All Chapters of Auctioned Bride Of The Cursed Alpha : Chapter 191 - Chapter 200

Ivara's POVAfter forcing my thoughts into some kind of order and giving myself several stern pep talks, I finally worked up the nerve to head toward the walk-in closet. I still had to get dressed for this so-called breakfast outside the fortress, even though the idea of sitting across from him right now made me want to starve instead.I could technically hide in there for a while because the closet was larger than most bedrooms, which was ridiculous, because who the hell needed that much space for clothes?The problem was that there wasn’t a single good hiding spot in the entire place. Even with the dark walls and recessed lighting, everything was arranged with military precision. It felt more like a high-end boutique than a closet.Xlynor seemed to find disorder offensive. I, on the other hand, didn’t care.Most of the clothes in the closet were black, with varying shades and textures, all immaculate. The only color came from my side, and even that was barely noticeable.Xlynor had

Ivara's POVI stared at Xlynor, speechless and thoroughly flabbergasted. When exactly had he learned to talk this much, and worse, why was everything that came out of his mouth so wildly inappropriate?“You shut up, okay?” I rolled my eyes and tried yanking my hand free, but he didn't loosen his grip even slightly.He shrugged. “Fine, if you insist.” Then, without missing a beat, he continued. “But what I'm trying to say is we'll be doing a lot of kissing going forward, so there's no point being awkward about it every time. Get used to it. And yes—it's Xlynor. Don't irritate me with the title.” He looked at me with finality.I stared at him in disbelief. “Sure speaks very highly of your morals and principles, Alpha.” I emphasized the title. “I'm embarrassed on your behalf.”He let go of my wrist, only to cradle the side of my face instead, fingers curling near my neck while his thumb swept slowly across my cheekbone as he tilted my chin up toward him. “Funny that you assume I have mor

Xlynor's POVWe reached the dining room, and Jojo had everything already laid out on the table, and it smelled good.I pulled Ivara in ahead of me. “Go on.”Then I turned and planted myself in the doorway, blocking Jojo from following. “Let her be for now, and let her rest once she's done eating. I'll come pick her up.” I kept my voice low.Jojo crossed her arms. “You're acting like I'm some kind of threat. If you're going to hover this much, you might as well have kept her at your dark castle.”“I'm not hovering. I'm being clear. She's sick and recovering. Don't stress her out.” I shot back.“Stress her?” Jojo blinked, her expression shifting. “...Oh, okay.”I scoffed. “You're the one treating me like a stranger.” I turned back to the table, where Ivara sat, food untouched, staring at me. Not the good kind of staring.Of course. I get the bad end of her attitude.I walked over and sat beside her. “What?”“Were you gossiping about me behind my back? What did you tell her?”I drummed m

Xlynor's POVI rolled my eyes again. What was there to smile about? She should just go ahead and become an investigator.I said nothing else, just reached for the car door but Jojo held it shut, blocking me from getting in.“Hold on.”I groaned. “I don't have time for—”“Do you like her, Xly?” She cut in plainly, blinking fast at me. No buildup, no preamble.That stopped me cold.She stood there watching me, face blank, eyes waiting.The question sat in the space between us while I turned it over like I hadn't spent the better part of this morning losing my mind over Ivara, like I hadn't held her hand moments ago specifically because I didn't want to stop touching her, and I couldn't kiss her, like my heart hadn't been speeding up or skipping beats because of her, and like I hadn't been obviously territorial and selfish about her.Did I? Or didn't I?Was I even obligated to answer that? It wasn't mandatory. I almost dismissed it immediately because it was easier, but I didn't.Jojo's

Xlynor's POVI reached into the pocket of my coat for my phone, but my fingers found something else. I pulled it out and found the velvet box I'd gifted Ivara yesterday, along with her phone.Right. I'd retrieved the box in the middle of the night, along with her wet clothes, from the warehouse district, though not the car itself—I’d teleported.Boredom had sent me out after them before I'd gotten distracted handling her bruised wrist.I'd meant to return it this morning, but she'd been sick, then I'd gotten sidetracked being irrationally jealous over her excitement about seeing Jojo, and it had slipped my mind entirely.I glanced out the window. Jojo was still standing there, grinning ear to ear.I rolled the window down and held the box out to her. "Here. Give this back to Ivara — it's hers, she left it in the car."Jojo reached for it eagerly, but I pulled it back before she could get a proper look. "You are not allowed to open it. Not even a peek. Even if she tells you to.” I held