Chapter 27

***Serafina's POV***

He wrapped me in his arms until my tears stopped falling and when I finally calmed down I broke off the hug and met his gaze.

"Do you feel okay now?" he asked his voice filled with gentleness.

I swallowed the lump in my throat before nodding. "I am sorry for the way I acted King Calixto,"

He shook his head and gently held my face without breaking off our gazes. The way he looks at me melts away the pain that has been torturing me.

"You don't have to say sorry Serafina. You are not at fault. They should be the ones apologizing to you. You did not do anything wrong so stop torturing yourself okay?"

I bit my lower lip contemplating if I should nod because I have no idea if I can make it happen. I have no idea if I can't get affected by the rumor.

"Serafina," he called my name demanding an answer so I just nodded and smiled at him.

"I will try," I weakly responded.

Worry is still written on his face while looking at me.

"I know a place that will make you feel better,"

He started tying my dress before he met my gaze again with a bright smile plastered on his face.

"Let's go?" he asked offering his hand waiting for me to take it so I did.

I let him pull me out of the room and followed him as we walked toward the quiet hallway.

They are all probably sleeping but here we are walking in the hallway.

"Where are we going, King Calixto?" I whispered afraid to make a sound because someone might hear us.

"Just trust me you will like it there," he responded the same bright smile plastered on his face.

After a few minutes of walking in the dark hallway, we stopped in front of a huge wooden door, and the moment he opened it my eyes were welcomed by a beautiful garden illuminated by the moon's light.

"This place looks majestic King Calixto," I can't help but utter as I roam my eyes around the garden.

He guided me as we stepped inside the majestic garden.

It was filled with flowers and when you look above you will see the bright moon shining on the vast night sky.

"This is my haven, Serafina. My Beta, Maximus brought you here once and I got mad at him when he did that,"

I tried to find that kind of memory inside my head but I failed to remember anything.

"Because he brought me to your haven?"

He nodded and smiled as if he felt ashamed of what he was confessing.

"I got mad because he was the one who brought you here. He was the first one to see how your eyes glistened when you roam your eyes around the garden. A bright smile was plastered on your face while looking at him something that you have never given to me. You look too happy and I hate that Maximus was the cause of your happiness,"

He sounded so serious but I can't help but chuckle.

"You're jealous of Maximus? But he is your Beta King Calixto. His loyalty lies to you and I doubt he will do anything that will ruin your trust,"

He shrugged his shoulder and looked at me intently. "I don't know I just got mad at that moment,"

He looks cute and I can't help but smile while looking at him.

I reached for his hand and held it. "I will always be yours, King Calixto. You owned me and the whole kingdom knows that,"

He sighed but I could still see his lips slightly pouting making him look so adorable.

"Did you build this garden?" I asked to change the topic. I don't want him to look sad so maybe we should talk about something else.

King Calixto roamed his eyes around the garden before bringing his gaze back to me.

"I grew up in training ground. My late father wanted me to become the strongest Lycan so he trained me day and night without resting. I tried to find a place inside the palace where I could hide to skip my training and I found this place. It was just mud before looking empty so I decided to plant some flowers to make the whole place alive,"

I was smiling while listening to his story. I find it comforting hearing stories from him I feel like I am getting to know him more.

"This place is beautiful you did a good job planting those flowers. I never expected that the strong and mighty King Calixto is fond of flowers,"

A baritone laughter escaped his lips, sounding like music I wanted to hear repeatedly.

"Why? What kind of rumors did you hear about me before we could even meet?" he asked anticipation filling his eyes as he waited for my answer.

"That you are ruthless. My pack warns me that you want everything to be perfect so I worked hard to be the perfect Queen but I guess I failed them,"

He raised his eyebrows as if he was questioning what I said.

"Failed in what part Serafina?" he asked devoid of any humor.

"In being a perfect Queen," I responded unable to hide the pain and bitterness in my tone.

He took a deep breath and held my chin making me look at him directly in the eyes.

"You are perfect just the way you are Serafina,"

I felt my heart skipped a bit. My cheeks flushed and even though I couldn't see my face I could tell that I was already as red as a tomato.

"I was mad at myself for realizing it too late," he added, looking at me meaningfully.

His eyes were filled with regret and pain something that made me confused.

Why is he looking at me that way? Why does he look regretful?

What did he do to look at me that way?