Free Web NovelChapter 90: Reunited II
"Blaise, I want to explain, it’s not like I wanted to―" I had to clarify matters, I didn’t want Blaise to think I betrayed him in his absence, as though I replaced him with Damon the moment I could. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Blaise held up a hand to stop me from rambling. "It’s alright. I could already guess what went through your mind. You were hoping to improve Damon’s speed so he could get to me more quickly, weren’t you?"
I nodded glumly. "I was so worried about you! Damon didn’t want to bring me along, claiming that I would be a burden, but I couldn’t just sit in Fangborne, knowing that you’re injured."
My lips pressed together into a tight line, suddenly remembering every little thing I had done with Damon behind Blaise’s back. We had shared more than one night of intimacy, something that I eventually caved into and even begged for.
Just the thought of it sent my cheeks burning. It wasn’t from the lustful memories of Damon’s body intertwined with mine, but out of embarrassment that I could so easily betray Blaise like such.
"Don’t do that."
I looked up, chewing on my bottom lip. My lips quivered as Blaise raised his hand, tousling my hair gently as a show of comfort.
"No one can resist the pull of the mate bond. What’s more, you’re marked by him. It will be worse for you if you choose to resist." Blaise’s eyes landed on the necklace that rested on my collarbones, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "I see that you’ve gotten an upgrade."
"Can you remove it?" I asked hopefully, meekly. I didn’t know how was it that he could so easily guess what was on my mind; maybe I wasn’t as good at hiding my emotions as I thought I was. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Blaise shook his head. "Not even Damon can remove that once it’s on your neck."
"Mine, specifically?"
"Yes," Blaise said with a nod. "You’re his fated mate. The necklace is charmed to recognize you."
Those were things that I had already learned about. However, I thought to try my luck with Blaise― who knew if Damon was lying to me? Yet, Blaise’s answer had set the truth in stone. There was no removing this damned thing.
I sighed, my shoulders slumping in defeat. It was a beautiful accessory, no doubt, but I felt like a prey caught in a spider’s web, unable to break free. This necklace could control me more than I liked. While my attraction towards Damon was certainly because of our natural bond with one another, I couldn’t help but suspect this necklace also played an important role.
"Come on," Blaise smiled, gently squishing my cheeks playfully, "I’ll show you to my cabin. You can have a shower there. I doubt the journey was a comfortable one here, with all that dirt and grime clinging to your skin."
Guilt only churned harder inside me the more Blaise smiled like an angel. He might’ve forgiven me for my sins but I couldn’t forgive myself just yet. Nevertheless, I allowed Blaise to lead me to his cabin, tugging me along as we passed by several similar huts.
We stopped in front of one, plain and unassuming. Blaise’s hands barely even touched the doorknob when the door suddenly swung open. I stepped back in surprise, shocked that there was someone else inside, but seeing who it was, my eyes widened even further.
Large, doe-shaped brown eyes met mine, also as wide as saucers as we stared at each other. Due to the wind, her golden ringlets swayed with the breeze, dancing along the nape of her neck. Her clothes were disheveled, the spaghetti straps of her top barely even in place as they slid down the delicate shoulders of her skin.
My jaw parted, and all of a sudden, an unknown source of rage swelled up within me for a fraction of a second before I willed it away. It was then replaced by shock and relief.
"Lydia?" I gasped. "What are you doing here? Weren’t you supposed to be at―" I cut myself short when I remembered that we weren’t alone. My lips snapped shut and I cast Blaise a shaky glance.
His expression remained the same, neutral and unfeeling as he stared straight ahead. When his eyes roamed Lydia’s appearance, however, a sneer crept onto his lips.
"Beta Blaise," Lydia said first before Blaise could say anything. She looked at him, her eyes wide and pleading, then at me. "Please don’t let Harper or the Alpha know. I promise I’ll leave immediately. I won’t disturb you any longer."
My lower eyelid twitched, oddly uncomfortable with the words that had just left Lydia’s lips. I had never heard her speak in such a tone before― meek, pleading, desperately trying to garner pity. It caused goosebumps to rise all over my skin and for a fraction of a second, I wondered if I had recognized the wrong person.
Before Blaise or I could say anything, Lydia came forward and engulfed me in a bear hug. I was stunned, rooted to the ground, only raising my hands to awkwardly pat her back after a second’s worth of hesitation.
"I wanted to wait for you there," Lydia said when she finally pulled away, smiling apologetically at me. "But the packhouses were difficult to find. I eventually wandered here to the borders."
She looked at Blaise, smiling gently. Not liking the way her eyes lingered on him — especially since he was as clothed as a newborn baby — I inched a little to the side so that my body now blocked his.
"She was injured," Blaise said, cutting in. "I brought her to the infirmary to seek treatment." He made sure to highlight the second sentence, placing emphasis on ’infirmary’. It seemed like Blaise’s hut was the last place Lydia was supposed to be.
I didn’t like the ugly feelings that were swirling deep inside me. However, I believed that Blaise would never do anything to betray our bond. At the same time, I would like to think that Lydia had her own reasons. Yet, with how their words and actions differed, someone here must be telling a lie― or both.
What was Lydia doing here in Blaise’s cabin, then?
