Mated To My Boyfriend's Dad

Chapter 198: Harboring A Monster

Kylo threw his arms listlessly into the air. "Come on, Isleen. Cullen is your closest friend. Don’t make it seem like I sent some high-class spy after you. Besides, I only did all that because I was worried about you. I wanted to see how you were faring after I... after we broke up."

I arched a brow, eyeing Kylo like he was a different person. But at the end of the day, I couldn’t stay mad at him. He’d only been looking out for me, in his own creepy twisted way.

I once again felt touched by the amount of care he showed towards me. By the moon goddess, I couldn’t help admitting it... He would’ve been a perfect option if he were my mate.

Sighing silently with relief, I folded my arms in front of my chest. I looked away awkwardly before muttering. "You didn’t have to do all that. But... Thank you. I appreciate the effort."

Kylo smiled wryly, before dropping another bombshell. "Cullen said he suspects you’ve found someone new before you two moved in here." I couldn’t help shivering when I heard those words. But then he added. "I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for you. It’s just, so sudden. It seems so odd that you’d find a new boyfriend so fast unless he’s your mate. Is that it? Have you found your mate, Isleen?"

Oh, shit. Oh, freaking shit!

Cullen, that stupid blabber mouth! So he’d been sharing things about my life with Kylo? Behind my back?

I couldn’t help regretting telling him about Gamma Rhett. What if he goes on to reveal everything to Kylo? It would ruin me! It would ruin my friendship with Kylo, or worse...

No. I couldn’t allow it. I’d have to have a serious talk with Cullen later. If he was going to keep on gossiping about me behind my back, then I’d have Rhett kick him out of the house.

"Let’s... Let’s just forget about that for now, Kylo." I scratched my nape awkwardly, praying silently to the moon goddess that he wouldn’t push to ask more. Luckily, he raised both his hands, signifying that he wouldn’t ask further.

Thank you moon!

"Speaking of which, where was Cullen off to? I spotted him getting out of the house but he’d already gone far before I could talk to him." Kylo asked, shifting to another topic.

I sighed with a shrug. "He said he wanted to volunteer to join the enlistment program. I mean, I’m pretty sure he’s never mentioned anything about him being a first son. So, I don’t know why he’d willingly volunteer when it wasn’t required of him."

Kylo frowned upon hearing my words, making me wonder if I’d said something wrong. I seemed to be doing a lot of that these days.

"Yes, Cullen wanting to volunteer does sound out of character, knowing his reluctance to do anything too physically straining," Kylo said thoughtfully. But then he added. "But then, even if I wasn’t a first son, I would’ve done the same thing. Our pack is going through difficult times, Isleen. It’s quite understandable if Cullen feels moved enough to willingly volunteer, especially after he witnessed that attack the other night."

Kylo’s words for some reason, made me feel guilty. He was right. The pack needed more hands on deck now more than ever. But then, that begged the question...

"If the pack is going through ’difficult times’ as you said, then why can’t they let go of stupid traditions and allow women to get enlisted as well? Why do we have to sit back and watch while the men risk their lives to protect us?" I hollered, my voice rising in its pitch.

I was angry, but that anger wasn’t directed toward Kylo. I was angry with his dad. I was fed up with how hung up he was with following these traditions. Yes, this enlistment wasn’t entirely his doing, but he could’ve pushed to let women join as well. He had the influence and power to after all.

Maybe I’d made the right decision to leave him this morning. I knew he had my number since he was able to reach me yesterday, yet he hadn’t even called. I was low-key relieved since I didn’t want to face him with my emotions which were all over the place right now, but I also felt disappointed. I mean, he was my mate after all. And I kinda craved his attention right now.

"I don’t know." Kylo shrugged defeatedly in response to my question. But then he added. "But still, even if women were allowed to volunteer, how many women do you think would be interested in going to war in this pack? The women in this pack are just as compliant with traditions as the men. Only a few of them think like you, Isleen."

I bit my lips. He made a very good point. But I remembered something.

"Wait, aren’t you supposed to be off to get yourself enlisted now?" I questioned.

Kylo nodded before replying. "Yup. I just thought I should come to check up on you first. And it seems I made the right decision with that."

My face went pale with embarrassment. I’d almost forgotten that he’d walked in on me, thinking about killing myself.

Noticing my distress, Kylo placed a palm on my shoulder, forcing me to look into his eyes.

"We’ve talked about other things far enough. Stop stalling and tell me what’s bothering you. What did I even walk into you doing?" He squinted his eyes at the last part, turning his gaze to the knife which still lay there on the floor.

My shoulders slumped as I finally found the strength to speak. "I... yes, I was thinking about Liam. After everything, I still can’t accept the fact that a boy who I called my son, was actually a monster in disguise. It has to be some cruel joke. All those deaths were his doing. He killed people who wronged me, like Lupe’s mother and Fenrir. I feel overwhelmed with guilt. I’ve been fostering a demon with me for so long, making me responsible for all the evil things he did while -"

"By the moon, Isleen stop!" Kylo suddenly snapped, causing me to involuntarily jerk with fright. "That vampire’s actions are NOT your fault. You were used and deceived, just like the rest of us. I remember how attached he seemed to me, and I feel bad too. But one thing I wouldn’t do and that I wouldn’t let you do, is letting that get into your head. Letting that question your morality."

And once again, Kylo was right. I’d trusted ’Liam’ but that wasn’t my fault. It’s just... I missed him. I just wanted to wake up and find out that this was all a bad dream. That I’d find Liam sleeping beside me. But alas, if this was a dream, it sure as hell was a long one.

Just then, I remembered something that’d been bothering me before Kylo walked in. So I decided to share it with him.

"My special ability. The one that lets me sense other creatures within a specific distance." I uttered vaguely, only continuing when Kylo urged me to. "It... It activated today and allowed me to sense a presence. A vampire."