Jolyn's Pov
Lucious stopped walking and turned to face me. "So, are you upset because I spoke the truth?"
I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my composure. "You seem to underestimate my abilities."
"You mean, your power?" he asked, puzzled.
I closed my eyes briefly, focusing on keeping my emotions in check. "I meant my ability to manage on my own."
Lucious merely nodded, as if he understood, but his certainty felt presumptuous. He always acted like he knew me better than I knew myself.
We were at the park now, just as we had planned. My parents had left for the evening, asking Lucious to ensure I got home safely. Honestly, I found the idea restrictive. I valued my independence.
As a cool breeze blew, I wrapped my arms around myself. Lucious noticed my shivering and glanced at his suit.
"If you're set on being independent, maybe you should have brought a jacket," he commented, offering his suit jacket.
"I can manage on my own, thank you," I said, rolling my eyes as I made my way to a nearby bench. I could see him stifling a laugh.
"So, we'll be at the same university. I hope you won't be surprised to see me with other beautiful girls. I am quite popular," he boasted.
"I'm not interested in being involved with you, even if we're at the same university. I have no desire to be around someone like you," I shot back.
Lucious sat down next to me, his expression unreadable.
A moment of silence fell between us, and I thought about earlier. It seemed like he and his father weren't close or had any meaningful interaction.
"If you don't mind, I have a question," I began hesitantly.
"Are you asking me out on a date? Hmm… let me consider it," he teased.
I frowned. "No, it's not that."
He chuckled. "So, what's your question?"
I sighed heavily. "It's about your father."
"You're interested in my father? He's about the same age as the Lycan King. You have a thing for older men?" He smirked.
"No, not like that. Could you please answer me seriously?" His jokes were wearing thin, especially when I was trying to understand him better.
He pressed his lips together before speaking. "He's not my real father," he revealed.
"You're adopted?" I asked, confused.
"No," Lucious replied.
"What do you mean?" I was even more puzzled now. If he wasn't adopted, then who was this man?
Lucious gave me a half-hearted smile. "It's a long story, and I don't want to discuss it now." He then asked, "Why are you so interested in me?"
My forehead creased in confusion. "I've spent a whole month with you and barely know anything about you, aside from the fact that you're my father's trainer and a bit of a jerk. What else is there to know?"
Even my parents hadn't provided any insight into his life. His background seemed shrouded in mystery.
"If you're not interested, I won't tell you anything. I only share with those who actually care."
"As a friend," I clarified.
"I don't see you as a friend. I don't have weak friends," he said, lifting his chin proudly.
"Fine," I said, resigning myself to waiting for him to reveal more about himself in his own time. My curiosity about his behavior and background persisted.
We both looked up at the moon. The wind rustled around us, and I found comfort in the natural beauty of the night. As the darkness deepened, my thoughts were interrupted by him again, the one who had rejected me.
"Why does the moon seem to evoke both sadness and happiness? It's as if the moon goddess understands our feelings better than we do," Lucious mused, his eyes fixed on the sky, now more vivid with stars.
I shrugged slightly. "Maybe she knows us more deeply than we know ourselves."
That's how it felt to me. Perhaps the moon goddess held secrets about our pasts, even those we thought we had forgotten.
"That's a sad thought. I hope she can ease the pain," Lucious said quietly.
"Do you still have pain in your life?" I asked.
He didn't answer.
"Well, everyone has a dark past," I added.
He remained silent.
His reticence only deepened my curiosity about him. What shadows from his past were haunting him?
He sighed heavily, lowering his gaze. I sensed there was something he was struggling to address.
"I think it's time to head back to the palace. The sun will rise soon, and you need to get some rest," he said softly, avoiding eye contact.
If there was something troubling him, I wished he could share it. I wanted to help, but he had to be willing to open up.
As the moon shone brightly and the stars glittered in the night sky, the cold wind seemed to echo the chill in my heart.
Chapter 10
Jolyn's Pov
I felt a twinge of anxiety as I stepped onto the campus of All Special Supernatural University. My father had mentioned that some professors here knew us, but I wasn't sure if they would recognize me. Honestly, I hoped not; I wanted to blend in and not be treated differently just because I was the Lycan King's daughter.
I took a deep breath and started walking, only to bump into someone unexpectedly.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, helping her gather her scattered belongings.
"Are you alright?" I asked with concern, but she merely glanced at me and then looked away. Her vintage floral dress and unkempt hair, coupled with her thick glasses, made her seem lost in her own world.
"Excuse me," she muttered as she walked off in the opposite direction. Perhaps she was shy or just didn't want to engage.
I continued walking and soon spotted Lucious surrounded by a group of attractive blonde girls. It was clear they were flirting with him, and I couldn't help but smile slightly.
"This is exactly what he was boasting about. The popular jerk on campus," I muttered to myself. I saw him glance in my direction, but I had no intention of engaging with him now. So I just rolled my eyes.
But why did it look like he angry from my periphery?