Chapter 70
Chapter 70
Rhea
Over the course of staying here, in this manor, in this territory, I’ve learned one thing about Aron and that’s when he’s hiding something, or he’s nervous, he avoids me and stays out. That’s what he has been over the past couple days and I didn’t really notice that until today, until Marcella told me about his family’s arrival.
When I see him, it’s hours later, and he still tries to avoid me like I’m some kind of a plague. He tries not to even come near where my room is. That is until I go and seek him myself.
“You look nice.” He says before he keeps walking away from me, probably with the intention of disappearing into his office and locking it so I wouldn’t start rambling.
“That’s all?” I chase him down the hall. “My hair is done, too.”
He glances at me and looks at it for a moment, “It looks nice. Combed.”
With that, he continues till he reaches the doorway of his office. I slip in front of him before he goes inside and shuts it. I press my hands on the doorway, halting him from moving in, not letting him pass, even if it means using force to stop him.
“You didn’t tell me your family was coming.”
“Marcella told you, didn’t she?” He shrugs, acting all nonchalant. That only ticks me. He’s acting too careless and too calm about all this. But I know deep down it’s not the truth.
“Yes, but shouldn’t you? You haven’t spoken to me since-” I press my mouth into a thin line and stop speaking. Maybe that’s not something to remind him of the other night. The memory is enough to burn me up a bit. But that’s not something I should bring up now or mention. “Well, for a bit.”
I can still feel his fingers against me. I shudder a bit. My stomach knots and twists.
At first, I thought he was avoiding me because of that. But now I know why.
“I have been busy. Sorry about that,” He tells me.
“You’ve avoided me, more like.”
“Not really.”
“Yes, really.”
“No. Not really.”
“Yes,” I snap. “What did you tell your family about me? Marcella told me you told them nothing. If they ask me, what do you want me to say?” My brows furrow at him in confusion.
He thinks for a moment, his head turning and looking over the hall.
Then, “Don’t say anything.”
I stare.
“Don’t talk to them.” It’s hard and quick, and it has no emotion.
“What?”
1/3
4281%8
Chapter 70
“I’ll tell them what I’ll have to tell them. You don’t need to tell them anything at all, even if they question you” He continues before I manage to get a single word in. “Just ignore it. And don’t, by any chance, try to listen in something that has nothing to do with you, just to satisfy your curiosity
“I won’t,”
“Good,” he gives a nod. “They’ll be gone soon. It’s not for a long time-
“I don’t mind that.”
“What is that you are worried about then?”
“Nothing. I just wanted you to talk to me and let me know. That’s all”
“And now I have. So, I have no other issues? No other worries? Nothing is troubling you?” he asks quickly and expectantly, but he seems to be in a rush to move on as if this conversation is not on top of his list.
“No,” I speak just as quickly.
“Alright. Well, then I should–well-” He motions to the office behind him.
And now he is in a real hurry to get out, to move past me and leave the hallway. His shoulders and his posture are all stiff. The aura around him is all weird and it seems to make him a different person at the moment.
I move away from the door frame, letting him go, “Yeah, okay, sure.” My words are quiet, a whisper.
It feels a little strange, he seems a little strange himself. I wonder if there is something wrong. Something more than just his family arriving.
Shaking myself, I head away from there, down the stairs, and back to Marcella. She’s arranging the guest rooms that haven’t been used since the beginning of winter.
“Do you need help with anything?” I ask her softly. I know the question is completely odd, but it’s worth a shot to at least ask because she looks a little too busy right now. I can help at least fold the beds or set them.
“Oh, no, it won’t take long. I’m almost done here.” She looks over the bed and fluffs the pillows a bit.
“When are they going to be here?”
“Probably in an hour at best,” She glances at the clock and says before looking at me.
I stick with Marcella for most of the time. Wherever she goes, I go. Before Aron’s family comes, Kovas.comes. He heads straight up into Aron’s office, and I don’t bother following up with him this time.
By eight, his family is here. His mother, Mrs. Alena and his sister, Layla. Aron’s mother resembles a lot of his features, especially his dark hair, but also her beauty is evident in Aron, and I suppose he also inherited his cold demeanor from her.
They take in that I’m a human immediately, considering I don’t have a scent to me. But they say nothing to it.
Aron introduces me to them as his girlfriend.
I’m surprised at that.
“Nice to meet you, darling.” His mother, Alena says to me. She holds out her hand and I don’t hesitate in grasping her own. She smiles, and I smile back in response.
Layla says nothing, she only takes a look at me from top to bottom and gives a smile, but it seems forced.
All of it seems forced.
2/3
Chapter 70
17 Apr
༨.61%
They don’t look too pleased seeing a girl here in their son’s house. It is obvious. They were clearly hoping it was someone who had at least a wolf inside, but no.
At dinner, there are stares in my direction from Layla and her mom, but I act like I can’t notice it, so I look down and eat. That is what I’m best at doing anyway, so I might as well do that. Kovas is also with us on the table.
“So, you’ve never visited anywhere out of the States before, sweetheart?” His mom, Alena, suddenly asks me, directing a question that I hadn’t thought she would ask, at least not directed to me.
I shake my head, “No. Not really.”
“Where do you stay?” She asks.
“With me,” Aron speaks first. He’s beside me.
“I mean, where did you stay before?” Alena asks me again, clarifying herself. There is no mistake in her words now. I look down at the plate before looking back at Aron, who’s watching his mom intently now.
“She doesn’t like to talk much, Mom,” Aron says. He’s firm with his tone. His voice is not soft, but there’s a certain control over it. “Let’s change the subject, yes?” He’s not asking her, but he’s forcing her to change the topic now.
“Fine,” Alena shrugs, moving back to eat her food while the table remains in an uncomfortable silence. I look at the side towards Marcella and see her staring down on the ground. “Tell me about yourself, then?” Alena is not speaking to me this time but to her son, Aron.
That’s how most of the evening goes. After dinner, I head straight into my room and avoid going back down at all costs. The cold bites me as I try to fall asleep, makes me shudder. I keep on wondering what’s going on down, among them. There’s no sound that reaches me. Nothing at all. And for a moment there, I miss my wolf.
+83
