“Scarlett, please… Let me explain,” Elijah pleads, stepping closer to me. I look into his eyes. The pain I am trying to bury still remains, I’m still hurting, but I refuse to let it show in my eyes.
“Fine, you can explain whilst I get these shards out,” I say casually. I do not want to hear his excuses. He always has one ready.
It makes me wonder if he lied about what happened between him and Fiona in the office yesterday. I’m not too sure anymore.
“Red…”
“Explain. I didn’t say you can’t.” I can hear his heart thudding in his chest, and I wish I could look him in the eye, but right now I just feel disgusted and betrayed.
I walk past him, my eyes flickering to the tent in his pants and scoff bitterly.What a dick.Walking to the bed I sit down, focusing on the few open wounds, trying to find a shard of glass.
“Red, look at me.” He’s in front of me in an instant, reaching for my hand when I pull away suddenly. “Let me look at it.”
“Ew, no, not sure where your hands have been. I’m okay,” I say, knowing I sound harsh but don’t care.
“Red…” he tries again, his voice holding a hint of hurt. He cups my face, forcing me to look at him. “I didn’t touch them.”
“It’s okay. Like I said, maybe it is for the best that it happenednow before we took it further. I think we should end the stupid deal we made, anyway. I’m no longer interested.” I say harshly. I can’t believe that he was forced into that, he’s a goddamn alpha.
“Hear me out, please,” he pleads.
I look up at him, clenching my jaw before I nod. “Go for it, not that I care. I’m so done,” I answer.
It doesn’t mean I’ll believe him.
Elijah
Her words sliceme like a silver knife to the chest. Why does it hurt so much?
Her casual attitude hurts.Does she really not care?Had I imagined the hurt and betrayal in her eyes when she saw me?
“I was set up. I was trying to get them off me.” I hate the words that make me sound so helpless leave my lips. “Please don’t shut me out, Red. I…” I trail off, my heart thudding when I realise what I almost said.
I feel stunned as I stare into those sage green eyes, the unspoken words ring loud in my head. Fuck, I was going to- fuck, don’t think about it.
Her eyes are still callous and I wish I could let her feel what I feel right now. I can feel the anguish of my wolf within me, too. He, too, wants her understanding.
I let go of her face. Her green eyes which can be so expressive are now as empty as glass. She looks away, picking out the shards from her hand, and I gently place a hand on her knee. “He’s trying to separate us,” I try again, my voice holding a touch of urgency.
I hate that I sound so useless. When had I, a fucking alpha, become this pathetic state of a man? And worse, I don’t care. Idon’t care that I have to swallow my pride. For her I will, but I just wish she realised that I didn’t want them next to me.
“He hasn’t succeeded, though. We’re here being civil and we will see this through,” she says lightly. “There, all done.”
She raises her hand, watching the tiny cuts begin to heal, giving me a small smirk; one I’m far too familiar with and one I now understand.
“Don’t shut me out, Red,” I beg softly, my husky voice a whispered plea. The pain in my chest is getting worse. I have never felt fear before, but now I am terrified I am losing her before I even found her. “Please, Red.”
I am on my knees by the bed, wishing she gave me a chance, but she doesn’t want to listen. She is closing up, and that is messing with my head.
The drugs I had inhaled are clearing up, despite my erection that refuses to go down thanks to whatever they injected me with, although I am in no mood for sex. It’s a dark reminder of what they had tried to do.
“I’m not shutting you out. Chill, Elijah. So, here’s the plan-” I cut her off, cupping her face, and claim her lips in a soft passionate kiss, but she doesn’t kiss me back.
If I cannot get through to her by words, then I will show her physically. I want her to understand how I feel about her, and how she makes me feel. That she is the only one I want.
The fresh, sweet taste of her mouth is perfect. My lips caress hers sensually, trying to express my worry, concern, and regret through this burning kiss. To show her only she matters to me.
Her heart is racing, and she seems to have frozen up in shock, but the moment she seems to gather herself, she pushes me away roughly.