Chapter Four - What's This Feeling?

*Selena's POV*

The next day, I wandered through the palace, exploring its corridors and rooms. I hoped to enjoy the grandeur and beauty of the place without Duncan's interference. However, no matter how hard I tried to avoid him, he persisted in pestering me. 

It was frustrating and irritating. I just wanted some peace and solitude, away from his constant presence. But it seemed like he had other plans, determined to make himself a nuisance in my life.

One thing I also came to notice was the sexual relationship Duncan seems to share with the females here and it made me angry seeing them shamelessly flirting with him and him doing absolutely nothing about it.

And as for me, each time they see me, they all kept looking at me like I was some sort of alien who fell from another planet, but I choose to ignore them instead and glared at anyone who gave me a look of disgust.

Tired of all the drama, I went back to my room. I couldn't stop thinking about what was happening at the pack and how my brother was coping. It filled my mind with worries and questions.

 I wished I could be there for him, to offer support and let him know I'm okay. But I couldn't reach out because of the situation I was in. 

The distance between us made me feel helpless and restless. Thoughts of the pack and my brother's challenges kept swirling in my head, making it hard to find peace.

I was still in thought when someone knocked on my door.

"Come in." I said, I was expecting a maid but instead Duncan came in.

I sighed deeply when I saw him. "What do you want now?" I mentally groaned.

"I just wanted to be sure that you're settling in just fine, if you need anything you can either ask me or the maids around."

"What made you think I'll come to you if at all I needed anything and besides, I can take care of myself, I don't need any help from anyone, most especially you."

"Are you always this angry or is it just to me?" He asked with a smirk.

"What do you want Alpha, I'm sure you didn't come here to annoy me once more."

"I think it's high time you take off that mask you're wearing Selena, everyone feels uncomfortable with you walking around in that." He said and I scoffed.

"I don't care about what people feel, they can say whatever they want to, if you've got a problem with this then send me back to where you took me from, I'm okay with my mask and I'm not taking it off." I fumed. "If you've got nothing else to say, then please leave me be, I want to be alone."

"Fine then, why don't you come downstairs for breakfast? I'm sure you're hungry," Duncan suggested.

"I'm not..." I started to say, but before I could finish, my stomach let out a loud growl, betraying my hunger.

Embarrassed, I nervously bit my lip while Duncan wore a smug expression on his face, clearly amused by my predicament.

"I'll be waiting," he said before turning to leave.

As he walked away, I couldn't help but feel a mix of annoyance and hunger. Part of me didn't want to give in to his request, but the grumbling in my stomach reminded me that I couldn't ignore my hunger forever. 

Reluctantly, I admitted to myself that I should go down for breakfast, if only to satisfy my growling stomach.

"What the hell!" I cursed and then I hit my stomach. "You had to announce yourself at the wrong time isn't it." I hissed.

Since I didn't even have anything to eat last night, I was so famished and I felt like I was going to pass out if I don't have anything to eat.

Swallowing my pride, I made my way downstairs to the dining room. However, what I saw there left me utterly shocked and hurt. There was a young lady sitting beside Duncan, and her hands were freely exploring his body. To make matters worse, Duncan seemed unfazed by her actions, even in the presence of me, his supposed mate.

Conflicting emotions surged within me. I felt a mix of anger, betrayal, and humiliation. How could he allow another woman to touch him so intimately? Was I not enough for him? Did he not care about how I felt?

I tried my best to appear unaffected by the situation, taking a seat at the dining table. The maids began serving our food, distracting me momentarily from the overwhelming emotions swirling inside me.

Then, the lady sitting beside Duncan spoke up, addressing me as Selena. I couldn't hide the disdain that flashed in my eyes as I looked at her. "I'm Lina, the Alpha's woman," she chuckled, as if it was something to be proud of.

"What?" I exclaimed, unable to believe what I had just heard. I turned to Duncan, hoping he would deny it or offer some explanation. But to my disappointment, he remained silent. He didn't even try to refute Lina's claim. It was clear that I had expected too much from a man like him.

Anger and hurt consumed me, but I refused to show it. Instead, I forced myself to maintain a composed facade. "Let's just eat, Lina. That's enough now," Duncan finally interjected, trying to divert the attention away from the uncomfortable revelation.

"Oh come on Duncan, I was just teasing her." She laughed and then she looked at me once more. "Why do you have a mask on? You should take it off, don't tell me you aren't beautiful and besides, I bet everyone must be dying to see your face, most especially Duncan."

"Beauty or not, It's none of your business if I choose to keep my mask on, don't you think you should stop poking your nose into other people's matter." I replied angrily.

"Feisty, I like that, at least you won't be boring and this will only make things interesting."

I had no idea what she meant but I couldn't bare to sit here with them any longer. I abruptly stood up and then I smiled at them.

"Thanks to someone, my appetite just got ruined, enjoy your meal." I said before leaving.

I heard Duncan call out to me, but I ignored him and simply went upstairs to my room.

Lina's words suddenly rang in my ears, making me even more upset.

"I'm Lina, the Alpha's woman."

"Alpha's woman my foot!" I scoffed.

I still couldn't believe how shamless Duncan was, he already found his mate and yet he's still having affairs with other women! 

I shouldn't be bother about this but I can't tell why this angered me, I shook my head, trying to clear off all sorts of thoughts about Duncan and Lina.

"It's none of my business, I should be focused on escaping this hell hole, what he does shouldn't bother me, who he choose to have an affair with shouldn't bother me either. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him." I kept on chanting like a mantra and the more I told myself this, it was helping to calm me down a little.

My door was suddenly pushed open and Lina walked in with a tray of food.

"Hello." She smiled, then she went to keep the tray on the table in the room before walking to where I stood.

"I don't appreciate people intruding my privacy as they wish." 

"Oh please, I just came here to sound a warning to you." She said and I frowned.

"You keep on acting all high and mighty, but if I were you, I'm going to be careful."

"Or what?" I scoffed.

"Duncan is mine and mine alone, I don't care if you are his mate, just don't dare to cross your boundary, you have no idea to what extent I can go to get what I want." She then leaned forward to whisper into my ear. "I can even make you vanish without a trace, just be careful and don't step on me."

"See you around." She smiled, then she left.

I balled my fist in rage, if she was thinking that her little threat was going to scare me then she's in for a shock. 

I'm not scared of anyone and I also look forward to annoying her even more.