Chapter 39 : Confrontation

Karenina

He left. She watched Xavier slide out of her room while she was still lying on the bed, disheveled, naked, and in pain.  She didn't fully understand her body's reaction to him, but there was no denying how her body reacted to him, how her heart raced when Xavier was near her, or the tingling of her breasts, her hardened nipples, and the embarrassing wetness between her thighs. She wanted him with a woman's passion and Xavier had just said that he wanted her too.

"I have the same desire as you," he said, and her heart raced as his words echoed through her mind, remembering how deep and raspy his voice had been when filled with passion.

Karenina shivered at the memory and then Helga rushed in, being very polite as she entered.

"Luna," Helga bowed respectfully and waited for her orders.

Blushing, she sat down and crossed her arms over her chest, feeling very embarrassed in front of her servant and friend. She felt humiliated to be caught in such a position with him. Xavier. She stiffened. Xavier was engaged, yet he dared to touch her and say such unfaithful things to her while his mate was unaware? Anger and hurt feelings clashed inside her. Why should she feel hurt because he already had a mate, she did not know, but she blamed Xavier anyway. It was his fault if she had such confusing feelings.

"Do you need help, Luna?" Helga's voice broke her reverie.

Still trembling from sexual frustration, though she didn't realize that was the cause, Karen replied, "Y-yes. Can you help me put on my nightdress?"

Standing up, Karen turned her back on Helga as she was helped into her clothes. The sun hadn't risen yet as there were still a few hours before night took over the sky, but she was already tired from her outdoor activities with Raine and her ordeal with Xavier.

"Thanks, Helga. I think I'll take a nap now," she tried to smile at Helga.

"Of course, Luna," Helga said as she bowed again. "If you need anything, I'm on the other side of the door." She said.

Karen looked to her right at the far wall. A door had been installed there the day she arrived, and Helga had been ordered by Xavier to sleep here to keep a better eye on her in case she needed help. Helga was her servant and had to be near her at all times. She felt more and more uncomfortable around her. Life was not meant for a simple girl like her.

Nodding her dark brown head, her hair loose around her shoulders and back, she felt a soft rustle on her clothes. When she turned to the bed, her mind immediately went back to Xavier lying on top of her, while she was lying underneath him, naked and melting in his arms. She tried to hide herself under the covers to block out the erotic images from her mind. It was then that her heart felt so sorry for enjoying someone else's kiss, didn't she love Rylan? Rylan, who had been with her since she had unwittingly come to the Moonlit Grove, and who had come to her rescue on so many occasions.

Given the pain of knowing that Rylan had left her to meet Carolina, the woman he had first loved passionately, wouldn't she do almost the same thing, letting Xavier kiss her passionately before each bond exchange, savoring his lips on hers, his body pressed so close to the complaining woman? Wouldn't Rylan feel the same heartache and perhaps betrayal that she had always felt when he was with Carolina?

She did the same! She felt so pathetic. More because of the sadness she had experienced when Rylan had gone to Carolina than because of how Rylan felt about the situation; she was reluctant to admit it. What did that say about herself?

And besides, how dare Xavier betray his mate? Or his soon-to-be mate. They were still fiancé, fiancée. Didn't that mean anything to him?

She might not understand why Xavier acted uncharacteristically towards her, maybe he felt bad about the mating ceremony, but Karen had to make him realize that his actions towards the woman who had no idea who he was supposed to be his mate were wrong. Why the thought of him with another woman, kissing her, touching her, made Karen uncomfortable, she wasn't sure. Was she... was she jealous?

Later that evening, there was a knock on her bedroom door as Helga helped her put on another dress, and Raine poked her head in, smiling brightly as always.

"Karenina, I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me and Brother Xavier," the little girl asked hopefully before adding, "but only if you're feeling well, Brother Xavier said."

Turning her head, Karen smiled at Raine. "I'd like to join you, Rain. I've been stuck in this room too long."

Raine rushed in and wrapped her arms around the older girl's middle, hugging her tightly before leaving her room with a parting answer. "I'll tell big brother Xavier!"

Karen smiled affectionately afterwards, but she had ulterior motives for confronting Xavier again. She had to clear the air between them and make him aware of his new mate's right to privacy as well as intimacy in her room.

"Will you join us, Helga?" she asked as she got up and walked into the hallway, leaving Helga to close her bedroom door and lead the way to Xavier's private dining room.

"Oh no, Luna," Helga told her. "I'm just a servant and I'll wait for you in the other room when you're ready to return to your room."

"Is that so? I'm so used to eating with you, it would be strange if you weren't there," she thought, not realizing the effect her words would have on Helga.

Does this girl never cease to amaze me? Helga thought silently. Karen had no concept of propriety and position, and made Helga feel welcome in a way that was not usual between servant and lady. She felt confused, not knowing how to behave with the strange girl. She was afraid of becoming too familiar with her, rather than being reprimanded or even punished for her frankness. Their worlds were too different for the closeness the girl seemed to want from her, though secretly Helga was beginning to want the same thing. She wished they could be friends, but Helga was realistic. It wasn't going to happen.

They finally reached Xavier's private dining room and the guard in the same uniform as the others opened the door for them, bowing silently in respect. Karen was tempted to return the gesture, but a look from Helga reminded her that it wasn't her place to bow to servants or guards; although she didn't know why, except that she was a guest in Xavier's Pack House.

She stopped and gaped at the sight of what lay behind the elaborate door. The room was three times the size of her own, with a long, low table surrounded by soft cushions. Ignoring the table for the moment, she turned her head to the left and right to look at the same white walls and gold trim as the hallways, but the walls were covered with beautiful tapestries. Most of them depicted beautiful meadow scenes, waterfalls, and flowers of various kinds. Some others showed beautifully painted pictures of castles.

She didn't know how a dining room could have such beautiful paintings, but she was mesmerized by the artwork. Looking up, she saw the beautiful lights hanging from the ceiling. Looking at the table, she saw a variety of food set in two places. Then she noticed the occupants of the table. Xavier sat at the head of the table while Raine sat to his left.

For a moment, her eyes fell on Xavier, drinking water with his angelic beauty. He was sitting so upright and graceful, and his golden eyes met hers with the same bland expression they always had.

"Karenina! Aren't you going to sit down and eat?" asked Raine.

She blushed when she heard the door close behind her, Helga remaining on the other side, so she moved over to his right, the only vacant spot. Kneeling on the velvet cushion, she glanced at the bowls in front of her. She noticed that Raine also had food in front of her, but he did not, except for a cup and a tall jar that was emitting steam from the top. In fact, the taller jar was closer to her left elbow than it was to him. It was then that Karen realized there were two pairs of eyes watching her, and she realized her stupidity.

She cleared her throat in an attempt at a smile and said, "Hello, Rain, Xavier." But she was soon at a loss for words, so she quietly lifted the large jug and poured the contents into a glass, indicating that it was tea. She quietly offered to pour it to Xavier. He nodded his head gracefully and lifted his small cup towards her, and she concentrated hard not to spill a single drop of the contents or make the cup overflow.

Somehow she managed it and she could breathe a sigh of relief. Xavier lifted his drink and took a sip, signaling for the meal to begin.

Raine said, "Bon appetit," before picking up her cutlery and starting to eat. Karen mimicked Raine, picking up the bowl of fish with one hand and using the cutlery with the other.

Again she looked at his empty seat.

"Um, Xavier?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes, Karen?"

"Why aren't you eating?"

He stared at her with uncomprehending eyes and said, "Your concerns are unnecessary."

With a frown on her face, she popped a piece of fish into her mouth and chewed slowly. As Xavier continued to sit silently beside her, frightening her with his presence, her mind flashed back to the way he had touched her. She wondered - almost with annoyance - why he bothered to sit at the table if he didn't want to eat. Out of curiosity, she was forced to say, "You must be hungry." She did not know why she was concerned about his refusal to eat. Hadn't he just told her it was none of her business?

She saw him take another drink, and his empty cup was placed in front of him, but he did not let go. Soon Karen lifted the pitcher with both hands and filled his cup again, then he drank again. "I don't need to eat right now."

She could hardly believe it. He was obviously a very active man, with a muscular body. Wouldn't his body constantly need food for energy? Then again, he was an Alpha. She resumed her meal, ignoring Xavier and preferring to talk to Raine, still upset with him for his actions towards his mate. Karen refused to interfere between couples, especially those who were in the process of mating. It was tantamount to cheating. It was a behavior that was unacceptable to her.

Xavier was puzzled by this girl's behavior toward him. She was polite, but except for refilling his cup when it was empty and after the arrival, she had deliberately ignored him, he knew from the way she refused to look at him and the tension in her small body. He didn't know why she was acting so strangely, but he didn't like being ignored. Especially by her. He didn't know why he was so frustrated by her ignorance, but he refused to let it continue. He was her mate and he demanded attention.

When Karen put down her bowl and shyly placed her hands in her lap, she looked up at him, signaling that she was full, just as Raine had done. Xavier signaled for them to leave, and Raine walked to the door, turned and asked the still kneeling Karenina, "May Raine keep Karenina company a little longer?"

She almost didn't have the heart to refuse the sweet girl's request as she looked up at her with her big, golden brown puppy dog eyes, begging for attention. She was on the verge of agreeing, though she sighed inwardly at delaying her conversation with Xavier, when a male voice spoke up before she could.

"Karen and I need to talk, Rain. Let's go to bed."

She nodded her head and smiled at her brother, "OK," she agreed and left.

Now that it was just the two of them, she wasn't at all sure how to proceed with her well thought out discussion, a rebuke in fact. Once again, Xavier took the initiative, stood up and offered her his hand to help her up. Confused, not knowing what to say to him, Karen placed her hand in his and allowed him to help her up. Karen barely reached his chest and had to crane her neck back, they were standing so close; the angle was bound to make her neck creak. But being so close to Xavier made her heart race. She felt a hand on her lower back as she walked with him towards the exit.

"Come on," he said nonchalantly.