Freeing Starr✔️

Chapter 33 ~ A mother's worry

Everything was moving so quickly.

It's been a few days since I arrived here in the Kingdom and ever since that night after dinner, Leon was nowhere to be seen. I didn't even have a chance to go out and find him as Stacia kept bombarding me every day with the wedding preparations. I was afraid that he'd stop talking to me after his outburst that night. I knew that he was trying his best to be accommodating and I knew that I was safe and I wanted to make sure he knew that as well.

I completely understood why he reacted the way he did. No Alpha male would want their mate to be in the same vicinity of the man that they once shared a bond with. Looking back on it now that I wasn't so drowned in fear, I remembered the slight insecurity that I saw in his gaze and I hate myself for putting it there.

Leon was not Zion. I needed to constantly remember that to further improve Leon and I's relationship. Everyone was allowed to shout when they're angry. I wish I could remember this in those moments instead of jumping out of my skin like a startled rabbit. I hated it.

Leon has been nothing but kind to me. Unlike Zion, he's not afraid to let me in, to let me see his emotions and that gives me a sense of security. He wasn't a bad guy and the more I spent time here, the more that thought stabilized as Stacia constantly told me stories of how Leon grew up and the mischiefs he'd get into.

Compared to my sob stories, this was a breath of fresh air and I found myself slowly yearning to know more about him. His likes, dislikes, what he does when he's not working and how he handles stressful situations. I wanted to experience his mischievous side and I wanted to be someone he could confide in. I wanted to be able to take his anger like a grain of salt and comfort him without fear. This time, I couldn't even say that it was our mate bond making me feel this way. I was genuinely curious and unlike my bond with Zion that was forced, this new bond with Leon was open, mutual and empowering.

Even though we weren't anywhere near each other, I could feel him vividly. I knew he was fine and I knew he was somewhere in the castle and I knew he could feel the same with me and it brought a smile to my face.

This was what a mate bond should be. A bond so sacred that no one could ever impeach on your connection. You feel everything. From their presence, to their emotions to their pain and you bare it all. All of it. You take it all in and you help them to manage their emotions. You take away their pain and you stand tall in their presence because they were the only source of light in this shadowed world of greed, hunger and war. They were the only person you could rely on.

I somewhat understood why Nadia did what she did.

Zion wasn't mine to hold. I knew that from the beginning but I wasn't willing to accept that because he made me believe he'd choose me over all else. I was naive. I knew how much he loved Nadia and I knew how much she loved him despite everything he'd put her through. That was their bond. I understood that.

Now it's time for me to experience mine.

I sighed.

Stacia glanced over at me with a raised eyebrow as she held up a bright purple cloth, "what are you over there sighing about? Come help me choose a color for the table cloths. They have to blend in perfectly with the flowers we ordered so that all the guests could topple off their seats in amazement."

I chuckled and eyed the purple fabric thoughtfully.

Unlike my wedding with Zion, where everything was prepared for me, Stacia made an effort to include me in literally every decision made. She made sure I approved of the colors and ideas she chose as she wanted me to feel comfortable and happy on my special day.

At first, she had asked if I wanted to do everything myself with her as the assistant but I refused since this wasn't my area of expertise. She was more than happy to help me set everything up and I was more than happy for the help.