Chapter Five – Paradise On Earth

Hera’s POV 

The shrill call of a bald eagle outside grabbed my attention. I opened my eyes to look around me. The view before me was so mesmerizing, that I gasped with delight despite my predicament. The vast stretch of crystal-clear water shimmered in front of me! With the ice thawing at the edges, I instantly recognized it as the Back Bay of the Great Slave Lake. 

A smile crept to my lips as I got up from the bed to sit beside the large bay window. There was a huge sundeck outside the bedroom beckoning me towards it. I glanced at the door longingly. Had Felixe locked that door, too?

I watched the birds swoop down for the fish swimming near the surface. The brightly colored sailboats and houseboats created a sharp contrast against the tranquil backdrop. 

‘I wish I could explore outside. The scent of caribou and trout are driving me crazy!’ said Hye longingly.

I, too, wanted to be free, but maybe Felixe had other plans in store for us. I wanted to know his plans so badly! Whatever they were, I was glad he brought us to a better place this time. I didn’t feel claustrophobic at all here. This room didn’t feel like a prison, nor did I feel like a prisoner! 

‘I’m sure we soon will.’ 

‘How? Our mate won’t allow it.’ She reminded me of my strange predicament. She was actually right. With my captor being my mate, I didn’t have any chance at freedom. Maybe I could never go back home to Lucania. 

The sound of my bedroom door opening alerted me. I whirled around expecting Felixe, but a middle-aged woman came inside with a tray full of steaming hot brunch! My mouth watered at the sight of food! 

“Mr. Andreadis sent your breakfast, miss.” She set the tray down on the table near the door. “Do you need anything else?” 

“Water, please. Is this a hotel, motel, b&b, or holiday rental?” I wanted to know the name so that I could inform my brother somehow. 

“Oh, none of those. This is Mr. Andreadis’ summer lodge! This time he came after almost two years!” My eyes widened at the information. I hadn’t expected Felixe to own such a property! Wasn’t he a poor Gamma? If this was his summer home, I wondered where his actual home was! Why didn’t he take me there?

“Oh, have you known him for that long?” 

“Longer, miss. I’ve worked here as his housekeeper for the last five years. I’ll get you water!” 

“Oh, what’s your name?” I asked, liking her chatty nature. I could make friends with her and get to know a lot about my captor! 

“Stella Hawkes! I know you’re Hermione Averoff!” I gasped at the way she pronounced my full name. I hated it. 

“Please call me Hera. I hate my full name!”

“Why? It’s so exotic, a symbol of intelligence in our era! Hermione was the daughter of the Greek messenger God, Hermes. I’m sure you know that already!”

She grinned and walked away to get me water while I gaped at her. For the first time, I saw my name from a different perspective altogether! It brought a smile to my lips, remembering the only person who called me that. It was my captor, Felixe Andreadis! The way he pronounced my name caused goosebumps to erupt on my skin. It sounded exotic indeed!

I blinked those thoughts away and got up to inspect the food. It was too good to resist. I was so hungry, I could eat everything on the tray. Hopefully, I wouldn’t have to share it with Felixe. I wanted to be alone for a while instead of him breathing fire down my neck all the time. 

‘Don’t worry! He isn’t here.’ Of course, with Hye’s heightened senses, she knew better than I did. 

‘Then let’s tuck in.’ I sat down to devour my brunch. As I ate, I looked around the bedroom I was in. Tastefully done up in neutral shades of green, the room seemed like an extension of the stunning natural landscape outside! There was a contemporary touch to the lodge, unlike the tree house we were in. Did Felixe own that too? Maybe he did and the helicopter as well! I knew how much it takes to maintain an aircraft since my twin has one! 

So the enemy was loaded! It made him even more lethal! I wondered why he brought me here! Though I wasn’t complaining, I was curious about his plans regarding me!

I knew I could spend my life here with a loving mate, but sadly, I wasn’t granted one! 

After a satisfying meal, I needed a shower, but I had nothing to change into. I considered asking Stella if I could borrow her clothes. After a couple of minutes, Stella unlocked the door and came into my room to clear the table. 

“Thanks, it was the best meal I’ve eaten in the last twenty hours!” 

She looked surprised, but just gave me a sad smile. “I’m sorry you’re having to go through this. As far as I’ve heard about Mr. Andreadis, he’s feral, but never with women.” 

“That’s because I’m the only woman he hates in the entire world!” Stella shook her head, picking up the empty tray. 

“I don’t think so.” I wanted to ask her more, but she stopped herself from divulging more information. “Do you need anything else?” 

“Yes, please. I need a shower and clothes.” She smiled and gestured towards the closet. 

“Have you checked the closet? It’s stocked up.” My jaws dropped with surprise, having never expected this place to have anything. Stella left, locking the door after her while I took baby steps towards the closet. I opened the door and gasped at the immense collection in front of me, neatly arranged on the shelves. A burgundy soft knitted top attracted me and I picked it up to check. The price tag was still intact, and it was an expensive item! Who could they belong to? It wasn’t possible that he would buy them for me! I was his prisoner, his enemy! 

There were different shades of lingerie too, and I picked up a black one. The size perfectly matched mine! This was so embarrassing! 

The need to get out of my stinky clothes was so much, that I picked up matching knitted tights to go with my outfit. If the clothes weren’t for me, I would face the music later on. 

I dashed into the en-suite to freshen up before Felixe arrived to take me somewhere else. The bath chamber was as luxurious as my bedroom! The vanity was filled with women’s toiletries, all brand new! At that point, I envied the woman whose room this was. She might be quite close to Felixe’s heart! Why else would he splurge on her? 

I felt jealous of her! Did he love her? Maybe she was his chosen mate! After all, Felixe Andreadis was a mature wolf of thirty-two! Surely he had settled down without waiting for his fated mate! 

‘I don’t think so. I didn’t get any female scent on him!’ said Hye. 

‘Oh! Neither have I! Maybe she isn’t with him now. Still, I think this is his girlfriend’s room.’ I stripped off my dirty clothes and stepped into the shower cubicle. The lukewarm water washed away all the grime and tiredness! I didn’t want to get out! It was the most luxurious bath since the day we left our palace in Aromania. The scented body wash was too tempting to resist, and I scrubbed myself clean. It was really two weeks since I could shampoo my long, dark copper hair! 

Feeling much better, I stepped out of the shower, but before I could grab a towel, the washroom door burst open! I gasped with horror to see Felixe storm inside! He stopped in his tracks the moment he saw me! 

I was too dumbfounded to speak, watching his gaze sweep up my freshly showered dripping wet body! 

“Damn!” he muttered, his eyes deliriously dark with lust.

I came to my senses, realizing my state, and leaned over to grab a towel. I quickly covered myself and glared at the intruder. How could he invade my personal space? 

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I growled at him.

He blinked to come out of his dazed state. Then, without a word, he walked out, closing the door after him. I gaped at the closed door in confusion. The guy was so difficult to understand. Why did he barge in when he knew I was freshening up? Maybe he was angry because I borrowed his woman’s clothes! 

I dried myself, my cheeks burning in embarrassment. How would I face him again? 

‘You’re overacting Hera! He has seen you before!’ reminded Hye.

‘Yes, he did, but that was different. Right now, he just violated a basic right! How could he barge into the washroom? I couldn’t escape from the washroom, could I?’ 

‘Maybe he wanted to see you, Hera!’ My eyes widened at her words. Did Felixe really want to see me naked? Why would he? Was that why he barged into the washroom? 

In a dazed state, I wore the clothes and then gazed at my reflection. I looked drop-dead gorgeous in the fancy clothes! I wondered if Felixe would notice! Did he desire me? Then what about the other female, the one whose room this was?