Chapter 418: Giving Permission

KADEN’S POV

Only a few hours remained before the full moon, and I couldn’t stop thinking about Rebecca.

More specifically, I couldn’t stop thinking about what she had said to me that morning.

I’LL SPEAK TO MELVIN. HE’S MY FIANCé, REMEMBER? I’M SURE HE’LL BE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP ME THROUGH THE FULL MOON.

I tightened my grip around the glass in my hand.

Damn it!

Rebecca was a grown woman. She could make her own decisions, and if she wanted to spend the full moon with Melvin, that was entirely her business.

Unfortunately, my wolf didn’t agree.

You’re seriously going to let her spend the night with another man? he growled.

"She’s not my mate anymore," I muttered.

And?

"And she has a fiancé."

So do you.

I frowned.

I’m simply reminding you that having a fiancée didn’t stop you from sleeping with Rebecca before.

"That was different."

Of course it was, he replied sarcastically.

I ignored him and placed the glass on my desk.

I had spent most of the afternoon trying to concentrate on work, but Rebecca’s words kept returning to haunt me. I could still picture the defiant expression on her face when she announced that she would speak to Melvin.

And the worst part was that I had no right to stop her.

What frustrated me even more was that Rebecca had completely misunderstood why I had rejected her suggestion yesterday.

It wasn’t because I didn’t want her.

Goddess knew how badly I wanted her. It had taken every ounce of self-control I possessed to push her away when she was sitting on my lap, practically offering herself to me.

But what exactly did she expect me to do? Sleep with her whenever she needed me, pretend there was nothing between us, and then watch her return to Melvin as though nothing had happened?

I couldn’t do that.

Not when I was already in love with her again.

Yes, I loved Rebecca. I had tried denying it for days, convincing myself that whatever I felt for her was nothing more than the lingering effects of our former mate bond. But I knew better now.

My feelings for her had returned, and they were becoming stronger with each passing day.

Unfortunately, Rebecca didn’t seem to feel the same way.

She had made it clear that she wanted nothing serious between us. All she wanted was a no-strings-attached arrangement that would allow us to satisfy our physical desires without worrying about emotions or commitments.

But I wasn’t interested in that.

I had never been the kind of man who slept with women I had no feelings for, and now that I was in love with Rebecca again, the thought of being nothing more than someone she turned to whenever she needed physical satisfaction was unbearable.

Then why don’t you tell her? my wolf suddenly asked.

I frowned.

Tell her what?

That you’re still in love with her!

I let out a bitter laugh.

"And what exactly would that accomplish?"

At least she’ll know how you feel.

"Know how I feel? So she can reject me all over again?"

You don’t know that she’ll reject you.

"Oh, please! Have you forgotten that she’s engaged to Melvin? She’s planning to return to him once everything between us is settled. And yesterday, she practically told me that all she wanted from me was sex."

There’s nothing wrong with telling her the truth.

"Really? And what exactly do you expect me to say? That I’ve fallen in love with her again? That while she’s preparing to marry another man, I’m sitting here hoping she’ll change her mind and choose me?"

You’re afraid she’ll reject you.

I clenched my jaw.

"I’m not afraid of anything."

Then tell her.

"Shut up!"

My wolf chuckled, clearly enjoying my frustration.

I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my forehead.

The truth was, I couldn’t blame Rebecca for wanting to move on. I had hurt her enough in the past, and perhaps Melvin could give her the happiness she deserved.

But that didn’t mean I could switch off my feelings and pretend that being intimate with her meant nothing.

And now she was threatening to spend the full moon with Melvin.

Just imagining another man touching her was enough to make my wolf restless.

Still, I wasn’t going to interfere.

If Rebecca wanted Melvin, then she could have him.

You don’t mean that, my wolf muttered.

"I do."

Then why have you been thinking about it all day?

"Shut up."

He chuckled again.

I picked up another document, determined to get some work done, but barely a minute passed before I found myself staring at the same paragraph without understanding a single word.

Goddess!

This was ridiculous.

I dropped the document and reached for my phone.

Perhaps speaking to Rola would help take my mind off Rebecca. After all, she was my fiancée, and with the full moon approaching, it wouldn’t hurt to check on her.

At least, that was what I told myself as I dialed her number.

She answered after the third ring.

"Hello, Kaden!"

"Hello, Rola. How are you?"

"I’m fine. What about you?"

"I’m doing well."

"That’s good to hear. Is everything alright?"

"Yes. Why wouldn’t it be?"

"I don’t know. You don’t usually call at this hour unless there’s something important."

I almost smiled.

She wasn’t entirely wrong.

"Nothing is wrong, Rola. I just wanted to check on you. The full moon is only a few hours away, and I thought I should find out whether you’ve made the necessary arrangements."

Rola laughed softly.

"Kaden, have you forgotten? I already have Melvin’s mark."

Oh.

Of course.

For some reason, that detail had completely slipped my mind.

"Right. That’s true."

"His mark protects me, remember? I won’t be going into heat like an unmated she-wolf."

"Yes, I remember now."

"Honestly, you sound distracted. Are you sure everything is alright?"

"I’m fine."

I paused, tapping my fingers against the desk.

Then, almost before I could stop myself, I asked, "What about Melvin?"

"What about him?"

"Is he around?"

"Why do you ask?"

"No particular reason. I was simply wondering whether he’ll be spending the full moon with you."

Rola laughed.

"Oh, Kaden! Are you worried that I might go into heat and end up doing something with Melvin?"

"What?"

"Kaden, relax. I’m only teasing you."

"I’m not worried about that. I was simply asking."

"Of course."

Something about the amusement in her voice irritated me.

"Well? Is he going to be with you?"

"As far as I know, yes. Besides, from what I’ve heard, dragons are particularly protective of their mates during the full moon."

I straightened slightly.

"Protective?"

"Yes. Apparently, the full moon strengthens a dragon’s protective instincts. They prefer to remain close to their mates during that period, and some even become quite possessive."

"Really?"

"That’s what I’ve been told."

I considered her words.

Melvin was a dragon, and Rola carried his mark. If what she said was true, he would most likely spend the night with her.

Which meant Rebecca wouldn’t be able to turn to him.

The thought brought an unexpected sense of relief.

There it is, my wolf said smugly.

What?

You’re relieved.

I ignored him.

"Well, that’s good," I told Rola.

"Good?"

"Yes. At least you won’t have to worry about anything."

"Exactly."

There was a brief silence before she spoke again.

"Speaking of the full moon, what about Rebecca?"

My relief disappeared immediately.

"What about her?"

"Well, she doesn’t have a mate mark, does she?"

"No."

"Then she’s going to experience the full effects of the heat. Has she made any arrangements?"

"Yes," I answered quickly. "She’s going to the facility. They’ll give her the suppressants she needs."

I didn’t actually know whether Rebecca had made those arrangements. After our argument that morning, I hadn’t spoken to her again.

But I certainly wasn’t going to tell Rola that.

"Oh, that’s good," she replied.

"Yes."

"Kaden, can I tell you something?"

"Of course."

"Please don’t misunderstand what I’m about to say."

I frowned.

"What is it?"

"Well, I know Rebecca is going through a difficult time, especially with the full moon approaching. And considering everything that has happened between the two of you, I just want you to know that you don’t have to feel guilty if something happens."

I sat upright.

"What exactly are you talking about?"

She hesitated.

"I mean, if you and Rebecca end up being intimate during the full moon, I would understand."

For a moment, I genuinely wondered whether I had heard her correctly.

"What?"

"Kaden, please don’t get upset. I’m only saying that I understand the situation."

"Rola, what situation?"

"Rebecca is your former mate, and the two of you have already been intimate before. I know you still share a complicated relationship, and with the full moon approaching, things might become difficult for her."

I stared at the wall ahead of me.

Was she seriously giving me permission to sleep with Rebecca?

"Rola, do you realize what you’re saying?"

"Of course."

"You’re my fiancée. You’re supposed to become my wife, and you’re telling me that you wouldn’t mind if I slept with another woman?"

She went quiet.

I wasn’t angry with her. If anything, I was confused.

Most women would be furious at the thought of their fiancé spending the night with another woman, especially someone he had previously been mated to.

Yet Rola sounded almost completely unbothered.

"I didn’t mean it that way," she said eventually.

"Then what did you mean?"

"I just don’t want you to feel pressured into making a decision that might hurt Rebecca. That’s all."

I frowned.

"Rola, Rebecca and I aren’t planning to do anything. She’s going to the facility, and that’s where she’ll spend the full moon."

"Okay, Kaden. I understand."

There was something strange about how easily she accepted my explanation.

Perhaps she was simply being understanding. Rola had always been considerate, and I knew she didn’t enjoy unnecessary arguments.

Still, something about this conversation felt unusual.

"Rola, is there something you’re not telling me?"

She laughed softly.

"Something I’m not telling you? Like what?"

"I don’t know. You just seem unusually comfortable with the idea of Rebecca and me being together."

"Kaden, you’re overthinking things. I trust you, and I know you wouldn’t deliberately do anything to hurt me. I was only trying to be understanding."

I remained silent.

"Besides," she continued, "I know how complicated your situation with Rebecca is. I don’t want to make things more difficult for either of you."

I rubbed my forehead.

"Alright."

"Are you upset with me?"

"No, Rola. I’m not upset."

"Good. Because I really didn’t mean to offend you."

"You haven’t offended me."

I was about to change the subject when I heard a man’s voice in the background.

"Is everything okay?"

My fingers tightened around the phone.

I knew that voice.

Melvin.

For a moment, I said nothing. Rola hadn’t mentioned that he was already there.

"Oh, everything’s fine," she replied, her voice sounding slightly farther away from the phone.

There was a faint rustling sound before she returned to the call.

"Kaden? Are you still there?"

"Yes."

"Sorry about that."

"No problem."

I glanced at the clock on my desk.

Melvin was already with Rola, which meant he wasn’t with Rebecca. And considering what Rola had told me about dragons and their mates during the full moon, he would most likely remain by her side throughout the night.

The realization brought another wave of relief.

You really are shameless, my wolf muttered.

I ignored him.

"Kaden?" Rola called again.

"Yes. Listen, I have a few things to take care of. I’ll call you back later."

"Oh, alright."

"Take care of yourself."

"You too, Kaden."

I ended the call and slowly lowered my phone.

Melvin was with Rola.

Rebecca had threatened to spend the full moon with him, but if he remained with his mate tonight, that wouldn’t happen.

At least, that was one thing I no longer had to worry about.

But another thought immediately crossed my mind.

If Rebecca wasn’t going to spend the full moon with Melvin, and she had truly changed her mind about going to the facility...

Then what exactly was she planning to do?