Sia - POV
Liza returned from shopping and hung up the new sets of clothing she bought for me in the empty closet. Liza showed me the party dresses and chose them for tomorrow’s celebration.
I sat in the armchair in the room and began reading a book on demonology on the Alpha shelf. A knock came.
“Come in.” Liza strolled in with someone walking behind her, and I recognized Jia. Jia hurried over and embraced me, and I hugged her back. Liza left the room to give us some space and privacy to talk.
“How are you..... Did the Alpha...” I placed my hand on Jia’s lips to stop her from speaking; the wolf’s ears were acute since many people working in the hallways could hear us. I let go of her when she calmed down.
“I’m sorry... I’m delighted to have met you...” Jia grinned, and I nodded warmly.
“Please, no Alpha conversations,” I whispered in her ear, and Jia nodded.
“So, how is the Nas guy?” Jia’s posture was rigid as I talked; she didn’t answer my question, so I didn’t ask her anything. And we sat in awkward silence for some minutes.
It was difficult for us to communicate because of the pain we were experiencing. Two broken souls attempted to express their suffering, but they couldn’t.
“Ms. Sia, I’ve brought you some snacks and tea,” so Liza brought us warming liquids, which we graciously accepted and sipped on.
“How are you feeling? I heard from Nas you were sick last night”. I glanced at her.
“I am on medication.” Jia gave me a sympathetic look.
“Are you planning on attending the party tomorrow?” Jia asked as she took a drink of his tea, looked at me, and I nodded.
Jia glanced around and pulled some crystal from her handbag, which enhanced. I could feel it on my skin, and I gazed at her, confused, and she kept it on the table.
“Jia, what are you doing?” I inquired about the enchantment surrounding us and how Jia obtained this Crystal. Jia sighed as he saw my expression.
“Relax, Nas gave me this magical stone so we could speak freely.” She took a sip of her tea. “I’m not sure what you’re getting at, Jia.”
“This stone enables us to converse without anybody else prying with shifter ears.” I glanced at the gleaming yellow stone on the table while she talked. “Do you trust him? It may be a trap to hear our current intentions.”
“You forget, Sia. I used to study magic and magic stones at the academy.” Then it made me realize Jia learned magic; unlike me, she knows a lot about magic. I began to study warfare and martial arts.
“So I know the stone I’m holding is correct, and I don’t trust anybody, and I know you don’t either,” Jia replied, and I grinned at her, and this situation has undoubtedly matured both of us.
“Tell me about Alpha, did he...” I cut her speech before she finished the sentence.
“No, he didn’t force me and made it clear that he wouldn’t touch me until I gave him permission.” I caught Jia’s attention by how she raised an eyebrow at me. I understand how unsettling it is to hear a dictator call himself a gentleman.
“How about you?” Jia’s complexion appeared a bit pale.
“Sia is the Thing That Is...” She hesitated, and I gazed at her, frightened that Nas had forced her to sleep with Him. “I am Nas’s mate.” After hearing this, a startling gasp escaped from my mouth.
“Wait, how did you learn that, since the slave ring prevents us from communicating with our wolf and...”
“Calm down, Sia; I’ll explain everything, alright.” I nodded and took a long breath.
“Nas removed the slave ring the same night, and when I met Wolf again, I could feel the mating link. However, I rejected our mate connection because I cannot mate with the pack’s Beta, who murdered our family.” Jia replied, tears welling in her eyes as they did mine, that it must have been difficult for her. After Jia had gained her composure, I asked her, “Did Nas then accept the rejection?”
“No, he didn’t, and he claimed he wouldn’t give up on the mate bond,” Jia spoke in a low voice. I checked on her finger, and the ring was not on her finger; thus, she had the wolf back.
“I don’t want to be here, Sia, and I don’t want to be near my mate, a cold-hearted murderer.” Jia wept, and I hugged her to comfort her.
“Jia, don’t give up. We have to make it through this and start again with a clean slate.” Jia nods at my encouraging words, but I doubt we’ll be able to leave here quickly, but if words can help her relax, that’s the only consolation I can give Jia.
“I have to leave; Nas... hates it when I spend too much time away from him. And he becomes enraged, which frightens me.” I nod as she puts the stone back in her purse and gives me one more embrace before leaving the room. I watch as she exits the premises.
The discussion with Jia and Nas as mates topic reminded me of Miles’s grin, the first night I spent with him, and how he vowed to come back to me but is now gone. I wiped my tears away. The agony of losing a loved one is excruciating.
I took a slow, deep breath in and out. I burst out in cold chills, recalling the nightmares of losing everybody in war. I took my medication fast and lay on the sofa, trying to close my eyes and escape the discomfort.