As I poured the deep, ruby liquid into a crystal glass, a sudden, insistent knock at the door drew my attention, causing me to nearly spill the wine. I set the glass down and made my way to the entryway, wondering who could be there at this hour.
The moment I opened the door, a man I didn't expect appeared in front of me.
There, standing tall in a dark form fitting suit, was Kieran, his brown eyes piercing into mine. I should have checked the peephole before opening. That way, I wouldn’t have opened the damn door in the first place.
"Kieran," I breathed, my fingers curling around the edge of the door. "What are you doing here?"
He offered me a small smile, his gaze roaming over my body in a way that made my skin crawl. "Selena, my love. I've missed you."
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, instead leaning against the doorframe and crossing my arms over my chest. "How did you even find me?" I asked, bypassing his sentimental declaration.
He chuckled, as if the answer should have been obvious. "We're mates, remember? I can always sense where you are, just as you can sense me. It's a bond that can never be broken, no matter how much you may wish it so."
My jaw tightened, and I remembered that we were technically still mates. None of us had rejected each other, which meant we were still linked. I had hoped, foolishly, that in this new apartment, in this fresh start, I might be able to finally free myself from Kieran's all-encompassing presence. I was definitely going to reject him but I was not going to do it where no one was watching. It was going to be out in the public so I could humiliate him just like he had done to me. He needed to have a taste of his own medicine.
"So what do you want from me now?" I asked in an exasperated tone.
Kieran's expression softened, and he took a step closer, his hand reaching out to caress my cheek. I fought the urge to lean into his touch, to allow myself to be drawn back into his orbit. "My darling Selena, I simply can't stay away. Not when I know you're hurting."
I scoffed, pulling away from his gentle touch. Now I was his darling Selena? He always referred to Nina in that manner and not me.
"I'm not hurting, Kieran. I'm free.For the first time in years, I'm finally able to breathe, to live my own life. Can't you understand that?"