CHAPTER 18

I could feel his eyes on me but I refused to acknowledge it. From the table, he had been looking at me. Garret’s words no longer amused me. I was breaking under the weight of my thoughts.

“You are tense” someone suddenly said from behind me and I turned to see Brayan. As usual, he had no expression on his face.

“What do you care?” I said turning away. I heard a scoff and his footsteps walking away. I sighed heavily.

My family was in danger if I fucked this up. I retired to the room early. I lay in bed awake for a long time just thinking of what could happen. I wanted to go back to my fiancé but I couldn’t risk my family’s life.

I would have to try and do all I can to make this mating work. And when the time came, Nevaeh will take over her life.

Sunday’s hit my face and I opened my eyes. I groaned. I must have slept off while thinking. I rolled over hitting something hard and warm. It was a body. Who was in bed with me?

I screamed and jumped away almost falling of the bed but strong arms caught me bringing me up on the bed.

“What the hell are you doing here”

“This is my bed” he lay down back throwing his hands over his face. Why did he suddenly decide to come back to the bed.

“My back aches from sleeping on the couch. If you’re so uncomfortable with me on the bed then you can take the couch”

I scoffed. “Never” he was trying to get me out of the bed and back to the couch. It was never going to work.

“Then I guess we’ll both have to stay in the bed” he said casually. I climbed down from the bed. I would have to find a way to get him out of the bed.

I quickly showered and changed into a house dress. When I came out, he was still on the bed and was blatantly staring at me. It unnerved me but I ignored him.

The family already had breakfast and they were probably out now or in their rooms.

Rivka served me breakfast and I was eating when I heard footsteps.

Whitely stepped into the kitchen. Her eyes stayed on me.

“Rivka, can I have something to eat”

“Sure ma’am Whitely” Rivka replied and moved around trying to get breakfast for her. She sat opposite me.

“You know you’re not wanted here”

“By whom exactly?”

“Everyone. Nobody wants your mind around here” she spat maliciously.

“Speak for yourself”

“You…”

“Hello everyone” Elowen interrupted her. Her hands were linked with Dakarai’s.

“Hello” Whitely and I said together.

“Where is Brayan?” Dakarai asked.

“He’s…”

“I’m here father”

“Good. I have news for both of you”

“What is that?”

“The date for the second ritual has been set” Elowen squealed and I shifted in my seat.

“But your father and I think there’s still much tension between the both of you”

“We arranged for dinner for the both of you. Alone” Dakarai announced.

“No” Brayan said immediately.

Elowen’s face fell.

“It has already been planned”

“Then cancel it”

“Brayan….”

“Come on Dakarai. Do you want to force all your decisions down the boys throat?” Whitely said wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“It’ll help their relationship” Elowen said.

“There is no relationship”

“Stop being so fucking difficult” Dakarai shouted and I could see Elowen rubbing his hands to calm him down.

“Dakarai… I think….”

“Shut the fuck up Whitely if you have nothing better to say”

“Everything has been set up son” Elowen said in a soft voice.

“I’m not going”

“I’ll go” I said and everyone turned to look at me but I focused on Elowen.

“But it just can’t be you on the date”

“Then maybe I can go with someone. Since it has already been planned, I don’t want things to go to waste”

“Okay. Maybe I can ask Garret”

“Garret is busy” Brayan said.

“I’ll ask Gannon then”

“He’s hanging out with one of his numerous whores” I scowled at that. Didn’t he want me to go to the dinner?

“Then I’ll find someone else” I said.

“You know what, maybe I’ll go”

“You already said you didn’t want to come. I’ll ask Winry”

“I’ve changed my mind. The dinner was set up for both of us” he said with a smirk and I just rolled my eyes.

“Rivka will drop off a dress for you. The house will be empty tonight. Goodbye” Elowen waved and I waved at her. I finished up my food while Whitley glared daggers at me and Brayan looked at me.

I didn’t understand the man. Why did he suddenly change his mind and want to go to dinner with me.

I left the kitchen. I didn’t want to go back to the bedroom and spend all day there so I decided to take a stroll around the house. I stumbled upon a library. Reading wasn’t really my thing. It was more of Nevaeh’s thing but I like to indulge myself once in a while.

I heard a sound from the wall and moved closer to it. I heard voices on the other side. Familiar voices. It was Brayan and someone else.

Could that be his office? But it was on the other side of the house. I made a mental note to ask Elowen when next I saw her.

I looked through the shelves searching for the perfect book to read. There were so many and I was confused on the one to choose.

Nevaeh always mentioned romance was the best but I knew romance has a lot of cheesy things. I wanted more of action with a bit of romance and lots of erotica.

I picked out a worn out book. A man and a woman in a sensual position but the name had been torn out.

I settled in the rocking chair and started reading the book. It was a forbidden live between a rich heir and the maids daughter. The writer did an excellent job and for a moment I wondered if it was written by a human or a wolf.

Rivka came to call me for a late lunch. I had lunch alone in the house. Not that I minded. It was better than enduring the man child. I could hear noises from his office as I read.

I returned back to the library and continued reading through the book. My eyes became droopy after a short while and I fell asleep on the rocking chair with the book on my lap.

There was loud banging on the door and I was forced to wake up. I was disoriented for a second before I remembered I was in the library.

“Ma’am Paisley your dress has arrived. It’s time for you to start getting ready”

I frowned. Was it time already?

“I’ll be in my room shortly” I called out and I heard her footsteps as she left. There was no sound coming from Brayan’s office. Was he in?

Not your business. I reminded my self.

I stood up from the rocking chair and the book fell from my leg. I picked it up and noticed a piece of paper sticking out of the book. It was a letter addressed to a ‘B’and written by a ‘W’.


Dear B,

My heart aches from being far away from you. I know my family hates the idea of us being together but I don’t love you any less. I hate that I’m so powerless against them and too scared to defy their instructions. I wish we could run away and be together. I miss you.

W

There was a poorly drawn heart shape under the letter. I frowned as I studied the letter. The only person with a name starting from B was Brayan. Did he have a secret lover?

I turned to the back of the paper and saw another message.

I hate that I’ll never get the opportunity to send this letter to you.

Wow. The letter was supposed to be sent but the writer never did. Could it be Winry? She had a liver her parents would never let her be with?

It was sad. She was a nice girl and deserved happiness. This must be her favorite book then. She probably felt a kinship with the characters in the book.

I sighed and placed the book back in the shelf. Life was quite sad.