CHAPTER 72. CAUGHT IN THE ACT
HARA
I arrived at the address Roland had texted me last night. Alighting from the taxi, I was awed by the gigantic building in front of me. For a second there, I thought the taxi driver had got the address all wrong, but I could see the address boldly inscribed on the building.
Roland had pleaded that we meet and talk at a restaurant and had texted me the address. But I never imagined he was talking about a place like this.
My slow steps led me through the revolving door into the building and I gasped at the exquisite interior. Thank goddess I picked up an outfit that was a bit classy. If I hadn't, I would have been bawling my eyes out now from shame.
Spotting Roland was hard, and it's not because there were a lot of people here. No, I was just too nervous and feeling a teeny bit inferior. I couldn't help it.
The sophistication of the place had knocked off my breath earlier, and I was yet to recover from that.
Just then, a waiter approached me. He had a smile that was more professional than genuine.
”Miss Hara, right?“ He inquired politely.
”Yes,“ I replied, wondering how he knew my name.
“Right this way, please,“ He gestured with a bow that showed his high level of etiquette. I followed him and he led me to a different room. And there was Roland, seated at the only table in the room. It was next to a large, glass window and the room was adorned with tulips. It brought a nostalgic smile to my face, I almost forgot my obsession with flowers. This was a good reminder.
The man left and I walked closer to where Roland sat. He was staring out the window, lost in thoughts. He didn't notice my presence, even when I was standing next to him.
Ryder picks up my scent from a thousand miles, I could never stand next to him this way and he won't notice, no matter how lost in thought he was.
But with Roland, it's different. He's never picked up my scent like that, as fated mates should. Not when we were in our pack, and not here either. I've always wondered why, there had to be an explanation for it.
I was forced back to reality as Roland finally noticed me. His face stretched into a smile and he stood and pulled out my chair for me to come sit.
I didn't budge. Memories of last night flooded my mind, back when he called me up. Every bit of our conversation replayed in my head.
”How did you get my number?“ I'd asked him, startled by his voice.
“I had to do whatever I could to get your number because I needed to talk to you,“ He replied, but didn't exactly tell me how he got my number.
“What is it? What do you want?”
“I wanna talk, Hara. Not the usual bickering we do, I want a civil talk. Please, that's all I ask,“
“I can't –”
”Please, if you ever loved me, you'll do this for me. Let's talk, just the two of us. No third party,“
I didn't say a word. It was a hard request to make of me and I had to think it through.
”Please. Give me a chance to make it up to you. I know I deserve it if you decide to shut me out of your life completely. But that'll keep me inside. A chance, one last chance, that's all I ask,“
I could only stay mad at him for that long. In the next second, I found myself accepting his request and he went ahead to send me the address.
I went to bed feeling burdened. The few times I met Roland were all coincidences, back at Silver Pack party, when I was out with Hailey, and when I stepped out on my own to go see the cake designer. They were all unplanned meetings. This was the first time I'm gonna be meeting him on my own will. It made me feel anxious and guilty like I was betraying Ryder's love for me.
But here I was, and even though I still feel guilty, I brushed it aside and took a seat on the chair he pulled out for me.
He sat on his chair and poured out the wine into the glasses. I barely sipped mine, he did too. But we weren't here for wine and merriment. He wanted to talk, so he went right to it.
“I'm sorry again, Hara. I had no idea you lost our child. If only I knew a way to capture those rogues, I would have made them pay with their lives,“
”It's okay. How could you have known? You weren't here with me,”
“But I am now. Hara,” He mused, stretching out his hand for mine, “It's not too late to start over. We're mates, and no matter the pain we've caused each other, we can still heal as long as we're together. Take my hand, let's return home. You and I, just like old times,“
“So you could abuse me again?”
“I'll never do that again. I swear on my life. Being away from you made me realize just how much you mean to me. I might have hurt you in the past, but I'm never gonna do that again. I know you still love me, Hara, I can feel it. So please, come back to me. Take my hand, be my woman, like you've always been,“
But Ryder…what happens to him now? What would become of him if I take Roland's hand and return to our pack with him? Ryder will go insane, he might lose his shit. He'll be ruined, I can't do that to him. I can't just abandon him, but then, Roland is my mate, not Ryder. Won't the moon Goddess punish me for abandoning my mate and being with someone else?
What if I reject Roland and stay with Ryder? What would happen to me when the elders return and it's proven that I'm the reason behind the storm? What would become of me? Ryder plans on eloping with me when that happens, but will I really be happy knowing that I came in between his bond with his people? Will I be happy after separating him from his duties as an Alpha-Prince? Will I be okay with ruining his life that way? Can I be that selfish? Can I be?
Oh dear goddess, please help me. This is just too difficult for me. Making a decision right now is impossible. I can't choose. If I could have it my way, I wouldn't wanna choose. But then I have to, I can't keep both men. I have to reject one. But who would it be? Ryder or Roland?
I gasped out loud at the wetness on my dress, which snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Oh, fuck. Are you alright? I'm sorry. I was gonna pour you more wine. My fingers were quivering, and the wine spilled. God, how clumsy of me,” Roland rabble, coming over to where I sat and wiping my dress with a napkin.
”Nah, it's alright…”
“Hardly,“ He sighed, ”Look how messed up you are,“
The wine had spilled on the better half of my dress and it left a huge, wet mark on me. There's no way I can return to the palace like this.
“You should come over to my place. Change your clothes and maybe take a shower. You don't want that wine on your skin for long,“
”Huh?“ I was taken aback by his proposal. “Your place? Where's that?“
“I'm lodged in a hotel. It's a few blocks away from here. We could pick up a new outfit for you from the mall and you come change in my suite. That'll be less hassle, right?“
I was skeptical but not like I had much of a choice. Ryder will kill me if I return to the palace like this, and then he's gonna come to kill Roland. I had to clean myself up.
“Okay,“ I finally agreed and we left the restaurant after he settled the bills.
He picked up a new outfit for me and we headed to the hotel. We trekked the short distance and soon, we were at the hotel. He led me to his suite and I quickly rushed into the bathroom.
He didn't intrude or try to take advantage of the situation. I washed off the wine from my body and came out of the bathroom dressed in a bathing robe.
I bundled up the messed-up dress as I plan to thrash it away later. I couldn't find the new outfit in the bedroom so I headed out to the lounge.
I found him standing at the door, talking to someone. Probably hotel service.
”Roland, where are the new clothes?“ I asked.
He turned around and only then did I see who was standing outside the door. Life drained out of my face and my heart slumped.
“Ry-Ryder?“