CHAPTER EIGHT: DOOM HAS A FACE

BEATRICE’S POV

The date the night before had been a disaster. It had taken every strength in me not to ditch him and run. Was it the way he kept calling me pumpkin? Or trying to act like we were so much in love. The only reason I had stayed back was because Aunt Silvia made me promise to get through this one date. For the sake of the kids, she had said. However, it came in handy when my worst nightmare decided to stroll through the room like he fucking owned it. Every step he took had my heart pounding because I could tell from the hotness of his gaze on me. It burnt through my skin and threatened to search my soul as well. But above all, I knew he was dangerous, and I knew better than to let myself mingle with him beyond business level. Or to let him know that my babies exist. 

“How was the date?” Aunt Silvia finally asked as she poured herself a cup of coffee and settled beside me. I had expected the question all day, yet it was late afternoon. I felt something wrong with how she moved weakly, and I knew she was getting older now. Her grey-filled blue hair and the beautiful wrinkles on her face spoke tales of how well she had lived. I was her only child. She had dedicated all her life to raising him after her husband died. They were both sickle cell and married regardless because they couldn't live without one another, so they promised to love one another to the end of time. Even when she had suggested surrogacy and IVF, he had refused, saying he wanted no child that wasn't made from them, and he had died happy. A smile on his face as he whispered his last word. His confession of love. It was beautiful to behold, yet heartbreaking to know I would never see little images of her running around the house. She mostly hated me bringing up her sickness phase, so I chose to ignore it for today.

“It was fine, but there will be no second date.” I quickly informed her, sighing. I was done letting them match me up.

“Actually, there won’t be.” She lowered her cup slowly to look me in the eyes. “Did you watch the news? Mark was found dead this morning.” 

My fingers trembled, and a chilly feeling coursed through me. “How?” I quivered, fear consuming me, and she shrugged.

“All they know is that he was killed.” Her voice was low. “Let’s be glad you weren't with him at that point. Poor boy. I wonder who it was.”

But I knew. I knew so clearly who it had to be because, on the first date, he showed up, and the guy ended up dead. Slowly, my fear morphed into anger. Annoyance, rage, the thirst for blood-consuming all of me. The audacity he had to think he could go killing people the way he pleased. 

“I need to be somewhere,” I said, not waiting for her to respond before storming out of the house straight to the same hotel as before. As the elevator dinged, I caught sight of his Beta. 

“I’m afraid the Lycan wants no guest.” He informed me, but I paid no heed, storming towards the first room until he stepped before me. “You have to leave, ma’am.”

I scoffed dryly. “Now you hide behind your Beta. Step out, Xander. Be a fucking man and face me!” 

“Ma’am. You need to leave. He is busy….”

“HE IS NOTHING BUT A COWARD. DICKLESS ONE AT THAT!”

“Ma’am…”

“Let her be.” His voice came from the fourth room as he stepped out in a white bathrobe. His Beta looked between us both before stepping away, and I stormed towards him without a thought. “What brings you here? Missed me already?”

I let out a dry laugh. “I would rather miss my period than miss you, asshole. Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you….”

“Mark got what he deserves if that is why you are here. No one touches my mate.” He said so casually, and I felt my hate for him multiplied. 

“You are a maniac! A devil! You should never have existed.” I yelled, tears streaming down my cheeks. My heart was hurting from my newly found ill fate. Another round of dramas that I couldn't deal with. 

He gripped my arm tightly, and I let out a scream from the tearing pain. His neck veins popped out as he leaned in, smelling of shampoo and evilness.

“You are never leaving me again, Beatrice. Even if I have to let the world burn, I will find you, and I will make anyone who breathes near you pay. You are stuck with me, mate, forever.” He said with a smirk. The one that belonged to a heartless man like him.

“Then I reject you!” 

“I unreject your rejection.” He let go and stepped backward. His hair was still wet. Images from the night rushed in, and I wondered if he had been the same man. “Go home and take some rest. You need it if you intend to play this cheesy game with me. Goodbye, Mate.” I watched as he closed the door, and my legs gave way beneath me, but I didn't let it win. I couldn't show him how weak I was. Not here. Not now.

With every strength left, I pulled myself back to my rusty old Camryn and let my tears flow behind the wheel, out of the sight of everyone. 

****

I watched from the back as they lowered him into the hole. As everyone wept for him, all I could do was look. Not one drop of tear did my eyes produce because deep down, I knew I killed him. If I had ever agreed to the date, he would still be alive. He would be with his family. It turned out he had a wife and three kids, yet no one deserved to be killed the way he was.

I couldn't let them complete the program before I walked out of the tension-filled place. The guilt had been too much for me to bear. First, my parents. Then, Sarah. Now, him. 

It felt more like I was nothing but a ticking bomb. One that Xander carved out of me. And now it was about time I gave Xander a taste of his own medicine. This time, I refused to run. I chose to be brave for my babies and give them a worthy life—one where they would have no regrets. Maybe one without their Father in it. 

The game had just begun, Xander.

Sniffing my catarrh, I dialed the number I didn't think I would dial anytime soon and said the words I had dreaded.

“I accept your offer.”