That Should Have Been Me!

Roman POV

Dragana was back. I did not know how I felt about this – part of me was excited thinking about that fateful morning and our kiss, her soft lips, her warm breath on mine. Part of me was confused, in fact very confused. I was a mess. The array of emotions was suffocating me: happiness, embarrassment, fear, desire, guilt. I did not know what to think or what to do. I knew she was at my father’s house with Lady Asma and Art at her side – they teleported from the palace she was staying at and arrived this morning. It was late afternoon, and I still could not convince myself to go see her. I was coming up with one excuse after another, not sure what to do. Several times I opened the door of my office fully determined to go, only for my legs to give out, and stop me dead in my tracks. What do I even say to her??? “How about I am glad you are alive?? It is good you are back?? You know, a basic courtesy??” Caleb spat, irritated. “You know, we could ask her Roman. We could ask her about her wolf!”, he was nagging me. I knew that he had hoped somehow that her wolf was white and that she was the mystery mate he had been seeking. “Smooth Caleb, very smooth! So you want us to march over there and ask about her wolf – out of the blue, randomly like that. After everything she has just been through???" I retorted. "Well, you could tell her nice things and welcome her back! It is not my fault you have no manners, Roman!”

The dialogues with Caleb were becoming frustrating. He was on edge, and we were clashing more and more. I could not afford that - after all, I was the King and my strength depended on Caleb and our bond. Feeling an oncoming headache, I needed to make a decision on what to do, and quickly. I could not just ignore the situation, yet somehow, for a man of action as I was known, procrastination somehow became my refuge all of a sudden. Alice went away to attend to her ailing father, and I was grateful she was not here right now. Based on what she told me, it sounded like the old Alpha Alan’s moments were numbered. I wanted to support her, but completely understood her reasoning. After all, he was injured by my soldiers. Ironically, Alice turned out to be my mate, however confusing our bond was. I sent some of my best warriors, including my Gamma Aldar, to make sure she travelled safely and was protected. A lot was happening. Preparations for the wedding were in full swing. King Malakai had announced his attendance and was bringing squadrons of his elite forces. The ceremony was shaping up to be the event of the year, full of high profile and royal guests, including the Vampire King Goran, Lycan Prince Cassius, Lord Alwyin and his wife Lady Sahar, Witch King Solomon, and Gabriel, heir apparent of the dragon kingdom, and many Alphas and their Lunas and other dignitaries. Truth be told, I never pictured my mating ceremony and wedding as being such an opulent affair – whenever I thought of it, I always thought of a smaller, private ceremony with just the pack and close family. However, Alice was extremely excited and wanted to go all out - given that I did not love her nor could really understand issues with the mate bond, I decided not to fight her about this – I just let her do whatever she wanted.


“Son, you really should come here. We are discussing the important issues regarding the attack. It sounds like something you need to hear first-hand. You are the Alpha King after all”, I heard the booming voice of my father through the mind link. I guess there was no point in hiding, I had to go see her. I made my way to my father’s lake house in a matter of minutes, rationalizing that the quicker I got there and got this all over with, the quicker I could return to my normal life, whatever that meant anymore. I put on my best game face and walked in. Immediately my mode soured. Dragana sat on the large couch looking frail and pale, her beautiful face streaked with tears, eyes puffy. Art sat next to her, one of his large arms enveloped in a protective hug around her, pulling her into him gently, while stroking her hair with the other. She looked so small, so tiny, and my heart jumped into my throat. I know I gave Art my blessing and support to pursue her, but seeing them together like that enraged me and broke me all at the same time. My eyes instinctively went to her neck, and I was relieved when I saw she did not bear his mark. However, it was obvious that they grew close – very close. The more I looked at them, the less control I had, a growl escaping me, focusing everybody’s attention on me.


Lady Asma looked at me gently without a word, and my father jumped up, and stood in-between me and them. “Roman, we..…” Art started speaking. “Save it Art!!! Spare me of your excuses… What is this now – are you two mates???!” I asked bitterly, venom lacing my words. Dragana just looked at me bewildered, her silver eyes sparkling with tears. I wanted to run to her, to pull her in my arms, I wanted to kiss those tears away, inhale her scent, feel the beating of her heart. I wanted to tell her how much I missed her, how much my heartbeat was only for her, how wrong I was, how much she meant to me. I wanted to be the one whom she leaned against, I wanted to hold her. That should have been me! Alas, I said nothing. I stood there, unable to move, fighting every rage impulse, fighting the urge to kill him, trying my best not to rip Art’s head off! I finally made my move and sat down in a large chair trying to compose myself, when a thunderous sound echoed behind me, a sparkle of silver and gold flickered and I turned to see that a bloodied, injured body of Lady Jasmine slumped through the magic portal.