The Lycan king-Chapter 128

"It’s okay. It’s small stuff." He said as I pulled him closer to me. We stood underneath the water just looking at each other. "You look so beautiful." He brushed my hair off my shoulders. "I’m so happy that you never gave up on me."

"Because I love you Jax and I can see you. I know you’re a good guy and Xander is lucky to have you as a dad." I complimented him and he kissed my forehead. "Can we spend the night together without Xander? I know it’s weird but I just want it to be us for a moment."

*Leonora*

The rolled around and stretched in my bed. I opened my eyes and was met with Jax watching me. I frowned a little. This was now the second time he was doing this. It weirded me out.

"Good morning." I said to him as I looked around the room. I noticed our bags and Xander’s bag in the corner of the room. I didn’t remember us bringing them here yesterday.

"Good morning Leonora." Something was off. The way he sounded was like he was tired and annoyed. Had I done something to him? I didn’t want to think that I had.

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked and he shook his head and turned over to the wall, hiking the duvet over his head. I moved closer to him and wrapped a hand around him but I felt him flinch before he settled. "Please talk to me."

"I haven’t slept. You were having a nightmare again and you kept calling for Xander. It took me a really long time to make you calm down." Jax muttered and I retracted my hand like he had scorched me. "Cuddle me." He said and I reluctantly placed my hand around him. I felt awful. Was this how it was going to be every night? Was I going to keep hurting him?

He doesn’t deserve this.

"After your nap, we have to talk. I can’t keep bottling everything up." I said as I rested my head on his back. He hummed in agreement. As he drifted off, my mind swirled. I thought about everything leading up to this moment. Our past together.

We had both changed and I didn’t know if it was for the better. I was no longer that strong Leonora that could easily stand up to Jax. That part of me was almost nonexistent and Jax wasn’t as heartless as he was. Maybe that’s what love does.

It changes us into a different version of ourselves. A version that complimented the other’s. A version that we both needed from our partners.

But what if this version wasn’t what was right?

I was no longer the strong Leonora. I wasn’t the Leonora that could try to sneak out of the pack or talk back at Jax. I wasn’t the Leonora that was, in a way, intense. I now cried more and scurried in the face of danger. One encounter with Luke and I was like a dog with its tail between its legs, shaking.

This revelation made me realize I was now weak. How can I be weak when I had a baby? There was no way I was going to rely on Jax for protection. He had a pack that he was also protecting. This last incident made it obvious.

I needed to step up.

Even if it wasn’t for me but at least for Xander. He deserved better than this new version of me that cried for the slightest of things and got emotional over little things. I wasn’t going to let my emotions get in the way of me being a better wife, mother and queen.

After hours of thinking, Jax stirred in his sleep and turned around to face me. His eyes were partially opened and he still looked tired.

"Morning." He said and I gave him a small smile. "You said we needed to talk." He quickly said and I knew why he was still tired. He must have been thinking about the pending conversation and it must have made it hard for him to sleep off.

"Yes and I will tell you everything." I started and he fully opened his eyes. I began to narrate all that had happened to me, not sparing a single thing. Saying it out loud made me realize just how terrible, Claire and Luke were and I think Jax realized that too because his expression moved from pity to anger.

"How did I not notice all of this?" He asked himself and pondered on the question. My heart felt a lot freer. It was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. "At least it’s over now. I’m sorry that you went through all of that. Just know that it’s never going to happen again."

"I know." I said as he hugged me and moved closer to me. "We need to get Xander. I miss him so much."

"I know and I also know it’s not fair that we keep dropping him off with Beth but I miss us having our own time away from everything." He said and I agreed. Having a baby meant that our private time was cut down by half. "I think I can appoint someone to be Xander’s nanny. She will tend to Xander at all times while we have a bit of time to ourselves."

"No! I don’t want a stranger around my baby." I immediately said. The experience with Kale was enough for me to turn down the idea. Xander was Jax’s only heir. I wasn’t going to risk it. "I don’t think I can be comfortable with the thought of a random person taking care of him. That was how I got abducted in the first place."

"I had a nanny when I was a baby and I think it’s a good idea. At least you wouldn’t be stressed out and we can have more time to ourselves." Jax said as he kissed my neck. "I know this is not the right moment but I really can’t stop thinking about yesterday. I have missed you so much." He whispered in my ear. That was the sign that I needed.

I slid out of the bed and made my way over to the other apartment. I knocked on the door and it took a while for any answer. The door opened and I was met with a distraught looking Bethany. She had tear streaks on her cheeks and she was holding Xander, bouncing him and patting his back.

"Thank the goddess you’re here! Xander needs a diaper change. I already gave him a bottle." She said as she handed him over to me and slammed the door.

What was that?

Bethany*

I heard Leonora knocking on the door but I didn’t want to answer. How could I answer when I was a mess? I knew she was worried but this was my personal issue to face and she already had a lot on her plate.

"Nora, let’s talk later. I want to go back to bed." I said with a shaky voice. I couldn’t hide that I wasn’t feeling good. I heard her retreat over to her apartment as I sighed. I made my way over to the door where Devon was waiting for me.

"I swear, I didn’t cheat on you." I pleaded and I knelt in front of him. "How could I do that? I love you, Dev. We’ve been through so much together and I would never try to jeopardize what we have."

"I feel so stupid." He said as he buried his head in his hands. We had spent the whole night arguing about this and I hated this. We’ve never fought before. It had always been easy and being in this position sucked. "Jax offered me a position here and I turned it down because of you. I thought there was something serious between us-"

"There is!" I interrupted him. I held his hand and tried to pull them off his face but he wouldn’t budge. "Baby please. I swear I didn’t cheat on you. We had a thing and it was before I met you."

Devon dropped his hands and we just looked at each other. This was why I wanted us to take things slow. I was a lot more promiscuous than Devon was. Promiscuous wasn’t the right word.

"Why don’t you tell me about him?" He asked me and I wiped his eyes. I hated what was going on with us. After everything we had been through, was this going to be it?

He made me promise not to tell anyone after I found out he was cheating on his mate." I admitted. "We promised each other that we would always talk about things and we will never fight." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

He looked away. I could tell that he was thinking of his next course of action. Devon had always been a traditional type whereas I was the opposite. Yes, I wanted to settle down with my mate but I had always been openly seeing other people before we met.