Blythe's POV
I took my time getting back to the castle because I loved how my legs felt. I could still feel him. It felt like he was still inside me. Xavier broke me. My grin got bigger, and my body started to shake with joy. I wanted to lock myself in my rooms and live through everything again. However—“Blythe.” I went cold. I turned my head to look where the voice was coming from. Vito. He stood near the packhouse, watching me with a worried brow. I quickly wiped at my gown, making sure there was nothing odd on it. Goddess forbid he know. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” he added, moving toward me. Looking for me? That was new. We barely sought one other out unless it affected our daughter, Ceres. I crossed my arms. “Why?” Vito sighed. “Ceres is upset about not finding a mate at her birthday gathering.” My grin evaporated. Not finding a mate? I almost scoffed. She had rejected her partner. And now, she was looking to be upset? Manipulative brat. “She’s an heiress,” Vito said. “She can’t rule without a mate. The council won’t approve it.” I breathed gently, my thoughts spinning. He wasn’t worried about Ceres’ feelings. He was worried about power. “So, we need to find her a suitable mate from a high-ranking family,” he stated. There it was. My gold-digging, two-timing hubby in his real form. I nearly laughed. But I controlled my mouth. Because I wouldn’t say a thing. Not about Ceres. Not about Xavier. For his sake. For my. Besides, why should I be honest when my husband had been balls-deep in an omega while his daughter celebrated her birthday? I wasn’t jealous anymore. Not after Xavier. Not after the way he growled, touched, filled me. Not after the way he had stirred something within me that I thought was dead. “Blythe?” Shit. I blinked, jerking back to reality. I had blacked out totally. “Yeah, yeah,” I mumbled, seeming to listen. Vito didn’t appear to notice. He continued talking, something about writing a letter to the wedding matchmaker. "You’re good at writing," he continued. "You can handle it." I nodded absentmindedly. While he talked, all I could think about was how easy it would be to snap his neck. Or better yet— To tell him he wasn’t the only one fucking omegas. To shove it in his face that I had also engaged in young blood. The thought made me smile. Vito didn’t notice. He finished his rant, then turned to go. But not before saying something that made my blood freeze. “Rather than lazing around the palace for a stroll, maybe you should go be with your daughter.” My jaw tightened. “She needs you now more than ever,” he added. Then— He struck the final blow. "You, of all people, know what it’s like to be mateless." I went cold. A burning, chilly sting went across my chest. I do understand what it’s like to be mateless. I stood there, my eyes fixed on the window, refusing to reply. Then, instead of going to my chamber— I walked out of the palace. Being around Vito always left a nasty taste in my mouth. For the longest time, I thought it was because of our failed love life. Or the load of our duties. But last night— I learned the real reason. He had been cheating on me. And yet, he had the gall to scold me about being there for Ceres. Fuck him. I tightened my fists, my feet tapping on the stone sidewalk as I went. I was so engaged in my thoughts that I didn’t see someone standing front of me. “Oh, there you are.” I recognized that annoying voice anywhere. Beta Vegas. Vito’s right-hand guy. I resisted the urge to moan out loud. Vegas had been Vito’s best buddy even before he became Alpha. And as expected, after Vito was chosen, he had given Vegas the Beta slot. I had never liked him. Even though he had never done anything offensive to me, something about him just… irritated me. I narrowed my eyes. “What do you want, Vegas?” He stopped five feet away, smiling. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you take a stroll, My Lady.” I clinched my jaw. Why the heck does he care? “It’s my palace. I can walk anytime I want.” He chuckled. “Fair enough.” Then— “Do you mind if I indulge you?” I tensed. My eyes went across him. Vegas was dressed neatly with a navy-blue shirt and white pants. His wavy hair was wrapped neatly into a bun. Everything around him was shiny. Neat. Unlike Xavier. Unlike my Xavier. Xavier, who had been buried in dirt when I found him this morning. Xavier, whose roughened fingers had stroked every inch of me. Xavier, whose wild, raw desire had left me shocked. I felt my face hot. Shit. Why am I thinking about this right now? Because you liked it. My wolf, Aria, purred in my head. Because you liked the way he treated you. I nearly flushed. I did like it. Every push. Every grasp. Every hard, mind-shattering moment. "My Lady?" Vegas’ voice pulled me out of my thinking. I nearly cursed. I hated his presence. I hated everything about him. And I have no respect for him today. "Vegas, your company is not needed," I observed angrily. "If I wanted one, my husband is readily available." I smirked. But Vegas didn’t move. He just cocked his head, a knowing twinkle in his eye. “Are you saying your husband is always available?” he wondered. "Because I doubt that. His timetable suggests otherwise."
