Bullied Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Chapter 78

Ren's

POV

"And then one of the girls at the salon was like she wanted to dye her hair in the same shade as my own. It's obvious she was just trying to copy me. She didn't even know I was a natural redhead..."

As Mauve kept talking about whatever she thought I was paying attention to, I could not help but wonder how I had once again found myself in this mess that I was certain was done and dusted merely hours ago. How had I moved from being certain that I was never going to see Mauve again to being on a damned date with her?

I ran my hand through my hair for the nth time tonight, messing it up even more.

I knew I could not reject her. It didn't matter that it was probably the easiest and fastest way for me to get rid of her since I was not the one that would get hurt in the end... but I could not.

Not after watching what had happened to Rhea when she was rejected by that fool I would rather not think about. She had not even been obsessed with him and it had taken a toll on her.

There was the fact that even though a part of me wanted to replace Lily and scream at her for giving up on us, she was right. Mauve was an omega and she would not want to have it on her conscience if rejecting Mauve did irreparable damage to her or worse, killed her. I didn't want that baggage on her conscience. I didn't want to hurt her any more than the blows life had dealt her. I wanted her to be happy and at peace, without being ridden with guilt.

Aiden and Zac would probably call me foolish for even considering Mauve in all of this but right now I was sure that she was the one that needed to do the rejecting because that was the only way that we could both walk away from this without being hurt since I felt nothing for her, not even the slightest bit of attachment. All I was right now was fed up with the whole situation.

I had done everything in my power to piss her off tonight to try to get her to do that, to push her over the edge and finally reject me the way she has always threatened to when I do even the slightest thing wrong.

I had done everything wrong tonight. I didn't pick her up from her place but told her to use a cab instead, I showed up an hour late, I didn't compliment her, I was barely even paying attention to anything that she was saying. All these were things that would have sent her flying into a rage with me but now, she'd just smile tightly and roll it off her shoulders.

It was not even hard to pretend that I did not want to be here because that was how far this relationship had fallen, if I could even call what we had a relationship. It was more of a business transaction where she had been the only one gaining and I had been keeping up appearances, hoping that we would fix our issues and come to respect each other even though there was no love between us.

I could not even believe that once upon a time, I had been desperate for her affection, her approval, and now I wondered why I had ever even put myself through all that. Why had I even put up with so much s**t from her when she wasn't even worth it? I should go back in time and hit myself in the head for all the pain I took, all the times I suffered at her hands.
Ren's POV

"And then one of the girls at the salon was like she wanted to dye her hair in the same shade as my own. It's obvious she was just trying to copy me. She didn't even know I was a natural redhead..."

Her nervous laugh brought my attention back to her and I didn't even realize I had been looking at her until she smiled.

"Is there something on my face? You have been staring." This time I took a good moment to finally look at her, to really look and see if I could replace why I had been with her in the first place. Her lips were matte red, full and pouty, matching her flaming red hair and nails, her make-up was dark and designed to lure. Her little red dress had a slit all the way to her hips that exposed her long legs and a deep plunge in the neckline so that the valley of her full breasts were on display.

Yeah, she was hot enough to pull anyone in the room but at the end of the day, all I wanted was to be back in Lily's home, sitting on the floor with her dressed in comfy pyjamas and watching a movie while cuddled up close.

My heart tightened in my chest as I imagined what she could probably be doing right now. Was she still with Zac? Were they having a good time? I didn't even realize that she and Zac had been that close until today when he had put his arm around her shoulder like they were pals and she had allowed him to lead her away like they were besties.

Jealousy was like a hot knife plunged deep in my gut as I relived that particular moment, wondering when exactly things had changed between them because to the best of my knowledge, they were enemies. She hated him and he hated her. He hurt her and she wanted nothing to do with him... so why? Why? Why? Why?

I gripped my hair, shaking my head.

And what was with that darned nickname that he called her? Why did he call her duchess? Was it an inside joke between the two of them?

No. I remembered where I had heard that nickname before. It was what he used to call Calista, the girl that had ruined his life after he fell in love with her. Did Zac see Lily as her replacement? Had he somehow stopped disliking her for resembling his dead ex and started falling in love with her like the way I was?

I could not lie and say that it was hard to fall for someone like Lily. Her energy was the purest I've ever seen. She was beautiful, honest, resilient and kind. She has a smart mouth once you get to know her. She lets what she loves consume her and she has a heart big enough to fit the entire country.

Infact it was too easy to fall in love with someone like her and dread coiled in my stomach as I wondered if Zac was already in my shoes. If he had already fallen for her. No. He can't.

If it were Zac... if it were between the both of us, I didn't stand a chance against him. Zac was cooler, stronger, more popular and terrifying. He flirts easily and he has so much confidence and an ego the size of the moon. He knew how to talk to people in a way that left them captivated. He wasn't inexperienced when it comes to women and s*x, whereas the only experience I had in that aspect was with Mauve.

Would Lily even still like me if she had Zac's attention? Could that have been part of the reason she left me? The more questions I had, the more agitated I became, my hands trembling as I checked my phone and Zac's socials for the millionth time. Lily hadn't tried to text me and I couldn't even see her highlights anymore.

A cold feeling suddenly washed over me. What if she was going to cut me off? Would I let that happen? Could I let that happen? I'd give her anything she wanted but not that.

I was hyperventilating. I tugged hard on my tie. Adjusted it.

Why is it so hot in here?

Mauve suddenly huffed in frustration and when I looked away from my phone to her, she frowned and sighed.

"Please, Ren. I am trying really hard to make this work and it takes two to tango. Help me out here"

Her words might have as well be water washing against rocks because I couldn't care less what she wanted anymore.

I was about to tell her that when my phone suddenly started ringing and when I looked, it was from Zac. Skeptical that he was only calling to rub what had happened back at school where Lily had left with him in my face, I cut the call and when he kept calling, I decided that I was going to turn off my phone. I had hit the home button when I saw a message from him drop that made me freeze.

Zac: Come over now. Someone broke into Lily's home and trashed the whole place. She's a mess right now and she needs you.

I didn't have to think twice. The next second, I was out of my seat, only one thought on my mind.

Lily... I have to get to Lily.

"What? Where are you going?" Mauve asked, confused and terrified.

I was taking off my tie and dashing out of the restaurant.

"Ren f*****g Hawthorne! Answer me, goddamnit!"

I headed towards my car, ignoring Mauve who was screaming after me.

"For f**k sake, Ren. If you leave now you will have to work a lot harder to earn me back."

I paused right as I was about to close the door and laughed bitterly at how deluded she was and the role I had played in making her believe she was that important in my life.

"The only reason I am still going along with this sham, Mauve is because you threatened to kill yourself. To me, there is no relationship. Tell the waiter to add the bill to my tab and get a cab home. Goodnight."