Chapter 139: Devoted
It didn’t take much time cleaning his wounds as most of the attacks were taken by his armor and having Gamma operating on his body, many small cuts were already healed.
Just the large gash was concerning but Luke knew it would be better in some time.
After Monica finished cleaning his wounds, she said, "You look tired, Luke. Would you like to eat something before you sleep?"
Luke shook his head. "No... I’d rather sleep." He was exhausted. He hadn’t slept much the previous night, and early in the morning he had to leave to fight that giant ass monster.
Monica nodded. She got up, drew the curtains, blew out the candle, and arranged the bed for him.
"Here," she said, patting the mattress.
Luke smiled as he dropped onto the bed, then pulled Monica into his arms, earning a soft yelp from her.
"Luke...?" she murmured as his arms wrapped around her back, their legs tangling together.
"Just for a few minutes... I like holding you when I fall asleep," he admitted, his eyes already closed, a faint curve resting on his lips.
Monica let out a quiet sigh and shook her head before snuggling closer, resting her hand on his waist.
Such an adorable mate she had.
....
Lex reached the scene not so long after he departed. Despite the injury, his legs moved fast due to the curiosity and dread he felt in his chest.
And as he reached closer to the chief’s house, the huge dome which was actually the shell of a giant monster came into view.
No normal monster could reach such a size.
Then...what Luke said was true.
He actually fought a magical creature alongside the chief.
Many other people were coming out of their houses and the guards were clearing the area.
However, Lex registered none of that.
It hadn’t been so many days since Luke started going out to hunt. He hadn’t even faced as many battles as many years Lex fought...and yet, if Lex was given the choice he would never fight against something this gigantic.
’Just what in the world did he do in these few days to achieve such strength?’ Somehow Lex was now doubting the claim to be the strongest in the house.
To fight something on this scale doesn’t just require strength but courage too...and Luke has shown both just to protect this village and the family.
A thought was born in his chest that day.
A thought that would change his life entirely.
.....
"Mm..." Laila woke up with a big yawn. When she stretched her arms, she felt a dull pain in her lower body.
She winced and was jolted awake instantly.
Getting up, she looked down at her bare body before the memories of last night came back to her.
She...had an intense session with Luke. It lasted for too long for her body to endure and near the end, her consciousness slipped away.
"How intense could he be?" She asked as she touched her lower lip and winced again. She was sore there.
Just then, the doors parted and Laila pulled the sheet.
"Oh, you are awake," Monica said as she stepped into the room with a pitcher in her hand.
"Mother..." Laila called out, suddenly a little flustered about her current state.
Monica first set the pitcher down on the table, then moved to sit on the bed in front of her daughter.
Holding Laila’s hand gently, she asked, "How do you feel? Is there any discomfort anywhere?"
Laila lowered her gaze for a moment before speaking, her voice hesitant. "Do... you know... about the thing between Luke and me?"
Monica gave a soft hum. "Yes, he told me."
Laila looked up at her, searching her face. "And what’s your opinion on it? Are you... fine with it?"
Monica softly caressed her hand, her touch calm and reassuring. "Well, Luke said that he still doesn’t fully trust you. But even so, I know he will take care of you... just like how he takes care of me."
Laila’s brows lifted slightly in confusion. "What exactly is your relationship with him? I mean... I know you two have done things together that a normal mother and son shouldn’t..."
Monica didn’t try to hide things from her, "I am now his mate, Laila. Gustav knows about it, and Luke has rightfully claimed me as his woman." When she said that, her heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks turned faintly rosy.
Laila was taken aback, "Father knows about it? That’s surprising." It’s not usual for a man to hand over his mate to someone else.
"Well...I have feelings for Luke, and not just as his mother but as a woman. The way he worries about me, takes care of my needs, prioritizes me, gives importance to my opinion...I think he gives me more than I deserve. And that’s what erased all the hesitation I held for this relationship."
Laila could tell that her mother was not even a bit doubtful about this relationship.
The way she smiled while saying that shows how deeply in love she was with Luke.
"Laila," Monica called out gently, "Luke doesn’t trust you because of certain reasons. The way you used to treat him, the way you disrespected him, must have played a part in that. So now, if you want a comfortable life and want his attention, you need to devote yourself to him."
Laila gave a wry smile, her eyes lowering slightly. "It’s not easy to suddenly change like that."
Monica shook her head softly. "It is a woman’s duty to stand by her man, to present herself at her best, to speak with warmth, and to prepare his favorite meals when he returns from work. If you can do these things right, I believe he will begin to pay attention to you."
Laila nodded slowly, absorbing every word with care, letting them settle within her thoughts.
She had already gone through a failed relationship, though much of it had been because of the kind of partner she had chosen.
She had tried many times to fix things between them, to bridge the distance, but with Caleb, it had been impossible.
However, Luke was different. He was not only strong enough to protect her, but also someone who would always have better options waiting to replace her.
If she wanted to prevent that from happening, she would have to change the way she behaved.
"I understand, Mother. And... thank you for supporting me."
The two women embraced each other, a faint smile forming on their lips.
.....
[A few hours later]
"Mmhaaa!" Luke stretched his arms and legs, a faint popping sound coming from his back as the tension eased out of his body.
His eyes slowly opened, clarity returning to them as awareness settled in.
He was in his room, the familiar ceiling greeting him as his vision steadied.
The space beside him was empty, clearly his mate had left after he fell asleep.
Well, he didn’t mind. She didn’t usually sleep in the afternoon anyway.
He took a few quiet moments to let his muscles fully relax before finally getting up and reaching for the pitcher placed beside him.
Taking a few mouthfuls of water, he set it down and slowly rose from the bed, stretching his arms once again.
Then, he walked toward the window and looked outside. It was mid-noon. The sun blazed high in the sky, and he could already feel the heat building inside the room.
"If only I could put an air conditioner here..." he muttered under his breath. Letting out a small sigh, he shook his head and turned back toward the bed.
Sitting down, he spoke to the system,
"Alright now, system. Show me my earnings."
••••••
A/N:- I hope you liked the Chapter. He would soon leave the village. By now, you must have realised the harem members.
Thanks for reading.