35

Chapter 35

Jace's POV 

"Jenna, love, she's a changed woman now. After the trip to A****n, she understood her place. Don't you think you should also forget what happened and move on?" I tried to touch Jared but she got up and moved away.

I studied her face. In her, I saw a protective mother. This is how Cat moms portray when they feel like their pups are in danger. They scowl and flinch back. They shield their babies with their bodies and jump at every human trying to come closer. 

It was adorable and intimidating at the same time. 

"Jenna, no one will harm our son." I said slowly as I tried to touch her arm. 

"She can, and she will since you trust her so much." Tears formed in her eyes. 

"Jenna, you are being paranoid now. Liza will never hurt our son. She's got her lesson. She knows not to cross our lives."

She sneered as tears fell down her face, "You have no idea how horrible she is... And I'm not letting her near my son. Jace, you are her cousin. You are indebted to her. I'm not. I will not tolerate her."

She spun and marched away. I followed after her. 

"This is where you are wrong, Jenna. You are also her Luna. You are liable to her as well, not just me alone."

"Really?" She stopped and glared at me. "Then let me do something for her as her Luna— Let me find her a good husband."

I was speechless. How can I allow that right away? People will judge me and say I was casting her away. 

"It's too soon. People will question me. They will say—" 

"You used her when you wanted it and now you're sending her away after marriage." She completed with a grunt. "It's not rare. That's what all the Alphas having mistresses do. They send away their mistresses to ensure peace and harmony in their house. You're the only one who thinks keeping her here with your wife is reasonable."

"Jenna—" 

"She will be the reason behind our second fight, Jace. Let's not take it down that road. I'm tired." I didn't stop her when she walked away. 

Our room was still a few meters away. But she slammed it so loudly, I could hear it here like the room was in front of me. 

'She wasn't wrong, Jace.' My wolf spoke softly. 

I ran a hand through my hair and came to my study. I wanted to talk to someone about this. My beta's face flashed across my eyes. I mind-linked him and waited for him to come. 

"You wanted to talk, bro?" Oakley stood at the door in a sweat-drenched shirt. 

"I hope you weren't very busy."

"Nah, just training with our warriors. You say, what is it?" He walked inside while wiping his forehead with the back of his arm. "You look conflicted. Did something happen in the NightShade Pack? Did Chris get on your nerves?" 

"I handled him well, dude. It's Jenna." I closed my eyes in defeat. "She's back to being stubborn, and demanding Liza be sent away." 

"She's not wrong." Oakley said sternly, making my lips turn in a bitter smile. 

"I should've known. You hate her because of your past." I gritted my teeth. 

I almost forgot Oakley and Liza have a history. A decade ago, when we came back to the kingdom after finishing our Alpha training, he and Liza got into a secret relationship. But it didn't end well because Oakley cheated. 

Liza told me everything that was there. She took a promise from me to never let Oakley know. It's supposed to be their dirty secret. 

She told me because we were both broken. I opened up to her after my mate died, and she to me. 

Though it came as a big shock because I never thought Oakley would ever do that, it's true. 

My Beta is a playboy. He doesn't like to be faithful. He's never in a serious relationship. I've seen women curse him for breaking their hearts, but for him it's just fun in a big game. 

"What past?" Oakley's eyes were staring at me, wide. 

"I know about you and Liza." 

"Y-you do?" 

"Hmm, she told me you two were dating."

"That's all she told you?" He narrowed his eyes. 

She also told me you cheat, "No. She just said you both were dating back then when we came home a decade ago. It didn't end well and you both broke up. Oakley, that is why you hold a grudge against her, don't you?" 

"Why else do you think?" He grinned angrily. "She's a bìtch. Now that we are talking about this and you know about us, let me tell you something else. She always had an eye on you. She's obsessed with you. If you don't drive her away from your life, she will ruin it."

I just watched him. Hate and disgust was dripping off his tone. He sounded like Jr was wronged. But it's yin who broke Liza's heart. 

She was broken, so was I. That's why we got closer and made that mistake of sleeping together. 

Sometimes I think Oakley is enraged because he never got Liza's virginity, I did. So he holds it against her. 

"I know what is good for me. You don't worry." I forced my lips into a dark smile that Oakley looked through. 

"You trust her more than me, don't you? You think I broke her heart." His face twisted ironically. "You're miles and miles away from the truth, Jace." 

He studied me before adding, "I see she's fed you an interesting and quite believing story. Since you don't want to know my side of the story, I won't force it on you. And let's not talk about her again. In fact, let's never talk about personal life matters with each other."

"That's actually better." I sat straight, my anger brewing. I was frustrated by how Oakley was looking at me. 

If I were sitting here as the Alpha king and not his friend, I would have thrown him in the dungeons. 

"I hope you maintain a professional relationship with my wife too. That would be better for us all." His pupils enlarged in simmering fury. 

"Are you implying that I'm turning her against your Ex-mistress?" 

"That's right."

He laughed in ire. But he didn't say anything to flare our argument. Rather he nodded and stormed out. 

I clutched my head and closed my eyes. I never intended to have this convo with him. He just forced me to do it. 

I hope I'm doing it right. 

'Denis, you there?' I called out to my wolf. 

I never got a reply from him. He's also against my thought of keeping Liza here. 

Inhaling deeply, I got up and left my study. I don't care what my wolf, wife or best friend think. Liza is my responsibility. Her parents left her in my care before they died. 

I'm doing this for them. They trusted me with her life. 

And I am not letting anyone talk me out of it. 

Tbc...