Bullied Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Chapter 107

Aiden's

pov:

It was almost midnight when I walked into the hospital.

I was tired, drained, hard knots in my shoulder and back muscles.

Nyx occasionally warns me that overusing my powers could have dire consequences but I never really pay him much attention. I let him live in my body rent free, the least he could do was let me be. Infact, I think I'd be doing everyone a damn favor if I disappear into smoke and shadows like he always warns about.

I ruin everything I touch, it's just my luck that I ruined my mate too. She was something to fill the hole the death of my family had left in me. The one hope I had been hanging on to. The most important person in my life. At this point, what is there to live for again? "Enough, child!" Nyx growled, reminding me that he was privy to my depressing inner thoughts. "If you die, who's going to protect her?"

Oh... Of course. I can't die, I have to keep her safe.

The reaffirmation sparked a fire to my numb heart but as soon as it came, it left.

Would she want that? She can't even stand the sight of me. Besides, she has Ren and Zac who are powerful in their own might.

"You went easy on that red head." Nyx cut off my train of thoughts. "You're growing soft, Aiden. You should have let me handle her," he said gruffly. "Ren used to care for her once upon a time."

"Lies. You're hoping she would learn her lesson and turn a new leaf. And your friend would go back to her so that you can have your mate for yourself."

It sounded even more delusional now that I think of it.

I shrugged. "It's a possibility. Besides, she'd die in that forest anyway. And why do you care? You got your revenge on Sebastian and Paige, and that dark witch you've been obsessed about."

I didn't even want to think about what Nyx had done to Sebastian and Paige. I'd have hell to pay with the council, my uncle especially. In a way, I was anticipating my punishment. Night Shade was vicious with their punishments. Going against two children of the most powerful nobles in my pack would not go unpunished, even for a prince.

I never pay for my actions, now would be a good time to start. They might go easy on me and give me a quick death. Regardless of what happens to me, I would never regret avenging my mate.

It's the least I can do after being a colossal failure to her.

"You must know that I would never let that happen to you."

"For once, I'd have to ask you to stand down, Nyx."

I sighed when I was met with startling silence. He had no intentions of heeding my words. "What's your beef with the dark witch?"

He waited a few beats. "I had a score to settle with the witch. I'd recognize his powers anywhere. Mind scrambling seems to be his forte."

"Half truths seem to be yours. There must be a reason you wanted him dead."

"Why do you care, little prince? He's not even a part of your community. You don't have to worry about the repercussions."

"Doesn't make me any less curious."

I was met with even more startling silence.

"It will all make sense with time."

I shrugged, done with his beating about the bush as I focused on signing into the register.

I didn't know if I felt anything after dealing with Mauve, because even after punishing her, it didn't change that I was one of the people that had made her life a living hell. If she wanted to punish me, then I was ready to accept that, I would take anything but her silence and rejection.

More and more, I was starting to feel numb, dead inside, with occasional bouts of fear that I could never fix this, jealousy at who gets to have her in their arms and anger at myself for being a fucking fool. I'd deserve it if she rejects me, but I won't allow it. It was quiet in the halls as I walked towards her room. I knocked once and reached for the door handle, my heart, skipping beats when my hand went through the handle it was nothing but smoke.

I tried again and my hand rested on the handle this time.

I must be losing it.

I opened the door and walked into Lily's room to replace her human friend, Bia dozing in bed with her, the two of them cuddled up. Jealousy was like a fist around my throat because I might never get to experience that with Lily.

Bia nodded off and opened my eyes, startled to see me standing in the shadows watching them and she narrowed her eyes at me, holding Lily protectively who was deep asleep, the rise and fall of her chest reassuring me that the nightmare had indeed passed and she was safe.

"What do you want?" she whispered fiercely and I had to give her credit because most people were afraid of me and it had nothing to do with the way I looked but the aura they felt. Ren said that my shadows seemed to darken my aura by just existing and made me look intimidating to whoever was in my presence.

"I would like a few moments with her. Alone."

Her face grew skeptical as she considered my offer and I could actually force her out of this place but that would change nothing and only push me further away from my mate.

"I'll only be a few minutes." I said in my nicest possible tone and when she sighed and stood gently, I mentally heaved a sigh of relief.

She was almost at the door and then she paused and turned around to frown at me. Specifically at the bouquet of lilies in my left hand.

It was sappy, but I thought Lily would appreciate the sentiment.

She had already walked past me when she sighed in frustration and turned around to look at me, "I don't know why I'm doing this, but if you are trying to get on her good side, never bring her a lily bouquet again and actually try to replace out what she likes. It's terribly cliche and she hates lilies because they remind her of herself. And she hates herself. You're one of the people that contributed greatly to that by the way. And oh, you have five minutes or I'm screaming for help."

I was sure that if she had not been considering Lily, she would have slammed the door hard and even though her voice was low, her words stung hard.

I set my timer to five minutes and just stood at the foot of the bed, watching Lily sleep and wondering if I would ever get a chance to show her how sorry I was for hurting her. But one thing was certain. As long as I lived, nothing would ever hurt her again. Zac's POV

It had been over five minutes since I got to the restaurant opposite the hospital and I was still staring at the menu, confused about what to get for Lily.

I had come here with the intention of getting her a smoothie because I had overheard her saying she missed being able to go and get something as simple as a smoothie herself since she was confined to bed rest for a few days and I had taken it as an opportunity to do something for her.

Ren's words had kept playing in my head, what he had told me on her birthday was on repeat since he said that I didn't even know Lily well enough to decide that I was in love with her.

His words had been typical Ren; short, precise and at the same terribly blunt.

"You only want her because she reminds you of the girl you loved. I love Lily because of who she is. Do you even know her?"

It had infuriated me then, it still infuriates me now.

Maybe this was a bad idea coming here without even bothering to ask what flavor she liked to take but I wanted to surprise her and see her eyes light up. She needed some excitement in her life after what Mauve had done to her.

I had not been in school but I had heard what Aiden had done to Mauve and it surprised me that he had been able to hold himself back from strangling her to death.

"Are you planning to get something?" The boy behind the counter said politely and I realized that I had already started causing a queue to form behind me so I decided to make a wild guess.

Hoping I didn't terribly botch the whole 'surprise Lily with a smoothie' plan by buying something that she would not be able to take, I headed back into the hospital and when I entered her room, I saw her talking quietly to Ren who was in bed with her and they seemed to be sharing a very intimate moment as Ren pressed his forehead to hers, sighing contently, their eyes closed while he kissed her knuckles.

MINE! Azrael growled.

He has been a lot quieter these days, satisfied with just being close to her. Thoughts of her sweet, sweet blood and delicious scent had taken the back seat to wanting to protect and provide for her.

The only time Azrael threw a tantrum were moments like this, when I walked in on the two of them being intimate or passionate.

Jealousy reared its ugly head almost immediately at how perfect they looked for each other and Ren's words felt even heavier now because would Lily ever look at me like that?

I didn't want to know the answer to that so I dropped the smoothie on the table at the foot of her bed and turned around to leave but just as I did, she called my name and I turned around to face her, my heart suddenly pounding erratically in my chest. "Oh my God, is that strawberry smoothie? Just what I wanted!" She reached forward and took the cup, taking a large sip and sighing contentedly.

Her eyes lit up as she looked at me. "This is my absolute favorite. Thank you so much, Zac!"

My heart lighted up like a freaking lightbulb and at that moment, I knew that I was gone for this girl.

I nodded with a smile, feeling a lot lighter that I had guessed correctly and I made a mental note to learn everything there was to know about Lily because nothing made me feel better than seeing her happy. That would beyond any doubt prove to Ren and myself that he was wrong about my feelings for her.

"I'll leave you two..." I trailed off, turning around to give them some privacy even I was jealous at the fact that I wanted it to be me with her, sharing that vulnerability felt like hot coal in my mouth.

"Wait. Where are you going?" Lily asked and I paused, turning around to see her give me an anxious look.

"Outside" I replied and her frown deepened.

"Why? I don't mind that you're here. I don't want to see you go."

This girl was bad for my health because my heart skipped beats.

"Really?" At this point, I knew how I sounded, desperate and pathetic, but I didn't care. This was Lily we were talking about.

"Yes. Come and join us on the bed. It's big enough for the three of us. I want you here." She lifting up the corner of her blanket and patted the empty space to her left.

There was no trace of doubt, just certainty on her face and I nodded, hesitantly making it to the empty side of the bed and kicking off my shoes before joining them. To my shock, Azrael was completely calm at the idea of being close to her, even if she had Ren on her other side.

"Don't leave," she warned, latching on to my arm and snuggling closer, and as I watched her sigh contently and slowly fall asleep, an idea started to form in my head. My heart started racing as I considered the possibility of it all.

I had selfishly and stupidly wanted her to choose me. I must have been delusional because it was becoming clear as day that she would never leave Ren for anyone.

But what if she didn't have to choose between any of us? What if we could all just have her at the same time?

She was sleeping soundly now and Azrael was sated in my consciousness, just happy to have his bond close to him.

He didn't care that my best friend had his arm around her waist, spooning her from behind.

I glanced at Ren and he only nodded, a look of certainty in his golden brown eyes.

I realized that he had not only read my mind but seemed to agree with me and that was enough encouragement to let the idea take root in my heart as Lily clutched on to my hand a peaceful look on her face as she slept soundly.

The only problem would be trying to get Aiden aboard on this but as I stared at Lily's sleeping form, I knew that I would do anything to have her and not lose my best friends in the process either.