Feathery little touches...

Chapter Five

/-Isla-/

I belong to him?

This had to be the biggest joke of the century. Who the hell did he think he was?

“I don't think you heard me right,” my eyes narrowed as I stepped closer, ignoring the prickle in my skin from his closeness. “I said I reject you!” 

“Your rejection is void unless I accept it,” those seafoam eyes locked with mine, “and I will never accept it.” 

My fists clenched hard. I wanted to punch him so badly. Why was he so intent on making my life miserable?

“So what do you expect me to do now? Hold on to a married man because he's what? My mate?” I huffed. “Listen carefully, Alpha. I, Isla Dysai Kane, am my own person and will never ever belong to you!” I poked him hard in the chest. “I'm going back to my boyfriend. You can choke on the stupid bond for all I care!” 

He didn't stop me as I walked away and I was grateful. The last thing I wanted him to see was the unshed tears in my eyes. 

Because then he would know that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't heal from the way he shattered my little naive heart. 

That day was still fresh in my mind like it was yesterday. Him, on one knee, asking her to be his. 

A tear rolled down and I brushed it off immediately. I shouldn't cry for that asshole. If he thought I was going to give myself to him again to be broken, then he had another thing coming. 

I dried my eyes and headed to the guest room to see Carlos. Roman said he was an Omega. I needed a lot of explanations for that. I have never put any form of pressure to warrant him lying to me. 

I had to know why. 

I knocked twice on the door and he opened up with a charming smile. 

“Baby, you're here.” 

He was shirtless with his hair dripping. The trickled down his torso and I might have drooled at how hot he was if I didn't have a lot of questions for him. 

“Are you okay?” He asked worriedly as my eyes remained locked with his. Arla tried to sniff him but his scent was too faint to discern anything. 

Rather, it was the pleasant lavender cologne he usually wore that overwhelmed my senses. 

“Is there anything you want to tell me?” I asked him and he raised a brow. 

“I don't understand…”

Denial, as expected. 

“Are you really a Beta?” I asked him and he was taken aback by the question. I noticed the slight falter in his expression and my chest tightened. 

Roman was telling the truth…

“What are you talking about?” Carlos tried to play dumb and that was what upset me even more. 

“Carlos, are you an omega?” I decided to be very direct since he wanted to play dumb. 

He opened his mouth but nothing came out. Just a lot of incoherent stutter. 

“Why would you lie to me?” I asked him, keeping my tone as even as I could even though I was boiling inside. “Do you know how I felt when I found out from someone else that my man… my man was a fucking omega!”

Shame clouded his expression as he stared at the floor. 

“I'm sorry, Isla…” he muttered. “It's not that I wanted to lie to you. The first day I set my eyes on you…” he slowly looked up. “I thought you were the brightest thing after the sun. The way you smiled as you skipped, playing with your ice cream even though it was melting. You were so messy…”

My heart tugged and I bit my lip, trying to keep my composure. I could already feel my anger dissipating.

“When I got close to you, the first thing I smelled was Alpha blood. Then I thought, you were already of such high status; how could a nobody, a mere omega like me, dare tell you that you were the most beautiful person I have ever laid eyes on? You probably heard that every day…”

As much as I tried to pretend his words didn't affect me, I was certain that my expression was already betraying me. I already forgave him without him needing to ask.

“I'm sorry, Isla. I just didn't think you would give me your time of the day if you knew my true status. So I masked my scent and lied… I lied so I could get close to you…” he confessed, then slowly went on his knees. “Forgive me, please?” 

My eyes watered. How could I not?

“Don't ever do that again. I don't care about status. You could be a slave for all I care, and it wouldn't still change my feelings for you,” I told him, and he wrapped his arms around my waist, hugging my legs. 

“I'm sorry, baby. I'm really sorry…” 

I stroked his hair gently. “I forgive you. Get up please.” 

He stood and pulled me into a hug. We remained like that for almost a minute until I realised he was soaking me.

“Let go, Carlos, I'm going to get drenched,” I said.

“No, my pants are already soaked, and I'm not complaining,” he deadpan, and I chuckled. 

“At least let me dry your hair.” 

That was enough to get him off me. He moved to the dressing table to sit and I picked up the blow dryer to plug it. 

“Isla…” he called suddenly. 

“Yeah?” I flipped on the socket, without glancing back at him. “How did you know I was lying to you?” 

I paused for a moment before reluctantly answering, “The Alpha told him.” 

“Oh,” he muttered under his breath. “You and him don't seem to get along much.” 

“Maybe because he's an asshole,” I muttered under my breath. 

“And the Luna? You didn't seem to like her either,” he noted. 

My lips pressed together as I stared at the blow dryer. I didn't answer and proceeded to dry his hair.

Why should I like a woman who was cheaply throwing herself at a man who didn't even want her?

'Is that so?’ Arla smirked. 'It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that our sinfully gorgeous mate picked her over you, huh?’

“Shut up, Arla! You make it sound like I'm jealous! Maybe I was before but I don't care about him anymore! I've moved on!” I retorted in my head. 

'You've moved on, huh? Yet after five years, you couldn't bring yourself to kiss any other man. Not even the one you claim to be in love with,’ she snorted. 

My grip on the blow dryer tightened. 

“He's not complaining! We're waiting until marriage!” I defended. 

'Whatever helps you sleep at night.’

I shut the impertinent thing out. She was so annoying!

I ended up sleeping in Carlos' room that night. I enjoyed his cuddles very much. However, somewhere along the line, in the middle of the night, it felt like I was sleeping next to Roman.

Those big arms pushed underneath my nightshirt, caressing my bare skin. My body tensed, triggering a line of goosebumps along my skin. 

It didn't stop moving, but the slow, feathery touches felt like torture. I wanted him to touch me properly. 

It pushed up to my boobs, cupping it gently. When he flicked his finger across my nipple, my insides exploded with heat. 

“Roman…” I whimpered.