CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR - MARICELA
CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR - MARICELA
Ryker waits while I shower, waits while I get dressed. I can’t quite meet his gaze because I think he thinks that we fucked. That, in reality, we did more than what actually happened.
But we did enough.
We did more than enough.
My heart feels like it’s breaking. Like I’ve messed up so badly and I don’t know how to fix it. I just keep my gaze down, trying to silence that voice in my head that tells me this is my fault. That I’ve got nobody to blame for how I’m feeling but my own stupid self.
We walk into the Hall and Khloe is there, sat at a table with half a dozen Wolves around her. They’re all studying me, but I don’t see that hate in their eyes that I’ve come to expect from this Pack.
“Grab a seat, Mari. I’ll get you some food.” Ryker says quietly.
I grunt in reply, slumping down next to his sister. She gives me a sympathetic look, and which tells me that Ryker has no doubt informed her of my entire evenings’ escapades.
“I was thinking we could go for a run.” Khloe says.
“What?” I reply.
“Get out of this place, let our Lycans out. Just get some fresh air.”
I stare at her, trying to think of something to say, some excuse but I’m so exhausted I’m not even sure my brain can actually function. I swear I’ve got a blinding headache. It feels like someone is pinching my brain, squeezing it over and over and the bright lights around me are not helping at all.
“You okay?” She says.
“She’s fine,” Ryker says putting a plate loaded with food in front of me.
I pick up my fork, ignoring them both and start to eat, figuring it might just be low sugar, it might just be hunger. But I need to think of something and fast. I need to have a decent excuse as to why I don’t want to stretch my legs. Only, my mind is blank. Like I don’t have any useful thoughts. Gods, I have to say something, to give some reason…
An angry scream pulls me right out of my head.
Everyone is turning and looking as Lia of all people storms into the Hall. Her hair is frazzled, she looks so far from her usually perfect image.
“You.” She spits, staring right at me.
I brace myself for whatever this is, grateful that at least Ryker and Khloe are here. That I have some backup for once.
“It isn’t enough that you try to steal my mate?” She spits. “It isn’t enough that you’re a dirty little whore pretending to be a member of my family?”
Khloe growls. I clench my fists as my Wolf screams in my head to rip out her damned eyeballs.
“What the fuck do you want, Lia?” Ryker growls.
“She trashed my room. She destroyed everything of mine.” She screams.
“I’ve done nothing.” I reply.
She throws something at me. As it lands at my feet I can see it’s an item of clothing, one of those sexy silk dresses she likes to wear so much. It’s ripped to shreds by what could only be claws. “You did this. You destroyed my things.”
It’s so pathetic I could almost laugh. But then he walks in. He stands behind her, and he’s staring at me again, but I can tell he’s back to the old him, the one of denial. Gods, I can see it in his body language now, the way he stands so stiff, like he’s caught in some sort of trap, and he can’t even breathe properly.
“I want her punished.” Lia screams.
Adriel lets out a low breath and for a moment his scent hits me. I swear my eyes roll back in my head, I swear my entire body responds to that like it’s a hit of some incredible drug going straight to my head, taking over all of my senses. Why does he always smell so good?
“And when exactly did she do that?” Khloe asks.
“Last night. She must have snuck in….”
Khloe starts laughing. Even Ryker smirks.
“I didn’t do a thing.” I say, getting to my feet. It feels like a damned soap opera being played out for Adriel’s entire Pack to witness.
“Yeah, then prove it.” She spits, turning to look at Adriel. “Prove before not only your Alpha but your King that you didn’t do it.”
“I don’t need to.” I shrug. Both Adriel and I know what I’m not saying, but I wonder for a fleeting second if he’ll deny it. If he’ll pretend that none of it happened. Well, I guess that would be a real marker as to his behaviour. It would definitely prove one way or the other if he’s truly the arsehole I believe him to be.
“He already knows, seeing as he was with her all night.” Ryker says loudly.
Her jaw drops. Her eyes widen and she spins staring at the Lycan behind her. “You…?”
“Enough, Lia.” Adriel growls.
“You were with her?” She spits.
He meets her gaze then shakes his head slightly. “I’m not having this discussion here.”
“Why, too afraid to air your dirty laundry?” Khloe snarls.
Adriel looks at her and I swear his lips curl. He takes Lia’s arm, pulling her out the Hall and once he’s gone, it’s so damn quiet you can hear a pin drop.
“Well, that was dramatic.” Ryker murmurs.
“I, I need some space.” I say quietly. I feel like a whore. I feel like everyone is judging me, and who could blame them?
“But I thought we were going to go for a run?” Khloe says.
Ryker shoots her a look and I walk out, ignoring all that whispering because now everyone thinks I’m sleeping with him, that I’m that sort of person. That I’m willing to do anything to get him.