Chapter 47
Gradel
My head went blank immediately as confusion seared through me. I racked my brain, trying hard to remember when I spoke to another woman or even going further to bring her home but nothing came to my mind.
Instinctively, I checked her pulse to be sure she was running a temperature and immediately she swatted my hand away, maintaining her death scowl.
“So now you think I’m making things up, huh? You think I’m sick?” She gritted and I shrugged, unsure of what to say.
Nothing made sense to me. Iris might have betrayed my trust before but being with her for some time made me realize that she wasn’t a liar.
If she said I slept with someone, then it meant that something happened while I was away and I wasn’t aware of it. Come to think of it, there was only one person who had access to my room and could impersonate me if he tried.
Devin.
It was no one else but him. But what could be his motive?
“I can explain, Iris. Just listen to me,” I persisted, my voice soft and shaky.
All of a sudden, her trust in me became paramount. I’d let her go, after lying to myself that I didn’t need her anymore but I’d already done two things that opposed my lies and opened my eyes to the truth.
I kissed her and now I was about to explain myself to her. Something I rarely did.
“Like I said before, Gradel, it’s your life and you can do whatever you want with it. The only reason I’m still talking to you is because the Alpha has yet to celebrate his birthday. So don’t bother explaining, I totally understand.” She concluded, lowering her lashes.
I took her cold hands into mine and relief washed through me when she didn’t snatch them away as usual.
“That’s not true. You are hurt and it’s all my fault, but I promise you that the person you saw there wasn’t me. Have you forgotten that I have an identical twin?” I reminded her.
Her eyes lit up with realization and then she frowned. “How could your brother get in without your permission? That’s trespassing,” She fumed.
My lips curled into a smile. “Do you believe me?”
She moistened her lips and I swallowed, observing her quietly. What she did to calm her nerves aroused me within a few seconds and I took a deep breath to get a grip over my unrestrained arousal.
“My opinion doesn’t matter. I just want to go home,” She yawned.
I nodded, knowing that she needed concrete evidence to fully trust me again. Then something suddenly occurred to me that melted my heart.
She had feelings for me. That explained the jealousy and anger that took hold of her the moment she saw me at the club. If she truly liked me as I hoped she did, then I had to prove myself.
“You and I know it matters. I’m going to speak to my brother about this tonight and I want you to come with me,” I urged her.
She shook her head and pulled her hands away from mine again.
“No, I can’t do that. I don’t want to bring more problems between you too.” She refused.
“Stop lying to yourself, Iris. You like me and that’s why you’re so affected by what you saw and it will be dangerous to keep the anger within.” Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as I wore a triumphant smile. “I promise to protect you as always, just come with me.”
She fiddled with a curly strand from her hair and looked away, her cheeks almost crimson. “I guess I have no choice.”
********
The smell of a cigar drifted to my nostrils while we drew closer to his room, indicating that he was around. I ignored the offensive smell and knocked on his door.
It was answered quickly as if he had been expecting me all along.
He peered at me with a grin and stretched his arms open, beckoning for an embrace. The sly expression on my face made him drop his hands.
“What brings you here? I don’t think you remember that this part of the house exists,” He said with sarcasm dripping from his voice.
“I have a very sharp memory, Devin. You don’t have to state the obvious, but what I don’t understand is that out of the free time in your hands, the only thing you were able to do is bring a woman to my bed?” I growled, hoping that my voice was loud enough for Iris to hear.
That was the whole point of my visit to Devin’s room as I didn’t want to have anything to do with him.
He chuckled darkly, patting my shoulders with a triumphant smirk that I wished to erase from his face with a punch.
“Come on, brother. You shouldn’t be angry about what I did. There was a time when we imagined swapping rooms and turning our crazy fantasies into reality. That’s what I did today,” He snickered.
I bit back a growl because if he didn’t stop talking, I’d beat him to a pulp.
“I won’t deny that we ever had such conversations, but if your memory was still intact you’d know that those dreams were only valid before Mother died. Before you decided to become the man that you are now. Now, let me warn you. I don’t care about your fantasies, it’s your problem, but don’t you ever mess with me or my woman again.” My voice was stern as it should and I liked that the smug grin that was on his face earlier had vanished.
“You don’t get to threaten me,” He sneered.
“But I’m not,” I poked his chest, intentionally annoying him. “You knew that my mate was about to return and you went ahead to bang a woman on our bed. It’s disrespectful and can’t be tolerated. I don’t want to know what odious plans you have with our father to end my relationship with her, just mind your business. Do you hear me?”
He scowled at me but he wasn’t bold enough to talk back. Then I scrutinized his room briefly, picking up a scent that was akin to sex and shook my head.
He lived extravagantly and wanted to be the next Alpha. I wondered how possible it was.
My eyes caught Iris fiddling with her fingers, her body brimming with tension when I stepped out of the room and I sighed in satisfaction.
“I’m so sorry for not believing you and acting rashly…” She rushed out.
I cut her off with my index finger on her lip. “Come, let’s talk in the garden.”