Chapter 49 CHAPTER FORTY NINE
Silvana's Point Of View.
I was discharged two days after I woke up. After that day with my parents, Garrick never showed up, neither did he call.
The maids and guards were the one who escorted me back to the palace.
I sucked in a deep breath as the ornate doors of the palace slammed shut behind me, the sound echoing the hollow ache in my chest.
I was finally free from the sterile white walls of the healers and the hospital, free from the constant prodding and poking. Yet, standing here, in the palace, I felt nothing but liberated.
"Luna," One of the maids, Clara, spoke up. Her voice breaking the silence.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to see the Alpha first? Or retire to your chambers?" She asked in a soft tone, her curious eyes staring deep into mine.
"Actually-" I was about to speak up when I caught sight of Garrick standing few feet away from me, his beta and guards following behind him.
The moment his eyes met mine, the corner of his lips lifted in disdian. He said nothing and just brushed past me, not even sparing me a glance.
"Luna, welcome back." His beta smiled and bowed, along with the other guards.
"Hello." I smiled sheepishly at them as they walked away. Garrick's back was still turned on me, he didn't even look back and continued to walk away before disappearing down the hall.
I sighed, my disappointment evident. I turned to face my maid. "I think I'll go my chambers."
Clara smiled knowingly at me. "I understand."
As we walked up the stairs, the gossiping whispers of the maids that bustled around followed me.
'Did you see the Alpha's face? He barely acknowledged the Luna.' One voice said.
'I think something is terribly wrong,' Another voice said. 'Probably the marriage is already failing before it even started.'
I tried to ignore them, to focus on the familar scent of pine and earth that clung to the palace walls. But the shadow of Garrick's sudden chilling indifference loomed larger, poisoning the very air I breathed.
By the time I got to my chambers, I excused Clara and the other maids that followed me. I needed to rest, more importantly I needed some time alone to myself.
"Okay Luna," Clara bowed as she took a step back. "Kindly alert me if there is anything you need."
I offered her a small smile. "I will, thank you."
I opened the door and walked in, gently slamming the door shut. Sucking in a deep, shaky breath. I leaned against the door taking another deep breath to steady myself. Garrick's sudden cold dismissal fekt like a physical weight that pressed down on me.
I didn't love the man, but what he did, did not just hurt my pride, but also my feelings.
My fear has now subsided, a wave of disappointment and despair surfaced.
"I need to bathe." I murmured, standing upright.
~
A long, hot shower was exactly what I needed. The steaming water cascaded over me, loosening the tension in my muscles.
After drying off, I wrapped myself in a soft, plush robe and padded over the bookshelf that lined one wall of my chambers. Books had always been my escape, my sanctuary. I ran my fingers along the spines, searching for something that would distract me from the turmoil inside.
I finally settled on a worn copy of a romance novel, it was a cheesy tale of star-crossed lovers and impossible odds.
Perfect.
I curled up on the chaise lounge by the window, the soft light filtering through the sheer curtains. As I began to read, I tried to immerse myself in the story, to forget about my own complicated life.
But it was no use.
The words blurred before my eyes, and my mind kept drifting back to Garrick .....to his dismissive eyes.
I wonder what he will do now that he knows the truth.
Just as I was about to give up on reading altogether, a sharp knock echoed through the room. My heart skipped a beat. Why could it be?
Clara perhaps?
I didn't call for her though.
"Come in," I called out, my voice barely a whisper.
The door swung open, and I gasped, dropping the book on my lap.
Garrick stood in the doorway, his presence filling the room, casting a long shadow. He was dressed in simple black trousers and a dark grey shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal his powerful forearms.
"Garrick?" I breathed, my voice laced with a shock and a tremor of fear.
I scrambled to my feet, my heart pounding against my ribs. He literally walked past me and now, here he was, in my chambers, looking like a storm cloud ready to burst.
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click that resonated through the room. He didn't say a word, just stood there, his gaze fixed on me, making me exposed and vulnerable in my simple robe.
I took a step towards him, my bare feet sinking into the soft carpet. "What...what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
He didn't answer. He simply continued to stare at me, his eyes trailing over my body, lingering on my damp hair and the way the robe clung to my curves.
His silence was unnerving, more terrifying than any angry outburst.
The air crackled with tension, a palpable energy that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I could feel the pull of the mate bond, a faint tug that both terrified and intrigued me.
I hated this man...yet, right now I was scared of him and drawn to him despite all what had happened.
He was so close, yet so distant, a dangerous enigma that I couldn't seem to resist.
He was my mate, I knew that. But this isn't right, it feels so off yet- right.
What's wrong with me?
"I thought you didn't want to see," I blurted out, the words tumbling from my lips in nervous rush. "I thought you were....disgusted by me."
A muscle twitched in his jaw, the only sign that my words had affected him. He took a step closer, closing the distance between us, his eyes never leaving mine.
"And what if I am?" He murmured in a low tone, his dangerous. "What will you do? Or what can you do?"