I Was Dumped by Four Mate Candidates Chapter 10

I Was Dumped by Four Mate Candidates Chapter 10

Lucian came to the Silvermoon Pack even earlier than I’d 

expected. 

When I reached Mooncrest Gateway, the evening wind was 

blowing in from Greyfang Woods. Pine resin and earth. 

I wore a simple black knit dress. The moment I saw him, it was 

like all the frustration of these past days finally found 

somewhere to go. 

Lucian walked fast. 

He spotted me immediately. Handed his luggage off to an aide 

without looking. The next second he was standing in front of 

1. me. 

“Sloane.” 

The way he said my name. The ending soft. That low 

resonance unique to the Thunderbird Pack. 

He hugged me. 

His pheromones carried the scent of cedar. Every nerve that 

had been strung tight for days just loosened. I buried my face 

against his shoulder for two seconds. Suddenly I didn’t want 

to explain anything at all. 

He pulled back. Reached into his coat pocket. Drew out a small 

box. 

“Your gift.” 

I opened it. A tiny platinum brooch. Shaped like a moonlit 

lily–of–the–valley. 

Those flowers only grew in the far northern cold zones. Rare. 

Used in lovers‘ blessings. 

My grandmother had planted some once. Beside her old oak. 

The climate shifted. They never bloomed again. 

“What flower is this?” I knew. I asked anyway. 

“Moonlit lily–of–the–valley.” He was serious. His deep violet 

eyes impossibly gentle under the lights. “I had people 

searching for a long time. Wild ones still grow on the 

northernmost ice plains of the Thunderbird territory. They 

only bloom one night a year.” 

He paused. Switched to slow common tongue. 

“Its meaning is ‘Return after crossing the long winter.“” 

I laughed. My eyes went hot. 

“Lucian.” 

“Yeah?” 

“Keep this up and my parents are gonna end up liking you 

more than they like me.” 

His expression finally eased. He said quietly, “That would be 

good.” 

On the way back to Moonstone Manor, Lucian listened while I told him what had happened over the past days. 

I didn’t go into detail. Just a few light strokes. 

But when I finished, he still reached over and took my hand. His palm was dry and warm. It made me feel sweet. 

“Next time something like this happens, tell me right away.” 

“Tell you, and you’ll just fly over?” I was joking. 

“Yes.” He answered like it was the most natural thing. “I’ll fly 

over.” 

I laughed so hard I nearly doubled over. 

Alaric and Elara were already waiting at home. 

Lucian greeted them the moment he walked in. His common–tongue pronunciation wasn’t perfect yet, but his attitude was so earnest it was almost excessive. Even Alaric, who was picky about everything, cracked a smile when Lucian messed up a verb conjugation. 

Dinner was easy. Warm. 

Lucian remembered Alaric liked spruce–needle tea, not wine. Remembered Elara had a sweet tooth. He cut my steak. 

Halfway through, Elara went to the wine cellar. I got up to follow. She pulled me aside. 

She lowered her voice. “Is Lucian here to be your fated mate or your personal assistant? Good god. He knows you better than 

we do.” 

I couldn’t help grinning. “Is that a bad thing?” 

She straightened my collar. “Knowing you’ll be happy with him, that makes us happy too. But… I’m gonna miss you. I 

can’t picture my days without you around.” 

Heat bloomed in my chest. 

After dinner I still had to go to New Moon Hall. Final 

confirmation of the next day’s schedule. 

Lucian was supposed to be resting. Time zone adjustment. I 

told him to stay. He followed me to New Moon Hall like it was 

the only logical option. 

“I’m your fated mate. Shouldn’t I be involved in the prep?” 

I could only bring him along. 

The elder at New Moon Hall came over the moment he saw me. 

He was about to brief me on tomorrow’s ceremony when 

someone called out from behind. 

“Sloane.” 

I turned. Kael Whitmore. 

Two patrol warriors stood at his side. His eyes landed on me. Paused. Then shifted slowly to Lucian beside me. 

The air froze for two seconds. 

Before I could open my mouth, Lucian reached out his hand. 

“Hello.” Common tongue. “Lucian Stormcrest.” 

Kael didn’t take it immediately. 

He looked at Lucian. Looked at me. His amber eyes showed something for the first time–almost like bewildered delay. 

He felt it. He had to. 

Lucian had released only the faintest trace of pheromones. But 

the pressure of that thunderbird bloodline was enough to 

make any warrior’s spine go rigid on instinct. 

“He’s…” Kael’s voice came out rough. 

I turned my face toward the man at my side. 

Lucian was wearing the cufflinks I’d just given him. Silvermoon crest design. 

“Let me introduce you,” I said. My lips curved. “Lucian Stormcrest. My fated mate.” 

Kael stood there. Didn’t speak for a long time. 

He looked at me like he’d just woken from a very long dream.