CHAPTER 40. INAUSPICIOUS VISIT
HARA
The repeated knocking on my door snatched me away from my erotic dreams. I woke up with a moan, as my fingers had been subconsciously rubbing at my pussy.
The downpour outside was deafening and I almost didn't hear the knocking on the door.
The knock came again and I dragged my sleepy form out of the bed. I wrapped the duvet around my naked body and slid my feet into my flip-flops to go see who it was.
I threw the door open, expecting to see either of the two people that clouded my mind. But the person standing in front of me had to do with both of them but was neither of them.
“Hello,“ my voice was spiked with dizziness and anxiety. This visit had 'inauspicious' written all over it.
“Hello,“ She said and walked in before I could even think of ushering her in. I shut the world, turning around. She'd disappeared into my kitchen and then she was heading to my bathroom. She looked around, and then her gaze was back at me.
She had a mean, intense and intimidating demeanor that you fail to notice from her 'nice-girl' facade in her interviews. Ciara, the 'self-proclaimed' fiancèe of the Alpha-Prince.
Her getup screamed millions, and I felt like a speck of dust next to her.
She straightened, flipping her hair backward. “Where is he?“
“Where is who?“ I tried not to sound nervous, even though I was.
”My Fiancé. He was here last night, wasn't he?“ She dead-panned.
Her question felt like a cage and I was trapped inside of it. She wasn't asking to know, she already knew. She was daring me to lie if I had enough guts to.
I gulped, my eyelashes flickering repeatedly. “He left this morning,“
“This morning?” She gasped, “He spent the night here?“
Oh dear Goddess, I just gave too much information! I thought she knew that part of the story, how stupid of me!
“Yes,“ I admitted. The surprising thing was, I didn't feel a shred of shame or guilt. Like it was okay to have someone else's fiance come down here and spend the night in my room, on my request.
Lost in my little reverie, I didn't see it coming until it landed heavily on my cheek. I've been slapped a hundred times but none has felt this brutal. It was like she flat-out wanted to mar my face.
”That's for being a third-rated slut!“ She rasped. Again, she slapped the other side of my cheek, forcefully turning my face to the side. “And that's for the pain you've caused me!“ She lifted her hand again and I quickly moved backward.
“That's enough!“ I cried out. My face was hurting like hell and I didn't know exactly what I'd done.
“That's enough?!“ She charged towards me, grabbing a fistful of my hair. “You stole my man and you think just slapping you is enough?!“
“Let me go!“ I yanked her hand away from my hair. “I didn't steal your man…“
“Oh really? Then what was he doing here last night, and every other night he staked outside this shithole apartment?!“
“What?“ I was lost.
“Don't play dumb with me or I'm gonna pull out every single strand of your hair! Ryder has been here nights and nights again and you fucking basked in the fact that he was keeping watch over you instead of being at home with me his bride-to-be! You didn't even have the decency to usher him in. You left out there to sleep in his car, how proud of you!“
“Wait, I don't understand –“ Confusion engulfed me and it was hard comprehending everything she just said. The Alpha-Prince has been staking out my apartment? For how long? A week? Two? My God! I thought it was just last night.
The only person who comes here most nights was Jason. It was odd at first, but he said his boss wouldn't let him visit me any more and he was sneaking out now.
“Listen to me while I'm talking to you!“ She barked, poking my shoulder with her finger.
“I'm sorry, Ma'am. But I had no idea that the Alpha-Prince was staking out my apartment every night.“ Now, I was beginning to feel guilty.
“Really? Let's say I believe you. Now, can you explain why he sends Jason in?“
“What?“
“I'm sick and tired of you playing dumb. If I lose my patience, your face is gonna need a reconstruction. Now answer my fucking questions!“
“I don't – I don't know what you're talking about. I swear!“ I gave a vigorous wipe at the tears that flooded down my eyes.
“Jason comes in here every night, right before Ryder arrives. I'm guessing he comes to inform you that Ryder will be here soon, right?“
“What has Jason got to do with the Alpha-Prince?!“
“You're testing my patience,“ She chuckled bitterly, ruffling her hair in anger.
“Please Ma'am, I don't understand anything you're saying. Jason came here just to have a chat with me. We're friends,“
“What?“ She scanned me from head to toe in disdain. “How can a measly thing like you be friends with the Beta of this prestigious pack?“
“What did you just say?!“
“You know what, I've had it with you!“ She snapped, grabbing my hair and giving me a vehement push that I landed on the floor. The duvet lost its bearing and fell off me.
She gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. “You're fucking pregnant?! I can't believe this!“
Tears flooded down my eyes as I picked up the duvet, wrapping it around me. Abused, again and again, I still wasn't used to the hurting.
“Stay the fuck down there and don't you dare get up!“ She yelled, standing right over me. “What did you do to Ryder to make him be all over you? And what, Jason's your friend? The nerve of you!“
“Is Jason – the Beta of this pack?“ Tears choked my words, making them come out in a stutter.
“As if you didn't know that! Quit with the fucking pretense!“
What was hurting me the most? Her mistreatment, the deceit of a friend, or the charade of the man my heart was beginning to yearn for?
Bottom line? I was hurting, much more than I ever have.