of my room to see his engagement party,” I murmured, crying while sobbing hard. I could barely see my way. I knew I might look weird now, but I didn’t care.

My heart aches. I was so upset with him, with everything. How could he be with her while I was pregnant with his child? I wipe my eyes and stop walking.

I looked at the painting beside me. It was a large portrait of Reagan and Giselle. Then, realization hits me. They have known each other since they were young. They were destined to marry each other, like everyone said.

That mere fact is enough to hurt me. I’m nothing against her, even if I’m his mate. “Why can’t you be mine alone? Why?” I whispered painfully. I wanted to give up now, but I couldn’t. I need to fight for my child.

I was about to continue walking, but I heard someone call my name. “Selina…” I was frozen on the spot. Even if I couldn’t see him, I knew it was him. What is he doing here? I closed my fist tightly. Looked straight, but not looking back.

“Selina…” he said again. His voice is sad, almost pleading with me to look at him. It was painful to see him promising marriage to another woman. I couldn’t help but think that should be me.

If he truly loves me, why did he need to be with Giselle? Why not just me? I wanted to ask him that, but I couldn’t. I was afraid to hear his answer. “Please, look at me.” I closed my eyes tightly and started to walk away.

I’m afraid his words will hurt me more than anything else now. Before I could even move, I felt his arm on my waist, pulling me closer. The hallway is cold, but nothing is colder than my heart now. the weight of the sadness in my heart crushes the whole me.

“Don’t leave me,” his trembling voice echoed in my ears. But it didn’t give me the reason to open my mouth. I refuse to ask anything now. “I know I hurt you. But please, don’t leave me alone, Selina.” I gritted my teeth and removed his hand from my waist.

“If you couldn’t let me leave. Why do you need to marry her?” I said firmly, holding anger to every word I said. he was slightly stunned, unable to talk. Maybe he didn’t expect me to ask that. I always kept my silence about his relationship with Giselle. But their engagement is too much for me.

“You can’t answer that, don’t you?” he closed his eyes tightly. “You know—” I cut him off. “Don’t I deserve to know the reason why you needed to marry Giselle?” I repeated. I looked straight into his eyes. He looked down, unable to meet my eyes.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

I stared at him and then slowly nodded. Right. I wouldn’t understand him. “You’re right. I will never understand you because you’re not telling me anything—” I didn’t get the chance to say what I wanted to say because he claimed my lips, stopping me from talking more.

I bite his lips, causing him to release mine. I feel disgusted. How could he kiss me after being with Giselle and neglecting me for weeks? He didn’t even ask me about their engagement. He saw me as nothing but his breeder.

I closed my eyes tightly. Oh, I’m begging him. Why can’t he just let me go? “Look at me,” he demanded with his cold yet rough voice. I didn’t flinch. “I said, look at me, Selina,” he repeated, holding my cheeks. He made me face him.

As I opened my eyes, the first I saw was his bleeding lips. I tried to avoid his gaze, but he did not let me. “I can’t tell you everything, but I needed you to trust me.” I hate the way I wanted to believe him. How could I trust him so blindly?

“I’m pregnant with your child, Reagan. I want to be with you and have a complete family. I want us to raise our child together.” Is that a hard request? He looked away. I knew it. He can’t do that. I remove his hand from my cheeks.

I wiped my tears and chuckled dryly. “I understand it now. You don’t need to explain more,” I said and turned my back on him.

“Selina,” he murmured, holding my wrist to stop me from walking away. “I want to tell you everything, but I’m afraid. So, please, trust me.” I shook my head and removed his hand on my wrist.

“Go back. They were waiting for you. Your fiancé is waiting for you,” my voice cracked. I saw him shook his head, “No.”

“What no? You need to go back.” “Selina,” he warned. What now? He’s giving me warning. He’s always like that when he can’t get something he want.

“Tell me you love me,” he said firmly, still not letting me go. I do love him, but it’s too painful to love him. I didn’t answer. Instead, I face him. “Go back,” I repeated calmly. I’m trying my best not to yell at him now. He shook his head.

“No. I don’t want to leave you here.” I close my eyes tightly. “Please don’t make everything hard for me, Reagan.” I bit my lips. My body is shaking in mixed emotions. I could barely think straight now.

He froze like he had realized something. “You’re planning escape again, aren’t you?” What? How could he say that now? He grabbed my hand tightly and pulled me closer.

“You can’t leave me, Selina. Not in this lifetime,” he said firmly. I tried to push him away, but he once again claimed my lips. His kisses were painful, and I couldn’t breathe well. “Ummm… rea- Reagan!”

“You’re carrying my child. Do you know what that means? You’ll stay with me forever!” he growled, starting to kiss my neck. He can’t do this to me. I held onto his neck when he lifted me, pushing me against the wall.

I groaned because of the impact. “You belong to me, Selina. Only I can touch you like this.” He pressed his body against mine. Planting soft kisses on my jaw, down to my neck. His breath feels so hot, making my knees tremble.

“Please… Ah,” I can’t stop myself from moaning. He stopped kissing my jaw and looked at me with his dark and intimidating eyes. “I kill everyone who dares to take you away from me.” His voice was dead serious. I couldn’t help but shiver in fear.

I know he can do that. But killing everyone who dared to take me away from him is madness. He’s obsessed with me. I shook my head, “No, you can’t do that.”

He looked at me, grinning. “Try me then?” I gritted my teeth. He touches my lips with his thumb sensually, looking straight into my eyes. “You don’t have any choice, Selina. You are destined to be with me forever.” After he said that, he started kissing my lips, owning my body over and over again.

“I love you.” I don’t know if I’m hallucinating or what. But hearing him say he loves me hurt me more than anything else. It is painfully hard to believe. How could he choose to marry Giselle even though he knew I was pregnant and wanted to be with him?