CHAPTER 186

CHAPTER 186

Ileus' POV

I knew she was lying about the fact that her illness was contagious. And Goddess knew I was tempted to remove the scarf over her head, but then I let it be… because I was scared.

Yeah… I was scared that if I saw those attractive and soft silver eyes, I might lose all the anger embedded inside me. I was scared… that if I saw a tear rolling down her cheeks, I wouldn't be able to punish her like I intended to. I was scared I would become a coward and lose all the control I had prided myself on.

From the first time I saw those eyes in the forest, they had always unraveled me in ways I couldn't fathom. For months, they had haunted my nights to the extent that I had to sketch her and order a search for her, which was futile.

So, one could imagine how excited and fulfilled I was when I eventually found her. I think Kael knew about my search for her and that was why he sent her to me, because he knew I wouldn't be able to resist her.

Which is why I left the scarf over her head. Her face remained completely out of my sight.

And again, she was different. I couldn't help the twitching of my nose because she smelled so differently, yet so addictive and familiar. And even my wolf wasn't making things easier for me with the way it was constantly tugging at me to claim her.

Goddess…

It was like I stood no chance against controlling myself around her.

I confronted her about Kael and she still had the sheer audacity to deny it.

What did she think I was?

A fool that would just lay allegations without strong evidence?

In one swift movement, I threw her hard against the wall and shoved the letter from him in her face.

“I trusted you. I loved you… I cared,” my voice revealed the pain inside me. I shouldn't appear emotionally weak before her but I just couldn't help it, “but this is how you repay me. By conniving with my enemy to kill me. You even told him all about my war plans…”

When I saw the tears soaking the scarf, my wolf whimpered sadly. Even now that she was the one who betrayed us, he was still angry and sad that I was hurting her.

As much as I wanted to strangle her right here and right now, I had no choice but to let her go.

I unwrapped my hand from around her neck and she dropped to the floor with a loud thud, the scarf slipping off her head. She was still trying to catch her breath when I noticed her hair. It was no longer silver.

My brows furrowed in confusion. “Why is your hair brown?”

She stopped coughing… but she did not respond.

My wolf urged me… to touch her, hold her in my arms and apologize for hurting her. But… hell no. I wasn't going to do that.

I tried… I tried to pull back from her but before I knew what was happening, I crouched lower beside her.

She shrieked with fear, her silky hair covering her face completely.

My heart sank, hating the fact that the woman who was once free around me now cowered in fear. That was how much everything had gone wrong between us.

My hands reached out to tuck her hair behind her ears and wipe off the tears on her face, but I quickly regained control. No… I sprang up to my feet and stepped far back like she had burned me.

I shouldn't do that.

She was the one who had hurt me and not the other way around, so why should I care about comforting her?

And again, the brown hair was long and silky… what if it made her look more beautiful than she already was? I was barely holding myself back, then it was sure I would lose my control completely. And before you knew what was happening, I would be fucking her instead of throwing her inside the dungeon.

I scoffed bitterly. “You claimed to be sick but you dyed your hair?” I sneered. “How ridiculous? You really think if you dyed your hair, I would be smitten by you and I would let you go? Well… that is not happening. You don't have me wrapped around your little fingers anymore. I will make sure that you suffer for everything you did to me, Lilith or whatever your name is.”

She did not respond. She just wrapped her arms around herself.

I couldn't bear her presence anymore, especially with the way her scent seemed to get stronger by each passing second and intoxicating me.

I walked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me.

Outside, Archer was on his knees while Vincent still held his sword to his neck. His wide, fear-filled eyes were fixed on me.

“What the hell did you do to her?” He screamed and tried to stand but Vincent kicked his knees and he dropped back to the ground.

“Imprison her in the dungeon,” I ordered. “No one sees her without my permission.”

Vincent bowed. “Yes, Alpha.”

Archer heaved in relief and sat on the floor. I'm sure he thought I had killed her already. Yeah… that was what I should have done, but then….

“Imprison him too,” I added. “I'm sure he knows all about her evil schemes.”

“Alright, Alpha.”

I was already walking out of the hallway when I stopped midway. “After you've done imprisoning them, summon the war lords.”

“Understood, Alpha.”

Yeah, I needed to move the war plans up. Even though we were not prepared, I should strike in three days.

A small smile tugged at my lips. “Kael won't see this coming at all. Of course, he won't.”

As I walked out of the building, a pang of guilt crashed down on me.

Why… why did it feel like I was the bad person and not the other way round?

Why…. why did it feel like I was the one that betrayed her instead?

Why…. why did putting her in the dungeon make my wolf feel sad and even make my heart ache?