My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 93: Jealous Affliction

Violet

"Two weeks total," Turin answered, signifying the number using his fingers. "Participants hunt as many Righgs are they can in the first week. Have to keep the creatures’ hearts in a secure location, and then pack them all into their sacks at the end of the week to bring back. And the second week is a celebration."

"Won’t some wolves lose their lives?" I managed to ask even though my voice sounded distant to my ears.

I had heard a bit about this event from Ana earlier.

Darnel shrugged, clearly amused. "Well, yes. Many tend to. The Righgs are vicious creatures after all."

The glee in Darnel’s voice momentarily shook me from my stupor.

Turin just added, his voice taking on a note of pride. "Ignore Darnel. Their deaths are celebrated. Not mourned. It is a great honour to die fighting to protect the territory and help in thinning out the Righg population. Many find it an honour."

Turin kept talking about the event in great detail and the full weight of what the hunt actually entailed settled over me. It wasn’t just a competition or a political event, but a brutal situation where wolves risked their lives hunting creatures dangerous enough to kill even trained warriors. And wolves were also pitted against each other, to the extent death was expected. Even honoured.

But for some strange reason, a sudden, intrusive thought slipped into my mind.

Would the wolves respect me if I joined the hunt? Maybe I would finally be accepted as someone worthy of standing beside Kael if I came out victorious. I could fully use my ability in that situation.

The thought horrified me as soon as it formed.

Was I really considering risking my life just to prove something to wolves who would probably never accept me anyway?

Especially these idiots who didn’t even like Omegas in the first place?

All just to compete with a woman who apparently had history with Kael. Who was "smart and attentive," and would "make a good Luna"?

My bad mood, which had momentarily lifted during the conversation about the hunt, came crashing back with renewed force.

I felt disgusted at myself for even entertaining the idea.

Then again, I could still see Karla’s face in my mind. That fond look. The casual way she had touched Kael’s arm. How he hadn’t even bothered to pull away. He didn’t even frown at her.

"I need to go," I said abruptly.

Turin blinked. "Ah... Yes, of course. Do you need help with any—"

"I’m fine," I interrupted, already turning away as I came up with an excuse. "I... I at least want to be in the building before he notices I am outside."

I didn’t wait for their responses, and I most certainly did not want to see the curious looks I was certain they would be exchanging. I just walked away, rushing back toward the castle entrance, my heart hammering against my ribs.

The courtyard felt too open and exposed. My feet carried me toward the castle entrance almost without conscious thought. Part of me wanted to follow the path they had taken, to see where they’d gone, what they were discussing. To confirm or deny the terrible scenarios playing out in my mind.

’Stop it. Stop it!’

’Don’t be ridiculous. They’re just discussing serious matters.’

I still kept walking, drawn forward by something I couldn’t name.

The castle’s entry hall was less crowded than before, but I barely noticed the wolves I passed. My focus had narrowed to a single point, finding Kael.

I soon snapped out of my stupor, finding myself in an unfamiliar hallway. I stopped, and immediately felt so embarrassed. I had been following the trace of Kael throughout till now.

’This is so foolish.’

What am I even doing?

Following Kael like some obsessed fool who couldn’t control herself.

I turned around sharply, deciding to head back before I embarrassed myself further. Even before Kael returned to find me. He would surely have sensed me, if not her. I especially didn’t want someone catching me wandering aimlessly through the castle, tracking the Supreme Alpha like some lost pup.

The thought made my stomach churn with shame.

I needed to go clear my head.

Trying to retrace my steps through the hallways, I surprisingly found myself back on a familiar route. I then left the castle to distract myself.

The capital’s streets were still busy when I emerged from the courtyard, and I walked without direction, letting my feet carry me where they would. I tried to focus on the city around me rather than the gnawing feeling in my chest.

I passed shops displaying intricate metalwork, their windows gleaming in the afternoon light. Several eateries filled the air with aromatic scents, reminding me of the meal I had eaten this morning. The food he had left for me. Along with the card.

’"She’d make a good Luna."’

I shook my head, trying to dislodge the memory of Turin’s words, but they clung stubbornly.

I wandered for hours, watching the city transform as afternoon shifted toward evening. At some point I had wanted to get a meal to eat, but realised too late I didn’t have any money. To my shock, the vendor had insisted on handing me the food for free... most likely because he had seen the card with me.

The crystalline lights embedded throughout the capital started to glow brighter, casting everything in an ethereal light as night slowly crept in.

By the time I finally made my way back toward the castle, the moon had risen, and the castle was busier than it had been during the day.

I especially felt a lot better. Since I realised how silly my reaction was.

I made my way back to Kael’s quarters with heavy steps. I had sensed he was in here before I had even walked in. Hopefully he was in his room and I would just slip into mine and pretend this entire day hadn’t happened.

He was right there in the entry hall, standing in front of one of the chairs, tension visible in every part of his body as his eyes found mine immediately.

"Where have you been?"