Chapter 89 : Reunion with Rylan

Karenina

Later that afternoon, while out in the garden with Raine, she saw the child playing happily, even trying to ask Helga to dance with her, much to her amusement. Karen raised her hands to hide her grin, trying and failing to look sympathetic in front of a disappointed Helga. Helga gave her a quick look, begging to be saved, and with a small laugh she couldn't contain, Karen got to her feet, intending to help her friend by distracting the excited child.

Just as she took the first step to intervene, her eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat as if she had been punched in the face, and she froze. Someone was here, barely noticed among the many different auras of scent emanating from Xavier's pack house, but undoubtedly he was here.

Without thinking or warning her friends, she turned on her heel so fast that the bones in her ankle cracked and ran towards the front gate guarding the mansion, almost tripping over the clothes Helga had put on. She tried to grab a few strands of the cloth, but there were too many, making it difficult for her, as she desperately tried to get to her destination, to see with her own eyes that she was not imagining things.

Wait for me! Dear Goddess, please wait!

Although the part of the garden she entered was not too far from the gate, she felt like she was running for miles, so great was her desire to get to her destination - right now. Sweating, and panting because it was a warm summer afternoon and she was wearing layers of clothing, she was afraid she would pass out from heat stroke before she reached the gate.

Her heartbeat was racing. Because she was running or because he was here?

"Rylaaannnn!" she screamed at the top of her lungs as she saw a black leather jacket with a red shirt in the distance, and grayish-black hair moving behind her beloved friend.

Her scream was so loud, filled with longing and strong emotion, that everyone turned their heads in her direction. Guards and warriors alike stared at her, but she didn't care, she didn't look at them, she only looked at one person in the small crowd that had gathered.

She even ignored the tall, handsome man who was wearing a black shirt and who was looking more casual than usual. Of course, she felt Xavier's presence there, always aware of his whereabouts, but even he was ignored as tears began to fill her eyes when she saw a hand move toward her.

A familiar, strong arm wrapped around her back, holding her against a muscular chest, her face buried in his chest, the scent of sandalwood filling her lungs. She didn't care that she collided with his body harder than she should have, bumping into him, and he didn't seem to notice how rough their embrace was either, because he held her tight, almost cutting off her breath.

Well, she didn't care.

He was here. He'd finally come for her.

"What took you so long to get here, you idiot?" She sobbed into his chest, her voice low, tears soaking the front of his shirt.

"Huh, who's the idiot here? You're the one crying like a baby," he replied curtly.

Though his words sounded harsh in the face of her tears, his voice was soft beneath the harshness, and he held her so tightly as if he would never let her go, never could, never would.

She felt him bury his nose in her hair, his chest swelling with a rush of air as he inhaled her scent, and breathed her in. One of his hands moved to the back of her head, cupping her skull, his hand cupping her scalp as his fingers tangled in her hair.

"Why did you leave? Why did you leave, Karen? I'm so... so worried," he whispered harshly into her ear, his voice thick with suppressed emotion, as if he could barely hold back his own tears.

"It was just an accident. I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." She blurted out, her voice finally rising before a sob shook her body.

She shivered in his arms, her hands clenched around the front of his shirt as if she could physically hold him to her side, afraid he would leave her.

He calmed her, whispering her name like a prayer.

She forgot everyone, the people around them. At that moment, no one else existed because the relief was so overwhelming. She didn't realize how stressful her life had been the past week, how confused and scared she had been. At least not until the rock appeared, the man she had been admiring since she unknowingly came here.

Even though she wasn't the same helpless girl she had been a few years ago, but rather a mature girl capable of taking care of herself and protecting herself, there were still times - like right now - when she needed Rylan to hold her, to tell her that everything was going to be okay.

Suddenly, a very familiar voice interrupted their reunion, shattering their joy.

"Maybe you just want to be alone with her, Rylan, away from prying eyes."

Carolina's voice filled the silence, her tone unemotional, cold, even distant.

At the sound of her voice, Karen felt his body stiffen. Karen doubted Rylan was even breathing before a hand grabbed Karen's upper arm and pushed her roughly away from Rylan. She looked at him in surprise, but he wasn't looking at her. He stared over his shoulder and she tilted her body slightly to follow his gaze, knowing what she would find before her eyes fell on a woman, her cousin - Carolina.

Carolina stared back at her, her face carved from alabaster, but with a stronger look in her eyes, she saw a flash of turbulent emotion in her brown eyes. Those eyes reflected her pain before quickly covering her feelings.

He let her go - he let her go.

Worse, Rylan turned and took a hesitant step toward Carolina, but what really broke Karen's heart were the words he spoke next.

"Wait!" He shouted, holding out a hand in a reassuring gesture. "It's not what it looks like, Carolina."

"And what is a passionate display supposed to look like?" Carolina asked, and Karen couldn't miss the sadness that once again colored her eyes as she saw her resignation.

As a woman, Karen could well understand what other women felt after seeing the man they loved in the arms of another woman. She had felt the same pain over and over again when Rylan had stalked Carolina and left her too many times to count. It was the same pain she felt now.

It was also familiar.

"No! Carolina, this is just a misunderstanding... We just... She's my friend and she's been missing for almost a week..." He stuttered in a worried voice, trying to calm the woman he loved.

And Karen had no doubt that he still loved her, would always love Carolina - never her.