Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

"So you knew Jace was back?" Dad's voice sounds differently, it has a sterner tone to it. Something I wasn't used to being on the receiving end of. "I...no, I didn't see him."

"Oh good, I would have hoped you would have told us. Especially when we have been just as worried about his safety."

That hot sticky sensation of guilt starts to spread up my spine. I could feel my cheeks already starting to burn under her scrutinising glare.

I hate lying, I never lie.

But I seem to be doing it time and time again recently. But technically yesterday I didn't see Jace, but I knew he had returned

"Of course Mum." I can feel his eyes on me, Jaxon never misses a trick. There's a reason his reputation is more fierce than his own father's.

He has a darkness to him, something I wouldn't

want our family to be on the receiving end of. Which is why I need to remember my child is half human.

"We need to be somewhere, thank you for dropping by Jaxon. Of course, you are welcome to stay..." Dad's eyes remain on me as he places his hand on Mum's lower back and escorts her out of their office. "Oh yes, stay for dinner if you can." Mum calls out over her shoulder.

"I'll give it some thought thank you Auntie Rosa." Jaxon nods out.

Mum and Dad both move out of their office, instinct telling me to follow them.

That I shouldn't be alone with Jace's identical brother right now.

I move quickly, but not quickly enough.

"Not so fast." His hand reaches out in front of me, closing the door. I turn, his arm holding the door shut above my shoulder...my eyes trying hard to maintain his inquisitive stare.

"You seem different." He tilts his head, his eyes holding a crease at the outer corners as he tries to think what it could be. "Do I?"

"Something...you smell different."

"I didn't realise I had a smell?" I try to laugh it off but find myself to be the only one chuckling. His heated gaze was intense...ironically, how Jace looked at me at the hotel. But a different meaning behind it. "You don't..not like that...but.." He clears his throat, suddenly sounded awkward at his own words.

I can hear the beeping of the oven from the kitchen.

I breathe a sigh of relief when the alarm goes off to tell me my pizza is ready and I can excuse myself.

"Excuse me." I dive out of his

enclosing stance and pull the door open just wide enough to fit through. All but sprinting into the kitchen and

pulling my pizza out of the oven. en

I can feel his gaze upon my back, my shoulders sinking knowing that he has followed me. I don't turn but I just know he is looking at the melting ice cream tub left on the side the half bitten peanut butter sandwich and now a pizza being pulled out of the oven.

"Hungry?" He chuckles out, I turn with relief to find him quirking an eyebrow at me.

"Yes, I erm...I had been at the gym."

Calm, just stay calm Cleo. He will go home soon, just keep playing along.

"Is there something you need to tell me?" His words make me jump, my arm slipping by the oven.

"Ouch." I catch my arm on the tray as I pull the pizza out, his hands are there instantly taking the pizza tray off me.

His eyes stare with confusion at the red burn forming on my inner wrist.

Normally this wouldn't have hurt but with my wolf being on a hiatus....Ares was right, perhaps I need to be more careful.

"Cleo...what the fuck.." He growls out at me.

"It's nothing, I'm fine.."

He pulls me towards the kitchen sink, placing my wrist under cold running water, his other hand now placing the pizza down on the kitchen top.noveldrama

With the pizza down, he now leans

over, increasing the flow of cold

I

water. His nose right by my new ne

freeze at his closeness, as he smells me again.

A rumble leaves his chest as he takes a step back, leaving me to address my own wound.

"What's going on?" He demands.

"Nothing."

"Oh yeah, then explain to me why you smell like my brother."