Chapter 10
1107words
"me? Presumptuous? You have some audacity." Paris said and stalked off, only to walk back to me, "That's a lot, coming from a woman dressed the way you are."
I looked down at myself and then back at him, "what do you mean by that?"
"Are you going to deny that you are here, dressed this way, with no desire to get my attention? With no desire to drive me mad with want?"
“why would I do that? Why would I put so much effort into a man who barely noticed me when we lived together? How much more when we're supposed to be apart?"
"Come on, don't talk like that.”
“Well, did you ever for once, notice me or care about me?”
“Of course I cared for you, Ember. I know that I was not the perfect husband, but there wasn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for you. Even now, before this entire thing started, I was working on that orphanage.”
“What?” I asked in confusion.
“On your birthday, all you wanted was to donate money for that foundation for those Gifted children and for days after that, you went on and on about building an orphanage.”
I bit my lower lip, totally confused.
I had gone on and on about building an orphanage, but I had stopped talking to him about it because he always seemed distracted and I thought he wasn’t listening.
“I already got someone working on it for you, Ember.” He said softly .
I placed a hand over my heart and shook my head. This man couldn’t be doing this to me right then. It was all a lie. A trap to get me wrapped up in his arms once again. And I couldn’t. I simply couldn’t.
"why don't you just leave me alone, Okay? why not let me be?"
"Because I can't!" he shouted,
"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked wearily. I had lost some of my edges.
I suppose he noticed and took that as an opening, because he walked closer to me, so that were mere inches apart, and looked into my eyes as he had done during the first days of our relationship,
"I thought I was on the right path. One minute I was madly in love and then the next, my fated mate appeared out of nowhere, and there wasn't very little I could not do for her. Damn it, ember, you don't know what it's like. This bond! It's magnetic, and I'm at its mercy. But that doesn't stop the torture I've felt since you left."
my chin I had jutted out stubbornly wobbled, but I had to remind myself of all he had done that had brought us to that moment. That alone steadied me.
"like you've said, was. Me and you are simply a thing of past tense now. Accept that."
“So that’s your final verdict?”
I nodded, “It is.”
He didn’t say a word after that. And after staring me down for the longest time, he finally left.
It was several minutes after I could no longer see him before I decided to leave that spot. I turned and came face to face with none other than Kate.
"Heaven, why?" I muttered and decided not to engage her. Instead, I just started and walked right past her.
"Wait!" she called out, and heard her taking quick steps to catch up with me.
No way in hell, was I waiting for her.
"Wait, just wait, please." she pleaded, and that was the only reason I stopped
"What?"
"I need to talk to you. To apologize really," she said and caught up with me. We were still outside, so in a way we were alone.
"apologize?" I asked, raising a brow when we were face to face,
she nodded, "I know I haven't really been the best person lately. I'm sorry."
I nodded slowly, surprised by this sudden remorse, but as much as strived to be a better person, I had no time or strength for her sudden reparation. "I see." I said, desperate to leave, "Thank you."
She blew out a breath and walked a bit closer, "That Isn't to say I appreciate you trying to get my man's attention." she said quietly through gritted teeth.
Ahh, now here was the Kate I recognized. I drew my brows together and measured her carefully
"Now Kate, Who said I wanted it?"
"Then why are you here?"
I smiled and prayed for patience that I knew I did not have, before finally speaking,
"I don't think I need to respond to that. I don't think I need to offer you a reason for the decisions I make from here on. You already have your mate, he is free of me. I had believed that also made me free of you. Do well to keep that in my mind the next time we see each other."
She drew her hands into fists, "You're lying! Do you think I don't know you? You knew he'd be here, so you got yourself all dolled up to seduce him. Why? Because you know he's choosing me now, you resulted to such a low method to get him back. You're nothing but a pathetic piece of nothing. Just stay away from him okay? You've done enough to damage our bond as it is."
"wow," I said. Who would believe this was the same woman apologizing to me only a second ago,
"I'm pathetic? I've told you time and time again that I rejected Paris and want nothing to do with him, but still, you choose to chase me down with this tasteless tale, and I'm the pathetic one? You should look in the mirror from time to time Kate." I said and took a menacing step closer that had taken a step backward,
"I don't give a damn about you, or Paris, or being his Luna. You might consider me a pathetic omega, but rest assured that I won't take another insult from you so lightly." I said quietly but clearly, my wolf eager to stump all over her. And I saw the fear come into her eyes.
"How dare you?"
"I've said all I have the patience to say. And If I were you I'd worry more about what your man did when you aren't looking rather than disturb me who has absolutely no interest whatsoever in a man I rejected. " I said and made to move past her, but paused, then added, "And for your own sake, let this be the last time you stop me in this manner ever again. "
