She Won't Even Look At Me

~ Adrain ~

I woke up with my head pounding severely.

I closed my eyes, trying to remember the event of the previous day.

I recalled them one after the other.

Charlotte was attacked by some red-haired girl whose identity still remained unknown to me. Though she confirmed she knew her.

But how?

I sprang up from the bed, recalling she had a cut on her palm while trying to save herself.

I took my phone from the bedside table and scrolled through, searching for her number.

Shit! I didn’t have her contact; we communicated through letters just as she requested.

I climbed down from my bed and headed to the bathroom when I felt a heavier bang on my head.

I walked back to my bed and sat down.

“My goodness,” I exclaimed.

The incident of last night slammed into me. And I clenched my fist.

What did I just do?

Tried to be intimate with Emilia and even mistook her for Charlotte, mentioning Charlotte's name at that point.

Emilia's face played on my head.

Though I was drunk, I could recall how teary her eyes were when she ordered me out of her room.

She was visibly hurt at the mention of Charlotte's name.

Her face had lit up when I touched her, and she wanted more, more of my touch.

How would I even face her now?

I sighed and headed to the bathroom to wash myself up.

After dressing up, I left my room for Emilia's to check on her. But I noticed something unusual when I walked through the corridors.

No servant nor guard was on site at the Alpha's quarters.

I ignored it and headed to Emilia's room.

I tapped gently on her door and didn’t wait for any response before walking in.

When I entered, she was in the mirror, fixing her hair.

She didn’t say a word when she turned and saw me but faced back in the mirror and continued fixing her hair.

I cleared my throat to get her attention, but she remained still like I wasn’t there.

“What's up, Emy?" I decided to speak first.

She nodded her head without saying a word.

“When I was walking to your room, I noticed the servants and guards weren't in sight. Do you have any idea of where they could be?” I asked, trying to get her attention.

She shook her head, signalling she didn’t know.

“Are you going to keep ignoring me, Emilia? "I walked over to her dresser.

"Adrian, this is a fake marriage, remember. We shouldn’t even be that close to each other or even in talking terms.” She stuttered and turned back to the mirror.

I leaned back and closed my eyes. Then opened it after seconds of allowing her words to sink in.

She was right; this was just a fake marriage. No intimacy, no bonding. Just for paper's sake and for the sake of my pack.

I reminded myself she will be leaving in some weeks' time after the one-month contract expires.

I had to remind myself that this marriage was because of the safety of the pack. I had planned on rejecting the bond as soon as I found out we were mates. But the curse.

Yeah, just the curse.

“Yeah, it's a fake marriage, but still a marriage, right? I can still ask about your well-being as long as we live under the same roof," I said.

She hissed and went to sit on her bed.

“Just let me be, Adrain. I have things to do.”

I looked at her for a while but couldn't bring myself to apologise.

I wanted to tell her how sorry I am for what happened last night. For mentioning Charlotte's name while wanting to kiss her.

But I couldn’t. I, Alpha Adrain, recognise no weakness in my person.

I never apologised to any being except Charlotte and wouldn’t start now.

I glanced at Emilia again, and the look was there. She had expected at least an apology from me, but unfortunately it isn’t forthcoming.

“You can leave if you don’t have any important thing to say." She pointed towards the door and lay on her bed.

I watched her as she pulled out a folded paper from underneath her pillow.

She glanced at me before unfolding the paper.

I gasped when I saw the paper.

It was the moonlight drawing but wasn’t fully painted.

How did Emilia get that?

And why the hell does she even like the drawing of all things?

But the drawing and its painting look new; it isn’t old and weary like others look.

Maybe it was kept in a safer place, but where could she have found it?

“The drawing, Emilia. I have told you to take your mind off it."

She looked at me, then looked away and caressed the drawing.

“Where did you get this one, Emilia? It looks new." I enquired.

“I told you…"

“Alpha Adrain, you are needed; it's urgent." Ivy’s voice cut in from outside the room.

Emilia and I glanced at each other in shock.

“Come in, Ivy," I called out.

She pushed the door open and entered.

“Alpha, the second in command of the general commander of the guards, is sick and in a critical condition. And your presence is needed." She bowed.

My gaze turned to Emilia, and she stared at me in confusion.

"I'll be back, Emilia.” I said and headed to the door.