Meliana Returns

Ghod Acantha remained silent for a couple more minutes before Acantha finally said.

"Tell me about you." She said. "I think we've both heard enough about me."

Ghod's jaw tightened. "There's nothing about me to know." He said.

Acantha raised her head from his chest and stared at him. "Are you kidding me? There has to be a lot about you. I don't know anything about you."

"That's because there is nothing to know about me," Ghod said again, his voice edgy.

Acantha noticed his reluctance to talk about himself and let it slide.

"Are you hungry?" She asked.

Ghod nodded his head. "Yes." He pulls her closer to him and kisses her. "But for something different." He murmured on her lips.

*******************************

Ghod and Acantha spend the next few weeks together in bliss. Ghod discovers a different part of Acantha that he didn't know existed until now. She was smart, aggressive, and funny. Things he had never noticed in the beginning.

One afternoon, Ghod was in his study when a knock was on his door. A moment later, his butler walked in.

"Sir, there's someone at the door looking for you." He said.

Acantha raised a brow. "Who is it?"

The butler swallowed nervously. "It's Meliana, sir."

Ghod slammed his fist on the table. "What were my orders to you?"

"Not to let her in." His butler replied nervously.

"So why would you come here to ask me about her?" Ghod asked, his tone low and cold.

"Because she's making a scene at the door." The butler replied. "Ms. Acantha is asleep, and I just didn't want her waking up and meeting her at the door."

Ghod took on a controlled breath and stood up from his seat. "Let's go."

He met Meliana arguing with one of the maids by the door.

"This isn't the first time you've seen me here, so why are you acting like this?!" She said angrily, raising her voice.

"That's enough!" Ghod growled.

Meliana glanced at him, and a small smile formed on her face. "There you are. Tell your stupid maids to let me in."

"Leave us," Ghod said, and they all hurried away in a heartbeat.

"What are you doing here?" He asked. "I have told you that we are over, and I don't want to have anything to do with you. How dare you come to my house and make a ruckus?"

Meliana chuckled bitterly. "Did you think your threats would work on me? After everything we have been through?"

"You need to leave." Ghod gritted through his teeth.

"I can't; I'm in trouble and have nowhere to go." She said.

Ghod's eyes drifted to the bags beside her. "Do you think I believe that?" He asked.

"Meliana, you can live anywhere you want to live. Why do you want to stay here?"

"Because I love you." She confessed.

Ghod sighed. "Meliana, wake up and stop being so delusional. We are over, I have a mate and care about her deeply."

"Do you love her?" Meliana challenged. "Do you love her the way you loved me? Ghod, you are delusional because last time I checked, you hated her."

"I never hated her," Ghod said. "Yes, I was angry to be tied to someone so weak, but getting to know her made me realize Acantha is much more than that. The bond between mates is stronger than any ties outside it." Ghod said.

"Bullshit." She said, tears brimming in her eyes. "Even when you found out you were mates, you still slept with me."

Ghod looked back, praying silently that Acantha would remain asleep. "That was all before I marked her; things are different now."

"Different?" Meliana scoffed, her tears streaming down her face. "You have that nerve to say that word to me."

Ghod moved closer to her. "I am sorry about everything that has happened," He said softly. "I should have broken up the relationship when I found out I had a mate, but I was angry and selfish."

"You're right, you are selfish." She replied. "Only a selfish man would do exactly what you are doing, Ghod."

"Meliana.."

"I aborted a child for you!" She cried out, shoving him back. "You told me you weren't ready to be a father, and it wasn't the right time. Like a fool, I got rid of my child because I was so in love with you. Do you understand the pain I went through because of that?"

She punched him repeatedly, her screams filling the air. Ghod felt a wave of guilt wash over him as Meliana cried about the child he had made her abort.

To this day, he still regrets it. He was young and foolish; a child was something he had never dreamt about. He had convinced Meliana to get rid of the child, but she hunted him with it every day.

He gripped her hands. "Stop."

"Why?!" She cried. "Because you're scared I'll wake up your precious Acantha?"

*You can stay." He said, his voice cold.

Meliana's cries stopped immediately. "What?"

Ghod closed his eyes and sighed. "You can stay, but you are to stay away from me and my mate. You will have a room in the East wing, and you are not to cross it. Wandering around the house or grounds is forbidden."

Meliana scoffed. "That's the same as locking me up."

"Do you want to stay here or not?" Ghod snapped.

She pulled away from his grip and scoffed. "Fine, I'll stay away from the other part of the house. But I still get to walk around as I please; I can't remain in my room forever, can I?"

Ghod sighed. "Fine, but stay away from my mate Acantha."

She shrugged. "Whatever. Tell your maids to come get my bags." She said and walked into the house.

Ghod rubbed his face and groaned. "I'm going to regret this so."