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Chapter 43

A chuckle escaped his lips. “I never really saw him, you know. He was always away, busy with more pressing matters, and by more pressing matters, I mean plotting, conspiracies, manipulating everyone else, and of course, taking the lives of innocent people. I wasn't that important. Believe me when I say he didn't even know my mother had taken in until I was born, funny!”

But he didn't laugh. Instead, his tone grew solemn as he continued. “I was never really in contact with him. I don't know the kind of person he was behind the darkness and all. He never looked my way, but he treated my mother like trash. And I… I hated it. He would have his way with her forcefully whenever things didn't go well for him. It was like… It was like he was venting his anger on her. And… and if even by mistake, she took in, he'd let her suffer the 9 months of pregnancy only to murder the baby while she watched.”

Bavanda's heart ached for him. She began to wish she didn't ask, the pain in Loco's eyes were visible. "When she died, I was just 5, but I was grateful she did. She didn't deserve all of that pain.” he added.

Bavanda's heart fell. “I'm sorry,"

"Well, now you know that there's no way I could have missed that.” He looked at her then, really looked. “But if things were different... I might never have met you.”

Her lips parted slightly.

“I used to wish for a different life all the time. To not feel like a monster in a world full of light,” he continued. “But now? I’d take every moment again if it brought me to this one. To you.”

Bavanda swallowed hard, her eyes stinging just a little. “Even with all the pain?”

“Especially because of it,” he murmured. “It taught me how to want something better. It taught me how to fight for it.”

She laid her head on his chest, her hand sliding to lace their fingers together.

“I’m sorry your family was so broken,” she whispered.

He squeezed her hand. “I’m not. I got to build something new with you.”

Silence returned—but this time it was full, sacred. And when their lips met again, it wasn’t desperation or passion driving them.

It was home.

The world outside waited. But inside this den, wrapped in the comfort of early light and each other’s arms, they had all the time in the world.

***

The morning sun filtered through the forest canopy, casting dappled shadows over the dirt path where Bavanda and Loco walked in silence. They had finally stepped outside, even joined a patrol.

The patrol had ended an hour ago, but neither had said much since. The birds chirped lazily above them, oblivious to the tension simmering below.

As they walked through the pack lands, the members stared. They were admired—envied, even. Two warriors, bonded by blood and battle. Bavanda, fierce and radiant. Loco, enigmatic and loyal. There were whispers of a mating ceremony. Pups giggled behind corners, asking when Lady Bavanda would wear the moon-white dress. Elders exchanged knowing looks.

And for a while… it felt like nothing could touch them.

But cracks…they always start small.
A missed glance. A hesitant breath. A question left unanswered.

Eventually, the silence became unbearable.

Loco glanced sideways, his brows slightly furrowed. "You’ve been distracted lately. You okay?"

Bavanda kept her eyes ahead, her voice measured. "Just adjusting."

He slowed his pace, letting his fingers brush against hers. "You can talk to me. You always could. I know something is on your mind."

She stopped walking, crossing her arms. "Loco, can you please stop?"

He reached out again, gently taking her hand. "I’m not asking for anything from you except the truth. It's not even too much, just for you to talk to me. I’m just trying to be here for you, Bav. But if you keep shutting me out—"

"I’m not shutting you out," she snapped, quicker than she intended. She sighed, softer this time. "I just need space."

His hand slipped from hers. "So I open up to you, tell you everything about my miserable past, bare my emotions out to you and stand utterly naked. I give you everything, my time, my heart, and my soul, yet you still look at me like I'm done stranger.”

Bavanda hissed. “Oh come on, Loco. Why do you have to make a big deal out of everything?"

"Oh!” He took a step back, the hurt flashing through his eyes. "I thought we were past this."

"So did I," she said quietly, and then turned to walk back toward the packhouse, leaving Loco standing alone in the path.

The moon hung high above the trees, silver light spilling through the open windows of their room. Bavanda entered, brushing off dust from her cloak and unlacing her boots. The room smelled of pine, worn leather, and something unmistakably Loco.

He was seated on the edge of the bed, back slightly hunched, fingers wrapped around a small wooden box. As she entered, he slipped it under the blanket quickly.

"You’re up late," she said, stretching her arms overhead.

"I was thinking," he murmured. "About us. About... the future."

Her hands froze mid-stretch. "Loco..."

He stood, facing her with quiet urgency. "I want to ask you something important. But I need to know—you’re still with me, right? Still in this?"

She looked at him for a long moment, eyes searching his, but her own expression stayed guarded. "I don’t know."

His face fell. "I love you."

She swallowed hard. "I care about you, Loco. More than I can explain. But I don’t know if what I feel is... what you feel."

He took a step back like her words had struck him. "So I’m not enough."

"No," she whispered, guilt lacing every syllable. "You are. Maybe too much."

He turned away, running a hand through his hair. "That’s the most confusing compliment I’ve ever received." Loco chuckled painfully. "So this is what this is. This was the problem all along, why…? Why didn't you say something?”

"I’m sorry."

“Right!"

He didn’t say anything else. He didn’t need to. The silence between them said enough.

A few days passed with polite distance. They trained, they patrolled, they nodded to each other across firelit meals—but the ease, the spark, the unspoken understanding they used to share began to feel like memory.

During a training session with the younger wolves, Bavanda and Loco were paired to demonstrate advanced sparring techniques. The crowd gathered with excited eyes, eager to learn from their strongest warriors.

They circled each other. Loco struck first, controlled but firm. Bavanda blocked with more force than necessary. He countered harder. She pushed back.

Blades clashed. Sweat dripped. The rhythm turned heated, not passionate—but brittle.

A few trainees exchanged uncertain glances. Baron stood nearby, arms crossed, his gaze narrowing.

Loco ducked a swing, rolled, and came up behind her, grabbing her wrist. "You want to talk about it now?" he muttered, low enough only she could hear.

She yanked away. "There’s nothing to talk about."

He threw down his practice blade, stepping away. "That’s the problem, Bavanda. You’re always running. From me, from us."

She stared at him, chest heaving. Her throat worked as if words were forming, but none came. Instead, she turned sharply and walked off the field.

The students stayed silent. Baron sighed, rubbing a hand down his face.

Loco stayed behind, jaw clenched, eyes heavy with something far more painful than anger.

Later that night, Loco stood at the edge of the cliff behind the packhouse, the same one Bavanda used to frequent when she was younger. He held the wooden box again, flipping the lid open and closed. In the silence of the night, he whispered to himself, "Maybe she never really chose me."

And somewhere, behind the trees, Bavanda watched him with eyes that said she wanted to run to him.

But her feet wouldn’t move.

Hey Guys please check my other stories: The Lycan and His healer mate, His Purchased Wife, 365 Days in Dmitry Cage, The fatal Lycan and his mysterious mate, Xiol's Treasured Mate, The luna and the lycan, Flash Marriage: President's Seduction, In Adonis world, Alpha's little Vampire Mate on R.a.d.i.s.h.

Also you can check Alpha Lucious on F.i.c.t.i.o.n.m.e and His Purchased wife on Readink

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Betrayed by My Ex, Claimed by His father on Goodnovel