Chapter 90 : Let Go

Karenina

At first, she wanted to say something, to help her "friend" when it was obvious that he was worried that Carolina would think he was involved in a romantic relationship with her, but no words came out, her voice stolen by the pain she felt at his rejection of her - in favor of another woman.

"You don't have to explain yourself to me," Carolina interrupted. "Do what you want, Rylan. Spend time with my cousin, as I know you've wanted to for a long time."

Then Carolina noticed Xavier's presence and nodded her head respectfully before looking meaningfully at a guard. Then Xavier had the man escort her to a room in his pack house. Carolina walked right past Rylan, ignoring him when he called out to her and continued on.

As she stared into his face, Karen saw the longing in Rylan's golden eyes that followed Carolina as she walked away, she saw the old love and pain reflected there. Once again, she remembered what he had said, how he had let her go, and she felt completely shattered. It was then that Karen knew he would never be her mine, never.

So she finally let go of him and walked over to Xavier, who was watching her in silence. She saw his golden yellow eyes flicker as they met her own, and then he held out his hand as she approached, and she took it gratefully. Actually, she didn't mind if he held her close to his side, she just leaned against him willingly.

She needed it, she needed Xavier.

"Karen, what the hell are you doing?" Rylan yelled in shock. Then she heard him growl, an animal rumble that sounded ferocious yet confusing. "What did you do to her, Xavier?"

She gave him a quick look over her shoulder without making even the slightest attempt to move away from Xavier. Actually, she wasn't ashamed to be seen by Rylan in such an intimate way with his older brother as she had thought in the past. As a matter of fact, she didn't even care about it anymore. She didn't feel like she was betraying Rylan - not anymore.

But before she could even think of something to say, a puzzled look dispelled the anger that creased his forehead and made his lips curl. Rylan blinked, then blinked again, his eyes wide and dumbfounded while staring at her. At first, she thought that Rylan was still in shock at the sight of her and Xavier's intimate hug in front of him, but that thought was quickly shattered.

"Karen... you... why do I feel the wolf aura energy getting stronger around you? And I don't mean the bastard next to you, although I want answers about that too!" Rylan said angrily.

Remembering that Rylan had not been there for her during her last difficult time when she had expected him to come to her, she wondered why he had not come to her sooner. There had to be a reason why Carolina had come with him to Xavier's pack house instead of Selene, Mike, and Samuel. There must be something that separated them, but since Rylan didn't seem to be bothered by her friends' absence, she couldn't let her already heavy heart worry too much. At least not yet.

There were too many things on her mind, too many hurt feelings that broke her heart, emotions that clouded her judgment. She needed time away from Rylan, even though he had only just arrived. There was so much to think about, something she needed to talk to Xavier about.

"Not now, Rylan," she murmured, looking into his achingly familiar golden eyes.

At her words, Karen saw those eyes dim with realization. His face closed, except for his overly expressive eyes, which were filled with apologies for hurting her again when it came to Carolina. Perhaps Rylan remembered the things he had just said after trying to explain their emotional embrace to Carolina, remembered when he had pushed her away. In fact, she remembered it too.

"Karenina-" He started harshly and stopped, looking away guiltily.

She turned away from him to stare at Xavier. He returned her gaze, silently asking with her eyes what he thought about her. What did Xavier think, she wondered, after seeing her run into the arms of another man - his younger brother? Whereas they had just agreed to work on a better relationship between them, whatever that might be, and to explore what they felt for each other.

Had her rushing off to see Rylan made him doubt her, made Xavier think that she was choosing Rylan over him? She chuckled almost without amusement as she finally realized how it felt to be in Rylan's shoes when he was forced to choose between Karenina and Carolina. It wasn't a pleasant place to be, but it also made her aware of the situation Rylan was in, made her think about it and maybe even understand it.

"Can we go somewhere? Alone, away from here?"

As if realizing how important her words were, Xavier's hand curled around her waist, a sharp expression coming into his gaze that pierced through her.

A second later, Xavier was nodding steadily, and then he was holding her tightly in his arms, ready to start running faster through the dense forest.

"Wait, Karen! Xavier! Where the hell do you think you're taking her? Come back here!"

"Karenina and I want to be alone, you idiot. A guard will escort you to a room," Xavier replied in a flat tone.

But it looked like Rylan was still going to argue.

"You bastard!" He shouted at Xavier.

"Shut up!"

A startled gasp was heard from Rylan, shocked at the eerie tone of her voice.

"What the hell was that for, Karen? I was trying to save you!" Rylan shouted at her, demanding an explanation.

Xavier and Karen were only a few feet from where they were when they suddenly heard Rylan scream and she tapped her hand on Xavier's chest, muttering to him to stop.

Meanwhile, she looked back to see Rylan stumbling to his feet and trying to catch up with her, raising his head to glare at her angrily for her attitude.

"I don't need you to save me, not anymore." Then she looked back at Xavier.

She could feel Xavier stiffen at her words to Rylan, his arms tightening around her as Rylan stared at her speechlessly before a broken expression replaced the anger in his eyes.

Before Rylan could speak again, she continued. "I need to speak with Xavier now. We'll be right back, Rylan." Then she narrowed her eyes at him, who took a step back when he saw the expression on her face, as if afraid of what she was about to do. "Do not follow us," she warned, her voice sounding threatening of dire consequences if he chose to ignore her.

With a look of understanding in Rylan's eyes at her threat, his eyes widened before he took a hasty step back.

And with that, she looked back at Xavier, as if signaling him to take her away.