The Alpha’s Rejected Mate

8

ELEANOR

“What is wrong with you?” Mira's voice cut through the room, and I flinched.

She stared at me like I had committed some unforgivable crime, her eyes moving from the paint covering the front of my yellow tank top to the container in my hands.

“You haven't even spent a day in this house, and you're already ruining everything!” she shouted. “Why couldn't you just stay where you were supposed to stay?”

My mouth parted, but no words came out. I hadn't expected her to be happy with me, especially after the way she had looked at me the previous night, but I hadn't thought she would be this angry over an accident.

“I didn't mean to…”

“Don't!” she snapped, cutting me off.

She marched toward the worktable, her attention fixed on the paint spreading across its surface. I followed her gaze and felt my stomach twist. Some of it had dripped onto the floor, leaving a colourful mess beside the table.

Mira stopped in front of it and she said nothing for a moment. She simply stared at the damage, her hands hanging stiffly at her sides.

Then she turned to me. “Do you have any idea how difficult it was to get this paint?”

“No, but I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to spill it. I was only trying to catch the container before it fell.”

“Then you should have been more careful! You shouldn't even be in here!”

“I know. I'm sorry.”

“Sorry?” She let out a disbelieving laugh. “Do you think saying sorry is going to fix this?”

I lowered my gaze to the stain on my shirt.

Of course it wouldn't. I knew that. But what else was I supposed to say?

“I'll clean it up.” I offered.

“Clean it up?” Her voice rose again and she scoffed. Do you even know what you're dealing with? You don't get it, do you?”

I looked at her helplessly. The truth was that I didn't. I hadn't even known the room existed until a few minutes ago, much less that the paints inside it were so valuable. I had simply been curious.

Now I wished I had never left my bedroom. Better still, I wished I had ignored my hunger and stayed in bed until someone remembered that I existed.

At least then I wouldn't have found another way to make myself unwelcome.

“I'm sorry, Mira,” I said again. “I shouldn't have touched anything. I should have asked before coming in here.”

She stared at me, seemingly unimpressed by my apology. I couldn't blame her entirely. I had made a mess of something that clearly mattered to her, and there was no way to undo it. Still, she looked at me like I had deliberately destroyed something she loved.

I glanced at the artwork on the stand, the beautiful mosaic I had almost touched.

“I really didn't mean to ruin your work.”

Mira's expression tightened..“That paint isn't something you can just walk into a shop and buy. It took me months to get it, and now look at what you've done!”

Her voice cracked slightly on the last few words.

I stared at her, and my guilt deepened. Beneath her anger, she looked genuinely hurt. This wasn't just about the mess. She had spent time and effort gathering the materials she needed for her work, and I had damaged something important to her because I couldn't keep my curiosity to myself.

“I know I can't undo it, but I'll do whatever I can to make it right,” I said.

Mira scoffed. “With what? Money? You don't even have that.”

I fell silent as she looked me up and down with contempt in her eyes.

“Do you even know how much that paint costs? You would have to work for years before you could afford even a small amount of it.”

The words stung more than I expected. I understood that I had made a mistake, and I had apologised several times. I wasn't trying to deny what I had done, but there was no reason for her to make me feel so small.

I lifted my head.

“You don't have to yell at me over spilled paint.”

Her eyes widened. “Spilled paint? That's what you're calling it?” She took a step toward me. “If it's just spilled paint, why don't you go out and buy some more? Go ahead, Eleanor. Show me how easy it is!”

“I never said it was easy. I said I was sorry!”

“And I'm telling you that your apology doesn't mean anything when you have no idea of the gravity of what you've done!”

“I said I was sorry,” I repeated, my own frustration beginning to rise. “What else do you want from me?”

“Maybe you should have thought about that before barging into a room that doesn't belong to you!”

“I didn't know I wasn't allowed in here!”

“That doesn't mean you can go around ruining things!”

“I wasn't trying to spill the damn paint!”

My voice came out louder than I intended, and Mira looked like she couldn't believe I had dared to argue with her. Her face reddened, and she took another step toward me.

“Who do you think you are to speak to me like that?”

I stared at her, suddenly aware of how far the situation had gotten out of hand. I didn't want to fight with her. I didn't want any more trouble in this house, especially when I was already struggling to adjust to living here. But I was tired of being shouted at as though I were incapable of understanding a mistake.

“I haven't insulted you,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I've apologised, and I'm willing to help clean everything up. I don't understand why you keep treating me like I've done this on purpose.”

“Because you…”

“What's going on here?”

The deep voice came from the doorway, making my heart jump.

I turned and found Caspian standing there. He wore a pair of dark trousers and a long velvet robe that hung open over his bare chest. His hair was slightly wet, like he had recently showered, and a few damp strands fell across his forehead.

I didn't want him to see me right now. Not like this.