Bought By The Ruthless Alpha King (Ruby) novel Chapter 129

Chapter 129: That Should Be Me

Chapter 129: That Should Be Me

Killian’s POV:

“I shouldn’t have stayed there.”

I told myself that as I stood near the arched doorway of the Torrance residence, lingering in the shadows like a cursed remnant. Rosalyn had just woken up, the color returning to her face, laughter trailing behind the twins like sunlight chasing them into the room. Mikael had been by her side the entire time, her mate. As it should be. Yet I couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with me.

My heart and mind screamed that I didn’t like the way Rosalyn responded to every touch of affection from her husband.

It was far too familiar and made me sick.

They kissed, and something inside me recoiled. I couldn’t name the feeling. It wasn’t anger. Or maybe it was. But it settled too deeply into my bones, spreading into places even centuries of war had never touched.

Jayden, that foolish, ridiculous Alpha, tried to cover the twins‘ eyes with his hands even though they kept peeking through his fingers and giggling. And me? I stood still like a rock on the edge of the shore, waiting to be split open by the approaching waves. Suddenly, a mental link flared to life with Elysian.

“Hey, king. Any second now, you’re going to shoot lasers from your eyes,” she said.

I replied through the link, “Don’t just pop in like that. I’m outside right now.”

“You’re like this all the time. What’s the difference? Besides, I live in your inner world, Killian.” Then she added, “Are you jealous?”

“No.”

Rosalyn didn’t look at me after that. I didn’t even know if she realized I was still there. The moment that thought crossed my mind, I cursed myself. Rosalyn was nothing to me–and more importantly, she was someone else’s wife.

“You alright, King Brood?” Leonidas whispered beside me, his tone deliberately too casual. He never missed a thing. “You’re staring like someone just stabbed your soul with a soup spoon.”

I didn’t answer. I just turned toward the door and gripped the collar of my coat.

“We’d better head back. My leave is over.”

“Yeah, I figured as much.”

He followed me as I stepped outside into the fresh night air, the sky just beginning to bruise with the colors of twilight.

As I inhaled, I caught the scent of wildflowers, fireplace smoke and her. Rosalyn. She smelled like dew drops on flower petals and something deeply nostalgic, something I couldn’t quite place. My fingers curled tighter.

I felt like I was losing my mind. Maybe I really needed to get checked out again after this.

“Leonidas, we’re heading back to the castle. Now,” I said without turning around.

“Understood.” His voice had lost its usual teasing edge. “You sure you don’t want to say goodbye first?”

I was about to answer when the patter of little footsteps interrupted me before my voice could reach him.

“Uncle Killian!”

One of the twins shouted from afar. Anna, I think. I was still learning to tell them apart by voice. She ran toward me like a missile, and I had just enough time to turn and catch her.

Then, in the other one, Alice rushed me like a second wave. “Are you already leaving?”

Their big, pleading eyes looked up at me like two sweet bunnies begging for carrots. I’ve stared down warlords, monsters, and ancient gods. But these tiny bundles of sweetness?

They had utterly defeated me.