Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Ariana's POV

I slowly turned to face him, if my expression was any indication of what I felt, It would be showing how amazed I am, "a witch" he had said, I could feel the laughter bubbled out from deep within me, I couldn't stop it neither do I even wished to, I laughed until tears rolled down my cheeks, I placed the back of my hand on his forehead and he batted my hands away, "what do you think you're doing?"

I was almost hysterical with laughter "you don't seem to be running temperature, what kind of sick joke is this?

He grabbed my shoulders and shook me so hard that my teeth jammed against each other, "this is not a joke Ariana, why don't you believe me?"

I pushed him violently away from me, "believe you? Why should I believe you, huh? Tell me" he opened his mouth as if to say something but I stopped him with a raise of my hand, I don't want to hear anything more from him, "why are you doing this? What game are you playing and what is it that you will gain from this?

"Aria....."

"Shhhhh, please Mr. Eric, I don't want to hear anything more and I will beg you to never bring up my mother again" with that parting shot, I stomped off, angry beyond words, how could he say such nonsense to me? "A witch" I scoffed, be must be out of his mind.

Eric's POV

"You're running from the truth but it remains unchanged" I whispered as I watched her walk away, she doesn't want to accept who she was, I would have to prove it to her, I won't let her run away from her identity, sooner or later, she would have to face who she really was. It was time I put my plan B into action.

Dylan's POV

I paced my office wondering where Ariana had gone, she was supposed to have brought my coffee and be ready for what other bidding I would want her to do, I felt a trace of annoyance and I frowned at my eagerness to have her near me, was I getting annoyed because she wasn't here with the coffee or because she wasn't bodily present, I could feel my wolf's impatience too, it had finally settled on just being contented with having her near since I had refused to acknowledge her as my mate let alone mark her as mine but what I couldn't fathom was alongside my wolf, why was I also eager to have her near me? My Telecom buzzed and I picked on the second ring, "Sir, a lady called Myla is here and is insisting on seeing you right away"

I gritted my teeth, Myla, I had totally forgotten about her and my promise to take her on a date, I knew I wouldn't be able to avoid her for long, I might as well see her now, "let her in" in a jiffy, a knock sounded on my door and she entered, I eyed her warily as I sat down, "ain't you a promise-breaker" she said as soon as she walked in, "an alpha is known for his word, you gave me your word and you're backing out?"

"I wasn't backing out okay, I remembered what I promised you very well" there was a tinge of irritation in my voice as I replied to her but I didn't care, I felt irritated anyways, she must have sensed my mood because she raised a brow and her gaze grew suspicious, "what's eating you?"

"None of your business, as for the date, let's make it tonight by 7 pm"

I watched her expression grow smug and self-satisfied and I bit back the retort on my lip, "alright, that said, I have to go and get ready" she stood up and moved to the door but paused in the doorway and turned towards me, "what now?" I bit out in annoyance, she snapped her fingers as if she just recollected something, "I just have to notify you to come alone, it's our date, slaves are not allowed" that said she walked out, almost bumping into Ariana who was just coming in, her eyes cascading down the length of Ariana in a hostile glare before she left, I stood up from where I was sitting and walked towards Ariana, "where the hell have you been?" She glanced at me and I frowned, her eyes were swollen as if she had been crying, I softened my tone as I was suddenly filled with concern, "what's the matter? Have you been crying?" She shook her head but didn't utter a word, going to my desk, she quietly placed the cup of coffee, I grabbed her and swung her around to face me, "let me ask again, why is your face puffy like you've been crying?"

"Why are you being excessively concerned about me?" Her question left my mouth hanging open, yeah, why was I acting concerned at all? "I'm just asking like any master would ask his servant" I retorted as I went back to my seat, feeling irritated for no good reason, I saw the hurt look in her eyes at my response and I felt like reaching out to comfort her, I formed a fist instead and did my possible best to ignore her, "you don't need to wait for me after work today, you should leave early, I have somewhere to be, still she said nothing and I waved my hand in dismissal, she quietly walked out the door and I frowned, what's up with her today? She looked so forlorn and downcast and I found myself wishing I could take away all the sadness she was feeling, "seems like your mate is in no good mood today Lien" I whispered to my wolf and I felt it growled in anger, "she was looking so sad and you just let her leave" Lien whined and I snorted, "what would you want me to do? I don't even know the reason for her sadness"

"Yeah right! As if you bothered to ask" Lien scoffed and I almost rolled my eyes at him, he could be overly dramatic sometimes, " let's just finish our work, we have a date with our former mate later today remember?" I laughed as he growled in annoyance, "that makes two of us Lien, but we gave our word" my mind wandered back to Ariana and I wondered what would be her reaction when she finds out that I am not at all human, I'm an alpha werewolf, if I am to accept her, I would have to tell her about my identity, would she like to have a werewolf for a husband? I shook my head disgusted with myself at my thoughts, I am really losing it, I am aware of the fact that she's gradually crawling under my skin, she was gradually making her way into my heart.