The Alpha's Fated Mate Is an Outcast-Chapter 90

"Alexis." Keelion raised his gaze to her face and cupped her cheek. He leaned in and left a kiss on her lips. It was simple, there was no desire in it. Just a light sweet kiss, like nothing he’d ever given her before.

She breathed out shakily.

"I love you."

She batted her lashes at him. "Huh?" Was she developing ear issues or did he really just say he ’loved her’?

"I know. I know what you’re thinking," he said. "But I do."

Alexis didn’t know what to say. She’d even forgotten how to breathe, air stuck in her lungs as she peered at him.

"Keelion, I..."

Keelion grabbed her hand and gently pulled her up on the bed to stand on her feet. Then he scooped her naked frame into his arms and headed to the bathroom, the door shut behind them.

"I’ve never been the kind of man that can be loved, actually," he said as he gently sat her down on the toilet seat. "And I’ve never been a man who loved, because really I’ve never loved anyone before."

He turned on the tap and filled the tub to the top, before proceeding back to her and walking her to the tub.

He didn’t stop talking even as she stepped into the tub, "You are the first woman I’ve ever truly wanted to love, the first woman I have loved. But I also know that I’ve been terrible for you."

"I made you feel inferior to a woman you never should have felt inferior to—a woman who you weren’t below. I never should have even thought of you as an outcast, it doesn’t matter if you are, I just never should have. You are my mate, I could have done better."

Keelion sat in the tub and pulled her close to him, having her back gummed against his chest, head rested on his shoulder blades.

"You are just different, that is all you are. Not an outcast."

"Not everyone will agree," Alexis muttered as she fidgeted with her knees that were pulled to her chest.

Keelion grabbed her chin and tilted her head to make her look at him. "Alexis, it doesn’t matter. I never had the intention of letting you go anymore even if I never said it. I changed my mind weeks ago before you even told me the mark was gone. I was going to keep you whether they wanted it or not, whether they liked it or not."

"You are mine, and no one can change that, not even the demanding words of the people I govern. I can protect you, it would be hard but I can because no one decides who I want, who I love, or who I can keep. It’s all mine to decide. So no, I wasn’t going to let you leave, not even when you decided you were."

"Keelion." She peered at him, but she was at a loss for what to say.

The man rubbed the bottom of her lips. "I can’t let you go, The simple thought of it makes me sick. I need you entirely, much more than you could understand, more than even I can comprehend. I’ll do anything for you, all you have to do is ask, and I’m all yours."

Alexis was silent. She stared at him for a short while before slowly lowering her head. "Do you really...love me?"

"Yes." He grabbed her. "Alexis, look at me. What is it?"

"Her," she said, bottom lip trembling slightly. "You’re still going to keep her, won’t you? You’re still going to make her your Luna, won’t you?"

Keelion flickered his eyes. "For...my people, yes. But I’m not choosing her over you. She’ll just be a luna, nothing. She doesn’t mean anything to me."

Alexis sighed and chuckled slightly to herself. "You want to keep the both of us." Then she shook her head. "No."

"What?"

"You can’t do that, Keelion," she said to him. "You can’t keep the both of us. I won’t be a second to anyone. I’m not going to sit and let you have me, while you also keep another woman. I can’t stomach that. I’d rather leave—"

"You can’t leave me, Alexis!" He snatched her by the arm. "You can’t leave."

She snapped at him, "Then you either choose her or me!"

They stared at each other intently.

Her eyes went teary.

"You either choose her or me. Choose me and I’ll stay. Choose her, I’ll leave."

"Alexis—"

"You can’t love me and still keep another woman, knowing it hurts me. I won’t let you do that." She shook her head at him and snatched her head back. "That’s just cruel."

She got up from the tub and proceeded to leave, but he grabbed her hand. "Fine,’ he said. "I’ll get rid of her. I’ll do it if it’s what it takes me to keep you."

"What?" When she asked, she hadn’t actually expected him to agree.

Keelion gazed up at her, all seriousness in his eyes. "Alexis, you don’t get it. I can’t let you go, I can’t lose you. I need you and I’m not going to lose you because of a woman I don’t even love. I told you I’ll do anything you want. All you have to do is ask."

"Keelion—"

"I choose you, okay? Over anything. Over anyone. You. Are. Mine. And I’ll give up anything to stand by it. So no, no more Luna, no more Althea. It’s either you or nobody."

"You..." Alexis swallowed the lump in her throat. "You choose me?" It was...it was unbelievable. Just like that?"

Keelion could tell she was doubting him.

He grasped her and pulled her down onto him, then he grabbed her chin, forcing her to gaze into the seriousness of his eyes. "You don’t get it, do you, Alexis?"

"What...?" She breathed.

"I would kill to have you. I would do anything if it meant I could keep you. And letting Althea go and putting my people behind me for once is not even the worst of the things I could do for you. There is a reason why Augustus thinks you are a danger to me."

"You have every control over me, you own me completely." He grinned, shaking his head. "But you don’t even know it."