If every gossiper's tongue were to be severed, how many people would still have theirs?
The first sip of my pumpkin spice latte went the wrong way. I choked, coughing until tears welled up in my eyes. Definitely not a good start to a romantic date with my boyfriend.
"Look, it's her." The first girl whispered to her friend, gesturing at me as I sat, awaiting my boyfriend, Kylo.
The knot in my stomach tightened. The two girls sat behind me in the restaurant, whispering and gossiping about my situation.
I heard the gasp from the second girl. "Holy moonlight, it's her! The one who dares to date the Gamma's son."
"She is so stupid. Everyone knows Gamma Rhett would never allow her to marry his son. Why is she wasting her time?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, she's enchanted by Kylo's charm, I think. Kylo is the most good-looking guy in the pack. It's such a pity that he has such a father!"
I clenched my fists, my blood running cold. Any minute from now, I might lose my cool. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to turn around and give them a piece of my mind but I swallowed it down. Kylo wouldn't appreciate that and frankly, I didn't want to stoop to their level. "Kylo, where are you?" I muttered under my breath.
The two gossip mongers went on with their banter. "Poor girl. She's going to have her heart broken when Kylo finds his mate and the Gamma gets them married!"
"Don't call her a poor girl. She's just dumb! Even after knowing Gamma Rhett's history, she chooses to date his son still!"
"I know, I know. Can't her parents talk her out of it?"
"Didn't you know? She's an orphan! Her parents were the traitors…"
Just as I thought I'd had enough and was about to stomp to the two gossipers and put them in their places, the restaurant's door jingled, and Kylo stepped in.
Phew!
I sank into my chair, catching my breath. Only the heavens know what I'd have done had Kylo not entered.
"Hey, babe. So sorry for my lateness." Kylo grimaced apologetically as he settled in the chair in front of me.
As much as I didn't want him to see the sadness clouding my face, he noticed. My eyes were glossy as I blinked back tears. "Isleen?" Kylo groaned as awe transformed his face. "Did something happen?"
I was the type to burst into tears when being consoled. The tears streamed down my face in streaks.
Still shocked, Kylo glanced around the restaurant in search of the source of my tears until his gaze settled on the two girls behind. It was barely hard to not notice their judgmental stares directed at me.
Although they made attempts to hide it as Kylo's twilight eyes pierced them icily but it was too late – he saw them. Such was one of the many challenges we had been encountering since the beginning of our five-year relationship.
Kylo's expression darkened, his jaw clenching as he followed my tear-stained face. His protective instincts swelled within him. "Did they say something to upset you?"
I shook my head, trying to compose myself. "It's nothing," I managed to say, my voice wavering.
This was supposed to be a romantic date for us. I didn't want to ruin it.
But Kylo wasn't convinced. He leaned in closer, his eyes scanning my face. "Tell me, please. I hate seeing you like this."
"It's nothing other than the usual, Kylo. I'll be fine." I shrugged, wiping off a stray tear. "After all, that's how they always are."
Kylo buried his head in his hands for a moment, deep in thought. I saw how his shoulders raised and dropped before he returned his gaze to me. "I actually brought with me an anniversary gift but I just changed my mind." He said.
"W—what?" I stuttered, shocked and confused.
However, when Kylo smiled, all of my worries melted away. "I think the best gift I can give you right now, Isleen is to take you to my dad. We need to put an end to this menace. You deserve peace. We need peace, Isleen."
My anxieties skyrocketed.
A heavy silence reigned between us right after. I understood Kylo's concern. We'd both feared the Gamma so much that none of us had ever considered that option. It was because we saw no way in it.
"You know that's insane, Kylo. That might be a straight ticket to ending this relationship. I — I don't want to lose you." My voice broke as my eyes danced, searching Kylo's.
Kylo reached out to my hand from across the table, squeezing it tight. "Babe, do you think I want to lose you too? Hell nah. But then again, scraping the weed is useless if you aren't going to deal with it from the roots. We have to shut everyone up by first quieting the source of this problem we have."
I began to feel my energy deteriorating. I felt the love in Kylo's heart as he reassuringly squeezed my hand but facing the Gamma was another level of demanding.
Not after the man had sacrificed his youthful life to marry a sixty-seven-year-old woman when he was eighteen and had just become an adult after finding out she was his mate. All this, because he'd never go against the moon goddess's wishes and would, by all means, adhere to the pack's customs and rules.
"I fear that might be the end of us, Kylo. He has been against us from a distance. Now, if we go to him ourselves, we might as well be giving him my hands out for getting arrested." I breathed.
It was true. Our pack; The Runewood Keepers pack was the most rigid and culture-abiding pack. Had the new Alpha not abolished some of the traditions, Kylo and I would have been concluding our love stories in prison three years ago when we finally made our relationship public.
That didn't mean exceptions couldn't be made. Especially when they provoke the Gamma; the enforcer of the pack's rules himself.
"If my dad wants happiness for me, he wouldn't have a choice but to accept you. Fret not, Isleen. We are going to see Dad in two days. I'm putting an end to this madness." Kylo declared with finality and I swallowed.
It would take the end of the world for me to go see the Gamma, Kylo.