Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Elara

He ignores my wishes and walks out of the elevator into his penthouse. He puts me down, standing close to me. Zuriel was over 6ft, and warmth radiated from his muscular body.

I glance around the living room. It is large, luxurious, and neat too.

His scent covered the entire apartment, and my wolf was excited after being quiet for too long.

She is still weak from the drugs they gave me. I will need to find out what it was. I have to visit the hospital when I get home.

Zuriel moves away from me to answer his phone.

He looks a little frustrated with the person he is talking to.

They discuss business with the person over the phone as he leaves the living room.

Zuriel was a competent businessman, and his company was known globally.

Zuriel is back as I inspect the penthouse and points upstairs,

‘You can use the spare room tonight. I’ll bring you a T-shirt to sleep in,’

I nod and go upstairs to the spare bedroom. I take a long shower in the bathroom. In there, everything that happened hits me like a truck.

My mate’s betrayal, and his punishments. Tears roll down my cheeks, and I don’t stop the sob that escapes my lips.

Having cried enough, I step out and wrap a towel around my wet hair and the other around my body. I go to the room, and I’m shocked to find Zuriel there. His eyes keep me still, and my heart pounds in my chest. Did he hear me cry?

Zuriel’s gaze slowly travels lower, and his gaze lingers on my legs before they go up to my eyes. My heart skips at the raw hunger that clouds his ardent eyes.

No man has ever looked at me like that… With such vehemence. I bite my lips, waiting for him to react any other way than that. As his gaze persists to scrutinize me, I feel heat on my body, and blood rushes to my cheeks.

‘Wear that,’ he points at the white shirt on the bed.

There is a pause in the air before he turns and starts to walk away, but I clear my throat slightly, and he stops walking,

‘I’m hungry,’ I say quietly.

My stomach has been rumbling, urging me to eat something.

He nods and leaves the room, shutting the door. I hear the sound of footsteps recede, and I let out a sigh I didn’t know I was holding.

That was intense, so intense and hot.

‘ He has a nice ass,’ Ara purrs. Indeed.

I grab the shirt he put on the bed and bring it to my nose. It smells heavenly like him. I find myself hugging it before putting it on.

Twenty minutes pass by, and I hear the door open. I jump off the bed, and I can’t help but stare at him.

He’s changed into something more casual.

‘Food,’ he says.

I nod and follow him to the dining room.

On the round table is a three-course meal. I’m surprised to see it but delighted. I was starving.

‘Who made all this?’ I ask as I sit down in my chair.

He takes his seat, ignoring my question. I first have appetizers, appreciating how good the fried okra is before eating the main meal. I suddenly feel hot, and my heart is beating wildly in my chest.

I can feel his eyes on me. I’ve avoided looking at him. I glance at him, and indeed, Zuriel is openly staring at me.

‘What?’

‘Did you fuck?’ he whispers, and my face falls. I swallow thickly, almost choking on my saliva.

‘Excuse me?’

‘I don’t like repeating my words,’ he says solemnly. I feel anger rising in my chest. I narrow my eyes at him, suddenly feeling angry at him for bringing it up.

‘That’s none of your business,’ I spat.

I wasn’t supposed to mate with Connor, but I was carried away by the bond, now I will be the center of gossip and shame when it is revealed he rejected me after mating. No one can know that. His eyes are on me, and I exhale.

‘I did,’ I look away, shame filling my eyes. Zuriel doesn’t say a word, but the tyrannical ambiance in the room speaks volumes. I glance back at him, and the abhorrence in his gaze terrorizes me. All my appetite to eat has gone now.

‘Why?’ he grits his teeth, ‘Couldn’t you control your urges?’

‘I- I didn’t know he was a sick bastard. I thought we’d mate, and he’d mark me,’ I tell him.

Zuriel exhale and gulp his drink. His stare is making me uneasy.

‘You’re one to judge. I hear about everything you do, you know,’ I mumble.

‘Keeping tabs on me?’ he questions, his lips curled into a smirk as he looks into my gaze. That’s the closest I’ve seen him to a smile.

‘Not really, but when one has a different woman every night in bed, people talk, and I have ears. Why is it so bad when a woman does it? Why do we need a certain body count when men don’t?’ I question seriously. He seems intrigued. I hated that the rules for women, especially high born were so different.

‘So, it wasn’t the first time?’ he asks, anger lacing his words. I decide to tease him a little.

‘It wasn’t. I’ve been with other men,’ I say nonchantly, drinking my wine.

His face is priceless. ‘And women,’ I add.

He growls, getting to his feet, and his vexation takes me back.

‘It’s not funny,’

‘It’s not supposed to. I wasn’t joking,’ my expression is serious. Zuriel’s fists are clenched on his side as he glares at me. I maintain my composure and keep my gaze on him.

‘So it’s cool when men fuck around and not women,’ I scoff. He was in front of me in less than a second, my chair is pushed back, and he cages me in it, his face so close to mine. I can feel his hot breath tickling my skin. Our proximity makes me hold my breath.

‘You. Are. Not. Just. Any. Woman,’ he says each word with difficulty. His eyes flashed dangerously.

‘Why are you so affected by this?’ I ask him.