CHAPTER 105: THIS CAN’T BE REAL

"Should I come along with you?" Ronan asked as they made their way out of the dining room. Meanwhile, Kieran and Leia made their way to the other side.

"No. Just stay here. Yesterday, Angelica has come," Lucien said in a low voice.

"You mean the Princess?" Ronan frowned.

"Yes. She is not happy that I have chosen Leia. It was an unexpected visit." A somber expression occupied his face, feeling irritated suddenly.

"How did she even find out about it?" Ronan muttered.

"Words travel fast now," Lucien murmured. "That’s why there’s another reason Leia can’t be left alone. Angelica will strike when she finds us defenseless. Ronan, I don’t want any mistake," he affirmed, showing his faith in his second brother again.

"I assure you it won’t happen again," Ronan stated. "You can go without any worries." The two were outside the mansion in the foyer where a black car waiting for Lucien to enter in it.

"Then, I’ll go," Lucien said and slid into the backseat of his car.

Ronan watched the car leave the premises of the mansion, and he went inside. His eyes quickly found Leia in the garden, sitting on one of the outdoor couches beside Kieran, the two of them engaged in a conversation. Without wasting time, Ronan made his way toward them.

"I almost forgot that I have an important meeting about a major investment," Kieran said suddenly, the realization hitting him out of the blue. He rose from his seat, brushing his trousers lightly. "What time is it?"

"It’s almost nine," Ronan replied, checking his wristwatch.

"I’m going to be late. I should head out now," Kieran said, glancing toward Leia.

"But you just returned from night patrol," Leia pointed out with a concerned look. "Can’t you postpone it to tomorrow?"

"I wish I could, but this meeting can’t be delayed. I’ll see you later." He gave her a brief smile before exchanging a meaningful look with Ronan, an unspoken understanding passing between the two, then Kieran turned and hurried back inside.

Leia watched him leave and murmured, "He works so much..."

"That’s part of his duty," Ronan said, settling down beside her on the garden couch.

"But taking a break once in a while wouldn’t hurt," Leia countered gently.

"That’s not how a pack operates," Ronan explained. "We have to stay prepared, keep up with everything."

His gaze shifted to her wrist, where a faint bruise lingered. "Does it still hurt?"

Leia lowered her head, glancing at her wrist. "Not much. The medicine’s working well, and it’s healing faster than I expected."

Ronan reached for her hand. "Once you’re fully recovered, I’ll train you," he said. "We can’t always predict danger. You need to learn how to defend yourself. As an omega, your strength may be limited compared to others, but there are techniques, moves that can help you escape or disable an attacker."

His thumb gently brushed over the back of her hand in reassurance.

Leia smiled faintly. "I’m looking forward to it. You’re not upset with me anymore."

"I was never really upset with you," Ronan said quietly. "I was just... scared."

"Scared that I’d stop caring about you?"

"Kind of," he murmured.

"It won’t happen," Leia assured him softly.

Then, after a pause, she added, "Has the weather gotten warmer lately? My body’s been feeling oddly hot since yesterday."

"Did you mention it to the doctor?" Ronan asked, concern flickering in his eyes.

Leia shook her head slightly. "No... I figured it might be a side effect of the medication."

She shifted, slowly raising her legs in air with some effort. "Once this wound heals, I’ll be able to get back to work. The doctor said it might take about a week."

Ronan looked away for a moment, then gently pulled his hand back from hers. "Yeah... healing tends to be slower in omegas," he murmured, a touch of frustration or worry hidden beneath his calm exterior.

"You seem unusually calm these days," Leia observed, her gaze lingering on him. "The last time, you were furious when the battle technique was stolen. But now... you feel like a completely different person from the one I first met."

Ronan let out a chuckle. "Is that so?" he mused. "This is actually how I usually am. It’s just... after missions like these, my mood tends to shift. So many lives lost, so many left wounded; it weighs on me, whether I show it or not. That’s when I seem cold or irritable. But otherwise... I’m generally quite composed."

Leia placed her hand gently over his, giving it a soft pat. "Ronan, you have to know... you’re important. Not just to me, but to all of us, this entire pack. I don’t always understand what’s going on in that head of yours," she said with a faint smile, "but I do know this much, you’re special."

Ronan’s heart fluttered at her words, something about her voice wrapping around the ache he didn’t realize he’d been carrying. But before he could say anything, Leia pointed toward a nearby tree.

"There’s a canary on that branch," she whispered. "It’s hard to catch sight of them."

But Ronan wasn’t looking at the tree. His gaze remained fixed on Leia’s face. It was soft, sincere, and breathtaking in its calm strength.

How could anyone not fall for her?

He had thought that putting distance between them for a few days would help him regain control, calm the storm inside him. But he had been wrong.

The space between them had vanished.

Without thinking, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek.

Leia froze, her lips parting as her eyes widened in response.

And then she felt it, his pheromones washing over her like an invisible charm. She couldn’t quite name the scent, but it pulled at something deep within her. Her wolf, Zei, stirred awake too.

’This can’t be real,’ Leia thought as she turned her head and looked into the eyes of Ronan.