Amara’s phone rang, the sharp sound cutting through the intense silence that hung in the air between her and Rowan.
She pulled back from him, her heart racing, and instinctively reached for her phone. When she glanced at the screen, her expression darkened.
Alessandro… Of course…
Her eyes flickered toward Rowan, who seemed to share her sudden shift in mood. His jaw clenched, and there was a storm brewing in his eyes… one she recognized all too well.
But he didn’t say anything, didn’t make a move, just stared at her with an intensity that made it hard to breathe.
“I need to take this,” Amara muttered, her voice tight, as she stepped away from him, walking off to the side to answer the call.
Rowan stood where he was, hands clenched into fists at his sides, fighting to keep his composure. Today was supposed to be about her. Her birthday. A day he had planned meticulously, and now… Alessandro was intruding on it. He could feel his rage simmering just beneath the surface, but he forced himself to calm down, if only for her sake. His mind raced, remembering the events of last night. When he had returned home, he’d spoken to Kyle, his assistant, who confirmed that he had already taken over several of Alessandro’s business deals on Rowan’s orders. Rowan had thought that would be enough to keep Alessandro occupied, but clearly, the man still had his sights on Amara.
Why couldn’t Alessandro just stay away? Why couldn’t he see what was coming?
Amara finished the call and walked back toward Rowan, her face a mask of carefully controlled emotions, but he could see the turmoil beneath it.
“Is everything alright?” he asked, his voice calm, though the tension was still evident.
“Yeah,” she replied, but the edge in her voice betrayed her. “Everything’s fine.”
Rowan studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Do you like him?”
Amara blinked, caught off guard by the question. “Him? Who?”
“Alessandro,” Rowan clarified, his voice low, dangerous.
There was a flicker of conflict in her eyes, and for a brief moment, she didn’t answer. Rowan continued, his gaze piercing through her defenses. “If you don’t, why don’t you get rid of him?”
Amara let out a sigh, letting the weight of his question settle over her. She was tired.. tired of pretending, tired of the facade she had to keep up. Rowan could see through her. He always could… So there was no need to lie..
“It’s not that simple,” she muttered, her voice softer now, more vulnerable.
Rowan stepped closer, his presence overpowering. “Shall I deal with him?” he asked, his tone suggesting that it wasn’t a mere offer.. it was a promise.
Amara’s breath caught in her throat. She looked up at him, knowing full well what he was capable of. If she gave him the word, Rowan would handle Alessandro in ways she didn’t even want to think about. But she shook her head, the weight of it all settling heavily on her shoulders. “No. I’ll handle him,” she said, her voice firm despite the emotions roiling inside her. “Don’t worry.”
Rowan’s eyes darkened. He didn’t like it, but he respected her choice. “You can deal with him, I know that,” he said, his voice softening slightly. “But I don’t like it when he comes near you.”
A shiver ran through her at his words, not out of fear, but something deeper, something far more dangerous. The possessiveness in his voice sent a rush of heat through her, and she felt her heart race as he stepped closer, his gaze locking onto hers.
“I don’t let him get close to me,” Amara whispered, her voice barely audible.
Rowan’s expression softened, a rare, fleeting moment of tenderness crossing his face. He reached out and patted her head, something both affectionate and commanding in the gesture. “Good girl,” he murmured.
Before she could react, before she could process the flood of emotions coursing through her, Rowan took her hand, holding it firmly in his. “I’ve got one more thing for you,” he said, his voice shifting back to the confident, teasing tone she knew so well.
“What’s that?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady as she glanced at their linked hands.
“Come, I’ll show you,” Rowan replied, leading her toward the back of the mansion. His grip was strong, unyielding, and despite the sense of danger that always seemed to follow him, Amara felt a strange sense of safety with him. She followed him, her curiosity piqued but her guard still up.
They walked through a series of corridors until they reached the back of the house, where an area filled with towering trees stretched out before them. It looked like a mini jungle, dense and mysterious, the shadows cast by the trees making the atmosphere feel even more intense.
Amara’s suspicion grew as they ventured deeper into the wooded area, her mind racing with possibilities. What was Rowan up to? Where was he taking her?
Minutes later, they arrived at a small clearing, the trees parting just enough to let in a soft beam of sunlight. Rowan stopped, turning to her with a grin that sent a chill down her spine. “Stay here,” he ordered.
“Where are you going?” Amara asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
“Just a second. Wait,” Rowan replied before disappearing into the trees.
Amara stood alone in the clearing, her heart pounding in her chest. She glanced around, the eerie silence of the forest making her feel slightly on edge. But then, after what felt like an eternity, Rowan returned.
And in his arms… was a cat.. no.. it looked more like a tiger cub…
No… not just any tiger cub. It was a white tiger cub…!!
Amara’s breath caught in her throat as she stared at the tiny creature in Rowan’s arms, its fur a striking shade of white with soft black stripes. She could hardly believe what she was seeing.
“Is that…” she began, her voice trailing off in disbelief.
“Yes,” Rowan replied, his grin widening. “You guessed it right, Crimson. It’s a white tiger cub.”
Amara’s heart raced. She had always loved white tigers, but how had Rowan known that? And where had he even gotten the cub? She narrowed her eyes, suspicion creeping into her voice. “Where did you steal it from?”