Chapter 35

Nan’s POV

I want Lionel back by my side.

David stayed true to his word for once. I did not see his face again. But my ego is still a little stung.

I decide to return to my place on the outskirts of the party. But David’s reaction gnawed at me. His entire attitude changed the moment he noticed my necklace.

I subconsciously put my hand over it. Lightly running my fingertips along the smooth surface of the diamond. Thoughtfully staring into space.

I try to let it go. But I can’t. His words will not disappear from my head.

‘Do you have any idea what this is? What the value is? Of course you don’t.’

My doubts only increase as I review the whole interaction repeatedly. David’s 180 change. His surety that he knew something I didn’t.

Lionel’s indulging smile when he named the price…I do not want to believe that Lionel has lied to me. But the more I consider it, the more I can’t help but think it.

David had lied about everything before he broke up with me. It made me feel insane. I could no longer tolerate being lied too.

It may seem like a small, stupid thing to be upset about. But I had come to trust Lionel. I do not trust easily.

Not when everyone had let me down.

All those little disappointments I had experienced with Lionel had been my own raised hopes. Most of my upset had stimmed from my own expectations and hopes I had put on him

‘Lionel never actually promised me anything about a relationship,’ I acknowledge to myself. ‘We may be attracted to each other, but he did not actually make any commitments.’

Despite that, Lionel had shown himself to be steady and constant. He was always honest and tried to keep his words. He had never directly let me down before.

The idea that he might lie to me at all…especially over something so small…What if he lied over something important?

The thought is heart wrenching to me. I cannot take the idea of betrayal from Lionel. I just can’t.

I shake my head. ‘No, I trust Lionel. I will not take the word of someone else over his.’

When I do spot Lionel, I am relieved. This ugly night can be over. But something is off.

His face is carved into marble. Cold and hard. He does not meet my eyes.

“Lionel, what’s wrong?” I ask.

“We are leaving, right now.” He growls.

He grabs my arm with more force than I expect. Not bruising like David’s, but not gentle like before. Leading me to the car.

The entire ride home is quiet. So tense, waiting to pop. I can tell by the white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel that something has angered him.

I am at a loss for words. And he does not seem inclined to speak. It is only when he takes me up to his office that something changes.

He locks the door. I abruptly recall that this is the only room in the mansion that is as sound proofed as it could get for an alpha with superior senses. I do not have a good feeling about this.

He turns. Then is right in front of me. His eyes are as dark as coal right now.

I want to know what has made him so unbalanced. “Lionel, what’s wrong?” I ask softly.

That is a big mistake. He absolutely loses it. He whips out his phone and shoves it in my face forcefully.

“Why the hell would you give the gift I picked out for your birthday to your ex-boyfriend? Who does that?” He nearly roars at me.

My ears are ringing a little. The strength and volume of his anger is something I do not think I have seen. Not like this.

His words make no sense to me. What the hell is he talking about? I did not give away my necklace.

I peer closer at the picture. Its…David and me. The camera person has made it look intimate.

It does look like I am giving my necklace to David. None of the fear and anger I’d been feeling showed. We do look like two lovers.

I am shocked. And horrified. I don’t know why someone would do this.

And paint the situation in such a way. “I-that’s not what-” My confusion makes my tongue clumsy.

Lionel is still incensed. “What made you think that doing this was okay? That this is acceptable?”

His anger begins to make sense. The picture does appear incriminating. From an outside perspective, I can see how he might come to this conclusion.

If I thought Lionel had given a gift that I had got for him to someone else…especially a romantic love interest… yes, his anger began to make more sense.

I say, “Wait, this is not what it looks like. Let me explain.”

“Explain how you waited until I left to slip away to your lover? The ex-boyfriend who cheated on you? The only thing you need to explain is your shit taste.”

My nostrils flare at the same time my temper does. I fight to keep my voice even. “He is not my lover, he followed me-”

He cuts in. “Like that make it much better. The result is the same-”

“-I did not ask or encourage him. We just saw each other, and he started walking towards me. I did not want to talk to him-”

“Yet this picture says differently! I don’t see you trying to get away right here. In fact, you look like-”

I ignore his petulance and speak louder. “But he boxed me in. Then he started acting weird about the necklace, trying to yank it off-”

“If that’s the case, you should have called me! We both had our phones! Not gone off into a secluded area with your ex-boyfriend!”

I wince. “I was just trying to get away! I didn’t think-I just handed the necklace over because-”

I stop. Remember that I have an ace up my sleeve to prove my innocence. “Besides, how could I have given it to him if I’m still wearing-”

He got in my face then. From here I could see little flickers of gold as his inner wolf emerged. “You did not want his attention, but you were alone long enough for a picture to be taken and sent to me?”

Something about the way he worded that sent a jolt of unpleasant realization through me. My point about still having my necklace is forgotten. A new, ugly thought presents itself.

My confusion faded into anger. “Did you send someone to spy on me?!” I demanded.

All this outrage at my imagined affair and lectures on ‘acceptable’ behavior, yet he violates my boundaries without thought. Why should I have to defend myself against an incorrect accusation when he has done worse? Having me spied on…it means all the trust and friendship between us is a lie.

‘Has someone always been watching me? Had Lionel ever trusted me?’ I think helplessly.

Lionel scoffs. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Me? You’re the one spying on me! That’s what is unacceptable here!”

“Don’t turn this around on me! Why would I send someone to spy-” He growls out.

“Then who would have done this Lionel?! Why would someone take a picture out of context-” I scream.

It devolves from there. Accusations are thrown back and forth like rocks. Some part of me is aware that this has strayed from the original argument and gotten way out of hand.

At the same time, neither of us seems capable of stopping. We just keep going. Neither one backing down.

I am too enflamed to think rationally at that moment. I’ve gotten in his face too now. I can see the way his jaw clenches and the hint of fangs peeking though his lips.

It does not frighten me. It is a sign of him losing control. It means I am winning.

A thrill shoots through me. The world could be burning but I all I would see is proof that I make him just as vexed as he does me. It’s addicting.

I am determined to have the last word. I shout hoarsely, “Even if something did happen, it would be absolutely none of your business!”

I see the last of his control snap as his eyes flash gold and he snarls. He lunges toward me, pulling me to him.

In that moment, he pulls me into a fiery kiss.