Chapter 214: He Should Have Sent Her Away... He Didn’t
Brooklyn raised a brow as Elara’s laugh echoed in her mind again. She knew that laugh all too well. Elara only laughed like that when some unfortunate wolf was about to learn a lesson they would never forget.
Feeling a little lighter than before, Brooklyn turned and headed back to the bedchamber.
Ken was still resting. She slipped onto the bed beside him and curled against his side, wrapping her arms around him.
By the time they woke, it was already six in the moonfall.
Dinner time.
Ken laced his fingers through hers as they walked downstairs together.
Halfway down, Arianna came running toward them, a bright smile on her face.
Neither of them slowed down.
"Ken, my father wants to talk to you."
She held out her device.
Ken glanced at it. One hand remained in his pocket while the other stayed wrapped around Lyn’s.
"Put it on speaker," he said.
Brooklyn flicked her eyes toward him.
Arianna’s smile widened.
"Sure."
She tapped the screen and activated the speaker.
"Moonfall, Sir," Ken said.
"Ken, how are you?" a male voice asked through the device.
"I’m fine, Father."
"I just got off a call with your father. I explained why I couldn’t attend your sibling’s mating."
Ken’s tone eased.
"You didn’t have to stress yourself over that, but I understand why you did."
"I’m glad everything went well," the voice continued. "Ken, Arianna told me she’d like to spend some time with you and your mate. I just want to make sure you’re comfortable with that. Are you?"
Ken’s gaze drifted to Arianna.
She stood there smiling at him.
He looked away.
"Ken, are you comfortable with her staying with you for a while?" the voice asked again.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"Good. Thank you for accommodating her despite everything that happened between you two."
"Father, I didn’t do anything to him," Arianna cut in.
Before Ken could respond, she took the device from his hand and started toward the living chamber, still arguing her case.
Ken and Brooklyn continued toward the feeding chamber instead.
"My heart, I’m sorry," Ken said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
Brooklyn squeezed his hand back.
She wasn’t upset with him.
Emma would have done the same thing.
The two of them shared that habit of saying yes first and dealing with the consequences later.
"When is she leaving?" Brooklyn asked.
Ken rubbed the back of his neck.
"I don’t know. I..."
"Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of her. Everything will be fine."
A small smile tugged at her lips as Elara’s words echoed in her head.
"My heart, are you sure?" Ken asked, watching her closely.
"Yes."
"You’re not planning anything that’ll get us into trouble, are you?" Ken asked.
She smiled and gave his arm a light pat. "No. Not at all. Just relax, okay?"
She lifted the lid from the food in front of them and began serving herself.
A moment later, Ken’s eyes flicked toward the entrance.
Footsteps.
Brooklyn didn’t bother looking up. She already knew who it was.
Ken lowered his gaze and continued eating.
A chair scraped against the floor.
Arianna pulled it out and started to sit.
Brooklyn glanced up.
The fork slipped from her hand and clattered onto the table.
Her eyes widened.
"Button up the damn shirt!" she snapped.
Arianna blinked.
Brooklyn turned to Ken and lifted both hands slightly before letting them fall back to the table.
"Come on. He’s seen me naked a million times." Arianna flicked her hand and dropped into a chair.
Brooklyn looked at Ken, waiting for him to say something. He kept eating.
She turned back to Arianna.
"Well, I’ve never seen you naked, and I don’t want to. Button up!"
Arianna didn’t even glance up. She scooped another spoonful into her mouth.
Ken shoved his chair back and walked out of the feeding chamber.
Brooklyn watched him go. His plate was still half full.
She rose from her seat and faced Arianna.
Arianna smirked.
"He loves my sexy body. Couldn’t keep his hands off me back then." She took another bite. "Guess the memories we shared on this feeding table got too hot for him. That’s why he ran."
Brooklyn’s fingers curled at her sides.
She felt like hitting the soup bowl on her head. However, her father and his relationship with the high fang made her rethink.
She swallowed her anger and stood still.
"She’s just Lunara Greens," Brooklyn thought, looking her up and down.
"What do you want from my mate, Arianna Grant?" She asked.
Arianna leaned back in her chair.
"Thanks for asking." She smiled. "What I want is simple. I want him. You can go back to wherever he found you. Just leave, please."
"You know we’re mates, right?" Lyn said.
She rolled her eyes.
"Who cares about a matebond? I hate that nonsense. I’d never choose it."
"Then let the people who do care enjoy theirs."
She laughed.
"You talk like I’m holding him hostage. Am I?"
Lyn stared at her.
"What planet are you from? Everybody knows how a matebond works except you."
"All I know is he was good to me, and I want him back. I love how he fucks me. It’s the sweetest feeling."
"Then why did you cheat on him?"
"We cheated," Arianna shot back.
"No, you cheated."
Brooklyn gave a short, mocking snort. "Let’s not pretend it was the same thing."
"I don’t care what story he told you." She waved a hand. It’s my pųssy and I decide who fųcks it," she laughed again. "My life, my choices."
"You’re sick."
Arianna’s smile faded.
"And you’re not? He was already seeing you while we were still together."
"No." Lyn shook her head. "He’d already broken up with you before he proposed to me."
Arianna’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t look away.
Lyn held her gaze.
"There’s no such thing as breaking up," she said, chin lifting as she leaned back. "We’re never breaking up. He’s mine. Always."
She smiled faintly, letting her hand fall at her side.
"My presence doesn’t affect the matebond," she added, voice soft but sharp. "Unless the two of you decide to ruin it yourselves."
Brooklyn pushed her chair back and stood. Her fork clinked against the plate as she dropped it.
"You know exactly what you’re doing," Brooklyn said, a short laugh escaping her as she straightened. "Using your father’s influence like it’ll save you. Let’s see how far that takes you when you try to destroy his matebond."
"I’ve already done it," she said simply.
Brooklyn paused, eyes narrowing.
A quiet laugh slipped from her before she turned away.
She walked out toward the cookhouse.
Inside, Vireya was wiping down the counters, stacking things neatly.
"Vireya," she said, stopping at the doorway. "Make another dinner for my mate."
"Alright," she said, setting the cloth down on the counter.
She turned back to the gas stove and started preparing another meal.
Brooklyn left the cookhouse and made her way to Ken’s executive lounge.
The door shut softly behind her. No one else had access to it except the two of them.
She crossed the lounge and settled beside him.
He didn’t look up at first. His body shifted slightly, closing the distance as he pulled her into his space.
"I’m sorry. Give me a few days. I’ll get her out of here."
"She only has one reason for being here," she said quietly.
"I know," Ken replied.
"She told you?"
Ken let out a short breath. "She doesn’t need to. She moves like some wolf who enjoys hurting people."
Silence hung between them for a moment.
"Do you still love her?" she asked.
His jaw tightened, then relaxed. "No. I never did. Her father and Ashley wanted the match, but she was never... right for me. She does whatever she wants, no matter who gets hurt."
He leaned back slightly, eyes fixed ahead. "I just want her out of my life without tearing apart her father’s relationship with Ashley."
"I told you I’ll handle it," Lyn said.
His gaze shifted to her. "You can? I thought you were joking."
Brooklyn grinned. "Now you know I wasn’t kidding."
A small silence passed between them.
"Thank you," he said, and pulled her closer.
His hand lingered at her waist, thumb brushing once before he spoke again. "Let’s go out. Do something tonight."
A faint smile touched his face.
She shook her head. "I already told Vireya to cook."
His shoulders eased as he leaned back into the chair, the tension leaving him in slow waves.
A few minutes later, Vireya called them to the feeding chamber. They got up and followed her. Arianna had already slipped out earlier—probably back in the living chamber, waiting for trouble.
Ken ate in silence, finishing every bite. He pushed the empty plate aside.
"Thanks for the food. I would’ve starved till moonrise."
"I know you were hungry," Brooklyn said, watching him.
After a short rest, they both headed back to their chamber.
The moment they stepped inside, Ken stopped.
Arianna was on the bed, unclad.
Ken’s jaw tightened. "Arianna... get out. Are you insane?"
Brooklyn gave a slow clap, the sound sharp in the chamber. Her eyes stayed locked on Arianna.
"So your madness just leveled up, Arianna Grant?"
She barely moved. "But this is where he usually enjoys my..."
Ken didn’t let her finish.
"If I walk back in and you’re still here," his voice dropped, "you won’t like what happens next."
A sharp curse slipped out as he turned on his heel—
and stopped at the doorway.
The silence behind him stretched.
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