Chapter 5: Run or Stay?

[Ciara's POV]

As I walked away from Daryl, I became more confused, thinking about everything that was happening. Twice, Daryl had pretended as though we were complete strangers.

His words still rang in my mind as I made my way up the staircase. Why did he bring me all the way from California only to order me to leave because I didn't "belong" here? Was this some sort of prank? Perhaps he had forgotten for a moment that it was he who had made me the offer to be his fake fiancé.

Soon, I reached the door to my room and yanked it open, slamming it shut behind me with a loud crack. Then, I leaned against it for a second as my chest rose and fell in quick, shallow breaths. My throat felt tight and my eyes burned. But I wasn’t going to cry. No! Not here. Not over this.

I pushed off the door and started pacing back and forth, as my boots thudded against the thick rug.

“What the hell is happening?” I muttered to myself.

I was in a location I knew nothing about, and the only thing I wanted most was to leave.

I glanced around the room, quickly walked over to the mirror in the corner, and stared at myself. My cheeks were flushed, and my hair was a mess. I didn’t recognize the girl staring back at me. She looked tired and fed up.

I gritted my teeth. “I should’ve stayed in California.”

This whole thing had been a mistake. Everything—coming here, agreeing to this insane arrangement, pretending to be Daryl’s fiancée to convince his family. I should have known better. And now, after everything, he’d treated me like I was less than dirt.

I was still lost in thought when the door crashed open behind me, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin.

I spun around, my heart pounding, and found Alaric standing in the doorway. The last time I saw him was when we arrived at this mansion.

I immediately rushed towards him. "Hey. I need you to tell me how I can get to the nearest airport around here."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Airport? Why? Are you leaving?"

"Uh—yes?"

"That cannot happen. The Alpha wants to see you."

I rolled my eyes, angry at that name, 'Alpha.'

I still had no idea what it meant, and I couldn't be bothered about it. Instead, I folded my arms over my chest. "Look, Alaric, I have to leave this goddamn place by tomorrow morning. Can you make it possible?"

"The Alpha demands your presence. Now." He snapped, ignoring my request.

My stomach twisted and I licked my dry lips. “Well, that's a common name around here. Who's this Alpha? Daryl?"

He didn’t answer. He just stepped aside and waited for me to walk out of the room. His silence was its own kind of threat.

I straightened my spine, even though my legs felt weak. “Fine,” I muttered. "If you won't help me with my plans, then I'll have to ask Daryl to make the arrangements for me. It's quite clear that he wants me out of here, anyway."

I walked toward Alaric, brushing past his broad frame, and fell into step as he led me back through the dimly lit hallways. My footsteps were quieter this time as I realized that I hadn't been with my phone in a while. One of the security at the gates had taken it from me under Daryl's instructions when we arrived earlier. That only meant one thing—I couldn't possibly call for help if it came to that.

Sh*t! I cursed under my breath. Why was I so careless?

I ran through every possible scenario in my head. Why did Daryl want to see me again? Was he going to throw me out himself? Was this where his family tied up loose ends?

Alaric stopped in front of a large door, and without a word, he just nodded toward it.

I took a deep breath and opened it.

Daryl was inside, standing by the fireplace. His arms were crossed over his chest and his jaw was tight. The flames behind him lit up his sharp features as they cast long shadows across his face. His dark hair was a little messy, and there were faint lines under his eyes like he hadn’t slept. Somehow, he looked tense.

I walked straight in and let the door slam shut behind me.

I didn’t wait for him to speak as I folded my arms across my chest and frowned.

"I didn't expect you to call for me again, not after what happened," I shot at him.

"Ciara, there's something I need to tell you."

“You’ve got some nerve,” I said. My voice shook, but not from fear. Rather, it was from anger. “You drag me into this insane plan, then let your mother humiliate me in front of everyone. And then you dare to tell me in the hallway to get the hell out of your house?"

He stared at me in silence.

“I’m leaving,” I continued. “You said it yourself. You told me to leave. That’s exactly what I’m going to do, but I need you to make arrangements for me to be taken to the nearest airport. I don't know my way around here."

Daryl’s brow furrowed. “Leaving? This was never part of the plan. What are you talking about?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” I snapped. “Earlier, you sounded as though I was stalking you, and I showed up in this place without your help. You even said that I didn’t belong here. So, that's it. Tell me how I can get out of here before anything crazy happens again."

He shook his head slowly like he was trying to make sense of something. Then, he took a few steps towards me. “Ciara, I never said any of that. I didn't ask you to leave."

I let out a sharp laugh, but there was no humour in it. “You’re seriously going to stand there and deny it? After everything?”

His jaw flexed. “I’m telling you the truth. I didn’t say anything like that to you.”

That made me even angrier. I stepped closer, ignoring the pounding in my chest. “Do you think I’m making this up? That I imagined it? Damn it, Daryl! I met you about thirty minutes ago in the hallway outside the dining hall, and you asked me to leave this place."

He held my gaze. “I think something’s wrong. I never met you in that hallway.”

My stomach flipped. “What do you mean you weren’t there? I saw you. I spoke to you. You told me to—”

“It wasn’t me,” he cut in. His voice was cold, but there was something in it. A chill ran down my spine and my head reeled.

I blinked at him. “Then who the hell was it? Because it sure as hell looked like you.”

He hesitated for a second too long. “My brother.”

For a second, the room went silent. Brother? How was that possible?

“What?” My voice was barely a whisper.

Daryl exhaled slowly. “My twin brother. Damon.”

I stared at him like he’d just slapped me. “You have a twin?”

He nodded once. “I wasn’t going to tell you. Well, my twin and I aren't on speaking terms, and I wasn't expecting him to meet you at any point."

I shook my head, taking a step back. “You weren’t going to tell me? You were going to let me think I was going crazy instead?”

“It wasn’t supposed to matter. He wasn’t supposed to be here. He lives in another pack, but I guess he came home for the Christmas festivals."

I laughed again, bitter this time. “Well, he’s here. And apparently, he’s playing games. He came at me in the hallway like I was dirt on his shoe. And you’re telling me that wasn’t you?”

“No.”

I took another step back. My head was spinning. “This is insane.”

Before Daryl could say anything else, the door creaked open again. I swung around to see another man in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame.

My breath caught in my lungs as I realized that he was a splitting image of Daryl, except for the smirk on his face. His dark eyes ran over me, and I felt my mouth go dry.

“Hello, Brother,” he said with a smooth voice. His eyes remained pinned on me as he spoke. "I didn't know you would bring home a mate. Welcome home."

Daryl tensed next to me as he grabbed my hand. “Damon, I also did not expect you to speak to me. You may leave, Brother."

I couldn’t move; neither could I speak. It felt like I was imagining things. Daryl had a twin brother, whom I was so damn sure I had met before now. Maybe, he was the man who had sex with me at the club.

I gasped at the possibility of it.

"Ciara?" A voice called out, jolting me out of my thoughts. I turned towards Daryl.

"Y-yes," I mumbled.

"This is Damon," Daryl said through clenched teeth. 

He cupped my face, his gaze fixed on me. "Damon is older than me by a few minutes. That's all you need to know about him."

A low, rumbling laugh broke out behind me just before I could respond.

That bastard! I cursed underneath my breath.

What was he about to say now? I wondered, silently wishing he wouldn't tell Daryl that we had met at the club earlier.

"Oh, don't bother, Daryl. Your mate, Ciara, is such a sweet lady, and I can testify to that. You don't need to introduce her to me. I know her quite well."

I spun around to glare at the other twin, Damon.