Chapter 38
NADIA.
The drive from Katya’s house to the packhouse would only take ten to twelve minutes, but it felt like I had been in her car for a long time already.
I didn’t know why I was so worried.
But then I found my answer.
We were threading the road towards the packhouse when I saw a car approaching from the right intersection. It was a big red SUV. I was never good at naming cars, but I definitely haven’t seen anyone around here driving this kind of car.
The car stopped as they let Katya drive and turned to the right, and I watched the car as we drove by until my gaze fell on the female sitting in the passenger seat, just in time as she slowly rolled her window up.
My heart shattered into thousand pieces as I closed my eyes and leaned my head on the headrest of the car seat.
I knew that face. I’ve been seeing her face everywhere since I saw that picture. She was older now, but her face remained the same.
She was beautiful.
Riley’s Andrea.
I opened my eyes just to blink back the tears that were tempting to fall and tried to pacify my broken heart.
Riley would tell me about this.
He definitely would.
He would tell me Andrea visited him, and he would tell me it meant nothing. I just have to calm down.
I have to trust Riley. He loves me.
I was still lost in my thoughts when the car came to a full halt.
“We’re here.” Katya’s voice brought me back to the present, and I saw my mate standing by the steps, already looking at us.
“Thank you, Katya. I’m sorry about…”
She reached for my hand, which was sitting on my thighs, and squeezed it gently. “No harm done, Luna. Just drop by anytime you want, or I can also visit you if I have nothing else to do. Then we can talk more about Zahra.”
I smiled at her as I nodded my head before unbuckling my seatbelt.
I slipped out of the car, flashing my mate a warm smile before turning around to say my goodbyes to Katya.
I watched as she drove off before I felt arms snaking around my body, enveloping me in a warm hug.
Relax, Nadia. Just stay calm.
“How was your day?” His deep baritone voice echoed in my ears.
“Boring.” I chuckled before turning around, coiling my arms around his neck, my gaze trying to catch his, but he was just looking at my chest. “It’s not that Katya is boring to be with, it’s just that she’s not you…”
“Hmmm… I thought you had forgotten about me.”
“Never. And how about you? How was your day? Anything special that happened today?”
Don’t cry if he starts talking about her.
“No. Spending the day with my men is fucking too boring. So…” He raised his gaze to stare at me, while his hand caressed my cheek. “I’m looking forward to spending the rest of the day with my female.”
“What’s the name of your female?” I asked. I was controlling my eyes from rolling as I raised the wall on my emotions, blocking him.
“Nadia. I don’t have any other female except this little temptress in my arms.” He was smiling widely, and his eyes were beaming at me.
He was really good at this, playing me for a fool.
“Hmmm…” I pulled away from his arms and started walking away. “Well, I want to shower first.”
“Okay, I’ll see you later then.”
My heart dropped as tears pooled in my eyes. I was at least expecting him to say he’d like to shower with me, as that was what we’ve been doing these past few days. But then I guessed Andrea’s appearance changed everything.
What does she want? Does she want him back? Is he going to throw me away now?
I didn’t know how long I stayed in the shower. My heart was aching badly, and I just wanted the floor to swallow me whole.
I have never felt this pain before, not even when Riley left me at the cave. It was painful, but I had no expectations, and I could still think clearly after that.
But now I have no idea what to do next.
He was breaking my heart and I didn’t even know if he knew it. He was so good at pretending he loved me, but it was still Andrea all along.
She should be happy with her fated mate already. What was she doing here? Was she trying to ruin what Riley and I have?
I don’t know anymore if I should keep fighting for Riley and pretend I didn’t see Andrea was here today. Or should I stand my ground and risk losing him? He would probably choose her.
I was still confused about what to do next as I made my way down the stairs.
Jenny sent a mindlink advising that lunch was ready and they were all waiting for me.
I wanted to just stay hidden in our room, but I wanted to see Riley too. I wanted to know if he would keep up with his lies or if he would finally tell me the things that I was not aware of.
I took a deep breath as I walked down the corridors leading me to the dining room. I could hear them talking, but I couldn’t understand. It was as if they were talking in a low voice. It’s like they didn’t want anyone to know about their conversation.
And my gut was right. The room fell silent the moment I stepped in, and everything about me being calm and just waiting for Riley to open his damn mouth went out the window.
These people were playing games with me.
“Now we can finally eat.” Beta Dominic chuckled, but I didn’t even look at him.
I sat on the chair beside Riley, and everyone started to put food on their plates, but I was just staring at the variety of food in front of me.
Riley started placing food on my plate, and I just let him do it without glancing at him. My eyes focused on my plate as he filled it up.
“You looked tired. Are you okay?” His voice was laced with concern that I almost scoffed at him.
But instead, I remained silent.
“Nadia?” He reached for my hand that was sitting on my thigh, and gently squeezed it.
“I’m going back upstairs.”
“You haven’t even eaten yet.”
“I don’t like the food.” Forgive me, Goddess, I never complain about food. I was always thankful for the food I was given, but these words just slipped out of my mouth.
“What do you want to eat? I can have them prepare it for you.”
“Don’t bother them. I’m okay.”
“I can fix it for you if you want.”
“No, I don’t want anything.”
“Is there something wrong?”
“Tell me, Riley. Is there something wrong? “ My voice was slightly higher as I tilted my head to look at him, and I saw him swallow hard.
My eyes then darted to the other people around the table. I saw Jenny drop her gaze to the plate while the males kept forking their food, but no one was eating. “Tell me guys, is there something wrong? Were you talking about something before I came in? “
Silence.
I pushed my chair back, creating a loud screeching sound, but I remained seated, letting out a sigh of desperation as I threw the table napkin on the table. “I should have expected no one would say anything. Because it’s always been like that.”
“Nadia, calm down. What’s going on?”
“Seriously, are we all just going to pretend that nothing happened today? That Andrea wasn’t here?”
Riley wasn’t showing any emotions, but his eyes were locked with mine, and it was pissing me off.
I stood up and was about to walk away when Riley’s cold voice erupted into the air. “Come back. Let’s talk.”
“So now you want to talk? Will I get a decent answer?” I asked him, my brow hiking up.
He just let out a deep sigh.
“So let me start over again and ask you, so... what did you do today? Anything special that happened?” I asked him in a sarcastic, happy tone before my voice went cold and serious. “Did you kiss her? Were you fucking her while you were talking with me in your mind?”
“Fuck, Nadia!” His coiled fist hit the table, and I saw everything on top shake while I stopped myself from flinching. “You could have felt it if I touched her. I didn’t even go near her!”
“So now you’re admitting she was here? Wasn’t it supposed to be something I should know?”
“Nadia…”
“I’m not done talking yet. But in all honesty, I shouldn’t expect less. Because nobody was telling me anything in this house. It’s probably because you all knew I was just a nobody, so it’s no wonder I’m treated this way!”
He stood up and took a step, his hand reaching for my arm, but I shoved it away. “Nadia! Calm down! Can you at least let me explain?”
“Now you want to explain?”
“What happened to hearing me out before you made your judgment?”
My mind went into a rage and I couldn’t stop myself. My hand rose to his face, giving him the hardest slap I had ever delivered in my life.
Pak!
I saw his jaw twitching, but my hand didn’t do anything to him. His head didn’t even move.
“And what happened to us being a team? I waited for you to say something or anything when I came home from Katya’s house, but you just played me for a fool. I asked if anything special happened. What did you say? You said, nothing! Nothing! And now you’re expecting me to hear you out?”
“Nadia…”
“Stop, I’m not done yet. You listen to me!”
“Everyone out.” His voice was cold as he ordered them to leave.
“No. You stay! All of you stay, so we can all say it all out in the open! Because you, you and you!” I pointed a finger at everyone around the table. “You all played me for a fool! You were all in on this game.”
I turned my head back to Riley, my finger pointing at his chest. “Especially you! I gave you my heart, but what is this for you, just a game? I offered you a contract and was willing to be a good Luna as you wanted, as long as you needed one, but you duped me and said you fucking love me! For what? To get a free fuck?”
“Nadia!” He ran his hand over his face. He was keeping his eyes normal, but I could see Hunter wanting to come out.
“You could have asked for that even without saying you love me, and I would still give it to you! Because I love you, but this is so unfair, making me believe you love me too, wrapping me around your fingers with your words so you’d have someone to call yours!
” My voice finally broke as soft sobs escaped my lips.
“Nadia… Please let me explain. I will explain from the very beginning.”
“You’re just going to give me lies. And I might just believe you again. I hate you, Riley…”
“Please don’t say that. Baby, please don’t...Just give me a chance. I will tell you everything.”
“No... I’m not going to believe anything you will say!” I snapped at him, gritting my teeth as I wiped the tears off my face.
“Luna…” Beta Dominic stood up. His eyes were showing too many emotions, but I tried to ignore them.
“Don’t you address me like that again until you know what that name entails.”
I saw his hands coil into tight fists before he continued.
“Luna… The Alpha will tell you everything. Everything. If you doubt his words, ask me. I will tell you what you should have known from the beginning, even if that means breaking a vow. We will leave you two alone. Just please let him explain and if you need me, just link me.”
He pushed his chair back and I saw him tap the Gamma’s shoulder before leaving the room.
Sebastian and Jenny stood up from their seats and started to walk away. I ran after Jenny, grabbing her wrist so she would look back at me.
“Tell me, did you know too?” I couldn’t help myself from crying. I felt that her betrayal was another thing breaking my heart. I thought females should stick together. I thought she was on my side.
Jenny’s eyes were full of tears as she slowly turned around to face me before her hands raised and cupped my cheeks, her eyes looking straight into mine.
“I’m sorry, Nadia. I’m really sorry.” She said, between her hiccups.
“Why? Why? I thought you liked me. I thought we were friends. Are you pretending too?”
“No. No… I really like you. I really do… I’m sorry.
” Tears poured down her face, and I couldn’t stop my own tears from streaming down my cheeks.
“I know after this you will never trust me again but please… Please know that everything I showed you, everything I told you was my truth. I know I should have been a better Gamma Female, a better friend. I failed you. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”
She placed her forehead against mine, and my broken heart just kept breaking. I had no idea how I was still able to stand and hold my ground.
We were both crying when Gamma Sebastian approached us and took her away, leaving me alone with Riley.
I felt Riley’s hand on my waist, but I swatted it away as I moved fast toward the corridor. I heard footsteps behind me, but I didn’t look back and instead walked faster to where the stairs were.
“Nadia, let’s talk. I will answer all your questions. Just give me a chance to explain.”
“Three weeks, Riley. I was here for more than three weeks. You could have explained it if you really wanted to.”
“I know, but I.. was.. afraid. Fuck! I am worried you will leave me if you find out some things about me!” He was stuttering, like he was running out of breath, but I kept walking toward the stairs.
“Yes, I will. I’m done with your bullshit!”
“Nadia, please…” He walked ahead of me and blocked my way in the middle of the stairs.
“Just one more chance, I will explain to you. From the beginning. You can ask me anything. And I will tell you why I was afraid that you would find out the bad things I did in the past.” His grip on my wrist tightened, his eyes were pleading, and my heart was crushed at the pain I was seeing in them.
But is it real? “What do you mean by bad things?”