The Love of a Lycan

"To guide the guardian angels." Serefina answered truthfully.

"I don't think they need your guidance," Jedrek said wryly. In the past, both of them rarely fought with each other, as they were on the same page for almost everything, but when they did it wouldn't turn out good.

The last fight they had was just before a moment Jedrek issued an order to attack the village of angels and Serefina disappeared for a few months afterward.

Serefina kept asking about what secret that Jedrek hid from her, just like that it was already a well known fact that the two could sense it when the other person was lying and the witch could clearly see that he was hiding something from her.

They had a big argument that day and Serefina couldn't stand it, so she left. Jedrek didn't chase after her, because he needed some time alone. A decision that he even regretted until to this day.

Some people said Serefina teleported to the village of angels and wreaked some havoc there to vent out her anger after all that place had been destroyed, being helpful to add more destruction to it.

However, Kace swore he didn't see her there. The fact was obscure at that point and no one could prove whether Serefina was there or not.

"Don't be so sure, you will not accept me staying here if you didn't think I couldn't be of any help." Serefina flicked her hair behind her shoulder.

Her habit and Jedrek was way too familiar with that. There was a part in his heart that felt relieved that there was still something from their old days, which remained unchanged.

"Lilac managed to beat you up." Jedrek pointed out to her injuries and Serefina laughed arrogantly.

"This is just a flea bite. You will be mate less by now, if I was serious in taking her down," Serefina sneered at him.

Jedrek let out a deep low growl when Serefina said that and he himself didn't realize that until he saw a painft look crossed her eyes. The witch was hurt by his reaction and Jedrek didn't mean it that way… it was his instinct.

"Don't touch her," Jedrek said it. He had an urgeto warn her, but it tore him when he saw how Serefina looked at him with mocking eyes.

The witch took the bottle and gulped it down and the bitterness eased her tense. It would be better if it tasted more bitter.

"Don't fret it, I will not touch your flower girl. You can rest assured." Serefina raised her hands. "She is your mate and in less than two weeks you will mark and mate with her. She will be your queen as she should be. And then what?" Serefina tipped the bottle and drank half of it. "You said you will choose me over your destined mate."

"I said it." Jedrek admitted.

"You know what? She came to me when the first day I was here and offered me her position as your mate. But I turned it down," Serefina was slightly tipsy now, but to her it was not enough to dull her pain.

What a coincidence, Lilac made the same offer to him as well, and he turned it down too. "It doesn't surprise me. You had thrown away the same thing I offered to you decades ago when you left the realm."

Jedrek walked closer to Serefina and took away the bottle from her.

"But, here you are… arranging things for the mating ceremony in my presence. Can't you wait until the war ended? Why are you in hurry to make her your queen? To flaunt her around in front of me?" Serefina gritted her teeth, as her attempt to not let her tears wet her cheeks.

Jedrek looked at Serefina in the eyes when he said truthfully. "So, I can get rid of you from my mind."

"Get rid of me?" the witch's voice was shaking with emotion and Jedrek felt like he wanted to hug her, giving her comfort, yet he didn't do anything except standing there. "So, I am still in you mind even now?"

"Yes," Jedrek admitted it and his beast roared in his head because he just betrayed his mate. However, how could he lie to Serefina? It was better to face it and get over it, right?

"So, this is the end of us?" Serefina wanted to make sure if there was nothing left for her.

"Yes," Jedrek's voice was hoarse.

And with that reply, tears started rolling down her cheeks, it felt hot and uncomfortable as she could feel her chest was tightening.

Serefina was not someone who would cry easily, therefore, Jedrek remembered very well what kind of an occasion could make her shed tears in the past.

And every time that happened, Jedrek would be there, just like now.

Yet, they were not in the past and were no longer the same, despite some of their habits, which didn't change, the situation didn't allow Jedrek to step forward and gather her in his arms like he used to.

"Good," Serefina tried to smile but failed.

"I will see you at the gates when Torak and Kace arrived." Jedrek excused himself. He didn't want to stay here even for a second longer than this. He wanted to find his mate and be sure that his decision was right.

"Jedrek, forgive me," Serefina said with her broken voice.

"For?" they had been through so much when they were together, hurting each other too, but in the end they would be happy in no time, resolving every matter and there was nothing left to be forgiven. Yet, apparently that wouldn't be the case anymore.

"For leaving you," Serefina replied.

"But, you will not give me the reason why you left?"

"No," Serefina said resolutely.

============== 

Jedrek looked for Lilac as soon as he was done talking with Serefina, but she was not in her chamber like he had told her and the guard didn't even see her stepping out of her room.

Thus, Jedrek followed his instinct that led him to his own chamber and there she was, sitting on a plush chair while trying to move her bandaged fingers.

"Where were you?" she asked when Jedrek entered the room.