53

Jeremy POV

As soon as she left the room with Julianne still waiting inside for her to be back to discuss whatever it was they were discussing, which was none of my business, I grabbed her hands and led her to my room.

“And if I may ask what am I doing heading to your room?” She asked staring up at me.

I didn’t spare her any conversation till we got to my room, I pushed open the door and closed the door to my room, the sound echoing in the quiet space. Loretta stood across from me, her expression a mix of defiance and confusion.

“Are you going to start talking and tell me what it is you brought me to your room for, or stay silent, frowning your face all day?”

“How did you throw me into the ceiling that day?” I asked, curiosity burning inside me. “You’re just a normal person. No one should have that kind of strength, and the energy that surged through me that day was something not ordinary; it was magic, just like the healer mentioned that day.”

Her arms crossed defensively. “I told you everything, I’m just strong. It’s not a big deal and don’t tell me it is the reason for dragging down here from what I was doing.”

I stepped closer, frustration bubbling up. “Not a big deal? Loretta, you sent me flying! That’s not normal! You’re hiding something aside from what you told me . I know it.”

“I’m not hiding anything! I have told you everything that I was told right from when I was a baby.” she shot back, her voice sharp. “Why can’t you just accept it the way I told you and believe it that way? You always have to dig into things, and if you don’t know, it is always annoying.” Loretta yelled not bothering to look away from the harsh gaze I was giving her.

“Because it doesn’t make sense!” I raised my voice, anger mixing with confusion. “A normal person doesn’t just do that. There’s something more going on with you. Just tell me!” I paused momentarily, as if getting a vision from somewhere. “Or maybe wait, you said something about your body being inhabited by a moon goddess and that you inherited the power from her because she is still inside of you. And that you are a two-sided being, a werewolf, and a witch, right? Does that make sense to you? Does this lie have any meaning of such to your hearing? Or do I look like Julliane, who can be easily fooled by just accepting the made-up nonsense you spit out?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Maybe I don’t want to tell you! Maybe it’s none of your business! Maybe I have told you, and your little doubtful self refuses to believe it! Maybe it is all made up! Maybe it is not made up! Maybe Julianne believes, and maybe she does not; at least she is not like who won't let the doing pass by.” She spat out furiously; I could see the anger building up like it that day, and the event of how I was thrown out of the room through the ceiling with a stretch of her arms amazed me.

“It directly involves me and since you are in my pack and I am the beta, I have made it my business to know what it is that is wrong with you.” I fired, visibly annoyed at her refusal to spell out those words that I badly needed to hear.

I moved closer, feeling the tension crackling in the air. I didn’t want to get angry, but I couldn’t help it; she wouldn’t stop lying and denying the fact that I saw with my own eyes and landed me at the pack hospital. “What are you hiding, Loretta? Tell me the hell it is you are in this pack for? You just ran into my brother's mating ceremony badly beaten and almost at the point of death, and my brother made you his concubine the same evening of his mating ceremony and your arrival, and to make matters worse, your father barged into the meeting where you being announced as his new concubine to plead for your forgiveness, you lied your way out and had your father imprisoned, just because we were kind to you does not mean we are foolish and won't know the reason for you being here at all. ”

“So what the hell are you insinuating at?” She demanded unbelievably.

“That you have a foul play at hand, and you have to spill it out because I know already,” I replied, waiting for her to continue or rest a while.

“Or Maybe I’m just tired of you always poking around in my life!” she retorted, her voice shaking with emotion. “You think I am telling a lie, or I am playing some sort of game here?”

At that moment, the anger shifted. I felt a different kind of energy between us, an undeniable connection. And I know for certain that Loretta felt the connection but she did not make any move to resist me when I filled the remaining gap between us. My heart raced as I leaned in, driven by an impulse I couldn’t control. I kissed her, and for a brief moment, everything else disappeared. Before I control my anger, we both had sex.

When I pulled away, reality crashed back. “I don’t like you, Loretta,” I said, my voice rough. “Let me be honest here; all you are doing is just warming my bed, and besides, you’re my brother’s concubine. I can’t let this happen again.” I said, my voice dripping with guilt. I looked away, feeling the intensity of what I had just done burn my heart. What was I thinking before I slept with her, knowing fully well she was my brother's concubine?

“Never you allow…, and I repeat, never you allow any of this such repeat itself again,” I said firmly while avoiding her gaze.

Her eyes widened in shock, the hurt instantly replacing the fire in her gaze. “Jeremy…” she whispered, the weight of my words sinking in.

“I mean it. We can’t have anything like this again,” I continued, the guilt gnawing at me. “It’s not right, it is not right. You are my brother's concubine, and I have to respect that wish and let you be even though you are my mate.”

Loretta turned away, her shoulders tense. “I can’t believe you just said that. You kissed me and made love to me, and then you act like it means nothing. You don’t even care about my feelings.”

“I do care!” I protested, my voice rising again. “But I can’t be with you. Not like this. You belong to my brother. I can’t cross that line.”

Her face fell, and I could see the pain in her eyes. “You don’t understand. I thought there was something between us. But you just threw it away.”

“I didn’t throw anything away!” I argued, frustration boiling inside me. “I’m trying to protect you! This is messy. You’re involved with my brother. It complicates everything.”

She turned to me, her expression raw. “What do you think I am, Jeremy? Just some pawn in your brother’s game? I have feelings too.”

“I never said that,” I replied, softer now. “But we have to be realistic. This can’t happen.”

Loretta shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes. “You think you can just push me away like this? You can’t kiss someone and then act like it doesn’t matter!”

“I didn’t mean for it to happen! I was angry and confused,” I said, my voice breaking slightly. “I can’t help how I feel, but I can’t act on it either. It’s wrong.”

Her shoulders slumped, and I felt the distance grow between us. “So, what do you want from me?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. “Do you want me to just forget this ever happened?”

“I don’t know!” I replied, my heart aching. “I want to understand you. I want to know why you’re so different. But I can’t risk my relationship with my brother over this.”

“Do you even care about me?” Loretta asked, her voice trembling. “Or is this just about your brother? What about what I want?”

“I care about you,” I insisted, stepping closer. “But I can’t be selfish. I can’t ruin everything just because of a moment. So please let this be the first and the last time something like this happens between us.”

Loretta stared disheartened at me, and with that expression on my face and firm stance, she turned around and left the room without saying any more words to me.