Chapter 5 Secret's Out

• AMELIA
• I stared at him for a few seconds, contemplating my next line of action. He cocked his head at me, as if daring me to defy him.
• "No."
• He blinked, surprise crossing his features.
• "It's my phone. We might be married on paper, but it's all fake. You have no right to interfere with my privacy," I said, and he pulled away from me, a strange twinkle in his eyes. He almost looked pleased.
• "Good. You have the right attitude," he said, turning away from me. I stared at him, bewildered.
• "How do you know Fabian Lancaster?" I asked, and he stiffened, his shoulders tensing up.
• "It's none of your business," he said in a monotonous voice.
• "Really? Is this how it's going to be?" I stated, and he turned to look at me.
• "Go ahead. Why don't you tell me why you were so desperate to get married to a total stranger?" He fired, and my chest tightened, my vision blurring over at the memory of what happened between Fabian and me that night.
• **Flashback**
• "F-Fabian?" I breathed, pushing myself to my knees as I stared at my ex-boyfriend's immobile form. The amount of blood that was leaving his body was alarming.
• Was he dead?
• "I know you can hear me," I said, my voice trembling.
• He still didn't move.
• Bending over to nudge him, I winced as pain shot through my body. I was bleeding from the numerous injuries he'd inflicted on me.
• My eyes widened when I noticed that he wasn't breathing. Terrified, I shot to my feet. My torn panties got in the way. So I ripped it off, scrambling to grab my dress from the floor.
• When I glanced at Fabian one more time, my breath quickened. He wasn't supposed to die. He was a werewolf. Why wasn't he healing?
• 'We have to run,‘ Spring, my wolf urged, and I let out a sob, limping towards the door.
• I could still feel the bruises on my thighs where his fingers had dug in.
• Although a part of me hoped that I hadn't just committed murder. The other part of me hoped that Fabian would stay dead.
• ***End of flashback***
• "Like I said earlier, our marriage is fake. We do not owe each other any explanation," I said and started to storm away from Lucien, clenching my trembling hands into white-knuckled fists.
• "You don't have to worry about your belongings. They will be arriving soon," I heard him say as I ascended the stairs.
• Once I was back in the bedroom, I shut the door and leaned against it, my knees giving out. I couldn't help but wonder if marrying Lucien was indeed the right decision.
• I sat up in bed with a jolt a couple of hours later. I must've fallen asleep.
• Feeling thirsty, I stumbled out of bed and made my way towards the door, nearly tripping over myself. Letting out a yawn, I left the room and headed downstairs in search of the kitchen.
• While I was making my way down the corridor, I noticed the half-open door of one of the rooms.
• The pleasant smell of Cedarwood and Jasmine flooded my senses, my feet coming to a halt. The smell was the scent I'd perceived from Lucien that night we'd met for the first time.
• My wolf stirred inside of me and started to whimper. Anxiety gripped me as I stood there contemplating my next line of action.
• Do I just walk into the room? Or not?
• 'Mate,‘ Spring whimpered, and my eyes widened.
• A lump formed in my throat as I inched towards the door and reached out to it, pushing it a little wider.
• I froze at the sounds of moans and grunts that came from the room.
• The room was dark. The only source of illumination was the moonlight barely streaming through the dark curtains on the window.
• But it was enough for me to see the two figures in bed. A young, dark-haired woman was lying in bed while Lucien pounded into her from behind.
• My mind screamed at me to turn away, but my body was rooted to the spot. Anger and an unexplainable yearning warred within me.
• His eyes locked with mine, and he began to move his hips faster. The woman's moans rose higher, and eventually, Lucien pulled away from her. She slumped forward on the bed, and he got out of bed, stepping into what seemed to be the bathroom.
• When the young woman noticed me, she grabbed her dress and got out of the bed. Then she hurried past me, her whole face turning a bright red.
• Lucien's scent was stronger than ever. It made me feel drunk. Throwing caution to the wind, I stepped into the room.
• "What the hell am I doing?" I breathed.
• Right then, I heard the door of the bathroom sliding open. Too petrified to think, I stood there, frozen.
• My eves bulged in their sockets as Lucien stepped out of the bathroom utterly naked.
• My mouth went dry at the glorious sight.
• His grey eyes seemed to shine even in the dark, and when they met mine, my heart began to race faster than ever.
• Slowly, he walked towards me, stalking me like a predator.
• Eventually, he halted in front of me, his gaze unwavering. I could smell him now more than ever. I'd never been so aware of his overpowering presence.
• "What do we have here?" He drawled, cocking his head.
• For a moment, I didn't know what to say to him. My brain just wouldn't work. He was beauty impersonified.
• Damp, wavy black hair framed his face, droplets of water rolling down his sculptured face. He was leanly muscular and tall, much taller than I-was. He had a whole sleeve of tattoos and a single line of tattoos along his rib cage.
• "What are you doing here?" He asked, bringing his hand to my chin.
• "You lied to me," I blurted out, and he blinked, his expression stoic.
• "You're my mate. You knew that, didn't you?" I asked, clenching my fists.
• "Now that you know, what are you going to do? Reject me?" He drawled, his tone laced with a hint of amusement.
• The nerve of this bastard to taunt me like this. Despite knowing that he was my mate, he'd slept with another woman while I was only a few rooms away. He clearly didn't want me. For some reason, it pissed me off.
• "You don't think I can?" I snapped, and he arched a dark brow, leaning even closer to me.
• "Go ahead. It's a dare. Reject me," he drawled.
• "I, Amelia Hayes, reject -"
• Before I could complete my statement, he'd leaned over to claim my lips. He kissed me deeply, setting my nerves on fire. It didn't help that I was fully aware that he was naked.
• When he pulled away, he stroked my cheek with his thumb, his eyes hooded.
• "You might regret it," he said, and I frowned.
• "Regret what?" I asked.
• "Using me. Do you really think I helped you out of the kindness of my heart?" He stated, and my stomach tightened.
• In that moment, I recalled the text message I'd received from an anonymous person earlier.
• Was he really my enemy?
• "How do you know my father? Why did you decide to marry me?" I asked, and his right eye twitched.
• "I can't tell you that," he said, turning away from me.
• Annoyed, I grabbed him by the hand and pulled him towards me. His gaze darkened, and he yanked his arm out of my grip.
• "You really want to know why I agreed to marry you?" He asked, and a lump lodged itself in my throat.
• "You're nothing but a means to an end. More specifically, a means to my retribution against your father," he said, and my heart sank.