Episode 20: Coming From Both Sides

ARIEL.

"Don't act like you're okay when you're not! You're not happy about Alpha Dan calling your baby his son and your mate his mate! I can help you get out of here with them so I can stay with Alpha Dan. Do we have a deal here?" I said as Caleb kept looking at me.

I'm really hoping that he won't flat out say no to me, even if he is going to reject the offer.

I'm not entirely sure if he's going to reject it, but I can see it in his eyes that this is exactly what he wants.

"Are you going to say no to my offer?" I asked him as he was taking too much time to respond.

Instead, he was steadily looking at me, and then I smiled a little bit at him, as I always do.

"Of course, I know you won't say no! I can see it in your eyes! You are so envious of Alpha Dan calling your son his, and I feel the same when he calls Ava his mate. She has taken my place in his heart."

"So, I can help you as much as you can help me," I added, still waiting for his response. But then he cleared his throat.

"If you weren't foolish, you would have known that there is no way I can make a deal with you ever again! Not now that I have realized that you are just a poison," he responded, widening my eyes as I looked at him.

Though he is indirectly telling me yes, I don't want to see it that way. I'm simply looking at it the way he responded to me.

So I stepped closer to his face looking at him with a bold gesture. "Don't be stupid Caleb, don't be dull! and try to wise up even if it's for few minutes!" I said.

"If you were wise, you would have realized that I never loved you in the first place. But you are just so dull, just like you are now," I added as I looked around to see if anyone is close by. And there is no one nearby.

Then I looked back at him. "Don't think that I have no idea that you are hiding your identity from Alpha Dan, Mr. James!" I said to him as he folded his hands, trying to convey fearlessness. But I know it's just an act, so I ignored it.

"There are possibly easier and other ways I can get rid of both you and Ava out of here within seconds. I can do that by simply revealing your true identity to Alpha Dan! And you know what's going to happen," I said as I swallowed nervously.

"He may forgive Ava and still marry her, but what about you? Even if he doesn't kill you, he will definitely send you to a place where you will never set your eyes on your son again!" I said, tapping him on the shoulder.

"Please don't lose your son and Ava again! I will give you just two days to consider my request, or the worst will happen!" I thundered, then began walking away. But while walking away, I halted and turned again.

"And James! You should consider that carefully!" I said to him. Then I noticed Ava staring at us from the other side.

While she was looking at us, I winked at Caleb to make it appear more complicated for them.

However, as soon as I winked at Caleb, he looked to his side and saw Ava, but she quickly walked away.

Then I knew that they were not at peace, and I believe this is the right moment for me to attack them on the vulnerable side.

CALEB.

So Ava saw us and walked away. I know she thinks we are probably arranging our plan, as she has always suspected.

Immediately, she saw me and walked away, I rushed after her and caught up with her.

"Ava, wait! Please wait! It's definitely not what you think!" I said to her as she was walking away. But the word "definitely" angered her, and she turned and yelled at me.

"So what am I thinking? What is it that I am thinking that is not true?" She asked, while I widened my hands.

"You are completely misunderstanding this," I said to her as I approached slowly.

"What misunderstanding? Isn't it already clear? So you're telling me not to do something but just watch you until you put a weapon to my throat, and only then can I believe that you are dangerous living with me here?" she asked, and I was about to say something, but her voice cut me off.

"First of all! First of all!" She said, raising one finger. "Can you please keep quiet and let me talk? Before you give whatever excuse you want to give!" She yelled at me as I was still attempting to say something, and then I sighed.

"Caleb, at first you told me that you were scared of seeing Ariel here, just like me. But now I saw you with her, standing together and having harmless discussions with her, and you come up with an excuse about that?" She asked, while I took a deep breath.

"That's not exactly what you're thinking! It's always like that because you never consider the other perspective. You always reason in a straightforward manner," I responded to her.

"That's the same way I have been reasoning in other perspective when I was with you and I got hurt for that"

"You still want me to continue reasoning like that?" she asked, and the question weakened me.

This is the most painful part of her words that I don't like, but she keeps repeating that statement in almost every sentence just to remind me of what happened before, of how I tried to kill her.

"Ava, I..." I was still saying, but she interrupted.

"Enough already! Please stay away from me! I may not have meant it the other times, but I mean it this time around!"

"I was telling Gwen to monitor you for me, but I think I don't need any more evidence than this to know that you are a viper! I swear! Caleb, if you ever dare to come close to me or my son again, I will be sorry for you," she thundered in anger and left.

Then I felt completely weakened, looking at her. I couldn't even muster the strength to run after her like I always do.

Things just seem to be getting tougher for me, but I don't think I am completely defeated.

However, as she left, I slowly approached one of the chairs arranged by the Omegas, and then I began to think about what to do.

While battling with my thoughts, I realized that trying to follow Ava to prove to her that I still love her is the only thing worsening my mental condition here.

She's making it so complicated for me, and it's surely not her fault. It's all entirely mine for what I have done to her in the past. If not for that, the both of us wouldn't be in this situation.

And our pack wouldn't have been easily defeated by Alpha Dante's clan because Ariel could have been banished already. But just like she said, I was too blind to see!

How could I have made such a blatant mistake? Hmm?

While lost in thought, I looked ahead and saw Gwen stepping forward.

I couldn't tell if Alpha Dan, Ava, or even Ariel had sent her to deliver a message to me. But the way she was coming towards me, I knew she was definitely coming for me.

So I patiently waited until she approached. "Mr. James, how was work with you and the servants?" she asked, as I sighed and stretched my tired muscles.

"So complicated," I responded to her, and she chuckled.

"Complicated? But you're not even working with them. You just sit and watch," she asked, and I nodded at her.

"You're right, but I don't think any one of them can handle the kind of work I'm doing here," I responded to her, and I knew she understood what I meant.

"Caleb, please, let's be serious," she said as she approached me and sat beside me with a serious expression on her face.

"I'm here to help you and find out if you're truly here for her, but I need you to do just one thing for me," she said to me, and I shrugged my shoulders.

"What is it, please? I'm ready to do anything to prove my love for her. She's breaking my heart," I responded, almost with tears in my eyes.

"Please tell me what you discussed with Ariel," she requested. But the truth is, I can't tell her, and I can't lie either.

"I can't lie to you, and that's why I cannot tell you what it is. But it's definitely not about harming Ava," I responded. Then she stood up from her seat.

"I thought you would allow me to help you, but it seems you don't need my help, as I can see. And I must deliver the message she sent me to you."

"She has given you just a day to tell her what you discussed with Ariel, with proof, or else she will reveal your identity to Alpha Dan! Goodbye, James," she said, and walked away, while I stood there, looking at her in surprise.

Such a threat! Coming from both sides? How do I handle this?