Chapter 44

Emmaline was confounded but her heart constricted painfully inside her chest when she felt wetness on her left shoulder. He was indeed crying. Her anger instantly evaporated and got replaced with concern.

“Hey, are you mad? Why are you crying?” She spoke softly and placed her arms on his broad back and started caressing it gently.

Matteo buried his face in her shoulders and started to sob badly, “I am sorry Emma for doubting you and breaking your trust but please this guilt is killing me. I thought that maybe if I do as you say, you’ll forgive me.”

His innocent words thawed her heart. A smile graced her lips as she grabbed the back of his head and started patting it, “But you should have discussed it with me. I know it’s all my fault but by doing this you created fomented troubles not only for me but for yourself too.”

Matteo sniffed and broke the hug. Emmaline felt sad watching his puffy, red eyes. Guilt gnawed her insides. But an amused look crossed her eyes when Matteo wiped his nose with his sleeves and hiccupped.

“D-Dad wasn’t agreeing so I requested him to at least permit me for making you my fiancée.” He said and looked at her with pleading eyes, “Trust me, Babe, I never had any cruel intentions for you.” Emmaline nodded and dropped her gaze, not finding words to comfort him. She was tired of everything.

Matteo noticed her long face. Stepping closer, he grabbed her hands and enveloped them in his warm ones, and started caressing them, “Since childhood, I never had any true friend who genuinely cared for me, Emma. Kids envied my wealth and my father’s powers. They extended their hands for friendship only to enjoy my luxury. I knew everything but still, I befriended them. ’Cause I was afraid of loneliness so I let them use me as a credit card.” He said and let out a sad chuckle. Emmaline felt her eyes turning moist. She could hear the pain in his voice.

“I thought people can only love my money and not me. My opinion turned stronger as I matured. Girls drool over my looks. I also enjoyed the fame and the fake love unless and until you came into my life.”

Matteo stopped and looked at her. Emmaline was flabbergasted as his eyes penetrated her soul. She gulped when he snaked his right hand around her waist and pulled her to him. She quickly placed her palms on his chest to maintain a distance but Matteo grabbed the back of her head and pulled her closer making her gasp.

“You changed those opinions, Emmaline.” He rasped while looking straight into her blue rims that were staring at him with shock and surprise, “You are different, your ways, your thoughts, your beliefs, your heart everything fascinates me about you. I swear Emma, I have never met someone like you ever in my life. Especially a girl who has such a strong personality and character. Who doesn’t chases rich boys in fact who doesn’t even give two flying fucks about them. Initially, I thought it was all a ruse but no, you were unique. The girl who can reject Damien Knight is definitely someone, who can prove that not all girls desire rich men. I am proud of you Emma, You’re a true inspiration.”

Emmaline was flustered. She stifled her smile and looked down coyly. Matteo smirked after noticing the red hues that crept on her cheeks. Cupping her cheek in his palm, he leaned down and planted a soft kiss there.

Emmaline froze on spot. She could feel her heart beating erratically but for some reason, she didn’t feel the butterflies in her stomach. Then what made her heart race?

Matteo moved back and caressed her cheekbone with his thumb, “I respect you, Emma. I do love you, a lot but above that, I have high respect for you.”

Emmaline instantly lifted her head and looked at him. The tears that she was holding for so long started dripping down one by one.

These were the words she was yearning to hear from someone. They were the reason behind her rejecting Damien. This was something she was looking for in her man.

That he should respect her.

Love builds the base of a relationship but in her eyes, respect is the one that should hold that place. A relationship that is rich in love and affection but respect and understanding have no play in it isn’t worthy. Damien is her mate but does he respect her choices, does her consent matters to him? No. And that’s what repulses her.

She doesn’t want to accept his slavery in the cloak of marriage. Sadly, Damien neither wants to understand that nor does he even give her the chance to make him understand that.

Overwhelmed with emotions, Emmaline threw herself in his arms and started crying. Matteo also wrapped around her back and hugged her tightly.

“I-I am sorry Matteo for being so selfish. All you did was to help me and I-” her voice cracked as she was so grief-stricken.

“No, don’t say that,” Matteo spoke while massaging her locks, “It was all a misunderstanding. Let’s forgive everything and move on.”

To cease her cries, he quickly broke the hug and cupped her face in his palms. Clearing off her tears with his fingers, he made her look into his eyes.

“It’s all over now. I hate seeing you cry and suffer. You deserve the world, Babe. Give me a chance. Just one chance and I would prove to you that I deserve to be your man. I would cherish you and give you the respect you are worthy of Emmaline. Be mine please.” He spoke earnestly.

Emmaline looked down as her mind couldn’t think straight.

‘Should I give him a chance, Reina? I do deserve someone better. I have the right to choose the man for me. I want someone who would prioritize my decisions and my words. Matteo is the right guy for me, Reina.’

She tried to convince her wolf but it was as if she was convincing herself. Emmaline felt no sparks when Matteo touched her, unlike Damien who made her blush even with a single glance. But maybe it was all infatuation after all she was young and it was normal for her to get attracted to handsome guys. Damien was hot, young, and successful. If she got tempted by his charms, she didn’t do a sin.

But marrying Matteo? Emmaline knew there was no love between them. He was her friend but love wasn’t important according to her theory to start a relationship. It could bloom later, right?

Emmaline found no response from Reina as if she was purposely ignoring her. That saddened her but being hot-headed, she took her silence the wrong way.

Emmaline couldn’t help but scoff in disbelief, ‘Are you masochistic, Reina? Don’t tell me you still worship that psychopath.’

She was disgusted. Emmaline couldn’t believe that Reina was still planning a future with Damien. How come she had so contrasting opinions with her own wolf? Why did they both never concur on the same thing?

The thought itself made her flush with fury.

‘I think we won’t ever come along, Reina. It will be good if you stay dormant forever. I also have no interest in revealing my true identity.’

Snarling in her mind, she immediately put on a smile that didn’t reach her eyes and looked at Matteo. She could literally see red hearts in his exquisite pair of eyes. The man was smitten.

‘I don’t care about anything. I am willing to give my heart to him Reina. I will marry him.’

“Only if he stays alive, Princess.”

Her eyes bulged out of her sockets when a thundering roar interrupted their beautiful moment. Matteo turned around only to receive a punch on his face that made him see stars in broad daylight.

Emmaline gasped in horror as she looked at the deranged beast in front of her who was eyeing her with a murderous glint.

“D-Damien”

*****