Chapter 40
“You can’t leave. You won’t.” With a low and dangerous voice, Zeke spoke his words, leaving an ominous feeling in the room. Slowly, he rises from his seat and silently moves around his desk until he is standing directly behind me. “We’re True Mates, Maya. We’re meant to be together”
“True Mates?” I scoffed, my voice laced with bitterness. “You rejected me, Zeke. You made it perfectly clear that you didn’t want me And now you expect me to stay?”
“I made a mistake,” His voice cracked with emotion as he struggled to find the right words, his sincerity shining through. I could feel the weight of his stare piercing into my soul, desperately seeking comprehension. “But that doesn’t change the fact that we belong together. You can’t just walk away from that.”
Heavy with the weight of our shared history and intertwined destinies, his words lingered in the air. Inside me, emotions swirled like a tumultuous whirlwind, tearing at my heart and creating a storm of confusion in my mind. How could he have the audacity to stand there and speak of belonging together, considering everything that had transpired between us?
I could feel the intense heat of anger building up within me, ready to unleash its destructive force.
“You don’t get to decide that! With fury coursing through me, I spat forcefully, my hands shaking uncontrollably: With a swift movement, I spin around to face him, my hands forcefully striking his chest, my screams piercing the air. It took me by surprise when tears began to trickle down my cheeks, catching me unaware of my own emotions. “You don’t get to reject me and then expect me to stay! Zeke, I should be treated better than this, I should be with someone who genuinely loves and accepts me, rather than someone who treats me like a mere belonging!”
With a softened expression, Zeke’s remorseful eyes met mine as he extended his hand to touch mine. With a firm grip, he seized my hand, bringing my attack to an abrupt halt. As he gently wiped away my tears, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of resentment and longing for the way his touch still affected me, even after all that had happened.
“Maya, I know I furt you,” Murmuring, his voice cared a heavy burden of regret. As he brought my knuckles to his lips, I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin. “And for that, I am truly sorry. But please, don’t let my mistakes define us. We have something special, something rare and beautiful. We can’t just throw it all away. And I love you, I still do, just as much as the day we first met. I acted like a complete idiot Please, don’t leave-”
Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I struggled to process his words. Part of me longed to believe him, to give in to the hope that maybe, just maybe, we could find a way to overcome the pain and rebuild what we had lost. But another part of me, a part that had been wounded and scarred by his betrayal, recoiled at the mere thought of trusting him again.
“You can’t do this,” I grumble, my voice barely a whisper as I fought to keep my emotions in check. “I don’t know if I can ever trust you again, Zeke. You tore my heart apart, and I don’t know if it will ever fully heal. Rejecting me one moment and then wanting me again is not fair. That’s not how this
Zeke’s expression crumpled, his eyes filled with anguish as he realized the depth of the pain he had caused me.
“I understand,” he said, his voice barely audible above the tumultuous storm of emotions raging inside me. “I understand if you can’t forgive me. But please, Maya, don’t give up on us. Don’t give up on what we could be.”
“I need time, Zeke,” I whispered, my voice breaking with the weight of my words. “Time to heal, time to find myself again. And I can’t do that if I stay here, surrounded by memories of what we once were. Besides, what about Nadia? So, you think I’m going to be your little secret once again, huh?”
“Don’t worry about Nadial His voice, filled with intense emotion, erupted in a strained shout that pierced the silence. “It’s not like leven wanted to be arranged to be mated to her!”
The weight of his words shattered the fragile peace, unearthing buried pain and reopening old wounds. Nadia, my best friend and the one who had come between us, was the one chosen for Zeke instead of me. Her name alone had the power to trigger a storm of bitterness, a painful reminder of the countless things that had gone awry between us!
“What was it even about her, Zeke?” Filled with anger and hurt, I demanded, my voice shaking as i spoke. “What did she have that I didn’t?”
With a pained expression on his face, Zeke paused, his eyes darting around as he searched for the perfect words.
“It’s… it’s not like that, Maya,” he finally admitted, his voice barely a whisper. “Can we not talk about her? It’s too hard to f**g explain-
Turning away, a heavy feeling of disappointment and frustration settled in my heart. My expectation was for him to open up and share the truth, allowing us to understand what had caused our rift. However, his continued silence only intensified my inner struggle with insecurities and doubts.
Just as I was about to leave, Zéke surprised me by wrapping his arms around me from behind, pulling me into a comforting and secure embrace. I could feel his body trembling with uncontrollable s o b s, his tears leaving damp patches on my shirt as he sought solace by burying his face in my hair. Despite everything he had done, the pain and heartache stirred within me, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him.
After everything he had put me through, how could he expect me to stay? How could he expect me to forgive him when he didn’t even have the decency to give me an explanation, leaving me feeling betrayed?
“Please, Maya,” Zeke whispered, his voice m e d against my shoulder. “Don’t leave me. I can’t bear the thought of losing you. Not again, Please” Ireluctantly untangled myself from Zeke’s arms, my heart weighed down with sorrow, and slowly turned to meet his gaze.
“I’m sorry, Zeke,” I whispered, my voice barely audible above the sound of my own heartbeat. “But I can’t stay. Not after everything that’s happened between us.
In that moment, Zeke’s eyes widened in disbelief, his face contorted with a desperate and despairing expression.
“Please, Maya,” he pleaded, reaching out to grasp my hand. “Give me another chance, I promise I’ll make things right this time.”
I desperately wanted to trust him, but the lingering sting of his betrayal made it impossible for me to ignore the pain and hurt he had brought into my life. I couldn’t bear to give up my own happiness for someone who had already demonstrated their undeservingness of my love.
“No, Zeke. I’m leaving.”
Zeke’s abrupt change in demeanor catches me off guard, making me wonder what could have caused such a shift
In one moment, his desperate pleas begged me to stay, his voice filled with longing, and in the next, he pulled me into a passionate kiss. Shock and a strong sense of resistance flood over me as my initial reaction. I struggle to break free, but Zeke’s hands firmly hold my face, his kisses demanding and unyielding.
His kiss is filled with a roughness that borders on desperation, leaving a lingering sense of longing in the air. Try as i might, I cannot escape the overwhelming wave of conflicting emotions crashing over me. The sensation of his lips against mine sends a jolt of electricity through my body, igniting a fire that I thought had long been extinguished.
With every deepening of the kiss, Zeke’s teeth softly brush against my lips, causing a thrilling sensation that sends shivers down my spine. I can feel the intensity of our connection, the undeniable pull that draws us together despite everything that has transpired between us. It feels like an invisible force is pulling us together, like two magnets locked in an unbreakable embrace,
The kiss takes hold of me, overpowering my senses and immersing me in a world of untamed emotions that we share. But then, a voice in the back of my mind reminds me of the piercing words and shattered trust that Zeke has inflicted upon me. The memory of his betrayal resurfaces, like a dark cloud overshadowing the moment and serving as a stark reminder of our harsh reality.
A surge of determination rushes through me, and I use all my strength to push Zeke away, finally breaking free.
“Stop!” I gasp, my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and disbelief “Stop, Zeke. This changes nothing!”
As Zeke looks at me, I can see a complex blend of remorse and desire in his eyes, as if they are silently expressing what words cannot.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, his voice barely audible above the pounding of my heart. “I’m sorry for everything”
Unable to articulate the storm of emotions browing inside me, I simply shake my head in disbelief
“it’s too late for apologies,” My voice, filled with overwhelming emotion, trembled as I spoke. Shaking my head, I hug myself tightly and take a step back, creating distance between us. “Too late foregrets.”
Zeke’s hand trembles as he reaches out to me, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. As I shake my head, I can feel myself mustering tha strength to distance myself from him with each deliberate step.
Just as I’m about to leave his office, Zeke unleashes his commanding Alpha Voice, causing i authority, the kind that an Alpha would employ to compel his followers to heed his every word.
entire room to tremble, it was a voice that exuded
“You’re not going anywhere, Maya,” he says, his voice laced with authority. “You belong here, with me, in Thomholde”
Standing frozen in place, my heart races in my chest, pounding so loudly that I can hear it in my ears. The sound of Zeke’s authoritation voice fills the room, causing a tingling sensation to run down my spine. When he speaks with his Alpha Voice, it feels like thunder rolling through my ears, evoking a mix of fear and anticipation.
The compulsion to obey his order is strong, but I push back, determined to defy him and sever all ties with him forever. I try with all my might, but I am unable to break free from his grasp, feeling as iftam moted to the spot.
Zeke’s intense gaze locked onto mine, refusing to waver as he closed the distance between us, his presence casting a looming shadow ov
Swallowing hard, I feel my throat tighten and become parched.
“I can’t stay here, Zeke,” I say, my voice barely a whisper as I try to summon the courage to defy him. “I need to leave, to find my own way”
A steely determination overtakes Zeke, his jaw set firmly in place.
“You don’t get to make that decision, Maya,” he says, his voice cold and unforgiving “I’m the Alpha. I’m your True Mate! And I say you stay.”
The impact of his words was like a sudden blow to my stomach, knocking the wind out of me and leaving me struggling to catch my breath. I had always been aware of Zeke’s ability to command others with the Alpha’s Voice, but I never fathomed that he would employ it to manipulate me in this manner.
Frustration and despair mingle in my eyes, threatening to spill over in a torrent of tears.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
“You can’t do this to me, Zeke,” I plead, my voice trembling with emotion. “You can’t force me
stay against my will.”
“I just did.”
As Zeke locks eyes with me, his stoic expression sends a chill down my spine, leaving me at a loss for words.
“I’m doing what’s best for you, Maya,” he says, his voice softening slightly as he reaches out to me. “You may not see it now, but staying here is the right
choice.”