The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

~CLARA~

I could barely feel my legs for the rest of the day. I couldn't believe what had happened between Alaric and me. It was everything I always expected and more.

His hands, his mouth, everything about him screamed sexy. He knew how to touch me in ways that ignited a certain spark inside of me.

It was my second time leaving his office for the day; I couldn't believe he'd gone to another one of his classes early to have me all to himself for a few extra minutes. He acted like he was starving for me, but I wasn't complaining. I loved every second of it.

I close the door behind me but I’m not happy to find Nicole standing a few feet away.

Since when did she start to dress like this? She never covered her body this much in the past. It was so unlike her.

"What are you doing in his office?" She demands as I turn to walk away.

Could she not tell by my hair or my clothes what was happening in Alaric's office?

I wasn't allowing her to hurt him again. This was my chance to tell her to back off and leave him alone. It was obvious that I was the one he wanted. I didn't need to blackmail him to have him in my life.

"We need to talk," I tell her.

She smiles with a wicked look as she nods in agreement, "Yes, Clara, I believe it is time that we have a discussion."

Why was she so happy about this? Why didn't she seem worried at all?

"But not here." She adds. "I don't want Alaric coming out and hearing what I have to say to you."

"Is it because it's yet another lie?" I accuse her. "Lies are all you're good for. I don't know what someone like Alaric ever saw in you. You're not a good person; I can feel it."

She sighs as she starts to walk, "Follow me, Clara. I have plenty to tell you. And I can promise you that this isn't something you want to ignore. You need to hear every word I have to say to you. You'll find out just how wrong you are about everything.”

Something about the tone of her voice convinced me to follow her. I knew that half of the things she said were horrible, but I was willing to listen to her this time. Once, she was willing to hear what I had to say as well. It would have been better for both of us if we had this conversation in private.

I follow her out to the parking lot. When we were both sure that no one was around, she finally turned to me.

"I'm sure that Alaric hasn't told you anything yet." She says. "If he'd done so, you would have kept your distance from him. He's too nice for his own good. He doesn't know how to turn down an obsessed student."

"I'm not—"

"Let me finish." She snaps. "You came here to listen to what I had to say, so listen. Alaric is completely off-limits. He was never yours. You were just a rebound for our failed marriage. Now that I'm back, there is absolutely no room for you in his life. There never was."

I narrow my eyes, "I don't know if you're completely in denial, but you should see for yourself how much he wants to be with me. I don't know what kind of blackmail you're using to get back into his life, but I'm not just going to stand back and let that happen."

"I think you're the blind one." She snaps. "He married me. Everyone in this academy knows just how much he loves me. Does anyone here know about your relationship with him?"

I can't answer her. All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

"Your silence tells me everything that I need to know." She smiles. "I'm the woman with the title. I'm the only one that they recognize. He was only playing with your feelings. If he truly wanted to be with you, he would have tried hard to prove to everyone around him that he wanted you in his life. Instead, he kept you a complete secret, and you're still a secret while I'm the one back in his home."

I bit my lip to stop myself from calling her all sorts of names. I couldn't argue with her words since it was the truth. It was a huge secret. Alaric never told anyone about his feelings for me, and it's only recently that I even knew he had any interest in me. Yet, with Nicole, he announced it everywhere.

However, I knew that he also wanted to protect me from everyone else. I knew what could happen if word got out about my relationship with him. I saw what happened to my sister, and it was not pretty.

“He’s only quiet because he wants to protect me.” I snap at her. “There is nothing you can say today that can change my mind about how I feel. I'm not going to back down. Alaric has to choose between the both of us, and I know his choice will be me.”

Well, I wasn't entirely sure, but I wasn't about to admit that to Nicole.

She sighs, “I truly didn't want to do this, mainly because Alaric did not want me to tell you yet. However, since you're this invested in my ex-husband’s life, I think you should at least know about his child.”

His child?

What was she speaking about?

Curious, I watch as she removes the coat from around her body; the second it falls to the ground, everything around me goes completely dark.

It couldn't be. . .