Chapter 42 042
LYKA
I scrubbed my skin relentlessly under the cold stream of water in the restroom, my fingers digging harshly into my flesh as though I could erase last night by force alone. Each time my mind replayed what had happened, my chest tightened and my breath came out in angry, uneven bursts. The more I scrubbed, the more furious I became, especially when my eyes caught sight of the dark, purplish love bites littered across my skin like cruel reminders.
They wouldn’t come off.
No matter how hard I tried, no matter how much my skin burned from the friction, they stayed there....bold, visible, mocking me.
“Ahhh!” I screamed in frustration, slamming my palm against the tiled wall as anger surged through me. My voice echoed in the confined space, raw and broken. I stared at my reflection, my wet hair clinging to my face, my eyes blazing with emotions I couldn’t quite name.
That demon… that jerk.
“How dare he?” I bellowed, my voice hoarse. “How dare he think he could take advantage of me like that?”
Yet, as the anger simmered, something else crept in....confusion. The more I replayed everything, the more my rage wavered. He hadn’t forced me. He had stopped when I hesitated. He had spoken gently, even when I wanted to hate him for it.
And that only made things worse.
I breathed out shakily and turned off the water, realizing there was nothing else I could do unless I planned on scraping my skin raw. Wrapping a towel around myself, I stepped out of the restroom, my mind still churning.
The truth was, the man might have had a reason.
And as much as I hated admitting it, I needed to hear it.
“Yes,” I muttered to myself, clenching my fists. “You can’t hate someone without listening to their side.”
That decision alone felt like a betrayal to my pride, but I swallowed it down. I owed myself clarity, if nothing else.
With a grim expression, I walked toward his room. Every step felt heavier than the last, my heart pounding as though it sensed what awaited me. I didn’t know what I expected....an apology, an explanation, or maybe regret....but I braced myself anyway.
As expected, there were no guards stationed outside his door. I had noticed earlier that he preferred solitude, always dismissing unnecessary company. That should have been my first warning.
I creaked the door open slowly, barely making a sound.
And then I saw it.
The sight before me made my legs tremble violently, anxiety crashing into me like a wave. A woman was clinging to him....wrapped around him like a koala....laughing softly, her fingers gripping his shirt possessively.
I felt Elysia stir inside me, a sharp ache spreading through my chest. My wolf whimpered, hurt and angry, reacting before I could stop her. The instinct to attack surged so strongly that my claws threatened to break free.
But I forced myself to stay still.
“What a lovely sight,” I said bitterly, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “It’s so blinding.”
That wasn’t what I wanted to say.
What I wanted was to grab the woman by the hair, drag her away, and make her scream for mercy. My hands curled into fists, my nails biting into my palms as I struggled to restrain myself.
Then the woman turned around.
And my breath caught.
Zuri.
My shock quickly turned into rage. Didn’t he keep her confined to her room? What was she doing here....in his room? Questions bombarded my mind, each one fueling my murderous intent.
“You are here…” I heard him say, his voice cautious.
I didn’t look at him. My eyes were locked on Zuri, who was now wearing a smug, mocking smile. My knuckles turned white from the pressure as I clenched my fists harder.
“I met the door locked,” I said coldly, my teeth grinding together. “So I helped myself in. And what an interesting sight I found.”
Zuri scoffed, her expression twisting with disdain. “Don’t you think you’re being rude?” she snapped. “How dare you enter the Alpha’s room without permission!”
A humorless laugh escaped me.
“Then I sincerely apologize for being so disrespectful,” I replied, bowing my head mockingly. My body trembled with the effort it took not to lunge at her. I was one second away from ripping her apart.
I couldn’t bear the sight any longer.
“I came to listen to your reasons,” I said quietly, turning toward the door. “But I think this is explanation enough.”
I stepped out, my heart pounding violently in my chest.
Come after me, I silently begged.
Call my name. Tell me it’s a misunderstanding.
I even slowed my pace, listening intently.
Nothing.
No footsteps. No voice.
That silence told me everything I needed to know.
He wasn’t interested in me.
My vision blurred as tears welled up in my eyes. I walked back to my room in a daze, my chest aching with a pain I hadn’t expected. I didn’t understand why it hurt so much.
Why was I crying?
“Lyka?” someone called.
I looked up and froze, my tears spilling over when I saw Aiden standing by my door.
“Aiden!” I cried out, rushing toward him. I threw myself into his arms, my composure completely shattering as sobs wracked my body. He stiffened briefly in surprise before wrapping his arms around me, holding me firmly as though anchoring me to reality.
“There, there,” he murmured, guiding me inside. “What happened? Who made you cry?”
He pulled back slightly, his eyes filled with concern as he wiped my tears away gently. “You’re strong, Lyka. You don’t cry like this. Talk to me.”
“It’s nothing,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “I’ll be fine.”
But my tears betrayed me.
Elysia was hurting too, her emotions bleeding into mine, making it impossible to hold myself together.
Aiden studied me closely, clearly unconvinced, but he let it go for now. “I came to check on you,” he said softly. “And to apologize. I didn’t think you’d be that upset.”
I sighed and nodded. “It’s fine. Really. I’ll clean up after everything.”
I tried to smile. “You just need to live quietly in this pack and avoid trouble. We don’t want that grumpy Alpha throwing us out if his mood shifts.”
Aiden laughed, and for a moment, everything felt lighter. Our laughter faded slowly, our gazes locking in a way that made my heart stutter.
“You’re beautiful when you smile,” he said suddenly.
I blinked, startled.
Before I could respond, he lifted his hand and gently patted my head. Confusion twisted inside me.
“Aiden… what are you doing?” I asked cautiously.
Instead of answering, he cupped my face in his hands, his touch lingering longer than it ever had before. Alarm bells rang loudly in my mind.
“What does it look like?” he murmured, leaning closer. His breath fanned against my face, warm and intimate.
Realization hit me like lightning.
I jerked away instantly, scrambling to my feet. “I....I have to go!”
I turned, panic surging through me, but his hand closed around mine, stopping me.
“Wait,” he said urgently. “I need to tell you something.”
My stomach churned with dread. I already knew what he was going to say, and I didn’t want to hear it.
“Later,” I said quickly. “Please, later....”
“I like you!” he blurted out.
My world stopped.
My legs rooted to the floor as his words echoed in my head.
What… did he just say?
How could Aiden like me?
And worse....what was I supposed to say now?