CHAPTER SEVEN
KEVIN’S POV
I remained seated on the ground long after the guests had left. I was at a loss…
Warmth flowed through me as I sensed my mother’s hand on my shoulder. I raised my head to meet her kind, concerned eyes.
She sat beside me and held my hand, wordlessly comforting me. This gave me time to gather my thoughts.
I don’t know how long we sat like that. When I felt like I was ready to talk, I muttered, “What should I do mom? I feel like an utter failure…”
She smiled at me and said, “Go and talk to your mate.”
“I can’t just go and talk to her after what she said…”
Mom let out a long, deep sigh. “Don’t let your ego ruin this relationship before it even begins…”
“What ego? I don’t…” I stopped mid-sentence when I realized that probably mom was right. She had wounded my pride and now I was hesitant to make the first move.
“Think about her Kevin. She must be so confused about everything. Her hesitance in disclosing her pack indicates that she must be a rogue.
She was here just attending a party and suddenly boom! She finds that she is the mate of an Alpha…
Seeing the way you behaved with Risha, she must think that you are a dominating, arrogant Alpha and she will lose all her freedom after she becomes your mate…”
“But, that is not true…” I interrupted defensively.
“She doesn’t know that. It is your job to convince her.”
“Really mom! You are asking Kevin to go and talk to that b****!” Risha’s incredulous voice sounded as she stomped towards us.
“Risha! Mind your language! You are talking about your future Luna…” Mom said, glaring at her.
Risha shook her and snorted. “Are you for real? Do you have any idea what she has done in the past?”
“We should not concern ourselves with her past. The only thing I know is that Kiara is Kevin’s mate and she should be living with us. Kevin will go and bring her home.” Father said in his Alpha tone.
Risha glared at Dad before stomping away. I had to find a way to make upto my baby sister but that could wait. My priority was finding my mate…
A strong gust of wind slapped against my face as I stepped out of the cabin in the corner of the Common Ground. The faint scent of pine and cherries tickled my nose indicating that my mate was still around.
Following the fragrance, I found Kiara leaning against the wall around the large fountain. She looked ethereal in the moonlight.
My heartbeat quickened as I drew nearer. I was taken aback when she raised her head to look at me. Tears stained her face and the light in her eyes seemed to have died out.
My heart ached to console her. I opened my lips to speak but it was as if I had lost the ability to form a single coherent word.
Taking off my jacket, I placed it on her shoulder. She looked at me warily but didn’t protest. Encouraged by this, I finally managed to stutter, “It is not…umm… safe to stay here at night… let me take you home… we can talk in the morning…”
She didn’t respond to my proposition… like at all… no change in expression, no nodding She didn’t even make a move to run away… What was I supposed to do now?
I picked her up bridal style and carried her to my car. Her body remained limp; no protests, no cursing. For some reason, this was even more hurtful than her vicious words.
Opening the door of the car with my remote, I made her sit comfortably on the leather seat and strapped her in.
The drive to our home was a long and silent one. She sat there gazing out of the window with the same stoic expression.
***
“Hey! Whose bedroom is this?” Kiara rasped as I carried her into our bedroom.
“This is my bedroom but today onwards it is yours too.” I was so relieved when she spoke that the words came out more cheerful than I had intended.
Her face flushed and her eyes widened in horror. “We can’t sleep together.”
“Why not? We are mates… isn’t it obvious that we should share the same bedroom as well…” I said placing gently on the soft mattress of the large poster bed.
I kneeled on the floor and placed my hands on either side of her and leaned in so that we were mere inches from each other.
I could hear the erratic throbbing of her heart but I wasn’t sure if she was excited by my presence or terrified. I really hoped it was former.
She clenched the edge of her dress and stuttered, “I…ummm… we… I… please…”
This was the first time my mate had requested something. How could I refuse her? I moved away from her and said, “Don’t worry, Kiara. I will sleep in the hall…”
I picked up my pillow and was about to leave when a whiff of blood assaulted my nose. It was then I noticed the torn fabric of Kiara’s dress.
Placing the pillow back on the bed, I said, “Stretch out your legs.”
Her eyes widened and she looked at me as if I had given her a death sentence. Chuckling, I lifted her leg gently and stretched it across the bed.
She winced as I lifted the lacy fabric of her dress above her knees. Her face flushed and she asked in a flustered voice, “What are you doing?”
Rather than replying to her, I got busy examining the wound. There were a few scratches and a deep cut. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “Why isn’t the wound healing?”
When I didn’t hear Kiara’s reply for a long time, I raised my head to look at her. Her beautiful face seemed distressed.
I restrained my urge to ask her a billion questions and applied the special ointment my grandma had given me. I couldn’t stop myself from placing a gentle kiss near her wounds.
This was a great mistake. Kiara turned from a distressed angel to a furious demon within a matter of seconds.
She withdrew her legs and spat, “Just get out, Kevin. You make me feel suffocated. I don’t think I can sleep if you keep polluting this room with your presence.”
Stung by her words, I stormed out of the room. How could she say that? I was just trying to express my love…