THE LYCAN KING’S SECOND CHANCE MATE

ASHANTI'S POV.

The ride to the house is a silent one. The two guards, Ryan and myself are riding in our car while Delta Kyle leads the way with his. He didn't utter a word to me and I'm guessing it's because he's mad at me. I completely understand. I left without any warning and stayed hidden from all of them for two years. I was indeed going through a lot in this pack at the time. Incessant persecution from Alina and the pack subjects and Alpha Reagan's bipolar attitude, but Kyle was one of the few people who never treated me badly. From the first day we met, he had been nothing but kind and caring to me. He looked after me as though he had a responsibility towards me, which he didn't.

Even during the last days when things had gotten out of hand, he kept assuring me that everything was going to be okay, but I left. And I did so without any forewarning. It must have angered him a great deal, the reason why he's being so cold to me right now.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

I draw in a sharp inhale and rest my head against the backrest of the chair, eyes closed. If Delta Kyle is this upset with me, it means Tessa won't even want to see me.

This is so messed up.

"We're here," Ryan announces when the car comes to a halt. I sit upright and unbuckle my seat belt and soon, my seat door is opened. My jaw drops when I step out of the car and see the house we've been brought to.

It's a whole ass mansion!

Alpha Reagan prepared a mansion for me to live in.

"Is this it?" I ask Ryan as though he would know better. He shrugs his shoulders.

"I guess it is. I love it."

My eyes start searching for Kyle and I finally spot him walking towards us. He still has that serious look on.

“Delta Kyle,” I call respectfully. “Is this the house Alpha Reagan talked about?” My eyes are hovering all over the magnificent building as I pose that question.

"Yes, it is."

"It's too much!" I cry.

"Well, not for you." I face him. My heart makes a small happy leap in my chest when I see the smile on his face. He no longer looks very serious and with the look he has on, it's hard to conclude that he's mad at me.

"I... I don't understand."

He takes calm, calculated steps toward me.

"You are Ashanti, his true-born mate whom he lost two years ago. Do you honestly think he'll do anything short of treating you right now that he has you close to him again?" His question completely throws me off guard.

I

I open my mouth to speak, but my

voice catches in my throat. The words in my head are flying about haphazardly, making it impossible for me to string them together to form meaningful sentences.bam confused and dumbfounded.

“I..... I...” I stutter after finally finding my voice again. "This is too much. I can't accept it. The other contestants will think I'm being favored. They'll start spreading terrible rumors about me."

"The other contestants are well aware of the fact that you two are mated to each other. They know better than to talk rubbish about you." He tries to assure me, but it doesn't work.

I still feel apprehensive about this whole house issue.

No matter what, the people will talk once they find out about this house. And my greatest fear is that the

talks won't end here with the house They'll get the competition involved. Whatever I do, whatever effort put in to win will be overlooked and they'll dwell on the mindset that I keep going far in the competition because of my connection with Alpha Reagan.

Public opinions have controlled my life before and it made me miserable. I don't want history to repeat itself.

"Kyle..." I start to protest but he cuts me off.

"No." He shakes his head. "I'm only a

messenger here." He holds out both hands in the air. "Don't kill the messenger..If you have any objections to this arrangement, you should report it to the Lycan King when next you two talk, even though we both know he won't listen. You're going to live here and that's final." His tone is calm and gentle, but firm. Nothing short of serious. And he's right.

No matter how much I raise my objection to this arrangement, Alpha Reagan is going to play deaf to it.

I purse my lips and let out a heavy exhale before nodding in defeat.

"Right." My eyes hover around the premises again. It's massive and well kept and I'm sure there are servants in that house, waiting to attend to our every need when we go in.

Oh, Alpha Reagan. He's so good at this.

"You left us."

Kyle's voice cuts through the atmosphere. I whip my head in his direction and notice that the smile on his face has faded. The serious look has returned. My heart starts beating fast as guilt envelopes me.