My Alpha's Betrayal: Burning In The Flames Of His Vengeance

58. Stopping For A Hot Drink YILEYNA I felt numb. Over twenty-four hours had passed, but as he said… he didn’t come back I spent the night before pacing the cabin, wanting to see him, to go to him, until I realised I don’t hold that right…

I was a distraction, and one he didn’t need…

I didn’t sleep that night, unable to enter the bedroom after what had happened there just the night before… His emotions… He… There was more to last night… I knew it… but where I thought he was falling for me… he was actually saying goodbye… I ran my hands through my hair once more, staring out at the blizzard. The fire in the hearth had died down yesterday afternoon, and the cabin was cold, but I didn’t care… I don’t think anything felt as cold as it was inside my heart. Ten o’clock tonight. He said he’d meet me… and although I was counting the minutes, what was I to do? Pretend to be normal? When Theon himself told me it was over… it made clear all I was to him: A simple pass time. I couldn’t just sit here doing nothing, but then why did I feel like I didn’t want to do anything but wallow? “Well even if you want to! You can’t.” I told myself, sitting up and taking a deep breath. “I am Yileyna De’Lacor, and I am not going to let a man make me lose sight of my goals.” 2

I had been played and used, regardless of whether there were emotions involved or not… I had to stop. I really needed to stop letting him hurt me. Maybe tonight I’ll see how he is, but unless he says that he made a mistake, I will not give him the time of day. 2

I will stop thinking about it, I will try to be strong and act like I am not affected. I missed him and deep down I did want to see him again, but his actions would confirm many things tonight

For now, I would go and ask the Alpha for the proof of my parent’s crimes. Nodding with determination and a sense of purpose, I quickly ate some food and then got dressed in white leather pants, a pale grey shirt and a white corset belt. I picked up my empty dishes and carried them over to the sink, I was about to place them in the sink when my eyes fell on the glass of vinegar.

“Oh shit!”

Thad forgotten it. I quickly split it in the sink, wondering if the vinegar had destroyed the metal. Turning the tap on, 1 rinsed it off, before applying some washing-up soap to it and

giving it a good scrub with the sponge. Once I had scrubbed it thoroughly and rinsed it off with warm water, I looked at the chain in

hand. My breath hitched; I wasn’t holding just a rusty, dull trinket. I didn’t need to take this to a jeweller for confirmation that I was holding a precious stone in my hand. Something worth far more than a few gold coins. 1

The jewel in the centre that had looked a dull brown under the layers of grime and dirt now dazzled a gorgeous burning amber. I ran my fingers along the chain, where it had once looked grey and dirty, it now shone a pale gold. I had hit a gold mine. Was it a stolen item? Or perhaps he had found it somewhere? Obviously, he didn’t realise how pretty it was! I’m sure he would have tried to charge far more.

I was about to put it down when I hesitated, if it was worth a lot… then I should wear it and keep it safe.

I dried it with a dishcloth and slipped the long chain over my head, tucking it into my shirt, letting it nestle itself between my breasts.

Theon’s face flashed to mind, the memory of his touch making my body betray me. My stomach reacted and that ache settled inside me once more. I took a deep breath, grabbed my coat and squashed the thought.

Focus Yileyna.

into the blizzard, it took me a moment to keep my

seems worse than usual, despite the cold

pouch and placed it into the large inner pocket of my coat, then began trudging through the snow. The snow was deeper

longer to make my way toward the castle, but it gave me time to ponder over how I would approach the topic with the king. I sighed heavily as I approached the busier streets of the

“Yileyna!”

hat. The tip of her nose was red but the relief, worry and happiness in her eyes made me concerned and

I smiled, giving her a

hugged me back and I smiled, feeling

on her. The king indirectly made it clear he only tolerated me because of Charlene. I knew for a fact that if I shared my problems with her,

your gloves!” “It’s not that cold, I’m ok” I said.

11

me, how was training? And why was I so lucky to have you come visit

anyone was listening. “How about we get a hot drink?” She suggested with a smile.

something worrying her… I could

not, we can go to Madam Marigold’s.” I suggested, it was always very packed, and you could have a

We exchanged looks, a smile crossing both our faces before we hurried to the door. Charlene skidded on the icy entrance, I grabbed hold of her as she yelped in alarm before we burst out laughing “Oops, careful.” I giggled as I pushed open the door and we stepped inside. Instantly I was hit with the smell

snow, Marigold!” Someone called out, making the woman roll her

back room in here. “Yes, go. It’s too rowdy in here for pretty girls to be around. I don’t need the extra drama!” Ah, perfect, we needed a place where we could simply talk, it was almost as if she read our minds! Behaving ourselves, we made our way to the back, only one of the booths was empty and taking off our coats we

walked over to us. He was probably a good few decades older than us, but he looked as if he was not a day over twenty. Muscled, lean, beautiful violet eyes and

been a few months. How

as I smiled slightly. “Can

want nothing more?” He asked with

an