Chapter 66: A Rift of Insecurity
**Aldrich’s POV**
I didn’t dare look at Thelma’s face. The southern Duke’s insinuation was far too blatant, leaving no room for misinterpretation. She must have understood the true nature of his so- called “escort mission.”
What he described as a journey for protection was nothing more than an elaborate setup–a blind date disguised as duty.
“You know,” I began hesitantly, grasping at straws to avoid confrontation, “military regulations don’t permit extended leaves without a valid reason. I’m afraid I can’t be of
assistance.”
What’s
The Duke, ever persistent, gave me a knowing wink that only deepened my unease. precisely why I sought special permission from the King and Queen,” he said, as if presenting me with a gift. His tone was jovial, but all I felt was the sting of manipulation.
This wasn’t right. None of it was right.
I quickly collected myself, my thoughts racing. The Duke had bypassed my earlier refusal with calculated precision. My father had already turned down his initial invitation, politely but firmly. It was a clear rejection in any social context. Yet, here the Duke was, acting as though no such refusal had occurred, escalating his efforts to a level that bordered on coercion.
Did he truly dote on Carolyn so much that he’d resort to such measures? Or was there more to this than met the eye? My instincts whispered that there was something deeper at play, but Thelma’s sudden departure jolted me back to the present.
She left without a word, her expression unreadable. That alone sent a chill through me.
I chased after her, desperate to explain myself. But before I could break free, Carolyn grabbed hold of my arm.
“Have you ever visited the Southern Pack?” she asked brightly, her enthusiasm grating on my already frayed nerves. “It’s just as grand as the Lycan Pack, if not more so! Let me tell you all about our customs and traditions-”
Her cheerful demeanor only heightened my frustration. Why couldn’t this father–and- daughter pair take a hint?
“Pardon me,
free.
but I have urgent matters to attend to,” I interrupted curtly, pulling my arm
Carolyn let out a small gasp of surprise, but I couldn’t afford to care. I was past the point of politeness. Without sparing her another glance, I bolted after Thelma.
Behind me, I could hear Carolyn’s voice rising in complaint, likely directed at her father. Let
Chapjen & Patie
her complain, I thought grimly. I would face the consequences of my rudeness later, as long as I could clear things up with Thelma now.
I finally caught up to her in a secluded corner of the palace’s garden maze. Her back was to me, her posture stiff with suppressed emotion.
“Wait, please!” I called out, grabbing her wrist to stop her from walking away. “I swear, Thelma, this isn’t what it seems. You have to believe me–this is all one big
misunderstanding!”
Her silence felt like a dagger poised above my heart.
“I rejected him!” I continued, my voice frantic. I told him no the moment he brought this up. I don’t know why he’s pushing this so hard, but I have never considered Carolyn or anyone else, for that matter. You are the only one I want. Please, Thelma, trust me.”
She finally turned to face me, her eyes sharp yet glistening with unshed tears. “You rejected him,” she said coolly. “Does that mean this isn’t the first time the southern Duke has tried to pair you with Carolyn? How many times has this happened, Aldrich? And why didn’t you tell me?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but her piercing gaze left me floundering.
“I” I stammered, struggling to find the right words. “Because I was afraid… afraid that you
would react like this. It happened once, on the second night of the Moonlight Festival. My father brought it up out of nowhere, and I rejected it immediately. I swear to you, Thelma, I didn’t hide it to deceive you. I just didn’t want to upset you.
Her lips trembled, but her voice was steady. “You didn’t want to upset me, so you chose to keep secrets from me? You promised, Aldrich. You promised never to lie or withhold anything from me. Was that a lie too?”
Her tears fell then, silent but devastating. My heart clenched painfully.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I said, my words tumbling out in a desperate rush. “I swear to the Moon Goddess, I had no ill intentions. I only wanted to protect you from unnecessary worry. You’re such a kind and caring person, Thelma. Even when you act strong, I can see how vulnerable you feel when you’re with me.
“I was afraid that my failure to provide you with enough security would make things worse. I thought hilding this would save you from more pain, but I was wrong. I see that now. I should have trusted you enough to tell you the truth.
“Please, blame me, be angry at me, anything–but don’t look at me like that. Don’t shut me out, Thelma. I can’t bear it. I love you.”
For a moment, I dared to hope. But then she gently pulled her wrist from my grasp.
Her expression was heartbreakingly sorrowful.
“This isn’t just about you, Aldrich,” she said softly. “It’s about us. Maybe we haven’t given each other the security we need. We’ve both kept secrets, and while there may not be many, they’re enough to hurt us deeply.”
I shook my head, panic rising in my chest. “Thelma, no-
She held up a hand to stop me. “We need to take a step back, Aldrich. To think. To calm down. I don’t want to say something I’ll regret, and I don’t want you to either.”
Her words struck like a hammer blow, final and unyielding. She turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, paralyzed by the weight of her parting words.
I don’t know how long I stood there, staring blankly at the spot where she had disappeared. Her voice echoed in my mind, over and over again.
She didn’t say the words explicitly, but her meaning was clear: we were over.
Later, as I sat alone in the fading light, I tried to make sense of everything. How had it come to this? It was such a small thing–a secret I thought was insignificant. Yet it had unraveled everything we’d built together.
I clenched my fists, anger and despair warring within me. This wasn’t how it was supposed to
- be.
How could I fix this? How could I show Thelma that my love for her was unwavering, that she was the center of my world?
But no answer came, only the hollow silence of a night that felt far too long.
Chapter 27 The
