Chapter 288: Don’t see me any differently
"May I help?" Roxanne asked as she walked over to her sister, who was busy stirring something in a steaming pot.
"Ah, I’ve got it. You don’t need to worry," Mila replied with a gentle smile, never slowing the rhythm of her hand.
Roxanne leaned against the counter, watching her for a moment before asking, "How have things been here, Mila? And what about your mate?"
Mila nodded softly. "He’s doing well... currently asleep."
"This early?" Roxanne’s brows lifted in surprise. "Is everything alright?"
"Just a little overworked today." A wry smile crossed Mila’s lips. "He’s been going out a lot lately."
Roxanne gave a thoughtful hum. "What does he do? I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for your mating ceremony."
She had been caught up with her own responsibilities back then, leaving her with no chance to attend.
Mila shook her head reassuringly. "It’s alright. I understand." She smiled before adding, "As for Kirb, he works for the guild."
"The guild?" Roxanne asked. "Is he a hunter?"
Mila nodded. "He is. And thanks to him, we’ve managed to survive here."
A pang of guilt settled in Roxanne’s chest.
After their father passed away, the family’s situation had only grown worse with each passing day.
The savings the chief had left behind, along with the treasure Roxanne had given them, would never have lasted forever.
Thankfully, Mila had found someone capable enough to shoulder the family’s burdens.
"Hopefully, I’ll get to meet him tomorrow morning," Roxanne said.
Mila nodded with a smile. "I’m sure he’d love to meet all of you."
The smile soon faded, her shoulders sagging as she let out a quiet sigh.
"Well... that’s assuming Mother doesn’t ruin everyone’s mood."
Roxanne’s expression stiffened. "She was never this bitter with her words. What happened?"
Mila shook her head helplessly.
"Loneliness changed her. It made her... thorny." She sighed. "These days, she’s always complaining about something. Can you believe she still doesn’t like that Kirb lives here with us, even though we made that decision for her sake?"
Shaking her head in disbelief, Mila continued, "Kirb could have easily built a home of his own. Instead, he knew I’d constantly worry about Mother if we lived separately, so he swallowed his pride and chose to stay here."
A trace of frustration crept into her voice.
"You know how difficult that is for a man after he’s mated. Yet Mother has never shown a shred of gratitude. If anything, she scorns him every time she sees him."
Roxanne was frowning by then.
"This isn’t like her. She may have always been strict, but she was never unfair. What’s gotten into her?"
Mila let out a scoff. "She just wants attention, nothing more." Crossing her arms, she added, "I even told her to go find a mate if she wants a man’s company that badly."
"Mila?"
Roxanne stared at her in disbelief, shocked that her sister could say something so harsh to their own mother.
"What, Roxxy?" Mila replied, a frown settling on her face. "You can’t seriously expect me to stand there and let her disrespect my mate without saying anything."
Roxanne let out a slow sigh.
Mila wasn’t wrong for being angry. Their mother’s treatment of Kirb was unfair, and she had every right to defend her mate.
But telling a woman who had lost the man she loved, the man she had remained devoted to until his final breath, to simply find another mate...
That was a wound no daughter should have inflicted.
Roxanne turned her gaze toward the window, watching the pale light outside.
’What exactly happened to you, Mother?’ she wondered silently.
.....
"What is it, Luke?" Monica asked, trying to keep her voice steady even as her heart began to race.
One look at his face was enough to tell her something was weighing heavily on his mind.
Luke let out a quiet sigh and rested his back against the wall.
Meeting her eyes, he spoke after a brief pause.
"Over the past few days, you’ve seen me kill both monsters and humans. People have called me a monster because of how easily I take human lives. I don’t regret what I’ve done... but I don’t want the way you see me to change."
Understanding dawned on Monica.
He wasn’t afraid of what others said.
He was afraid of what she thought.
Luke had shown her a side of himself she had always known existed, yet had never witnessed with her own eyes until now.
She smiled faintly.
"I won’t deny that I was surprised. But it wasn’t the blood or the killing." She slowly closed the distance between them and gently took his hand in hers. "It was how suddenly you’ve changed."
Her fingers tightened around his.
"Not long ago, you were my sweet little Luke, the boy who couldn’t even handle a shovel. And now..." A soft laugh escaped her lips. "You’ve become someone I can barely recognize."
There was amazement in her voice, but also unmistakable warmth.
Luke intertwined his fingers with hers before pressing her hand gently against his cheek.
"But I’m still the same to you... aren’t I?" he asked quietly. "My personality hasn’t changed that much... has it?"
For the first time in a long while, uncertainty flickered across his face. Beneath the calm exterior was a hint of nervousness, as though he feared the answer more than any battle he had ever faced.
"No, not really." Monica smiled softly. "You’ve become much bolder when it comes to expressing your feelings, but I think that’s a good thing. And to be honest..." Her eyes softened with nostalgia. "I still catch glimpses of the old you sometimes. Like how the first thing you did after we entered that room was straighten the bed."
Luke let out a quiet chuckle.
"I just need a tidy bed to sleep on."
His smile faded into something more subdued as he lowered his gaze.
"Sorry for making you worry." His voice was gentle. "I just wanted to know if my actions... made you uncomfortable."
Monica could only sigh as she looked at her mate.
Most men wore the blood they spilled like a prize of honor, taking pride in the lives they ended without sparing a thought for how it affected those around them.
Yet Luke was different.
Even after doing what had been necessary to keep everyone safe, the only thing troubling him was whether he had frightened the woman he loved.
A warm smile spread across her lips.
"With every passing day," she said honestly, her fingers gently brushing across his cheek, "you keep setting the bar so high that every healthy relationship around me starts looking lacking."
She rested her palm against his face, her touch tender and reassuring.
"You don’t have to worry, Luke. Nothing in this world could make me see you any differently."
Her smile deepened.
"Not even you."
The last traces of tension melted from Luke’s heart.
He slipped his arms around her waist and gently pulled her closer until only a breath separated them.
To his surprise, Monica rose onto the tips of her toes and closed the remaining distance herself, pressing a soft kiss against his lips.
For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still.
Luke smiled into the kiss before returning it with the same quiet affection, holding her a little closer as the warmth between them silently washed away every lingering doubt.
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