Chapter 26 Blood and bruises
ARLENE
“Don't worry, I won't tell my brother where I saw you," Lucas said as we walked down the lane that led to the garden where Miles was.
I narrowed my eyes and remained silent, refusing to say a word to him.
He paused and looked at me, brows raising.
“You won't say anything?" He asked, and I looked up at him.
"Say what?” I snapped, and he huffed loudly before facing me again.
“Thank you," he blurted out.
Despite how irritated I felt, I still couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous he sounded.
“Thank you? You didn't do me a favor, Lucas, I'm sure you were there to gamble like you always do," I retorted, and he scoffed in disbelief.
“Do you have evidence that I went to your Pack to gamble? The look in your eyes told me that you didn't want Miles finding out where you had been. You'd better show some respect if you want me to keep it a secret!” He groused.
I took a step closer, staring boldly into his glaring eyes.
“Do whatever you want, Lucas, I don't care!" I spat.
Anger flashed across his eyes, and he growled loudly, then gripped my hand.
I winced as pain shot across my wrist while I wriggled to get my wrist out of his grip.
“Be careful, sister-in-law, I might be the reason you'll have to leave this Pack entirely," he threatened, and my chest tightened.
“What is going on here?" Miles's voice behind us caused my eyes to widen, and Lucas froze.
I pushed him roughly and spun around to face Miles. My heart sank into the pit of my belly as my gaze locked with his.
His chest rose and fell in anger, and his fists were clenched with veins popping out on his arms.
His glaring eyes darted from Lucas to me, sneering in fury.
“What the fuck are you doing with my mate?!" He growled, and my heartbeat paused for a second.
“Mate?" I whispered in shock.
Lucas swung his head from me to him, his eyes widening in horror.
"No…no…no…you don't understand, Miles, I wasn't–” Miles growled in anger, and before he could run away, Miles leaped on him and smacked him down to the ground.
Lucas groaned and gripped his side, his face scrunching in pain.
Panic set in as Miles gripped his collar, growling in anger.
“How dare you lay your disgusting hand on her? Do you have a death wish?" He groused and punched him hard on the face. Lucas spat out blood and groaned weakly, reaching out to grab Miles.
Miles slapped his shaking hands away and kept throwing punches at him without a pause.
Fear gripped me, forcing me to rush to him.
“Miles, stop!" I gripped his shoulders, struggling to pull him away from Lucas, who was already covered in blood and bruises.
“Miles, stop!" I kept screaming, but he wouldn't listen to me.
I looked around for any sign of someone who could come to his aid, but to my disappointment, I found no one.
“Miles!" A voice pierced the tensed air, and he froze.
He looked up in the direction of the voice, and I followed his gaze. My heart clenched when my gaze fell on the lady I had seen Miles with at the party last night.
She marched towards him and gripped his shoulders, pulling him up from Lucas's weakened body.
“What have you done?" She whispered as she knelt between his legs and wiped the blood on his fist.
My heart broke as I watched them whisper words to each other while she pacified him and ran her hand over his body.
What broke me more was their acting that I never existed.
I sniffed and wiped the tears that dropped from my eyes, then turned around and walked out of the garden.
Tears blinded my vision as I ran into the mansion and headed to my room. I ignored all the greetings from the servants and hid my pale face away from the people that walked past me while wishing my wobbly legs would move faster to my room.
Thankfully, I didn't meet any of his family members on the way to my room. They would only add more pain to me.
I slipped down to the ground and broke down to tears when I entered my room and slammed the door shut.
This wasn't the first time he had treated me like I didn't exist, but I wasn't expecting him to hurt me with another woman.
It would have been endurable if he had walked away like he didn't see me when Lucas bullied me. I had thought he was beginning to care when he defended me, but I turned out to be wrong again.
I wiped the tears on my face and stood up, staggering to the mirror.
My fist clenched in anger and pain as I stared at my pale face in the mirror.
I looked way older than my age, and I wasn't surprised. From what I faced here, this was nothing.
I wanted to bear the karma that came with betraying my sister, and this was it. I would gladly and proudly bear it all. I just needed a chance to find these people who took her away from us.
By tomorrow, I will be back in my pack to find out the truth from that man.
A knock on my door forced me to pull a smile onto my face.
I bit my lips and made sure there was not a trace of tears on my face before heading to the door.
I turned the knob and swung it open only to face Miles.
I gasped and staggered back, my jaw dropped in shock.
“What…what are you doing here?” I stammered.
He kept silent and shuffled into my room, forcing me to back away to the wall.
“Where did you go?"
My heart gave a wild leap, and my hand trembled. Did that scumbag tell him?
“I… we…” I stammered, searching for the perfect lie to tell him.
“Is it true you went to see a friend?" He asked, and my heartbeat slowed.
"Oh… yes," I blurted out, riding along with whatever lie Lucas told him.
He huffed, his eyes darkening in suspicion.
“You barely have any friends. Everyone you pretended to be close to is all Adri–" he paused and sighed.
My heart clenched in guilt, and I took a deep breath to feel a bit better.
“Well… why did you want me back?” I asked, putting an end to the conversation we always avoid.
His head shot up, and he stared at me with eyes that caused the hairs in my skin to stand.
I shook my head, refusing to get distracted.
“Why did you–" the rest of my words went down my throat, and horror gripped me as he covered the space between us and slammed his lips on mine.