Chapter 463
I can hear them talking. There’s a window open somewhere, but I remain where I am, smoking my
cigarette.
“…joining us?” Zaia’s faint voice reaches me.
“No,” Valerie’s voice comes.
“Oh…”
“Sorry,” Valerie’s quiet voice comes.
“Don’t be. He has every right to do what feels best for him,” Hugh says.
He could have been the one dead… Jai could have been alive and with Valerie… I push the intruding
thought away. Seeing him had brought those memories back with vengeance. What if he had been the
one I managed to kill?
Not knowing the truth, if I killed him, would I have regretted it?
But then again, I have done enough to fuel the demons within my mind.
“Dad, is everything alright?” Zaia asks.
“Yes, however, life is short… and so, with your blessing of course, Atticus… I want to ask Shelby to
marry me,” Hugh’s voice comes. “I mean, I have had this conversation with you, Atticus, a while back,
but I hope it still stands, even if her health is not at its best. I still want her to be my wife.”
There are a few gasps.
“Hot diggedy!” The Menace exclaims as Valerie and Zaia sound excited as they kind of, squeal?
Sounds like that anyway.
Women can be weird…
“Atticus?” Valerie asks, clearly waiting for his input.
“I’m all for it. Atticus loves to collect sisters anyway, he and Zaia would make amazing siblings,”
Sebastian taunts mockingly.
The bastard hasn’t changed at all.
“Sebastian!” Zaia scolds lightly.
“I wouldn’t mind that. And Hugh, I am moved,” Atticus begins. There’s clearly some surprise from him
as there’s silence before Sebastian speaks again. “Hold up, you wouldn’t mind being her stepbrother?”
“No,” Atticus replies. “It’s not every day you find the right one. I wish you and Mom all the happiness in
the world.” He’s acting weird. He has been pretty much all day. I pause as I tilt my head up sharply,
staring ahead.
His behaviour, his distracted persona all day.
Adriana…
By any chance are they… mates?
Every single interaction, and the behaviour between him and Adriana, and what she said to me upon
leaving all seems to click into place and point in that direction. What the actual fuck?
That… posh dude with Adriana? No, that’s a bad fucking match. But who am I to question that shit
when me and Val are worlds apart?
Then why did she leave? Did he reject her? Is that why she left?
Anger ripples through me. If that is the case, I won’t be letting this slide.
You don’t treat my pack members like that.
“I am deeply moved, and I fully support it. She might not agree… but I’m sure it would make her happy,
nonetheless.”
“If things don’t go as planned… I think it would be a time you can all hold on. Memories are precious,”
Sebastian says quietly. They are… if you have them.
“Life is short, but I do love her, and I would love to make her my wife. Thank you, Atticus.”
“So, if she accepts, will you marry soon?” Valerie asks. “She is weak, and won’t be able to handle any
strenuous-”
“Really? Is that where your mind goes?” Sebastian mutters mockingly.
“I mean the wedding!” Valerie growls, making Zaia chuckle softly as Atticus sighs.
“King, what is your issue?”
“Daddy has many issues,” the Menace remarks.
“We will keep it simple, just vows and a small dinner. I don’t want her to exhaust herself,” Hugh says.
“I think that sounds great, if she agrees, of course,” Atticus adds.
“I think she will. And we can do a small thing in the house and make sure she can rest as much as
possible,” Zaia says.
“Yes, and maybe she’ll be healed by then,” Valerie murmurs.
They continue talking and I smoke my cigarette, glad I wasn’t inside for that conversation. How do you
even be part of that conversation?
I hear the front door open and turn to see none other than Hugh step out.
“Hello there,” he says.
He looks older than what I remember, he has more wrinkles and white hair…
“Hi,” I reply, looking away.
“Could I have a word, Zade?”
“Aren’t you already? What do you want?” I ask quietly, refusing to look at him. I’m not sure if it’s my guilt
or what, but I can’t look him in the eye.
“I want to apologise for earlier. I wasn’t expecting to see you there, and I heard Valerie shout and was a
little concerned. I’m sorry for the shock.”
“I wasn’t shocked.”
“That’s… good then.”
“You shouldn’t be outside alone, right? I mean with me?” I look at him sharply, but he remains where he
is, unphased.
“Not at all. Back then, I wanted to see you, and I still do. I won’t overstep, but I just wanted to say, it’s
good to see you, Zade. I am happy for you and Valerie. You two are good for one another.”
“Hmph, should you be saying that when her ex died to save you from me?” I remark quietly, my tone
almost mocking.
“He would say the same as me. I am certain of it.” He smiles at me, nodding slightly before he turns
and heads back inside.
What was Jai? A fucking saint?
I rest my head back against the wall.
I’m doing it again, pushing away because I don’t want anyone to break through my walls. Valerie is an
exception. The only exception there will ever be.