Page 47 of His to Claim
I look down at my lap, unable to meet his gaze anymore. Tears burn in my eyes.
"Tell me," he says. "Please tell me everything."
I swallow thickly. "Please understand. Go home and forget about me... us."
I don't know how many times I repeat those words. I'm begging him to leave me alone. To go back to Bellaria.
He looks at me sadly. "Is that what you really want?" he asks.
I close my eyes tight. "Yes," I sob. "That's exactly what I want."
"Do you truly believe that?" he asks.
I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out except more tears. He takes me in his arms and holds me tightly to his chest. I bury my face against his shoulder, trying to hide from the pain.
After several minutes pass, he releases me and stands up. "I love you, Emma... I always will. I want you to be happy."
I wipe away the last of my tears and stand up, too. "Thank you," I whisper.
He nods curtly and walks toward the doorway.
"Wait," I call after him.
His shoulders stiffen slightly. "Yes?" he replies warily.
"I'm sorry for hurting you... Goodbye," I tell him.
He hesitates, then steps closer to me. He reaches out to brush my cheek with one finger. Then he bends over and kisses me tenderly on the lips.
"Goodbye," he murmurs.
Then he leaves my room. I shut the door behind him and lock it. Then I fall back onto the bed and lay motionless. I hurt inside, knowing that I betrayed someone who loved me very dearly. Someone who had given his life to protect mine. My heart breaks into tiny pieces every time I recall his final words to me.
I cry until I am exhausted. Then I crawl under the covers and try to sleep. The thought of never seeing Dhakar again makes me sick to my stomach. And yet, I know I must let him go if we are both going to survive.
I wake up the next morning feeling empty. Empty without Dhakar. It feels unnatural. Unnatural to be lying here in bed all day, waiting for something that might never happen again. I pull the blanket off and get up, heading straight to the bathroom. Once finished washing my face, I turn around and see my reflection in the mirror.
The girl looking back at me doesn't resemble the person I used to be. The pain etched across her features seems permanent now. There is no joy in her blue eyes or smile. She has lost hope.
"You're up," an alien female says as she opens the door. "We must get you ready. Tonight Anil'ha will claim you in the mating ritual and you'll be his forever."
"What?" I say. "But—but..."
She shakes her head. "Don't worry, you won't feel anything. You just need to accept your fate and live happily ever after."
Her words make me angry, but they also frighten me. How can I possibly do that? What kind of life could I have when my true mate is gone and hurt?
I walk past her and sit on the edge of the tub. I stare at my feet and begin rubbing them together nervously.
"Emma?" the alien female calls after me.
"I said I'm not doing this! Just leave me alone!" I yell angrily.
A few moments later, there is a loud bang, and the bathroom door bursts open. A large male alien stands in the entranceway. His eyes widen upon spotting me.
"Anil'ha wants you to come with him right now," he growls.
I glance at the female, whose expression remains calm despite my outburst. "Fine," I mutter.
