One Year To Burn

Chapter 20

Venessa’s POV

“I’d like to take you out tonight,” he said, and I noticed the servants nearby flushing with shy smiles. They were genuinely happy for me.

I lifted my gaze to Rayon and returned his smile. At six foot three, he towered over my five foot seven frame, his presence calm and reassuring. Somewhere behind me, I felt it before I heard it Denzel’s low growl brushing against my mind, a clear sign he had entered the hall.

Calm down, Nigel, I linked him gently. His answering growl was sharp, irritated. I didn’t turn to look at him. I already knew Jalisa would be at his side.

Denzel hadn’t touched her in three weeks. I knew because the pain of the mate bond had been absent for exactly that long. Since our bond had been repaired, sleeping through their intimacy had become nearly impossible the ache, the awareness, the shared sensations. I supposed he realized it eventually and stopped, though he never mentioned it, and neither did I. I needed to avoid him anyway. Jalisa would be bitter about it, and bitterness didn’t suit her well.

It wasn’t as though she lacked attention Tyrell was more than willing to fill that void but she would feel as though she was losing Denzel. Her father certainly wouldn’t appreciate that, especially since she had failed to convince Denzel to join his cause. Time was running out. Everyone could feel it. The clock was ticking.

Rayon surprised me by abandoning his seat at the high table and choosing to sit beside me instead.

The gesture was sweet. Painfully so. Breaking his heart wouldn’t be easy but removing him from the equation was necessary.

Breakfast passed without incident. Since the day was free for me, I knew I couldn’t postpone the conversation any longer.

“Would you mind taking a walk with me?” I asked.

His smile was immediate. “I have training with the Alpha, but he’ll understand.”

I smiled back. “I won’t keep you long. I promise.”

We walked into the garden and sat on the lone wooden bench nestled among the flowers. He drew me close, his arm warm around my shoulders, and my heart stuttered not from affection, but from fear. Fear of what I was about to do. Refusing people had never been my strength, and it had cost me more than once.

“Gamma Rayon,” I began softly, “I truly appreciate your kindness… and the feelings you have for me.”

His hold tightened, hopeful.

“But I’m afraid this can’t work,” I said quickly.

He pulled back, staring at me as though I’d struck him. Shock froze his expression.

“You’re an incredible man,” I continued, forcing myself not to falter. “Any woman would be lucky to have you. But what I can offer you stops at friendship. Nothing more.”

He was silent for several seconds, clearly searching for words.

“Please don’t be angry,” I added. “It took courage to say this. In another life, you might have been perfect for me, but”

“Your heart already belongs to someone else,” he finished quietly.

I shook my head. “There’s no need to lie to me, Venessa,” he said gently but firmly. “I see the way he looks at you. And the way you look at him when you think no one notices.”

My breath caught.

“Denzel,” he said. “I see it. I was going to ask you, but I held back. Is there something between you two? Is that why you’re pushing me away? He’s been trying to stop me from courting you, and he never interferes in personal matters. Please tell me the truth.”

I was speechless. Where did I even begin?

“You know he’s mated,” Rayon continued. “You know who his mate is. You know how powerful she is. He can never leave her for you. Are you prepared to live as his secret for the rest of your life?”

I wanted to slap him for the bluntness of it but I held myself still.

“I care about you,” he said quietly. “And I’m willing to wait for you to see clearly. He is my Alpha, so I won’t speak against him. But I can give you time.”

My eyes burned.

“It’s not what you think,” I whispered.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting back emotion. “Then tell me. I know you’re hiding something. I want to help but I can’t if you shut me out. Why does Denzel look at you that way? Why do Jalisa and Tyrell hate you? Why are you always just out of reach?”

He let out a shaky breath. “Sometimes I think you have abilities beyond what you show. You’re always ahead always prepared. I’m not Gamma for show, Venessa. I observe. I notice. I kept it to myself because I care about you. If you can’t tell me everything, at least tell me what’s between you and Denzel.”

A lone tear slipped down his cheek.

I had to give him something.

“Do you remember when I ran the day I arrived here?” I asked.

He nodded.

“It’s because Alpha Denzel and I are fated.”

The words landed like a blow. He stared at me, stunned.

“He told Jalisa. I had to reject him. He accepted it, and we both felt the pain but the bond didn’t break. It’s still there. As though the goddess herself refuses to honor the rejection.”

My voice cracked. “That’s why Jalisa hates me. She doesn’t even know the bond survived. She just knows I’m fated to her husband and that he refuses to send me away.”

Tears finally fell. That was all I could give him. The rest was mine alone. My mission depended on silence. On success.

“So every time he’s with her… you feel it?” he asked quietly.

I hesitated. It had been weeks since I’d felt anything but I kept that truth to myself.

“Yes,” I said.

He pulled me into his chest.

“That selfish bastard,” he muttered. “He sleeps with his wife and causes you pain, then blocks anyone who tries to get close to you so he doesn’t suffer. I never thought Denzel capable of that.”

I pulled back and shook my head. “He hasn’t touched her in a while.”

Rayon’s expression softened. “That explains Jalisa’s frustration. It explains everything. You should have told me sooner.”

He exhaled slowly. “I was going to propose tonight. But now… I won’t complicate things further. We’ll be friends, Venessa. You need someone you can trust an ally.”

His gaze was steady, sincere. “I wouldn’t be alive if not for you. Until Denzel finds a way out of King Fabian’s trap and claims you properly, I’ll stand by you. I swear on my wolf you won’t ever have to watch your back with me.”

Relief flooded me, warm and overwhelming. For so long, I’d been alone. Perhaps the goddess had spared his life for this very reason. If Rayon had been present earlier, Tyrell and Jalisa would never have succeeded.

We sat quietly for a while, admiring the garden. Eventually, he left for training.

I whispered a silent thanks to the goddess for mercy, for allies, for small victories. I hoped with everything in me that Rayon would remain just that.

An ally was no longer a luxury.

It was a necessity.