Kayla
I waited for a second and breathed in and out. What had he just said?
My eyes widened in shock. What was he talking about? What same pain was he referring to? He couldn’t possibly be talking about her.
” If anything had happened to you today, how would I be able to forgive myself? How would I be able to live knowing I couldn’t protect you in my castle?” He asked, as his piercing gaze held me like a prisoner and I had no idea how to react. An awkward silence fell around us as I kept staring at his face.
I wanted to say something, anything to soothe his pain but I didn’t know the right words that could help him at the moment to forget all the hurt and pain dwelling on his heart. The tension around us was sizzling and electrifying.
This was the first time he had talked to me about his past, pains and also the first time he had confessed to being worried about me.
Could it be that he was ready to make us work but the flash of regret on his face cleared whatever ideas that were already forming in my head? The smile that had blossomed on my lips crumpled at his facial expression.
He shook his head and let go of me abruptly. I shivered from the loss of his warmth. The look that had appeared on his face a moment ago was now replaced by an unreadable expression.
“I have answered your questions, so don’t ever ask or bring up that topic ever again.” He snarled.
Without another word, he turned his back to me and stormed back into the castle. I leaned back against the wall and hugged myself.
Asher’s confession was a hard pill for me to swallow. It was obvious that he was still deeply hooked on his past and wasn’t willing to give his future a chance.
I looked up at the sky and gazed at the clouds and couldn’t help the small spark of jealousy that shot up in me. A greater part of me wished I had met Asher first, that way I would have been his mate and first love and he wouldn’t have been in pain, and I wouldn’t have felt so lonely and heartbroken.
I was stuck in a loveless marriage with a man who was still in love with his dead mate. The sad part of it was that I knew this from the beginning but it didn’t stop me from wanting him.
I wanted this marriage to blossom but the only way to achieve it was if Asher would be willing to get over whatever feeling he had for her and accept that she was gone forever.
I wanted to help him move on, to help him heal from his pain, but that would only happen if he allowed me into his heart.
I tightened my palm into a fist, I wouldn’t give up now, not yet, not ever. I would do anything within my power to make it work, even if it was the last I would do for him. I was ready to sacrifice it all to bring back the soft side of him that I knew was still somewhere inside him. I raised my hands to the sides and let them fall back to my sides, slapping my thighs in frustration. The tug of war in my mind between Asher and me was driving me nuts. I needed to find something to do and keep my brain engaged.
As I walked inside the castle, I could feel many eyes on me. I didn’t even realize until now that the omegas just witnessed the entire scene that played out between us. I couldn’t imagine what these people would think, I have been here just for a few weeks and yet there were so many unrelated incidents between Asher and me.
I shook my head to get rid of my confusing thoughts as I walked up the stairs and straight into our chamber and I found Asher throwing my clothes on the floor. I could not believe my eyes and I think my mouth had fallen half open.
This could not be real.
I blinked furiously trying to make sure that my visions were not playing tricks with me. Just maybe I could be hallucinating but it was all real. Fear immediately crawled its way into my heart, as my day went from bad to worse real quick.
What was wrong with him? What was he doing? Was he thinking of calling off the marriage after what had just happened?
I clenched and unclenched my fists, taking in deep breaths to steady my jittery nerves and the dull ache that crept up in my heart.
“Why are you bringing out my clothes? I said, in what I assumed was a clear and confident voice but it came out as a croak. He looked at me for a second and the silence was stifling between us.
He didn’t answer, rather he continued to throw more dresses out. I felt my heartbeat increase with each passing second. Why wasn’t he answering me?
“Asher!” I screamed to get his attention, he finally stopped with a dress in his hand and stared at me with emotionless eyes.
” Why are you removing my clothes from the cabinet?” I asked again, this time unable to hide the fear in my voice. “Are you planning on sending me back to the council?”
He looked at me evenly for a second, his gaze holding me in place. I stood deathly still in front of him, rock solid like a statue, and held my breath as I waited for him to answer me.
“But what if he was truly sending me away, what then becomes of me?
Angry tears began to pool behind my eyes but I refused to let them out. My lips trembled as I prepared myself for the words he would say in response to the question.