Chapter 24

Amelia’s POV

My footsteps echoed through the silent hallway as I walked behind Kaiden, my heart racing wildly. We had barely spoken a word since we left the dining room, and the tension between us became noticeable.  As we entered Kaiden’s Chamber, the soft glow of the candle burning at the left end of the room cast a warm light on the room. 

Kaiden walked straight to his bed and sat down at the edge, his gaze fixed on the floor. I stood close to the door as I rested my back against the door. We remained silent for a few minutes before Kaiden finally broke the silence with a question.

“Why are you giving Damien a chance to get close to you?” He asked calmly as he raised his head and looked at me. My heart skipped a beat as he locked gaze with me, I could see pain in his eyes. I walked close to him and sat next to him, I looked at him intensely. 

Kaiden raised his head and my pulse quickened as I met his gaze. I knew he was hurt—I had been expecting him to confront me. I took a deep breath before I began to explain myself, I had to make him understand that I was doing everything for the sake of my revenge. 

“I’m sorry, Kaiden. I promise you I am not doing any of these to hurt you, I need to get close to him to execute my plan perfectly. Damien disgusts me more than anyone, I don't have a thing with him. I will never do anything to hurt you or betray you.” I explained calmly as I caressed his hair gently trying to make him understand. 

“But, I don't think you must get close to him before you take your revenge or execute your plan, Amelia. There are other ways you could take your revenge on them without getting close to that asshole. It is so unnecessary! I don't understand why you have to form a close relationship with a man who has hurt you and made you go through a lot of pain just because you wanted to take revenge.” He complained bitterly, his tone laced with anger.  

The statement pissed me off and I got infuriated, I took my hand from his hair and placed them by my side. I tried my best to make him understand, but he wasn't ready to understand things from my perspective. Kaiden was the last person I had expected to have that kind of argument with, it was as though he didn't trust my words. 

My eyes burned in anger as I stared at Kaiden, my gaze intense. “You don't have the right to interfere in my personal affairs, Kaiden. You have no right to tell me who I should relate with and who I shouldn’t relate with. You are crossing the line for goodness sake, I have just tried my best to make you see things from my own perspective. I know what I’m doing, I didn’t give Damien a chance to get close to me to fall in love with him. Everything I’m doing is for the sake of revenge. Why is it so hard for you to understand?!” I yelled at him as I stood up angrily from the bed and faced him. 

Kaiden’s eyes widened and for a moment he looked like I had slapped him on the face, he was shocked at how I rushed words at him. I saw the hurt etched on his face and my anger subsided immediately and I began to regret my actions. I was so angry that I didn’t care about the words that came out of my mouth. 

I walked closer to him and placed my hand on his shoulder but he took my hands off him. He moved away from me, surprise etched on his face. I knew I was the last person he had expected to challenge him the way I did. I felt sorry for him, my heart was filled with regrets. 

“I’m sorry for overstepping my boundaries. I will make sure to respect your boundaries from now on.” He said as he folded his hands across his chest, his tone laced with pain and anger. 

“I’m… I’m sorry…. I didn’t mean to…” I stammered, but it was too late. He walked out on me angrily and banged the door loudly, the sound echoing through the palace halls. He didn’t bother to listen to what I was saying, I knew I had hurt his feelings. 

As the door closed behind Kaiden, I regretted my actions and I felt very guilty. Kaiden didn't deserve every word I said to him, not after all he had done for me. I sat on the bed and I clasped my hands over my face. I knew I had not been treating Kaiden fairly, but I had no choice—I couldn't let my feelings for him get in the way. Kaiden was a distraction, I didn't want him to get in the way.

I felt very guilty as I remembered the pain in his eyes before he went out of the chamber. I had not been giving him the needed attention. I wanted to focus on my plan of making Damien and others pay for their evil deeds—I needed to focus on what is more important.

I tried to erase the thought of Kaiden from my mind, but I couldn't. I was overwhelmed by guilt that I had made a mistake. I’d hurt him and he was avoiding me. Kaiden had never been annoyed with me or walked out on me ever since we met, I was hurt as well. But I had to focus on what was more important—revenge.

The next day as I climbed down the stairs, my mind was filled with thoughts of what transpired between myself and Kaiden the previous day. We had not talked or met since then. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of unfamiliar laughter and chattering coming from the living room.

I was curious to know whose voice I heard as I climbed down the stairs and walked briskly to the living room. I was greeted by the sight of Kaiden and a woman laughing and chatting together. I wondered who the lady was that Kaiden looked so happy with.The lady’s back was turned on me, I couldn't see her face. 

She finally turned her face and I recognized her as Elara—the pack’s general only daughter. As I observed the two from a distance, Kaiden looked so happy talking to her. I felt a pang of jealousy as I wondered what their relationship was and why Kaiden looked so comfortable around her. 

I couldn't believe I was jealous to see Kaiden chatting happily with another woman after what I had done to him the previous day. My heart rate increased as I observed everything that was happening. I knew at that moment that I was deeply in love with Kaiden and I couldn't stand seeing him with another lady.

As I remembered the argument that I had with him the previous day, I felt scared of losing him to Elara. I felt uneasy at the drama that was unfolding in the living room so I decided to head back upstairs to my room. Just as I was about to turn, Elara reached out and carefully touched Kaiden’s hand. My heart missed a beat, it was as though a knife pierced my heart.