Chapter 12

Chapter 12
LILA'S POV

“Why were you trying to run away?” He asks as soon as he shifts back to his human form.

I lower my gaze, feeling ashamed of myself as I refuse to shift from my wolf form.

Why did he have to be the one to chase me?

Why had he caught up with me?

If only I had managed to make it past the patrol guards and out of the border, I would be free by now.

“Please, Lila, shift back and answer me… It's only a matter of some minutes before Kael figures out that something is wrong.” He continues.

I remain seated in my wolf form as he sits in front of me, having released me from where he had pinned me down below him before, after I had finally stopped struggling.

'We'll be alright,' and Neela retreats inside with this statement, giving my human side control.

I shift back and lift my eyes to Alec's.

“I don't want to be here. Please help me leave.” I whisper, my voice heavy with emotion.

“I'm sorry, Lila… I really am. But I can't do that… I can't help you leave knowing what it'll do to me.” He says back, looking very guilty as he scoots closer to me.

“If you claim to care for me like you say, you'd let me go. You and your brother are too toxic for me.” I press once more.

From recent observations, I've picked up the fact that Alec seemed to be on the much cooler side.

He didn't mind showing just how much I affected him, and he was always so soft and gentle with me.

Kael, on the other hand, confused me a lot.

He hadn't done anything to endanger my life in any way.

Rather, he had saved my life from the group of wolves.

Yet, he hadn't given any clear, straightforward sign of caring for me.

It was like he was conflicted about his feelings.

Was something aside from the bond of our arranged marriage beginning to develop in him?

Could he feel just how much I longed for him too?

Then why was he fighting it so much?

Why did he marry me if he wasn't going to touch me?

He didn't want me, and yet, he wouldn't let his brother have me.

Maybe if I'm able to get Alec to soften up towards me a bit more and take advantage of our mate bond, he'd help me.

“It's because of how much I care for you that I can't necessarily let you leave. With the rogues bothering our pack, I'm sorry to say, Kael and I are the least dangerous things out there.” He states, and I noticed how he had gotten a bit closer.

“Then at least tell me what happened. What are we to do with this? Who can give us answers, and does your brother hate you so much because you left?” I throw all my questions out there in one go.

Alec sighs, pushing hair out of his face, and then gives me a tight smile.

“Kael has always wanted and taken whatever is mine, a bad habit he grew up with right from childhood… I don't know how and why, but I believe this is a test, Lila, by the moon goddess…we can't let him win again.” He whispers, cupping my face as he leans in.

“You're not giving me direct answers,” I whisper back, feeling overwhelmed by his closeness.

“Do you trust me to at least put aside all thoughts of running away for now and see where this goes?” He asks, and against my better judgment, I subconsciously agree even before I open my mouth.

“Yes…I trust you.” I answer for both Neela and me, and he smiles at me, leaning even closer.

I close my eyes expectantly, feeling his warm breath on my face and throwing caution to the wind as I anticipate his next move.

Just as I feel the ghost of his lips brush mine, a twig snaps, jerking us apart, and I turn to see Camille feigning surprise.

“Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.” She lies, eyes shining with mischief, and I frown, watching as Alec stares between me and her, confused.

“Alpha, I wanted to discuss something with you—” She begins making a curt bow at Alec first, still not realising he wasn't the one.

“I'm not the Alpha… I'm his brother, Alec. Excuse me…" Alec cuts her off, giving me one last longing look before standing up and walking off without sparing Camille, who stood with her mouth gaping wide, a second glance.

“Oh my, my Lila. You really have outdone yourself. Not only did you manage to whore yourself into the alpha's bed, but now his brother's too? Must you always be so greedy?” She says to me spitefully, and I roll my eyes as I stand up.

I pull on a false confidence facade, knowing that if I showed Camille her words affected me, she'd only say more.

I was going to pretend like she hadn't caught me about to kiss my husband's brother.

“Get a life, Camille. You already have Adrian, you've completely taken over my life and have our parents' love all to yourself, and yet, you come after me, who has been sent far away, married off to an alpha known for his dead wives, for what?” I stand up to her.

The feeling was nice… standing up to anyone wasn't something I usually did.

“Don't think becoming the alpha's wife gives you the right to talk shit to me. I can still ruin your life… If I were you, I'd watch my back… What a disaster it would be if this birthday turned out to be your very last.” She hisses at me, stepping closer to jab me in the chest with every word for emphasis.

Smirking at my horrified face, she makes a throat-slitting gesture at me, winks, and then walks off.

Did my own twin sister just threaten to kill me?