Chapter 206: Chapter 206 Love Confession
Reginald’s POV
"Come, let me help you wash your hair," I said to Fiona, guiding her toward the water.
We’d discovered a stream close to the small settlement.
Since both my face and Allen’s were recognized by too many people, we couldn’t venture into the village.
For any supplies we required, we dispatched someone else to fetch them from the settlement. So we had to make do with this stream.
"Watch your step," I warned, leading Fiona down to the water’s edge and beginning to cleanse her. She remained silent.
Sometimes she’d gaze blankly into the distance, while other moments she’d be alert enough for conversation.
Yet Fiona frequently suffered mental collapses. She’d recall her brother and plead with me to return. She’d beg me to show her where I’d laid Draven to rest.
’We need to hold a proper funeral for him,’ she’d insist.
But naturally, we all understood that was impossible—not while we were on the run. Some also knew I’d abandoned Draven’s body without burial due to our desperate circumstances.
Fortunately, those people kept quiet.
"I feel awful," Fiona murmured, staring down at her hands while I washed her hair. "I’m nauseous..."
Fiona had been experiencing morning sickness, but the problem was... She frequently forgot about her pregnancy, and I couldn’t remind her since it would provoke a terrible reaction.
She’d remember the baby belonged to Allen and not me, which would send her into hysteria.
The real issue was that nobody knew the child wasn’t mine.
Everyone assumed Fiona carried my baby.
"It’s alright, my mother’s in the village. I’ve asked her to get something for you. You’ll feel better soon."
Fiona kept staring at her fingers. She was unclothed, but seemed indifferent to it. After I finished cleaning her, I brought her to the riverbank and dried her skin.
Then I helped her into fresh clothes.
"Reginald," Fiona whispered my name, watching me tie her shoelaces. She reached out and touched my cheek, making me pause.
"What is it?" I raised my head and met Fiona’s pallid face. The difficult pregnancy and her sorrow had devastated her.
"I love you, Reginald," Fiona said. "I love you and I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you."
For a moment, I couldn’t find words to respond, but Fiona continued her heartfelt confession.
"I love you. I’ve loved you since we were children. You might not have noticed. You might not care, or recall that we’d met before, but I always remembered you and always wanted you. Thank you for being my mate. Thank you for standing by me. Thank you for everything you’ve endured because of me."
I frowned, feeling an uncomfortable sensation deep in my chest. My throat went dry and my chest tightened hearing Fiona’s words.
No one had ever declared their love for me like this.
Not even my mother had thanked me for my sacrifices.
"I love you, Reginald. Thank you for being my mate. I’m happy." Fiona leaned forward, resting her head against my chest and wrapping her arms around me.
I hesitated before embracing her back. I stroked her hair as she nestled against me.
A complex emotion stirred within me, but I didn’t want to dwell on it.
"Let’s head back. The other warriors and my mother should have returned from the village. Let’s see if she found something useful for your illness."
I gently pushed Fiona away and stood up, taking her hand as we walked toward the other warriors.
Allen had been waiting for us, and Fiona pressed closer to me, flinching whenever she saw him.
But that wasn’t my primary concern, because right now there was a disturbance among the other warriors.
"Look who your mother brought back!" Allen snapped, appearing furious but keeping his voice low so others wouldn’t overhear.
"Who?" I quickened my pace and Fiona had to trot beside me.
Someone was here. I inhaled and immediately recognized the scent before I could see her. She was causing the commotion.
"You shouldn’t have brought her back. We don’t know her," one of the Crimson Fang pack warriors objected.
"She’s my daughter!" Tiara shrieked at him.
"Oh, I know her. She’s your runaway daughter, correct?"
The other warriors joined in.
"Viola?" Alpha Sterling approached as well.
He’d been unusually quiet since our last failed attempt to overthrow the king. He’d retreated into the background, to the point where I barely noticed him anymore.
"Viola? Is that truly you?" Alpha Sterling hurried forward, and when he got close enough, he raised his hand and struck Viola hard across the face. She staggered backward.
I was shocked and stopped approaching, while Fiona flinched as if she’d been the one slapped.
"Because of you! Because of you Kevin became what he is! You abandoned him for another man! And now you dare show your face here?!" Alpha Sterling looked down and saw that Viola was heavily pregnant. "And now you’re carrying that man’s child?!"
"Stop it! Stop it!" Tiara shoved Alpha Sterling aside and screamed at me for help. "Reginald! Do something!"
But I sensed something was wrong...
