31.

-HIM-

After examining the dagger once more, I kept it away and went to bed. Although I couldn’t sleep after everything that had happened today.

I couldn’t help but groan as I reminisced about our lovemaking. She was my Czira and I was slowly starting to want her more. Even though I had told her that I would keep my hands to myself, I wasn’t very sure about it. It would be hard for me and my beast to do so.

We were already missing her. I wanted to talk to her about these things. I wanted to tell her why it was that I couldn’t have her but I wanted her around. I didn’t think I could go back to being what I was before now that I had finally met her.

I automatically reached for my phone on the nightstand and started to search her number through my contact list. I was sure I had it because I remembered saving it at the beginning of the deal.

I pondered if I should call her at this hour but I ended up giving up the idea. I was going to meet her the next day anyway. I would have to convince her to go out with me so that I could at least enlighten her about my part of the situation.

I tossed in my bed for the most part of the night. I woke up early out of habit and worked out before getting ready for the day. I called Roderigo for some updates before I had breakfast.

It was when Valter entered my room.

“So, how’re things going on that side?” He asked, nodding at me slightly while I finished my breakfast. I knew he was talking about the houses.

“It’s fine,” I answered him. An awkward silence followed my answer before he spoke again, “Vipsania seems to be upset since the past few days. I hate to see her like that. Can you take her out tonight?” He asked.

I didn’t miss the tension that hung heavily in the air around us. Both of us were aware that his sister liked me. I had always been hesitant to tell Valter that I wasn’t interested in his sister but this morning, I found it very easy to tell him, “I cannot do that anymore, Valter,”

“Why not?” He arched an eyebrow at me.

“I am not interested in her, Valter,” I told him, “I never was,”

The tension escalated in the room as we stared each other down in the eyes. His body seemed tensed and his jaw clenched. He nodded slightly before he proceeded to walk out of my suite. He stopped before stepping out and spoke over his shoulder, “I know Annelise is your Czira,”

His words shook me from the core before he finally stepped out of my suite. I was in shock for several moments. When I finally recovered from it, it was time for me to go.

On my way down, I met Valter. He looked at me darkly before he went on his way. I wanted to have some serious talk with him as well.

When I reached the property, Anna’s car was already parked there along with the interior designer’s. It instantly pissed me off to know that they were in my house alone. When I opened the front door and stepped in silently, I heard her sweet melodic laughter accompanied by Hugo’s deep chuckles.

“He’s rude,” I heard Hugo comment before Anna agreed with him. I instantly knew that they were talking about me. As soon as I stepped into the living room, they spotted me instantly and stopped talking.

I found Anna sitting on the stairs while Hugo was standing beside her. Hugo paled considerably while Anna looked away and started pretending that she was more interested in the wallpaper samples.

“Let’s get to work,” Hugo spoke before he stepped away from her. Anna stood up without looking at me before she handed the samples to Hugo. As soon as the discussion started, I noticed that Anna had gone back to ignoring me.

I wasn’t liking this a bit. She was only listening to Hugo and most of the time, she had her back facing me. Her body language and demeanour were screaming that she was doing her best to ignore me. I found an opportunity and stepped behind her, too close to her.

I saw her visibly get tensed as she felt me breathing down her neck. Her scent tingled my nose and teased my beast. Today, she smelled a bit different… it was mixed with mine. She smelled like me! It somewhat made my primal side happy before she stepped away from me quickly.

I noticed that Hugo was maintaining his distance from Anna and trying his best to not piss me off. But still, seeing him in my house was making my hands itch. I wanted to throw him out of there and be alone with my Czira.

The work was done very quickly today. I was somewhat relieved that it was over but at the same time, the realization struck me that I wouldn’t see Anna after this.

“Anna,” I grumbled after making sure that Hugo had left the house. Her back was still facing me as she prepared to leave. She didn’t respond to me first. I had to call her again to have her look over her shoulder at me.

“Can we talk?” I asked very gravely.

“I don’t think there’s much to talk,” With that, she left. I wanted to go after her and bring her back and take her to the bedroom and fvck her again until she was telling me to stop but I let her go… for now.

I reached office around noon. Everyone was already there. I tried to know when Tim was vising next but no one had any idea. I did some of the work anyway. It was soon starting to become clear that most of the paperwork was done. Now, we had to get down on the field and get our hands dirty... literally.

The address that came with the dagger was the first place I needed to visit but I was still somewhat unsure about it. Especially the risk that the work would involve.

I met Valter in the office again. We only exchanged a look before we got back to our work. When the day was over and I was heading back to the parking lot, I found him again.

“How did you know?” I asked instantly when I spotted him opening the door of his car. He stopped and looked at me.

“I knew it from the first day,” He spoke, “But why didn’t you tell me before? I thought you trusted me,” He pressed.

“Valter, look,” I stepped closer to him, “I don’t know what to do with her-“ He interrupted me with a deep chuckle.

“Theo, you know what’s going to happen next,” He spoke with a strange undertone. It took me some moments until I finally recognized it. It was jealousy.

“It’s not easy, Valter,”

“Your father did it. I am sure you will follow his steps,”

“It’s not like that,”

“Then how is it like, Theodore?” He asked heatedly. His eyes darkened as he told me next, “I wish you would have really trusted me,” With that, he got into the car and left as well.

I clenched and unclenched my fists as I walked to my car and got inside. There were so many bottled emotions inside me and I wanted to get them out anyhow but I continued to suppress them deeper as I drove back to the lodge, blinking my angry tears away.