Lunar Temptations

Ch 82

Why did it feel like that I was the one to be confronted now, instead of him? Maybe because Zayden Castillo had that effect on me. He was intimidating, and I didn't about any other time, but it sure as hell was working now. Especially when both of his hands gripped my arms strongly but not tight enough to hurt me. If any other man had been in this place, then I might have decided to kick him in the balls for it, but this wasn't any other man. This was my mate, whose very presence had changed my perspective about many things. No wonder, I went from hating him to almost loving him.

"I wish you would have done that 5 years ago and had never let me leave in the first place." The words were out of my mouth, and I didn't even care to hold back.

When CM Samara had asked me earlier today if I loved him - I was out of words. I didn't hate him anymore; if only I felt guilty for even hating him in the first place. I was the one in the wrong, yet I spent years hating him and depriving him of something he deserved all along, his mate, and a mate bond that would make him strong again. However it didn't feel like he was that concerned about it since he showed no sign of it, and I was about to know why. As for love, I had only begun to think about it and how it would feel to love again but strongly. Was I ready for it after what happened with Elio? Definitely. I had already wasted enough on his memory that he didn't even deserve in the first place; I won't sulk over him anymore. He was dead, and for some reason, I felt now that it was for the better and that I was finally getting the closure I wanted even if it had come with a shocking truth.

"I am not planning on letting that happen again. You were stuck with me from the moment I put that ring on your finger." His eyes twinkled with profound energy. "If you ever dared to run away from me again, I will turn the world upside down to find you and burn whoever comes in my way."

I stared at him, with parted lips. He was truly mesmerizing, and his obsession with me was becoming as dangerous as the depths of his brown orbs holding my gaze demandingly. His eyes matched his tanned skin, flawlessly, and for a moment, I wanted nothing more than to stare at him in a daze.

"That's a promise, Red." He said, using one of his hands to tuck a strand of my hair behind my left hair, letting the moonlight illuminate my face more.

"You have found me now," I said, as his hand ran through my hair, feeling them. "What is stopping you from claiming me, Zayd?" He inhaled sharply, his jaw clenching. I had hit a weak spot or a rather fierce one, but this was all tonight was going to be about - those weak spots. I c****d my head to the side, waiting for him to reply, but nothing came.

"Answer me."

"Ray-" he began to speak, but I cut him off. "I know what you're going through. I know what happens in that metal-doored room." I could see the hint of surprise spreading across his features. He was not expecting this; I bet that he had no idea that I was curious about whatever was going on in that room.

"Why are you making yourself suffer when I am right here for you to claim?" I asked again. My eyes searched his, looking for something, a hint, or even the slightest emotion so that I could get an answer or anything. There was nothing in them; they stared at me plainly, but I knew Zayden enough to know that he was busy contemplating how I figured it all out. Well, I couldn't wait to see his reaction when I told him that it was CM Samara who had told me.

Sighing, I looked away from him and got out of his hold. A thought began to creep through me as he remained silent, ignoring all of my questions. Why couldn't he tell me why he was holding himself back when he could have taken me and claimed me all this time? Or as to why he rejected me that night when I had lost control and was about to give myself to him?

"Do you not want me?" I voiced my thoughts. I wasn't in his embrace anymore, and he was avoiding my gaze until I had spoken again. His head snapped to me, and in a matter of seconds, he took a few steps closer to me.

"What did you say?" His voice was a hiss, low, and his eyebrows were furrowing in a mix of confusion and frustration.

I held my ground, not backing away. "DO YOU NOT WANT ME?" I growled loudly, my voice echoing in the barren library. "Is it because you were ready to marry Audrey, willingly-" I emphasized the last word, "And I spoiled it all when it was her you wanted and not me?" I paused, breathing hard from all the shouting. Tears began to prick the side of my eyes as I let out whatever doubts I had left in me. The thought had been bothering me ever since our plane ride with his ex-girlfriend. She might have said it all purposefully, but even I knew that there was no lie in it. Zayden was indeed ready to marry her, and no matter the fact that I hated him back then, it still hurt to know that somebody else would have taken my rightful place and he was ready to let her take it.

A pang shot through my chest, as I tried to hold back my tears. The thought of him wanting to be with Audrey while putting himself at risk was heartbreaking enough. A part of me knew that I might be overreacting to something that had no relevance anymore, but no matter how hard I tried, there was no denying that he was ready to marry her.