Chapter 57 - The Tycoon Alpha's Temptation

ROSE’S POV

I didn't stop until everything was out of the bag…

I revealed everything.

Starting from the hardest truth to those that were easier to say.

I ended my confession with, “I am the first daughter of The Alpha Of Howling Wolves Pack. Alpha Richard sent me to spy on you. He became my mate through an alliance and had been threatening me with my family and my birth pack.”

I just to add that last fact because I couldn't bare the thought of what he would do to me if he chose to assume that I was truly his enemy. His blank face scared me and even though Cali had constantly urged me to reveal the truth, she didn't know what we were supposed to do after the cat was let out of the bag.

What next?

Cali chimed within me as I shifted from leg to leg, standing in Alpha King Josh's dark room like a criminal who was pleading guilty, “I hope he believes us… I hope he–”

Before Cali could finish, Alpha King Josh’s voice resonated through his room. His unusual tone sent dark energy through my body, “And I am supposed to believe everything you say?”

My heart sank. The accusation in his voice broke me further… it broke me even more than my father’s bloody arm did.

“Shit!” Cali cursed in my head.

I thought I should respond… say something at least but my tongue failed me. It hurt. Knowing that he didn't believe me hurt but who was I to complain? I should be grateful that he hasn't killed me.

“I should believe a woman who has repeatedly chosen not to tell me the truth despite the countless opportunity she had to do so? I should just trust you blindly?”

His words were sharp as if they were voiced to send daggers into my dejected soul. He said them fiercely like he meant to hurt me because… maybe I hurt him and this was payback?

“My King, I–”

He barked with a dangerously low tone, “Don't!” That was a command.

A deep command that had me sucking in and holding my breath. “Don’t tell me what I should feel, Rose.”

All I could do was listen to him. I dare not look into his eyes while he spoke to me with such tone and manner.

He was pissed and he had every right to be.

At this point, I believed it was over. I couldn't feel the usual spark between us and my heart hurt too much to feel the connection we used to have as well.

“Perhaps I should turn myself in…” I thought to myself.

Perhaps that would make him trust me again.

I felt his presence looming very close to me before I realized that he had risen from the couch and paced in front of me like he couldn't decide what to do with me. Was he still feeling our chemistry? I wondered as my shattered heart constricted tightly.

“I– I will confess my sins to the Royal Beta and turn myself in for further interrogations,” I uttered even though I didn't want to be seen as a criminal.

“Forgive me, My King–” I apologized and turned slowly, determined to find Adam.

However, I was stopped when his voice came out harsher than before, “You think you have the right to do that?”

His voice could make me cry. I was barely holding myself together, in fact.

“You think telling me you are sorry would earn you my forgiveness!” Alpha King Josh hissed, closing the distance between us with threatening steps but I was perplexed by his aura.

I couldn't move… Or should I say, I didn't want to move?

“Just look at yourself, Rose!” Again, he seethed. “Look at what you have done to yourself because you didn't trust me to trust you!”

My eyes fluttered and my face knitted into a deep frown after Josh’s last statement. He was worried about me and speaking of trust.

Was he saying he trusted me still?

The questions surged within me but I didn't dare say a word when he was furious and neither did I meet his gaze despite feeling his eyes on me.

“What if he didn't send your father’s arm tonight?” Alpha King Josh murmured like he could feel the pain spreading rapidly in my heart. “What if I didn't walk in when I did and heard you screaming? What if I didn't come to you!”

To be honest, I didn't know why it seemed like his anger has shifted. Obviously, he should be mad that I didn't tell him all about Alpha Richard and me when I started living here in his home but why does it seem like he was angry because my life had been under threats and been in danger…..

“I apologize for keeping this to myself, Alpha King. It wasn't because I thought of betraying you–”

That was sort of a lie. I recalled that initially, I thought I could betray Alpha King Josh and become free from every shackle that held me down.

The Alpha King cut me off, “It's because you don't trust me, Rose. You chose to suffer under my roof even though I could have helped you.”

I couldn't stop my gaze from finding him in the dark room.

“My King–”

He yelled, “I told you not to call me that!”

Confusion etched in. I was completely lost. Was he angry or worried that I didn't trust him? Was I an enemy now?

“Forgive me. I will turn myself in even if–” I still tried to be a respectful subject with him.

Again, he cut me off, “You will do no such thing!”

Unable to keep holding my tongue, I lashed out, “Then what do you want me to do! You look at me like that and say something entirely different. Kill me if you want! I am already dead as it is….”

By the time I was finished, he was quiet. The kind of quietness that made me question his every move. I could perceive that he was boiling within yet he didn't stop beating around the bush.

“I shouldn't have yelled at you, My King.” I breathed. “I will make things right–”

“You are in no place to make this right, dammït!” He barked, kicking the invisible wall between us both.

It was a good sign, right? The fact that he didn't kick me instead.

But my eyes sting after his outburst. I murmured, struggling to keep looking at him, “Because you don't trust me anymore. I get it. I will just–”

“No!” He scoffed. “It's not because I don't trust you.” his eyes dilated and I could have sworn I saw compassion in his eyes but with all I have been through today, I believed I was being delusional.

I gasped when he added more delicately, “It's because I want you safe…”

Cali exclaimed in my head, “He trusts you! He still cares…”

But was that real?

“Stay here… I will take care of things myself!” He gritted and walked past me like I wasn't in the room… Or in his way.

He left me with one question in my mind, “what was he going to do?”

And another question, “Where do we stand now?”

That made it two…