Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Emilia’s POV

My heart skipped a beat when I saw Nivaan walk in through the glass door. Drawing in a deep breath, I let his scent wash over me. I had never realized it before but his smell was alluring. My wolf swooned at the thought of being with this handsome man.

Nivaan was dressed in a crumpled shirt and trousers as usual but my way of looking at him had changed. I could see the sturdy muscles under that fabric. My face flushed as she imagined herself wrapped around his torso.

A small smile crept on my lips. He was soon going to be mine. I had reserved the entire café for the day and the security guard would ensure that no one else came inside.

I tried my best to behave sweetly as I led him to the table. He asked me about rejection the moment he sat down. Why was he so eager to reject me? Was I that bad? Tears stung my eyes at his eagerness to reject me. I had to almost beg him to convince him to have a drink with me.

Drawing in a deep breath, I got to my feet and trotted up to the bar. Taking the glass from the bartender's hand, I beckoned him to leave. Once he was out of sight, I poured the contents of a tiny vial into the glass.

I swirled the glass as I walked back to Nivaan. His expression was so cold and blank as if my presence didn’t affect him at all. My eyes lit up with grim determination as I handed the glass to Nivaan. Everything was about to change tonight.

“Where is your glass?” Nivaan asked abruptly, pulling me out of my thoughts.

The color drained from my face and I got all flustered, “I… I think I left it at the counter….” Scrambling to my feet, I rushed back to the counter. I was tempted to pick an empty goblet and return but Nivaan would probably understand that.

“How the hell can a blind man have so keen senses,” I muttered under my breath as I poured the contents of a random bottle into a glass.

My heart jumped to my mouth when I realized that Nivaan hadn’t touched the drink yet. Gulping the lump that had formed in my throat, I asked in a shaking voice, “Why haven’t you started drinking yet?”

Nivaan raised his eyebrows and stated, “I thought you wanted to drink with me….”

“Ummm… yeah…” I muttered as I almost stumbled over my chair. I blew out the breath I was holding and focused on calming myself down. If I continued like this my game would be over even before it began.

I sat down calmly on the chair and clanked my glass against his, “I wanted to thank you for saving my life.”

Nivaan raised the glass to his lips but he stopped halfway. “You seem very nervous today…. Is everything alright?” Nivaan asked in a bit concerned voice.

I ran the tip of her tongue over my mouth. I just couldn’t come up with a reply. I had lied hundreds of times but today something was different. Nivaan’s presence had put me on the edge. I wanted this to work out so badly that I was making mistakes.

“You don’t have to worry about… what did you call him… yes, Devil. He won’t bother you again….” His voice was firm yet reassuring. My heart fluttered at the underlying concern. It felt like a good idea to fan that concern.

I pretended to shudder and said in a low voice, “I am glad to hear that… Maybe, I can sleep well now…”

My heart hammered against her chest as I caught a glimpse of Nivaan taking the first sip of his drink. His eyebrows furrowed but he didn’t say anything. He gulped down the contents of the glass in a single gulp.

Placing the glass on the table with the clank, he said in a cold voice, “Now, let us get on with this. Say those words so that I can be gone….”

“Can I finish my drink first?” I asked in a meek voice. I could sense his irritation through our bond. He didn’t look like he would wait a moment longer.

Exhaling forcefully, he finally nodded. He was seated on the edge of the chair as if he would bolt the moment she rejected him.

Sipping my drink slowly, I signaled the bartender. He nodded and soon the shutters of the bar dropped; concealing it from everyone’s views.

Nivaan’s eyebrows furrowed as he said, “What was that s….”

“Nothing,” I replied a bit too quickly. This made Nivaan even more suspicious. He got to his feet and walked in the direction of the entrance. His stick clanked against the shutters. His face flushed in anger and he scrambled forward.

“What is the meaning of this, Emilia!?” His deep voice echoed in the empty room sending a shudder down my spine.

A growl escaped his lips as he grappled against the shutter to open it up. It crankled under his shoves but didn’t open. He was about to shift but his head started feeling heavy.

Stars dazzled in front of his eyes and his body went limp. With a soft groan, he slid to the floor. He buried his head in his hands.

Panic rose within me when I saw Nivaan drop to the ground. I didn’t want to hurt him. My intention was just to make him mine.

The glass in my hand dropped to the floor with a crash as I rushed towards him. Kneeling in front of him, I asked in a worried voice, “Are you alright, Nivaan?”

He lifted his head and looked in front of him with a blank expression. His hand lifted and his fingertips brushed over my face as he whispered, “Valence…”

The drug had started taking its effect. A soft moan escaped my lips as he pulled me into a tight hug. He patted my back saying in a pained voice, “Do you have any idea how much I missed you? Don’t leave me again, ever….”

I was stunned to hear him call me by another name. Not knowing what else to do, I let him hold me…

"Why did you leave me alone, Vally? Why did you leave me alone?" Nivaan kept muttering as he buried his head in my shoulders.

I could sense his pain and despair through our bond. It was so intense that my heart ached to comfort him. I couldn't help but pull him into a tighter hug.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I was hit by waves of his emotions. I had never felt anything like it. The congestion in my chest increased and I was filled with a craving to take away his pain. I wanted to replace all his painful memories with blissful ones.

Pulling away slightly, I cupped his face. My breath hitched and her heart fluttered as I brought her lips close to his. Before I could kiss him, Nivaan almost attacked me. He wrapped his hand in my hair and claimed my lips. At first, his lips moved softly but soon it became urgent and unbridled.

My hands fumbled against his shirt as I tried to take it off. Nivaan's lips lifted in a smirk as he pulled away. A moan escaped his lips and he muttered, "You are going to be the death of me."

He ripped off the buttons and peeled off his shirt before lowering his head to kiss her. Emilia's face lit up as she deepened the kiss.

Nivaan's fingers slid down my cheeks, all the way down the shoulders sending delightful shivers through me. A soft moan escaped my lips and I leaned into his touch.

His hands faltered near the hem of my neckline and he slid it down. He ran his thumb over the sensitive skin near my collar bone. My breath got caught in my throat when I realized what he was about to do. For a split second, I panicked. I wanted him to make love to me but I wasn’t sure about him marking me.

I never got an opportunity to resist. A growl escaped his lips and his sharp teeth pierced through my skin. My nails dug into his shoulders as I screamed out.

The pain was soon replaced by ecstasy as his thoughts flooded my mind. My face flushed as I perceived all the things that he wanted to do to me. I moaned with need and pulled him closer. Soon, I was drowning in the sea of sweet passion.

***

The soft rays of the sun streaming through the window fell on my face. I groaned and turned only to come into contact with a muscular wall. My eyes snapped open and I sat up straight. The color drained from My face as I took in Nivaan's sleeping form.

My heart started hammering against my ribs in anticipation. Last night was pure bliss... until... until... he addressed me by the name 'Valence.'

He had made love to me in a drugged state. At first, I was so sure that Jenna's plan would work but now; I didn’t even know what to think. He probably assumed me to be his long-lost love.

I picked up her dress lying on the floor and pulled it over my head hastily. Using the glass door of the cabinet as a mirror, I adjusted my clothes.

My eyes landed on the spot, he had marked her. I brushed my fingers over it causing the tender skin to tingle. My eyes darted to Nivaan. It seemed unlikely that he would acknowledge me as his mate once he woke up. I had sensed his love for Valence. He would be beyond furious when the realization sets in.

A deep, suffering sigh escaped my lips. I should probably leave before he wakes up. He might calm down if I am not around. Maybe then, he would change his mind...

My hands shook slightly as I punched the code that unlocked the shutters. A deep sigh escaped my lips as the shutters whirred open with a clattering noise. It didn’t feel right to leave him like this but I had no choice. My presence would only enrage him further.

I was about to step outside when my way was blocked by a strong arm. A gasp escaped my lips as she looked up; startled at the sudden confrontation.

"Where the hell do you think you are going, Emilia?" Nivaan's dangerously low voice sent a shudder down my spine.

His furious expression caused my entire body to get covered with goosebumps and my heart…my heart was beating so loudly that I felt it would jump out any moment. He pressed me against the wall and placed his hands on either side, effectively cornering me.

My lips trembled as I tried to stutter, "I am sorry... I didn't mean to..."

"You didn't mean to what, Emilia!?" He roared. "Do you have any idea how deeply you have hurt me? You made me fall in my own eyes. Do you have any idea what Valence means to me?" He snorted and shook his head before adding, “How can YOU understand? You can’t think of anyone except yourself!”

Punching the wall, he continued, "I hate myself for trusting you. I should have rejected you the moment, I saw you!"

His fingers brushed against the marks of his teeth just above my collar bone. His expression darkened and his jaws clenched together. "You know what, I am glad that I marked you...."

My eyebrows furrowed as I looked at him in confusion. Did that mean, he was willing to give our relationship a chance. I couldn't stop her heart from fluttering in response. But, the next words dripped into my ears like acid, "Now, you will feel the pain with full intensity when I reject you...."

A gasp escaped my lips and I begged, "Nivaan.... please give me a chance to explain...."

His expression turned frosty and he said in a cold voice, "I, Nivaan Lovelock, The Alpha of Rustic Pack reject you as my mate...."

A whimper escaped my lips as the crushing pain of the broken bond seared through me. My knees buckled and I dropped to the ground. A bone-chilling scream escaped my lips as the agony radiated all over my body. It was as if every single pore in her body was crying.

I knew that the pain would vanish if I accepted his rejection. But, my lips wouldn't move. I just couldn't bring myself to speak those words...