Seven

ROMAN POV.

The next day, I decided to keep myself busy to reduce the possibility of me thinking of her. And I went visiting, going round offices, even to the ones I barely visit and then I had them drop their paperwork in my office..

The work was so extensive that I couldn't return to my room that night and had to continue the next morning. The ones whose files were missing or had an issue, I was forced to go back and search.

Funny, I noticed their strange faces and curious looks when I came and when I asked, no one wanted to answer.

Later in the day, a young wolf had come to the shack to drop their file when I noticed his curious face.

"What's wrong?" I asked but he didn't answer, however look down, it was when I had threatened him that he gave in. Telling me that Sophia has been looking for me for the past two days.

I asked why he refused to tell me and why I wasn't informed and they said Xylah had instructed them not to.

This was strange and concerning as why would Xylah do such. Just as I was about leaving, Xylah comes in with a tray of food, ordering her servant to wait outside..

She started acting sweet and all cuddling but frowned when I asked her why she kept the issue of Sophia from me.

"I didn't think you would need it, I can tell you are avoiding her by working," she replied. "Xylah, it's my life and I can tell what is relevant or not," I warned..

"Please go and call her for me," I instructed as she soon left. Later she entered, informing me that Sophia was unwilling to come, she told me that Sophia wanted me to meet her in the shack..

"Why is she waiting there?" I had asked but Xylah had refused to answer. I decided to meet her when Xylah had stopped me..

"What are you doing cousin?" She asked, confused. "Going to meet her," I replied. "You are seriously playing her mind games with her," she questioned.

"I don't understand," I tell her, letting her lock the door. "You guys have an argument right?" She stated as I nodded. "Was she the one in the wrong?" She asked of which I nod in acceptance.

"Then she is playing the mind game, you know emotional blackmail," she responds, settling down.

"It's something I do, I know how much you love me, I know what you can do if someone oversteps their boundaries with me and I purposely do it so you will protect me, it strengthens our bond.

"For her case, she knows how much you are willing to please her and so she becomes demanding. Wanting you to come down for she to apologies when she was wrong,"

"I know I do it to you but it's for you to support me not me controlling you dear cousin," Xylah explained.

"Everyone thinks she is controlling you, and it was confirmed when you carried her to the barbaric event," Xylah went on, she always calls a fight show a barbaric event as it deem it not ethical for a girl.

"So what do I do Xylah?" I asked, watching her smile in satisfaction. "You do not give in," she replied.

"Thank you Xylah for the advice," I said, continuing working. The next day, my uncle had accepted to help me go to collect files and had paid a visit in the shack in my stead.

While I was revising in the evening, Xylah came to my room with an empty tray. "I just finished giving her food to eat, as she is still standing there," she informed.

"Woah Xylah, I thought you had an issue with her," I informed as she frowned. "I do but am doing this for you, you are my cousin and I will do anything to make you happy as a means of taking care of me, even if it means talking to her," she tells me, as her words made me hug her.

"Thank you, so what did you two discuss," I asked, offering her a seat. "Nothing much, she wasn't too open to me, I can't blame her either," she replied. I looked outside and found that it was going to rain, so I had asked Roman to send her my sweater so she could warm up..

Xylah left, promising not to tell her that it was from me. As she left, my uncle entered, he had earlier mentioned that I go pack visiting and the pack he mentioned was so far away.

"So did you think of my proposal?" He asked upon entering. " Uncle I understand your point but, it's too far, attack can come anything and I can't be here to defend it," I reasoned as he nodded.

"But you have the best military system, it won't be easy to break through," he said. "But, if they heard of my departure and how far it is, they might be encouraged to at least try," I tell them.

"I will send a personnel over, don't worry about it," I went on, watching him contemplate.

"But you know that your visitation and your current activities with your mate had become a set back in the Kingdom, you have so many matters to attend to, I say you be in the inner court, attending to those matters," he suggested as I nod accepted his demands.

The next morning, Xylah had come to my office, dropping the coat and informing me that she had used it..

I scented it to confirm and it looked worn although the scent was a bit different but it wasn't matching Xylah scent so I approved it.

"You are still doubting me," Xylah accused watching me go through the coat. "I can't believe I'm trying to get you both together and you are still in doubt," she went on, sounding hurt.

"Xylah, you and I know it's not like that," I said. "Then it's what, why are you smelling the coat," she asked. "I wasn't, I was missing her scent," I lied as Xylah started laughing.

"Cousin, that's guilt tripping, it's also part of a mind game and you just fell for it," she says, laughing a bit more.

"Why in the world would you do that and what does it mean?" I asked. "It means dear cousin, that you are not ready to meet her," she replied.

"You know, she's acting and pretending to be weak downstairs," "and you, if you see her in that state, of course your heart would melt for her right," she asked.

"And imagine she says this, You left me out there, I haven't eaten or slept because I was waiting for you, what would you think you would do,"

"You would forget that she is deceiving you and you beckon to her desire and then she chooses to push you away whenever she likes,"Xylah explained, her words giving so much detail.

"But Xylah, I can't let her stand, let's just talk it out," I suggested, standing up to leave. "Ok then, go on, go begging her and let her use you like a boy toy, what will everyone think when they find out that their Alpha allows a petty mind game to work on them," she yelled.

"You will tell her who is in control, set some rules in the relationship and don't let her set it," Xylah continued.

I sat back in my seat, saying Xylah words, she was right, she had always pushed my effort away and disregarded me. If I fell for her trap then she would think she can control me. I can't let that happen.

"I'm heading to the inner court Xylah, please make sure you give her food and keep her warm," I instructed.

"Don't worry cousin, I provided a shade to where she is standing and I personally have been giving her food,"

"You can ask the noble ladies, I always take them with me, she even confirmed that she wants to lure you out,"  she informs..

If only Xylah noticed her hurt when she talks, then I'm sure she wouldn't say it. It hurts knowing that someone who you thought would have a future with is only using you to play her mind games.

And even though the rumors of mine aren't true, hers were, she was really demanding and uncaring, she hurt someone without thinking of the impact, she had become selfish and I began regretting the moon goddess' decision to make her my mate.

I sighed as I left my office and made my way to the inner court, fighting the strong urge to see her even for a little bit..

Within three days, I was able to finish all matters and still didn't want to leave. Inside I felt trouble and I didn't know if it was because of Sophia matter that made that happen.

Xylah couldn't come to the inner court as it was forbidden so I couldn't ask her what's going on with Xylah.

My thoughts of Sophia were interrupted with several noises outside. The door soon opens and the handmaid I have given to Sophia rushes in.

"Sir, you need to come help my lady," she pleaded kneeling on the ground.."did she send you here, after her mind tricks did not work," I asked.

"Mind tricks sir, no sir my lady won't do such," she replied..

"Have she not been standing outside, to lure me to come and beg her," I questioned, watching her maid face looking all confused and puzzled.

"You think I don't know her game," I said, smiling as I was standing my ground. "Sir, it's is true my lady is standing outside, but that's because she says you have been avoiding her sir,"

"She is doing it because you were avoiding her, she was trying to corner you so you won't aviod her, she is hoping that if you heard she was waiting outside, then you would come back from your trip," She explained.

"Trip, what's trip," I asked. "Xylah said you went pack visiting, the one at our border, she hope that if she waited, you would come faster," replied.

"You have got to lying, I never I went anywhere and besides I sent Xylah to give her food and warm clothing, I have been getting report for Xylah so don't dare lie to me," I yelled, watching her shake in fear.

"Why would I want to lie to you sir, if she was indeed playing mind games I won't be here, my lady haven't eaten for the past nine days,"

"I have been the one supplying her the food she refused and Lady Xylah, she mock my lady action along with the other noble ladies,"

"Sir, I'm honestly telling you the truth, no one knows you are around, it was because I overheard your uncle talking about you that I got to know you are here,"

"And I had ti rush to tell you, I know the punishment of me entering the inner court is death, why would I risk my life to tell you a lie,"

"I am ready to put the life of me and my family at risk if you could do me the honors of coming down to confirm my statement," she pleaded, I could see the fear in her eyes as she cried.

"Follow me," I ordered, rushing to meet Sophia. If this was true, then Xylah would get it from me.

Gosh she would hate me now, she would think I was purposely avoiding her, she won't understand that I was being lied to.

Now it makes sense, why my uncle made that proposal, why it was only Xylah bringing me food after the first day..

They have told everyone a lie, Xylah had played me and toy with me but why, does she really hate Sophia that much..

I soon reached outside and found Sophia really standing in the shack, I saw Xylah and other ladies mumbling and laughing.

And immediately I was spotted, everyone knee down and Xylah came rushing to me. "Cousin, what are you doing here?" She asked as I fling her hands from me.

"You, you lied to me, you told me that you are feeding her, you told me you are taking care of her," I yelled.

"And I did, that's why am here?" She lied. "Really, I was here enough to see you mocked her, how dare you, don't you know a mockery to her is a mockery to me," I yelled.

"Cousin, I swear on my life I did...," "enough," I yelled, pushing her off me. "Cousin, please believe me, I swear, I did take care of her, Meredith, did I not bring food and water to her," she asked, looking at Meredith.

"Meredith, if you lie, your husband shall lose his title and your family will be executed," I threatened, looking her in the eye.

"Sir, Xylah have never given Sophia food, she would bring us here everyday to mock her, she threatened me to join in too, I swear sir" Meredith confess immediately, kneeling on the ground..

Xylah looked lost and I was about to lose it when Sophia handmaid called out to me. "Sir, my lady, she is going to fall," she informed, as I rushed to her, catching her before she fell.

"Sophia, please wake up, can you hear me," I asked, seeing her eyes looking around. They were red and look weak, I could tell she had cried which made me feel worst the more.

Her body was hot and her skin pale. "I'm sorry, dear Sophia, I'm not a bad person,," I mumbled in her ear as she completely shut her eyes.

I noticed her low her breathing was and how her heart rate was slowly dropping. "What are you standing here for, someone go get a doctor," I yelled, watching the crowd scatter as each left.

I picked up Sophia and along with her handmaid we head inside, however I stopped to look at both Xylah and the nobles ladies..

"If anything happens to her, I will have your heads for it," I warned. "And this is not a bluff Xylah," I said, as she looked up.

"Being my cousin doesn't save you from this mess either, just pray, fucking pray that she is alright after this," I went on, before going to my room, not rushing too much so the bump won't affect her..

I looked behind my back and I find her handmaid praying to the moon goddess for Sophia safety and deep inside me wanted that too.

But it won't change the fact that she  hate me now, I just lost all chances to make this work, I was just like her, I believe the rumors about her without seeing that she was different, and I got angry at her for a mistake I committed too.