Chapter 6. Truths

Roman's eyes didn't leave my face, wary about how I would react, while mine didn't leave Lenny's, wary about how she would react. She looked more shocked than disappointed.

I rushed to speak. "I am sorry I didn't tell you Lenny. I just thought that if I waited..." the words trailed off into the thin air with her interruption.

"You don't need to apologize Arlene. This was inevitable."

My eyes grew wide in disgust, "That I would be his mate?" I pointed at Roman stressing on the word his. How could she possibly think like that.

"No." She said with a light chuckle. "That Roman would find his mate." She finished.

Roman caught her eyes for what was like a second, then immediately said in a perverse tone, "Will you please give us a moment alone?"

She nodded at him. And this time around, it was not as Lenny to Roman, but as a wolf to its alpha, the shift was so quick.

She then turned and walked out, without a look at me.

"We need to talk." He started

"Like hell we do." I said in a tone of frustration.

"What?" He snapped. "You don't want to talk? What are you, five? Quit acting like a kid Arlene, this is serious."

"You told Lenny my secret. How did you think that would make me feel?"

"Last I checked it happens to be my secret too. So stop acting so self-righteous. Did you really think she would never find out?"

"Just leave Roman. In fact, arrange for me to leave this dump. I suppose being your mate gives me a ticket out don't you agree?" I smirked.

"Well no. You won't talk to me and frankly we have a lot to talk about. So as long as you don't talk, you are going to stay right here." He said with a smirk too.

"You can't keep me locked up here you punk." I said loudly.

"Yes I can. This is my territory. I do what I want with it, and with my mate too." He responded seriously. "I have made a lot of mistakes with you. So it's time I do things the right way."

"And locking me up is the right way to do things?" I asked and proceeded, "In fact, now that you say it, so you do make mistakes huh?" I said sarcastically. "Oh, no, I mean you do recognize the mistakes you make. Because that's a good start. Should we start for an apology session?"

He growled at my words. "Just because I admit to something so trivial doesn't mean you use it against me." He looked upset.

"Oh so we are starting with trivial things right?" I responded quick. "Like you telling Lenny upfront that I am your mate without thinking to ask me what I want. Or you keeping me locked up in this dump. Oh, and lets not forget you killing my..."

"Just stop!" He exclaimed interrupting me. "Do you have to remind me about that?" He asked looking away from me. Probably trying to hide his shame.

"Am I supposed to forget about it Roman?" I asked honestly seeking an answer.

He was quiet.

"Look here. I have a pack out there waiting for me. You know what I call trivial?" I asked not needing an answer because I was about to give it. "You and I being mates. That is about the most trivial thing I have had to deal with. A more serious thing is my pack waiting for its alpha. I don't believe you have a more serious reason to keep me locked up. You and I both know I am of no use to you. So why don't you give this up and set me free? It's the least you can do after everything you have put me through."

He flinched. And it wasn't out of fear. It was him knowing that there was no way out of this than what I had suggested.

I went on. "Why are you acting like this Roman? It's so simple."

"Because I am afraid of losing your presence here." he said quietly.

I knew he was waiting for my reaction. But I gave him nothing but a straight face.

"I know I am too late to do this." He started, "but I need you to hear me out. I am sorry. For everything. Your father, your mother, " He paused for a bit, "I have been trying so hard the past few weeks to find the right words and I couldn't even think of a thing. I did what I did because of my arrogance and selfishness and,"

This time, I interrupted. "Don't apologize for something you were never sorry for. I am desperate to leave this place, but not that much. Not at that cost. I can never pretend to forgive you, let alone to actually forgive. I am only but a wolf with feelings and I will not allow you to toy with them." I finished.

He had a serious face, "I am serious. I have always been sorry, I just didn't have it in me to come and say it to your face."

"And you think an apology will help me how?" I retorted unbothered by his apology.

"I know it won't reverse what I did but at least you will know I had no horrible intentions. I was just being the alpha I have always been. The one you have never liked. That is who I am, and right now I would do anything to change what perception you have of me, at whatever cost." He almost looked sad. To be honest, it almost got to me. But my response didn't say so.

"I hate the person that you are. I hate that person even more now that they know who they are and only want to change because of some stupid mate bond. How do you think you can change my perception of you?" I asked rhetorically. "Tell me, because if you are still that person from the first time that I met you to the day of my parents' death, then quit trying. What I think of you will never change. You will always be in the dark side of my past. The one I don't want, or seek to remember. So fine, keep me locked up. I was meant to die in this cell anyway right?"

I saw the anguish in his face from how my words stroke through him.

Frankly, even I could not believe I had it in me to be so harsh to my mate. I didn't think I would say as much as I did, but I did.

With no other words, he left the little cell.

I must have fallen asleep because when I woke up, right at the foot of the door was my second meal for the day. My stomach rumbled, I was famished.

I got off the bed, grabbed the food and ate it with no hesitation while trying hard not to think about what happened earlier in the day. I wished this was a bad dream and I could just wake up from it.

When I was done, I cuddled myself in the little bed cover on the bed ready to fall right back into sleep.

Then the door opened.

Drew walked in, and I realised I had not seen him in months. I had thought a hundred times over how I would rip him to shreds if I got the chance.

This was not the chance. Well, only because of the words he said.

"It's time for you to leave alpha Arlene." He said respectfully.

I was astonished. But I smiled anyway.