Chapter 21 SPARKLE WITH TEARS
AMBER’S POV
I don’t stop walking, I can’t stop. Holding my head high and keeping my face as expressionless as I can, I walk to my room and shut the door, effectively dismissing Hera, needing time alone.
Once the coldness of the room seeps into me, I shiver as his stabbing words now settle within me, making me gasp and groan in pain while my mind and body become numb as I crash to the floor, sitting with my back against the door.
My heart aches with an intensity as I feel his disdain for me, even from our proximity. I shouldn’t care this much, but just like my life from the first day I returned to Valhalla, I have no control.
I have no control over the hurt that’s radiating through my body in waves, I have no control over who I’ll spend an eternity with, and I have no control over where I’ll spend an eternity living.
Is this really going to be my life? Isolated and dejected, treated like a contagious disease and regarded as filth by my mate and his subjects.
My wolf whimpers within me as the thoughts of our mate's words ring through us repeatedly. He said we aren’t a part of his pack.
He didn’t accept us. He doesn’t want us anywhere near him, yet he would hold us and receive comfort every night.
The first tear rolls down my face as this thought settles, and I gulp down the rest that threatens to spill, lifting a hand to rub my chest in a bid to dull the pain in my heart, but it doesn’t numb it in the slightest.
How can he keep doing this to us? Doesn’t he feel me as I feel him? Doesn’t he feel the pain he causes me? Doesn’t he know he’s killing me emotionally?
“I didn’t ask for this,” I whisper with my voice strained and hoarse in pain.
I would have kept wallowing on the ground, but a knock on the door disrupts my moment of self-pity and misery.
“Princess, are you okay?” Damien asks, and I tense, surprised that he’s right outside my door.
I take in a deep breath and school my features, clearing my throat before I reply to him, “I am. What do you want?” I ask with as much niceness as I can muster.
“Can I come in?” he asks again very calmly, and I stand up from the floor, turning to hold the door handle, confused.
“Did he send you?” I ask, knowing that I won’t let him in if he is sent.
“No, Princess,” he says, and with another deep breath, I open the door to find him staring at me with an unreadable look.
“Come in,” I say, moving to a side for him to enter. I don’t know why I let him in. Maybe it’s because I’m sad, and company doesn’t sound bad, or maybe it’s desperation to be liked by at least one person in the pack.
Once he walks in, I close the door and walk towards my bed, watching him take in the appearance of the room.
“You don’t have a window,” he states with clear displeasure in his tone, showing his annoyance with his features.
“It’s shit, I know,” I say, with a sigh, still watching him take in my new room. “Why are you here?” I ask curiously, and his gaze rests on me, and just like the first time, his eyes make my skin tingle as a sense of familiarity fills me.
“I came to check on you,” he says, walking closer to me to sit on the bed. “Derek was being an ass, out there.”
“I’m fine, I promise,” I say, dismissing it completely, not needing his pity.
“I can’t apologize enough, Princess,” he says, and the sincerity in his eyes silences me for a moment.
“It’s fine. I think I’ll get used to it eventually.”
“You shouldn’t have to get used to abuse. You’re my Luna,” he says with an intense stare, and his words warm me, soothing my wolf, making her perk up with interest.
“I don’t think your alpha knows that,” I say with a forced laugh.
“Alphas can generally be stupid, even the moon goddess knew this, that’s why they made betas like me to drive sense into them,” he says playfully, and I smile.
“I agree,” I say, and his smile matches mine. It’s just registers that his smile is the first I’ve seen since I got here, and it lights me up instantly as his blue eyes glimmer with its sincerity.
“Now that that’s out of the way, you can apologize for hurting my feelings,” he says suddenly, stretching his legs and getting comfortable on the bed while I stare at him, confused.
“Apologize to you? For what?” I ask, confused, still watching him as his light, carefree spirit cocoons me, instantly making me feel better and more comfortable around him, even though I barely know him.
“For not thanking me,” he says, still being vague and confusing me more, and by the look on his face, he enjoys my confusion, so I decide to do the opposite of what he expects.
“Ahh, yes, thank you so much for existing as the all-powerful beta of my horrid alpha mate, it’s such a pleasure that you graced me with your presence, so I thank you,” I say with a slight bow for impact before meeting his eyes, “seriously thank you,” I add for emphasis.
He stares at me strangely for a moment without saying anything, and in the next second, he bursts out laughing. His laughter echoes within the room, and with how hard he’s laughing, I can’t help but join him.
I watch his eyes sparkle with tears as he tries to stop laughing, and it only fuels my laughter; even the thought that I don’t know why we are laughing makes me laugh even more.
“Everything about you lights me up, Princess,” he says, sobering up, and I chuckle, not understanding why his presence soothes me this much.
“Now would you tell me what I should be thanking for?” I ask chirpily, and he moves closer to me, not taking his eyes off me for a second.
“I saved you,” he whispers with a light smile, and taps my nose playfully, but the intensity in his eyes has me spellbound. “My wolf doesn’t like that you can’t sense us, my Luna,” he says, this time running a finger down my cheek softly, and my words get stuck in my throat.
I’m not sure if it’s the possession in his voice when he says ‘my luna’ or the way his finger casually caresses my cheek, but I’m compelled to remember when this happened.
And in a second, recognition sets in, and that’s when I see it, that’s when I see him.
With his eyes boring into mine, his touch sending tingles through my body, I remember that he was the wolf with magical blue eyes that saved me from the rogues a month ago.
My unknown savior.
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DRAWN TO HER