Chapter 19 - Betrayal Pt.1

(Maria POV)

I woke up tangled in my now dry sheets with different parts of my body exposed. My lungs still ached and my throat was very scratchy.

I didn't... I couldn't think about what happened yesterday or why it happened. David was right, I needed to pull myself together and stop trying to love someone who would never love me back.

Oh, what the hell, no matter how hard I tried for some reason I just couldn't stop loving him.

I walked into my bathroom and glanced in the direction of the tub. The water was still in there and I didn't plan on letting it out. Instead, I took a quick wash up and threw on some clothes, and headed over to David's house.

I didn't know what had gotten into me but I needed to tell someone and that someone would be David. I needed someone to know the real reason why I couldn't stop loving Damian.

I threw my hair into a pony-tale with two pieces left to be free on both sides and ran towards David's house. My knocks were eager and fast at first; as time passed, however, they started to slow down until I knocked no more.

I stood there for a while trying to debate on where they could be and then a thought hit me, maybe they were with Damians' mom. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if I stopped by, she loved me anyway.

I sprinted from David's door and headed over to Emily's' house. My pace slowed down when I reached the door and I stopped.

I heard Emily sobbing and a voice I knew so well that held power and anger all at the same time.

I placed my ear on the door and listened to the conversation that was going on, on the other side of the door.

"I overheard them talking about it upstairs," Emily whispered as she tried to suppress her sobs.

"I just don't understand why he would even think about doing such a thing." I heard her sniffle, I imagined her dabbing her nose with a tissue while her arms were crossed.

I knew her a little too well for my own good.

"Very well then, don't mention this to anyone. I will fix this and make sure no harm comes to your boy. Punishment will still happen, but it will not be as harsh since I know that you have nothing to do with it. I don't take rebellion lightly and I don't plan on it happening again, if it does I will kill him personally." I heard a chair push back roughly against the floor and heavy footsteps make their way to the door.

Emily continued to sob. I guess I was so wrapped up in her sobbing that I didn't hear the door open or the rough hands grab my shoulders until it was too late.

I wiggled and struggled against the firm grip until I was released and landed on the floor. I heard Emily suck in a breath as she watched the scene play before her while looking out her door.

I pushed myself up and dusted off. How could his mother of anything say something to the king, she was supposed to be on his side and yet she said something to the king. I shook my head and let out a low deadly laugh.

"How could you? You out of all people.."

I pointed my finger at her. My blood was boiling by the minute at the betrayal of a woman, a woman to her son.

"He will be so heartbroken if he knew about this. He would most definitely leave for sure and you know it."

I slightly shoved her, I almost lost control but I had to remember that this woman was the love of my life's mother, and losing control would not help me right now.

She reached out and tried to grab me but I wouldn't let that happen, I smacked her hand away and stared at her.

"I panicked, I panicked, Maria...You wouldn't understand. Maybe one day when you have children you will, but for right now you just wouldn't understand"

She tried to reach for me again but I stumbled backward trying to avoid any contact with her other than words.

I stared at this woman with fire tears threatening to leak out of my eyes. I wasn't crying for myself but for Damian, I knew he would be so heartbroken and his heartbreak would always seem to break mine.

I shook my head and turned around to walk away, I was not aware of the king who stayed and watched until rough hands grabbed me by my shoulders once again.

"Let.me.go." I jerked my shoulder away and started walking faster. I should've known the king wasn't done with me, I should've known but again I wasn't thinking until it was too late.

I was almost home almost.

Almost.

However, someone had other plans for me.

I turned the corner and felt a wet soft cloth cover my nose and mouth. I tried to hold out and not breathe it in but I eventually gave up and inhaled everything.

There was no fighting the darkness that took over within seconds....

***

I walked down the hallway with my head hung low, there was no strength left in me to face anyone and I didn't want to.

I couldn't. Not after the deal, I made and the sacrifice I made for the one I loved and his family.

I felt the hot tears roll down my face but I had no willpower to wipe them away, and I didn't want to.

I wanted to feel them slide down my face, I wanted to taste the saltiness within my mouth..

I needed to know, to remember that this was real and everything that happened was not a dream.

I heard someone call my name but I was too tired to turn around to see who it was. I felt the familiar hands touch my shoulders, I knew that it was Damian due to the butterflies my stomach got and the energy that was put back into my body.

I turned around and looked up to see those beautiful eyes I could never get tired of seeing. I smiled and forgot all about the tears that were still streaming down my face.

Before we could say anything to each other David spoke up first.

"Why are you crying?" He stared at me like he knew that I was going to lie and he was warning me not to.

I had to ignore the look and do what I felt was best, and protecting them was the best option so a lie would have to settle for tonight.

I wiped my face and laughed slightly.

"You know how females are, we are too soft for our own good."

I smiled again and wiped away more tears that were falling endlessly down my face.

"I need some rest you guys, when is our second meeting?" I needed to act normal and normal was something that I was good at.

Before David could give his little protest Damian finally spoke up.

"That's understandable, get some rest. We already had our meeting but I'm sure David here wouldn't mind stopping by later and filling you in."

He grabbed my chin and adjusted my face to his. After a while, he laughed and walked away but not before saying goodbye.

David nodded at me and informed me that he would be by in an hour or two. I nodded and headed towards my room. Once there I closed the door and locked it this time and crawled into my bed.

I didn't care if my clothes were still on. The choices I made drained everything out of me and I needed to reboot. I closed my eyes and welcomed my sweet,

sweet,

dreams.

***

I woke up in a white gown with my hair free-falling along my face. I kept my eyes closed and tried to remember where I was. Fuck, I remember leaving Emily's house and trying to get away from someone who chased me home. Damn, what happened?

"I know you're awake, so, please just get up and talk to me and then you're free to go."

I heard the king say from across the room. I silently cursed myself and pushed myself up as I opened my eyes completely.

I looked him in his eyes and let out a low cruel laugh,

"You really think I'm going to talk to you about anything pertaining to Damian?"

The king laughed and walked over to the bed I was laying on. He bent down and grabbed my chin tightly making sure I made eye contact with him.

"I know that you will talk to me because you don't want your mate to die."

I sucked in a breathe as he held me still with his eyes.

"I-I don't know w-what you're talking about."

I jerked my face away from his grip and pushed myself off of the bed.

Before I could make it to the door I was pushed against the wall with my stomach laying facing its surface and the king's stomach upon my back.

He placed both of my hands above my head and held them there with his hands.

"I know Damian is your mate. I know he is by the way your body reacts every time I mention his name. Do you think I didn't have a mate before? I know how it is Maria."

He whispered in my ear sternly.

I struggled against him but he wouldn't budge.

"Okay, so what. Yes, Damian is my mate but your stupid ass daughter has him so far up her ass he doesn't even notice the signs."

I let out a laugh.

"He doesn't even notice the damn signs of his own mate."

The king placed his cheek on mine.

"I know she does. It's been like that ever since I killed her mother. I guess that was my fault, never knew it would be like this or that the boy would fall for her like that."

He rubbed his face against mine.

"Have you tried talking to him about it?"

He pushed himself off of me but not before locking the door, and staying close enough to me so I couldn't escape.

I turned around and leaned on the wall for support.

"How can I when everything he does or talk about is your daughter."

I wiped a tear from my face, crossed my arms, and smiled.

"This is the worst pain I have ever had to go through."

I didn't notice the king wiped another tear from my face until I looked up and caught him pulling his hand away.

"I know. I understand how you feel. Maybe you should move on." He said without making eye contact.

I looked up at him and shook my head,

"How can you say such a thing? You think I am going to give up on my mate. You killed your mate and now you're here speaking so freely about moving on, moving on like it's that simple."

I watched the king run his hands through his hair.

"Damn you! None of you know nothing !"

"I know you fucking killed your m-"

I pointed my finger at him but was interrupted before I could finish.

"SHE WAS NOT MY MATE!" He yelled as he punched the wall above my head.

"I had to settle because my mate decided that she wanted to run away with someone else. Matter of fact my mate ran away with Angeline's mothers' mate, so we figured that it was only right if we were together."

He started to pace back and forth.

"Every fucking day with her was miserable and I mean miserable. She would always blame me for my mate choosing hers. It was just so crazy. I started to sleep with other women to mask the pain she couldn't ease. I don't know what happened I just finally snapped when I saw her kissing someone, but I-I regret it."

He looked up at me with a pool of water in his eyes.

"I regret that shit man. She was going through the same thing and I killed her so easily."

I pushed myself off the wall and looked down.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know."

The king walked over to me and grabbed my chin.

"That doesn't matter. You will tell me everything your mate plans on doing, and from there I'll decide when I'll end everything and let him know that I know all of his plans. After that, you'll be free unless I want you to do something else pertaining to Damian that is."

He smirked and pushed me against the wall again.

"If you don't comply. I'll kill him. Emily, David, and you." I gulped and closed my eyes tightly. I could feel every word on my face.

"Do you understand?" He gripped my chin tighter.

I nodded and looked down.

"I understand. I'll do it. You have to promise that you won't kill them."

He nodded at me and held his hand out towards the bathroom signaling for me to change.

I ran over to the bathroom and changed back into the clothes I was originally wearing. After I was done I headed for the door but was stopped by his haunting words.

"I'll kill them Maria if you don't comply."

I felt his hand grip my neck as his breath slid down my throat. I nodded and closed the door behind me while tears started falling down my face.

***

I sucked in a breath and ran my fingers through my wet hair. Sweat covered my body from head to toe and I know why. I glanced off into the darkness and pulled my knees up to my chest.

"Damian is your mate?" David said.

I turned my head and stared at him with big eyes.

"How did you get in here?" I pushed the covers off of me and stared at him.

I wasn't mad or phased I was just shocked that he said Damian was my mate.

"I climbed through the window since your door was locked."

I nodded at him and looked towards the window he climbed through. It was still cracked a little bit but not that noticeable.

"How do you know Damian is my mate?" I looked up at him with tears threatening to fall.

"I heard you in your sleep whispering his name and saying, mate."

He walked over to me and sat at the edge of the bed.

"How come you didn't tell me?"

He lifted my chin and stared at me with some kind of hurt in his eyes.

"I was going to but the k-, but I just lost track of time." I internally screamed at myself but quickly pulled myself back together.

He nodded but he still stared at me with concentration. I broke eye contact first and let the tears I held in fall.

He didn't say anything. He just pulled me into his arms and let me cry. I cried all the tears I held in for years out.

The harder I cried the tighter he held me and the tighter he held me the harder I cried.

For once in my life, I didn't have to hold it in and act like I was okay.

Someone saw through my act.

David saw me. The real me and for that.

I would always be grateful.