Hiding Atlantis

Chapter 19

"Are you okay?" He asked once again upon seeing that my eyes were staring directly at him. The bitterness in me wants to push him away but my heart is against it as I pull him closer, finding comfort in his embrace. It's my young heart's dream. To be held by the man I love. To be held by him. And now that this is happening, the young Liliana can't help but to dance in happiness. I've tried to remind myself that this is just temporary. That sooner or later, his hug will loosen and he'll push me away from him as if I have some type of incurable disease.

I let go of my thoughts and chose to savor the moment with my mate. I pull him closer to me and borrow my head on his hard chest. I inhaled his scent and I felt the pain from my heat subsides.

After a few minutes of holding me in his arms, I felt him gently pulling me away from his body. I felt my wolf howl in disappointment and I immediately held his arm to pull him more.

"Please stay." I pleaded. I pulled the collar of his shirt and hugged him tighter so that he couldn't leave.

I felt his hesitation. Is it really hard for him to be with me even just for a short moment? Does he despise me that much?

Slowly, I let go of the grip I have on his shirt and reluctantly pulled away from him. I can feel him look at me with serious eyes and I didn't dare look at him back afraid that he'll see how much I'm hurting right now.

"I-I'm sorry. You can l-leave now." I struggled to say those words as I felt the lump of my throat keeping me from talking straight without my voice breaking.

To my surprise I felt him caress my face and guide it so that our eyes will meet. My face is facing him but my eyes are still looking down. I can't afford to look at him right now. I can't. Not now that I'm hurting.

I felt him sigh when he failed to catch my eyes and I heard the rustle of the bed when he stood up.

"Sleep." That's all he said before walking to the door and exiting my room.

As soon as I heard the door close, I let go of the tears that I didn't know I'd been holding. The pain from my heat suddenly came back now that he's away but I didn't mind. I felt like the physical pain that I'm feeling in my body at the moment can't compare to the pain my heart is suffering from.

I look at the moon shining brightly outside the window. I laughed bitterly with tears in my eyes.

"I know it's my fault that I'm hurting right now." I said in the air. "I asked for Atlas but I don't remember asking for this pain too." I cried, hoping that the Moon Goddess could hear me.

I hope it rains tonight.

I silently prayed before laying on the bed to go back to my sleep.

I woke up to the smell of damp wood and leaves. The same burning feeling welcomes me upon opening my eyes. Elaine told me that the heat cycle commonly stops after the third day or more and thinking about it gives me hope knowing that I won't wake up with this devastating feeling again tomorrow.

I suddenly heard soft knocks from my door pulling me out of my thoughts. Hope swells in my heart upon thinking that it was Atlas but I immediately kill that thought when I remembered how he left me in pain last night.

"Liliana, are you awake?" Altus voice from the other part of the door.

I immediately sat down in my bed, causing me to feel dizzy from my sudden movement.

"Yes, I'm awake." I shouted so that Altus could hear me from the outside. He opened the door of my room and he saw me massaging my temple.

"Are you okay?" He said as he walked towards me with worry laced on his tone.

He stopped mid step causing me to look at him in confusion.

"Damn. I can't believe how my brother controlled himself with the way you smell right now." He said lowly. Almost to himself.

"What do you mean?" I asked him. He's shaking his head in disbelief as he continues walking towards my bed.

"Your smell can make all the unmated wolves go crazy to mate with you." He explained as he looked at my face, searching for the pain he saw earlier.

I was shocked at his confession and I didn't know how to reply. If what he's saying is true, then it only means that Atlas doesn't want anything to do with me.

"Are you okay?" Altus asked me when he felt my silence. I shake my head truthfully.

He heaved a sigh and took the untamed hair strands away from my face to see me carefully.

"I'm sorry if my brother is giving you a hard time." He said with sympathy. His voice filled with comfort.

Looking back when we were young, Altus was always the one who's there for me whenever I felt bad that Atlas can't notice me. He always comforts me. Saying that I'll soon move on from his brother or that I'll find someone better than a stone called alpha.

And now he's here in front of me, I can't help but to put down my fake facade and let him see how broken I am from the inside. My tears flowed freely from my eyes and he immediately pulled me in a tight embrace.

How I wish I could feel the same ecstatic feeling that I felt last night when it was Atlas who's hugging me. It's unfair. How can I miss his touch when he did nothing but hold me against his will? It's really unfair. How can I love him so badly despite him pushing me away and hurting me countless times?

"I wish I could do something to ease your pain." Altus said sincerely and an idea came through my mind.

I pulled away from his arms and wiped my tears. "Actually you could do something." I said to him and his eyes immediately lit up and a smile formed in his lips.

"How can I help you, Luna?" He asked. I cringe at the way he addresses me but I push it away on the back of my mind.

"Take me away from here." I said and his smile instantly dropped.