Chapter 14

ASHLEY'S POV

"I need an answer, Dante." I finally found my voice, standing up tall.

"Sorry, what?" He covered the spaces between us. "What answers would be beneath my bed?"

Dante was not believing me. His eyes darkened and his brows were arched. My heart began to race faster, and I knew for a fact that he was hearing it.

"Here, take this." I handed the photo to him.

The moment my dark-haired mate's eyes glanced through the photo, his expression softened, and the next minute it went back to his ruthless glare.

"Where did you get this photo?" Dante seethed, his arms folded into a fist.

He was visibly angry, but why would one photo make him that furious?

"Who is in the photo?" I cared less about what he could do to me if I betrayed him. What was worse than him keeping secrets?

"I won't answer your question until you tell me where you got it from." Dante stated clearly, but I didn't care. I was the one asking questions here, not him.

"Whatever." I muttered and tried walking past him.

"Where the hell did you get this picture, Ashley?" Dante growled so hard that it shook me. His eyes had changed, and I feared he might shift.

"Emma gave it to me!" I voiced, afraid he would hit me.

"What?" His grip loosened and his gaze softened. "I'm so sorry, did she hurt you?"

This man was so unreadable. Didn't he just want to tear me apart, and now he cared enough to ask if Emma hurt me?

"No, she didn't, but you just did." I broke free from his grip and ran to my chambers.

I felt stupid, sad, angry... It was really difficult to place my finger on how I truly felt.

It was as if I was reliving my times with Ryder. If he knew he would treat me this way, why on earth did he save me?

"Ashley?" Dante called, and I didn't know if I should answer or ignore. "Ashley, please can I come in?" I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me that he was genuinely sorry, but I wasn't ready yet. I needed to get my emotions together.

"Please don't." I coldly replied.

"Are you okay, Ashley? You don't—"

I quickly walked to the door and opened it to face him. "Am I okay? You hurt me? You lied to my face, been keeping secrets from me, and then you held my wrists and wanted to break my ankle. So yes, I'm not okay, and you caused it."

"I didn't mean to, and besides I did all that for your sake, I'm protecting—"

"I don't need your protection, Dante. I have survived a lot more, so I'm fine, thank you."

"You weren't surviving, Ashley, you were preparing to end your life, if not for—"

"Get out, Dante." My temper flared hotter than ever before.

"Fine, I'll go. Continue with your miserable, pathetic life." He gritted and turned towards his room.

"Fine, I will." I slammed the door and quickly jumped on my bed, burying my face in my sheets.

I was too weak to think or curse myself. All I did was drench my sheets with my tears.

But still in my current state, I received a knock on my door.

"Go away, Dante. I do not wish to speak with you." I mumbled.

"It's me, Sophia. I wanted to know how you're doing." Sophia announced.

"Okay, come in." I sat up and began to wipe my eyes.

"I do not mean to intrude, but I overheard the conversations you were having with Lord Dante. I wanted to know how you are doing?" Sophia started, sitting beside me.

"I wish I knew how I am feeling. I do not know if I should regret coming here or falling off that cliff." I cried.

"You said someone handed over this picture to you, right?"

"Yes? Where are you heading to?" I asked, still avoiding eye contact.

"Like I said, Celine was his ex-mate or something. What if whoever gave you this picture wanted you to have issues with Dante?"

Now that was something. I never thought about this. Emma had always wanted me to leave the mansion, and if I continue with this attitude, Dante would have no option but to kick me out.

"You may be right, but what does that person stand to gain? What if the person is protecting me?"

"Protection doesn't come through competition. I advise you to go for a walk, clear your head, and maybe go and talk to him." Sophia suggested, patting me on the shoulder.

"Thank you, Sophia. I'll do what you said." I appreciated it.

"The pleasure is all mine. Can I get your food now?" Sophia suggested and left the room.

After I had had my breakfast at lunch, I decided to take Sophia's advice and headed to the garden for fresh air. And yes, I was afraid I might meet Emma, but I wanted to.

But before I left the mansion, I took a quick glance into Dante's room, and he was not in.

Why wasn't he in? There was no possible reason why he would not be in his room, so I felt he must have gone for a walk like I was about to.

But I came out to the garden, and he wasn't there. Instead, I began to hear rustling of bushes and twigs snapping.

"Emma, show yourself! I know you're here!" I yelled out to the garden, but then everywhere grew silent, and I thought maybe I was getting paranoid, again.

"Hello, my mate." Ryder appeared from nowhere. I was stunned. I was prepared to meet Emma, not Ryder; he scared the shit out of me.

"I'm not your mate." I mumbled, barely above a whisper.

"What did you say?" My abusive ex-mate walked towards me. I could smell the alcohol on his breath, and that scared me.

"I am not—"

"Say that word one more time, and you may not like what I might do next." Ryder threatened, his face an emotionless mask.