Chapter no 6-Casted out

‘Tears well up, a heart adrift,

Only your thought, a precious gift.

Though love denies, and mocks my plea,

My soul finds solace, thinking of thee,’

Amara's P O V

“She is your sister,” He said, and then he turned and walked back in. The room was dark and I could not see him.

Should I follow him in? Should I go in?

Walking into a dark room behind this man was at the top of my Not to do list.

I stood by the threshold of the door. I put my head in and peeked inside. Where did he go?

There was a silhouette of a bed, a large floor-to-ceiling window on the front wall, supposed to be emitting morning light, covered by heavy curtains. There was other furniture.

My heart skipped several beats. Is this his bedchamber? Why did Emily bring me here!

It was his personal space. Why would he want me to come in? My skin danced with excitement.

But where is he?

The lights turned on, and my heart darted out of my chest, finding him standing ever so close to me. His chest almost touched my shoulders. His face inches away from my cheek. His breath now fanned my hair.

“You will visit her, at least,” He spoke. It took me a few seconds to rewind the conversation we were having.

Get a grip, Amara!

“I won’t,” I whispered, my throat dry. He dislikes me so much that he doesn’t even want me to visit my sister once in a while.

This was a lot to give up, but I was willing for Erica’s happiness.

He left my close space. “Maybe once, twice? When she has babies. When she gets sick. When she dies of old age,”

He was now walking further in the room.

I take a deep breath. What is wrong with him? How can he say that so easily? How can he demand something like this from me?

He sits on one of the couches and takes the cup in his hand. He sips his tea.

Will I really be able to resist these events? Will I never be able to see my sister again?

Ever?

And most of all, why does he hate me so much that he does not want to risk a visit even in a hundred years?

The latter question makes its way to my mouth, souring it with its taste.

“Why do you hate me so much? What did I do?” I whispered, looking down at my feet.

The room felt eerily quiet. It was uncomfortable. As if the space has shrunk, magically, making me closer to his wrath. I hear my heart beating rapidly in my chest. I bet he can hear it too, for how silent it was there.

“…I think it is not unknown to you…that we ar-”

“Yes, we are,” He cuts me off. I look up at him. My eyes reflecting the questions I did not have the courage to ask.

Why can’t I stay?

Why can’t you want me as your mate?

Why do you want me to go?

He stands up, and walk to me, until he was in my personal space again. He takes another step but I don’t back away. He takes some of my hair that fell over my shoulder into his fingers.

Even His hand was beautiful. Long fingers, big palm, attached to a thick veiny arm. It made me sigh out a huff of air.

“This is a peculiar shade for red,” He said thoughtfully about my hair. Such important discussion I was trying to have with him and this is what he wants to talk about. The shade of my hair?

“Like a city burning,” He whispers.

My skin heats up. He was so close. I could wrap my hands around him, hold his neck. My eyes fall to his lips. I could kiss him.

I bite my inner cheek to stop myself.

Get a grip, Amara!

“And I don’t hate you,” He said, his warm breath fanning my cheek. , “…I, don’t want a woman around me. Women are feeble-minded and inept. I am the Lycan king, I cannot be associated with something so…weak,” He left my hair as if he was disgusted by it, and not admiring the shade just a minute ago.

It takes time for his words to make sense. For his words to register. Even though they were clear and smooth.

Hell with getting a grip. As if cold water was splashed on my body, I jerk back.

White hot rage takes over every sense I have left. He is one of those. Of course he is. What else could I expect from my fate than the absolute worst?

He thinks we are weak. We are a liability. Something to tarnish his oh-so-godly name and rank among the mere beings, beneath him.

I laugh a crazy laugh. “You are so Pathetic…You will break just from my presence. Scared that if I visit Erica, you will be so disheveled, your people would believe you don’t deserve the title of The Lycan king,” I spat at his face. His eyes flare up, and his hands tighten by his sides as he straightens his back, standing over me like a bloody tower.

“Terrified that something so weak can crumble you,” My eyes mirror the rage brewing in his. If I were a sane woman, I would have backed away. Hell, I even would have begged him to spare me. But too bad I wasn’t.

“I would gladly not be with a man like you. I reject y-”

I was snatched from the ground I was standing on and pushed into a wall. A large hand clasped my face, so tight my first thought was the snapping of my jaw if this pressure increased.

“I will kill you,”

He growled. My hands raised to push him back, but he was quick enough to pin both my wrists above my head.

“I will kill you myself this time if you utter another single word,”

His hand muffling any voice I had left in my throat. Any cry for help. His nose touched mine as he spoke, daring me to look anywhere but into his eyes.

My heart was shattered all over again. A slow, agonising, unraveling of my sense of self.

Tears stung my eyes. I didn’t allow myself the relief of crying. They won’t fall, not in front of him.

I blink. His eyes soften. Just for a moment, his features eased, the eyebrows framing the eyes in a gentle arch.

And whoosh!

It was all gone.

“I don’t want you here! I don’t want any reason that would bring you back. But since you insist so politely. I would let your sister stay,”

He left my mouth and took two steps back.

“You!” He said, “would leave today. As early as possible And you will never return,”

His words sting. I pushed back a sob and tightened all my muscles, urging them to stop shaking. My spine steel, my head held high. Even a breath too deep would crumble my exterior. I cannot let that happen.

He turns his back to me.

“It is for your own good, Amara , ”

My name slips smoothly from his lips and settles between us like a rough scratch.

He didn’t want to reject me. He didn’t want me to reject him. He didn’t want me to stay nor he want me to come back.

I walk towards the door. From the darkness to light. But it all seemed the same to me now. From his bed chambers to the hallway and away from all this. I met this man yesterday. He was given the power over me the moment we met, and I was given the power over him. But I was weak; his hold was much stronger.

I met him yesterday and he was given the power to break my heart. To hollow me inside. To snatch away the light to my life.

And Despite all this, all he said and done, the insane part in me wanted him to stop me.

Please stop me!

Please!

Don’t let me go!

I don’t want to be alone!

Stop me!

I cannot be alone forever!

And the door slammed behind me. I thought the tears would spill now. But they didn’t. I felt nothing.

Head high, spine steel, I walk down the hall, find the stairs, and I was at the double doors to the lawn, surprised how I made it here without so much as putting a thought to it.

Erica stood in front of me, smiling sadly, expecting bad news. “You can stay,” I told her. Her eyes widened before she squealed and hugged me.

I embrace her as tightly as I can. I thought the tears would spill now, but they didn’t.

“But he said I can’t stay,” I whispered. She tensed in my arms and let go of me.

“But Amara -,”

“It is non-negotiable, Erica. I cannot stay here. I have no reason to,” I smiled at her, holding her chin.

“How can he do that? Why are you listening to him!” She demanded.

“He is the Lycan king Erica,” I laughed. A sad laugh. It was enough reason.

“Don’t ever let Damien scare you from now on. Stand your ground. You are the most powerful woman here now,” I kissed her forehead. She was the mate to the beta. Damien had no mate. Well, he had, but she is leaving.

No tears fell.

“Goodbye,” I whispered.