Chapter 5

     ~DECLAN~

Her face was turned to the other side while I drove, The car was filled with nothing but silence, the only thing I heard was her heartbeat, which wasn't stable at all.

Something was wrong—something worse than not being sure about her wedding tomorrow.

Did she call things off with him? Did he hurt her?

My wolf snarled at the thought of Maria’s fiancé hurting her which caused my grip on the wheel of my car to tighten.

I wanted to ask if she was okay. If I need to throw someone in the dungeon for hurting her but I figured she needed space, she needed the quiet so I bottled my anger and my curiosity and just focused on driving this woman to my mansion.

The drive lasted for forty minutes, but Maria still didn't give me her attention, her face was still turned to the other side.

I flashed my lights as I got to my gate, indicating for the security to let me in which they did immediately. I opened the door and stepped out, I was going to get her door but she already had it.

She stepped out, her eyes, looking over my apartment… Well.. A mansion. My home. It's more than just a huge building to me, it’s my sanctuary. It didn't just buy a house, I had it sketched out to my taste. I made sure it was built for me.

The house is grand, elegant, soft gray stone wrapped in ivy, with wide windows that let in the sun like it’s something precious. The double doors are dark mahogany, carved with delicate floral patterns.

Maria’s eyes traced every part of the surroundings of my mansion, She turned to me, forced a smile, and walked behind me as I led her towards the entrance that led to the living room.

“Lan!” Rose, my housekeeper, 5’5 dark, brunette, chubby, 48 and mean yelled as I walked, She was too carried away she didn't realize I came with a guest. “Where is your phone, I have been calling all night, Tomorrow is your son’s wedding, you need to get to bed in time so you can wake up and…”

She paused, tilting her head to see Maria who was still standing behind me with her bags in her hand.

“You brought a stray cat.” Rose frowned. Rose is more than just a housekeeper, she is a good friend. Runs her mouth like a broken faucet, she always forgets I am her boss and always uses the fact that she few years older to act smart.

“She is not a stray cat, her name is Maria and she would he spending the night, now, Rose, would you be kind enough to prepare a room for her? Have the other maids prepare a warm bath for her, get her some food, and a little hangover pill.” I muttered, gesturing for Maria who was still behind me to step forward.

“Hello.” Her voice was so low, barely audible, her grip on her bag tightened, and her head was buried. She looked… broken. Really different from the lady I met earlier at the bar.

What happened in the few hours that we spent apart?

I was getting fucked and she was getting her heart broken?

I really want to ask her what happened. What about the wedding tomorrow?

But what she needs right now is a place to rest her head and I want to give that to her.

Rose stepped forward and cupped her cheek, “Tell, me the truth, did this old hag hurt you?” she frowned.

“Rose! Seriously?” I grunted.

“What? Your dick has been all over the place lately.” she snapped back.

“Stop saying dick, you old woman.”

“He didn't…he didn't.” Maria’s calm low broken voice snapped me and Rose out of our little bickering.

“Come with me.” Rose gently placed her hands on Maria’s back, using her free hand to take the bag from her. She led Maria into one of my guest rooms.

——

I sat in my office, my mind filled with this innocent young… Very young girl that I met at the club, who looked like she was trying to convince herself that she actually wanted to marry whoever she was getting married to, the same girl who had her bag in here hands, looking broken, defeated, sad and filled with nothing but sadness.. The same girl who is just a few rooms away from me, inside my mansion.

“Go talk to her.” my wolf kept growling inside my mind. He had been restless since we saw Maria and she being a few rooms away just made his obsession with her, ten times worse.

“She needs space.”

“No, she needs a shoulder to cry on.” my wolf insisted.

“Stop being a pervert and leave the poor girl alone.” Honestly, I don’t know if I was talking to my wolf or myself, either way, I got myself off my chair and made my way out of my office, heading to the pool area.

I dropped by my mini bar, pulled out a bottle of red wine and a glass before going to the poolside.

Sitting down, my gaze turned to the sky, looking at the moon that shone brightly. Tomorrow is my son’s wedding and I have no idea how he will react to seeing me tomorrow.

What if I get there and I ruin his happy day? What if he doesn't want me around him? What if Greta is still feeding him lies and turning him against me?

At forty-three, this is not what I wanted for myself but hey, it is what it is.

I was so lost in thoughts that I didn't realize that someone had sneaked into the poolside and was now sitting next to me.

“It’s a beautiful view.” Her gentle voice filled my mind, blocking my every thought and consuming my mind like it was meant for her.

Ugh… come on… she is taken. She is young… very young.

“Thank you.” Her gaze latched onto the sky. “I didn't… I didn't know where to go.”

My mind completely went blank and I got this sudden need to protect her, to shield her from whatever pain she was feeling at that moment.

“Do you mind me, asking what happened?” I asked.

I didn't know if she would trust me enough to tell me what happened but I still wanted to try, I wanted to know.

“He cheated… He had been cheating.” She revealed. I didn't know if it was me but she wasn't broken as much as she should have been, considering that their wedding was tomorrow until…

“With my sister?” Her voice broken, her claws drove into her thigh and I swear I felt this surge of pain flow through every part of her.

He cheated on her with her sister?

I wanted to comfort her, to pull her into my arms and hold her but I didn't know if she’d want that.. I didn't want to be a creep.

So I held back. With my fist clenched, anger flowed through me like an electric wave surging through every part of me.

“I… She… she is my sister, the only family I have, the only blood I have left in this world, she was my no. 1 fan, she always had my back, she was always by my side, she… Is my family… I… I… She was happy for me… she was more excited about the marriage than I was… I can’t believe she did this… I can’t believe, she had been doing this… I can’t believe that she had been lying to me, fucking him behind my back and smiling to me.”

Okay, this is totally off topic but Maria saying the F word turned me on more than.. What was her name again? Jane? Janette? Whatever… you know who I mean.

But being betrayed by your own sister, I can’t imagine the pain she was going through. I want to be sad for her but my wolf was taking over my emotions tonight.

Because he was excited, he was cheering because… Maria is single.