Chapter 54

Claire’s POV

My aunt Lora and I arrived at the Castle just in time. As though he had been waiting for our arrival, a guard walked up to us to tell me that the Alpha wanted his lunch in his bedroom.

“Is the Luna around?” Lora queried, voicing out the question that was also on my mind.

I was in no mood for dealing with a jealous wife and hoped she was nowhere near the premises.

Thankfully, she wasn't.

Aunt Lora turned to look at me after the guard walked off. “Remember what we discussed and try as much as possible not to react emotionally.”

“I’ll do my best,” I murmured. “I want this revenge just as much as you do.”

She nodded and gave me a small smile. “Let's get to work then. The Alpha hates tardiness but lucky for you, he has a soft spot for you.”

I snorted and she giggled.

Another servant had already prepared the Alpha’s lunch so all I had to do was take it up to his bedroom.

When I reached his bedroom door, I stood in front of it for a couple of seconds, trying to get my emotions under control.

“You can't stand out there forever, Claire,” the Alpha called out from inside the bedroom and I fought back a wave of irritation before letting myself in.

His earthy scent hit me so hard that I nearly lost my balance.

Resisting the urge to inhale his scent deeply, I forced myself forward and dropped the tray containing his lunch on the bed.

Knowing I was going to do something silly like throw myself into his arms if I wasted another minute alone with him, I started to hurry out of the room.

“Not so fast, Claire,” he said.

I blinked in surprise when I realized that he was now right in front of me, effectively blocking my path to the door.

He was close. Too close for comfort.

“Is there something else you would like me to do for you, Your Majesty?” I queried, not meeting his gaze, and hated the slight quaver I detected in my voice.

Hopefully, he didn't notice it.

“Of course,” he replied in a deceptively sweet tone. “Eat with me.”

At that, I looked up at him. That was my first mistake.

My breath caught at the intensity in his gray eyes and I struggled to think up an excuse just so he could allow me to leave.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he murmured and then frowned. “Actually, you do not even have a choice. I own you, remember? You are supposed to do anything I ask.”

I had to close my eyes at the sudden surge of anger at his words.

No one owned me.

The sound of the key turning in its lock made me open my eyes.

“I do not want us to be interrupted,” he explained. His lips were smiling but his eyes were liquid pools of anger.

Great. We were both angry.

“The food there wouldn't be enough for both of us,” I said, grasping at a last straw of hope. I just couldn't afford to be alone with him at that moment.

“Then perhaps, only you should eat it while I watch. I'm not that hungry anyway,” he replied, causing me to groan inwardly.

Resignedly, I followed him back to the bed and warily lowered myself onto it.

For a couple of seconds, we both stared at the meal in silence. Neither one of us made any attempt to start eating.

Deciding that I wasn't going to be the one to break the silence no matter how uncomfortable it made me feel, I decided to focus on other things in the room.

“Don’t you think that I deserve an explanation for what happened yesterday?” he queried, breaking the silence.

“I'm just as confused as you are, Your Majesty,” I replied, not daring to look at him.

“Stop calling me that,” he snapped. “It's most irritating. From now on, you are to call me Kelvin. We are mates after all so you should get used to saying my name. When I finally get to pound the hell out of you, that's the name I want you screaming.”

A gasp slipped from my lips at the unexpected declaration. I hated the fact that he had the ability to effortlessly make me breathless with need.

“That's never going to happen.”

The words were out of my mouth before I realized it but I felt no regret.

I wasn't going to sleep with the son of an enemy. Already, I hated myself for allowing him to bring me to an orgasm the other day.

It wasn't going to happen again.

He smirked. “Are you sure about that? Is this some sort of a challenge or another manipulation tactic of yours?”

“I have never tried to manipulate you,” I replied, not bothering to hide the irritation from my voice.

“Then explain why you made me believe that you were some helpless omega,” he snapped.

“I have told you already that I'm just as confused as you are. The only persons who might have been able to give us answers are dead. And I'm certain my stepfather is clueless about this,” I replied.

We were both breathing heavily in anger at that point and I really wished that he would just let me go.

“I might need to speak with your stepfather,” he murmured after a couple of seconds. “And trust me, if I find out that all of this is some kind of scheme of yours and Gavin's to kill me, I am not going to hesitate to have you beheaded. In fact, I am going to do the job myself.”

My heart clenched with pain at his words but I embraced it. I needed him to say or do things that would make me dislike him more. It was going to make my revenge a lot easier.

“Fine. You do that. But I think you are looking in the wrong place though. Someone else from your Pack is working with Gavin but I'm going to leave you to find that out for yourself.”

The anger melted a bit from his features and his eyes betrayed his surprise.

“You’ve grown bolder,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I shrugged. “I guess it's one of the things that comes with having Alpha blood. You should know that of course, you are the living, breathing, personification of arrogance and boldness.”

He arched an eyebrow. “You think I'm arrogant?”

“I think that we should stop being alone in enclosed spaces,” I replied, getting to my feet. “The Luna gets jealous easily and unfortunately, she takes it out on me alone which I don't think is fair at all.”

He got to his feet as well and started to move closer to me as he spoke.

“And what if I order her not to touch you again? Are you going to stop having any issues with us being in an enclosed space alone?”

“You really should reject me,” I murmured breathlessly.

The fire in his eyes was the only warning I got before his arm encircled my waist and drew me against the length of his body.