Chapter 22
Blake.
I had left the dining hall not because I cared about Joan or how she was treated, but because I didn't want to be so close to Ciara, not after she had betrayed me and acted like it wasn't a big deal. Imagine the audacity to act as though she had been wronged when she saw me with Joan yesterday, like she hadn't kissed my own brother in my presence.Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.
I was throwing stones into the well near the garden just to be all alone by myself and enjoy some fresh air.
"There you are," I heard Ciara's voice say, and when I looked up, I saw her approaching me.
I grunted, rolling my eyes. "What exactly do you want now? Haven't you done more than enough?" I fired angrily at her.
I could tell she was hurt, but I tried to ignore how she felt. After all, she had brought this upon herself.
"I had no idea Joan meant that much to you. I could talk to the Luna to get her back," Ciara said.
I scoffed. "Joan? I don't give two fucks about her. She had it coming with the way she kept running her mouth and expecting that I was going to wake her up or something," I said.
"That's not a fair thing to say."
"Oh, please. Stop acting like a saint already. You, my dear, are a pathetic little slut," I had barely finished my statement, when she slapped me in the face.
"How dare you?! You might be a prince, but that doesn't give you any right to refer to me as a slut. Yes, Liam kissed me and I kissed him back, but the kiss barely lasted five seconds. I pushed him away immediately after and ran after you, but you've chosen to be a dickhead about it," she thundered.
It was my first time seeing her in that manner, and for whatever reason, she appeared attractive to me. My body yearned for her and I wanted to take that naughty mouth in mine and teach her a good lesson.
I shook my head, telling myself that I shouldn't forget what she did. "Go ahead and play the victim then, I don't care. Just stay away from me and everything that concerns me," I said, then turned around and began to walk away when she stopped me right in my tracks by hugging me from behind.
"I'm sorry. Please, forgive me. Can't we just forget everything that happened? I'm so sorry," she said.
A part of me wanted to just give in and forgive her, but I had a flashback to my mother being chased out of the palace for being an adulteress.
I heaved a deep sigh and unwrapped Ciara's arms from my stomach, then turned back around to face her. My stomach tightened into knots and my heart almost broke as I saw the tears that had clouded her eyes. I couldn't bear to look into her eyes, so I spoke to her while staring at the garden behind her.
"Do you remember asking about my mother and why she doesn't live in the palace with us?"
"Yeah, why?"
"She committed adultery. It was just a few days before she was crowned as the Luna of the Pack, and so, she was chased out and forbidden from ever returning," I said.
"I didn't know, I'm so sorry," Ciara said.
"It's not your fault, it's okay. Many reputable men and women from far and wide had come to celebrate the joyous occasion, but had to go back and that only increased my father's anger. Not only had he been cheated on, the whole werewolf community had learned of the shameful act which brought disgrace to him and his authority.
"At the time, I didn't understand what was going on and just hated my father for being mean and wicked. However, I met Samantha when I was 14 and fell in love with her and even thought she was my mate. She ended up cheating on me with my best friend and for weeks, I cried and it was worse that she chose him over me. I couldn't forget it and I promised to never ever be vulnerable to the point that any woman could hurt me again. That's why I played around for some time, but then,
I decided to give love another chance. After all, my father has had a healthy marriage with Luna Vienna and it's obvious they are obsessed with each other. I thought that if my father could find love again, then so could I. You then came along and I was so sure you were the one, but... well, we know how the story ends," I concluded, blinking back tears.
By the time I was done, tears were streaming down Ciara's face. "I... I'm so sorry. I didn't know... I am so sorry. Just give me another chance. It will never happen again. You risked your life for me, you made me feel like a woman and I can't stop thinking about you. I will never betray your trust again," she said, holding my hand.
I shoved her hand off mine. "That's what you're saying now, but it's not guaranteed. You've kissed Liam in my presence twice. I was willing to let it go the first time, but not this time around. Now, it's a kiss. The next time, it might be you two having sex, and your excuse would be that you couldn't fight the mate bond. It's best I take my leave while I still can. I saw Liam looking at you all over at breakfast. Just go and be with him and leave me the fuck alone," I stated. "Blake, please "
"I'm sorry, Ciara, but no. I do wish you the best though," I said with a forced smile, then turned around and began walking away.
Deep down, I wanted her to hold me once again and stop me from leaving. I even slowed down so she could have the opportunity to do that, but all I got was the sound of her sobbing behind me.
Unable to bear the ache in my heart from the sound of her tears. I turned around to comfort her, but by then, she was already in Liam's arms and he was patting her back, comforting her and whispering what I presumed to be sweet nothings in her ear.
I felt a heaviness in my chest and I clenched my fists tightly in extreme anger. She had just promised to be faithful to me, yet only minutes later, she was busy crying in the arms of another man instead of running after me to show how truly desperate she was for my affection.
I didn't bother to confront her and just continued walking away. At least, I had ended things before they got even more serious. I had made the right call since it was obvious that there was no way she would have ever even been loyal to me.