The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate-Chapter 188: Exceptional woman by your side

Leon and Nina stood silently as the carriage rolled away, carrying her father back to his estate. Once it disappeared from view, they turned and walked side by side through the palace gates.

"I still can’t believe you managed to convince my father," Nina said, glancing at Leon with a hint of disbelief. "He was so determined to take me back."

Leon chuckled softly, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Well, you were the one who grabbed my hand first. I couldn’t just let go halfway through."

Nina’s expression softened. "How are you feeling?" she asked gently. "All of this... it must have been overwhelming."

The smile faded slowly from Leon’s face. He looked ahead with a distant gaze. "It wasn’t easy," he admitted. "But I’m not as upset as I thought I’d be. Maybe because I had already prepared myself. Deep down, I always knew Phillipe and Loretta only kept me around to serve their own interests. They were never truly family."

Nina nodded quietly, then hesitated before asking, "And Aria? She always spoke fondly of you, praised you, even. She seemed genuinely happy to have you as her brother. Don’t you think she deserves to be free? I’m sure Zenna would agree."

"I’ve made arrangements for Aria to be kept in a separate cell," Leon replied calmly. "Until Zenna makes her decision, I can’t release her. I need to be sure of her intentions."

Nina let out a hum of understanding. "I hope she decides soon," she murmured. After a pause, she said carefully, "I heard your uncle was here... I mean, Aziel. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—"

"It’s alright," Leon interrupted gently. "Aziel came because I asked him to. I wanted to know the truth about my origins."

He exhaled, his voice dipping slightly. "I come from a pack called the Golden Lunar Pack. According to Aziel, internal conflicts destroyed it from within, and the chaos left it vulnerable to rogue attacks. I was the only one who survived."

Nina’s heart ached at the sorrow in his tone. "That’s... truly heartbreaking," she said softly.

"It is," Leon whispered.

There was a pause before Nina added, "Maybe this was destiny. Maybe everything that’s happened... led you to where you were meant to be."

"You mean I was meant for this kind of life?" Leon asked, arching a brow, his tone laced with a mix of sarcasm and curiosity.

Nina beamed at him. "You were destined to meet me," she replied with playful confidence. "Consider yourself incredibly lucky to have such a wise and exceptional woman by your side." Her voice danced between pride and teasing, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

Leon slowed his steps, then reached out to gently grasp her wrist, bringing her to a halt.

Nina blinked, surprised. "What? Did I say something wrong?" she asked, turning to face him.

"No," Leon refused. Then, without warning, he tugged her closer. She gasped softly, her hands instinctively landing on his chest.

Before she could process what was happening, Leon leaned in and captured her lips with his. Nina forgot to blink and the world seemed to pause.

"Kiss me," Leon whispered, looking into her eyes. "What’s holding you back?"

He noticed how her cheeks flushed red and a chuckle escaped his mouth. Leon’s thumb trailed her lips and he whispered, "Next time, you should kiss me back. It’s no fun if I’m the only who kiss you."

~~~~

"Aster!" Gregor exclaimed, startled at the sight of her in his room. He had just stepped out of the washroom, water still clinging to his skin, a towel loosely wrapped around his waist. "I—I was out for work," he stammered, clearly not expecting a visitor, let alone her.

Aster tilted her head, eyeing him with a playful glint in her eyes. "I didn’t know you were hiding such a hot body," she said teasingly, walking toward him.

Gregor blinked, half-expecting her to look away or burst into laughter, but of course, Aster was never one to act like other women. She was confident, unapologetic, and always two steps ahead.

Instead, it was he, who found himself flustered. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks, and despite himself, a sheepish smile tugged at his lips.

Before Gregor could utter a word, Aster closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her gaze was intense, her eyes locking with his as she spoke in a low, almost sultry tone. "I’m so excited for our wedding. Are you?"

"Yes, I am," Gregor replied, his voice soft but sincere. In a playful gesture, he brushed his nose against hers, the warmth of the moment lingering between them. With a gentle pull, his hands circled her waist, lifting her effortlessly off the ground.

She laughed softly, the sound like music in his ears. "Now you can feel my hot body up close," Gregor teased with a mischievous smile.

Aster, ever bold, responded by wrapping her legs around his torso, her body pressed flush against his. The closeness of their bodies only deepened the heat between them.

"Yes, I can," Aster whispered, her hands resting gently on his shoulders as she leaned in closer. She tilted her head slightly, her lips brushing lightly against his in a teasing motion. "With the soap fragrance, your natural scent has increased manifold," she murmured, her words a soft, tantalizing whisper before her lips captured his in a kiss.

Gregor’s heart raced as he responded, his kiss deepening as he pulled her closer. After a moment, he slowly pulled back.

With a smile, he carefully shifted his steps, guiding her with him toward the nearby recliner. He lowered them both slowly, settling into it, and he pressed his lips on hers.

Aster had straddled him, kissing him back with equal passion. Her hands trailed down to his chest, feeling the beat of his heart and she pulled away again. She cradled his neck and peppered kisses there, making Gregor groan as the pleasure started building in his body, turning him hard.