Choices
1217 Words
Chapter 7: Choices
Camilla's POV
I woke up to find myself alone in the room. Panic shot through me, and I sat up immediately.
But then I heard the sound of drizzling water, like a shower, coming from behind.
I looked toward a frosted glass door, behind which the noise seemed to be coming from. It had to be the bathroom. Malakai was probably bathing.
Relieved, my gaze drifted across the suite, drinking in the quiet luxury that surrounded me. Limited-edition Mahogany furnishings gleamed in the soft light, cream drapes framed the windows, and an obscenely large flat screen dominated one wall. Above, a crystal chandelier shimmered, scattering the early morning light like a spray of falling stars.
It was all so tasteful, yet surreal. Nothing like the life I knew. Nothing like what I was used to.
I recalled some of our conversations last night. My heart skipped.
How could this be real? When did I start getting so lucky? Malakai thought I deserved to live. A curse like me. A mistake that should've never been made.
The water stopped. My heart raced as the door opened. I quickly lay back down, pretending to still be asleep.
Malakai walked into the room, and I peeked with one eye.
He stopped by the closet in front of me. My breath caught, and I froze, my skin flushing pinker.
His back, that looked as though the goddess herself had taken extra time to carve it, glistened with water droplets that rendered his light-tanned skin all the more captivating. His obsidian hair, no longer tied back, fell in wet, curling waves past the broadest shoulders I had ever seen.
He turned sharply, and I squeezed my eyes shut, my heart drumming at the sudden motion.
"Morning, Lily." His deep voice carried a teasing mirth that told me he knew I was awake.
A shiver ran down my spine.
"You were checking me out. Now that I’ve turned to give you the full view, you’re shying away."
Heat flared across my skin. What did he mean? I cracked my eyes open, too tempted to see.
My gaze landed on a chest that looked as though it had been chiseled from stone by divine hands, short damp hairs clinging to the skin.
Lower, my eyes dragged across his "I-live-in-the-gym" abs, then to the lone white towel clinging to his massive frame. I salivated.
Then jerked my gaze back up to his face, cheeks burning a furious red.
"Am I up to standard?" he asked, a grin curving his lips.
I looked away, my face burning hotter with Shame. He didn’t just meet the standard—he broke it. The thought came shamelessly before I could scold myself.
He shook his head with a soft chuckle, as if reading every thought I was desperately trying to hide. Then, with infuriating calm, he turned and dressed, his towel slipping only after everything important was already covered.
When he faced me again, the playful light in his eyes had dimmed into something more serious. Somehow, he still looked ridiculously majestic in just jeans and a plain T-shirt.
"Would you like to meet my family? Have breakfast with them?"
My heart slammed against my ribs, eyes widening. My fingers trembled with nerves.
My reaction made him frown. "You don't have to, not until you're completely comfortable," he hurried to add. "It’s just… they’ve been knocking one after the other. Especially my sister; she keeps wanting to meet you. But I can just tell them to f**k off."
Really?
"No, please," I said quickly. That would be rude. And they might end up hating me. "I’ll just have my bath first."
Even if I avoided meeting people now, I knew I’d have to face them eventually.
"Camilla."
I looked up and met his gentle gaze.
"I don’t know how you were conditioned to live and act back in Moonlight, but…" He paused, walking over to squat in front of me. "Here, in this house, you’re not expected to please anyone."
His hands reached for mine, but stopped halfway before he pulled back. Even so, he held my gaze, and I almost melted under it.
"You live how you want. Do what you want, when you want, however you choose. Do you get me?"
I couldn’t respond. If I tried, I’d cry again. And I’d already cried too many times since meeting him.
He was too much. Too good to be true.
I wasn’t used to anyone asking me what I wanted—much less telling me I could live how I chose. For a moment, I didn’t believe him.
How could he offer me the complete opposite of the life I’d always known, just like that? So fast. So easy. Like it cost nothing?
Could I trust him?
I lifted my hand slowly to touch his face, to confirm that he wasn’t just in my dream. If he was, then the dream had lasted too long, and I wasn’t sure how I’d cope when I finally woke up.
He stayed still, his eyes flickering with anticipation.
But just before my fingers could reach his hair, I pulled back. He blinked, then a thin smile tugged at his pinkish lips. It looked like my withdrawal had hurt him. I felt a pang of guilt.
My heart pounded too fast. If I didn’t ground myself soon, I might faint.
"How did you do that yesterday?" I asked, desperate to shift the conversation.
My thoughts flickered to Caroline—how confused she must have been. They might not even believe her if she told anyone we had just… vanished.
Malakai’s brow arched as he asked, "Do what?"
"The floating thing," I said. "When you carried me and we kind of… almost disappeared?"
He stood, lips curling in a mix of amusement and pride.
"I used my super speed," he said, sounding proud.
I frowned. "I thought wolves could only do that in their animal form. How did you?"
His grin widened slightly. "Because I’m not only a wolf."
I grew more curious. "Then what else are you?"
He walked ahead and leaned casually against the wall, one leg bent behind him, arms folded over his chest.
"I’ll tell you after your bath. And after you tell me something about yourself." He winked, a smirk curling his lips.
My cheeks warmed. I found him... interesting.
"Maybe you could start with that bracelet on your wrist," he added.
I stiffened, a sense of dread settling instantly at the pit of my stomach. I quickly hid the hand from view.
"The breakfast could go cold if I have to talk about myself first," I murmured, hoping he’d let it go.
"Then we’ll talk after. Or have the chefs prepare a new breakfast. Your choice, my lady."
I swallowed, holding his gaze a little longer than I should have. "What about your family? I might keep them waiting too long."
"Doesn’t matter."
My heart missed another beat.
"I’ll go have my bath now, then," I said, getting off the bed. "But I—I don’t have anything to change into."
"Not to worry," he said. "I’ll get everything you need before you’re out."
I gave a small nod and hurried to the bathroom after he handed me a new towel from his closet.
- Writer
