TRAPPED✅

ELEVEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN
Don's POV
I wake up before Nala as usual, get dressed, and prepare to take her to school after breakfast. I take my place at the dining table and ask the maids to make pancakes, Nala's favorite, according to the information her friends had given me. The maids start baking, and I wait patiently for Nala to come downstairs.
"Morning" she sings cheerfully, expressing the happiness she always has with her friends. Why can't she be this free and happy with me?
"Morning," I reply, realizing that she has only taken notice of the maids and not me. Her mood changes to that of terror when she sights me.
"Morning," she says to me, every trace of happiness gone from her face. She takes her place at the table.
"Breakfast?" Claire asks her, and she nods.
"Yes, thank you" When Claire serves her the pancakes, joy returns to her expression. She quickly takes three successive bites.
"You'll choke if you are not careful" I warn, and she doesn't even spare me a glance, and I quickly become agitated. Does she hate me this much? Will she leave me? What happened yesterday comes back to mind. She does not want to talk to me because she is seeing someone else.
"You dare ignore me, Nala?" I growl as I hit the table with my fist, imagining the table is the bastard that is taking her away from me.
"Yes," she replies, and tears quickly settle in her eyes. I do not mean to frighten her.
"I am dropping you off. Let's go" I state, hoping she realizes that I only want to let her know that I care.
I don't say anything in the car. I want to give her the space she needs to think alone. I just hope that she one day comes to understand that I am concerned about her. I keep tapping my foot on the ground. I understand why I have a bad feeling about Nala. Will she leave me? What should I do now?.
"Don't go sleeping around," is all I say. I go back home to my office to sort things out.
I send Ben to pick her up as I round off what I am doing to make it home in time for dinner.  Immediately Nala enters the dining room, that unsettling smell wafts across my nose. I calm down as we eat, but I lose control, as I just cannot let someone snatch what is mine.
"I can smell him all over you" I announce.
"Don, please, I am tired. I did not do anything wrong" she pleads.
She unconsciously touches her lips with her fingers and the truth of what had transpired dawns on me.
"Really, Nala? Are you sure?" I ask, glaring at her, particularly at her face.
"Okay, he kissed me, but I swear it was nothing. I wasn't even expecting it", she confesses.
"I knew something was up" is all I am able to say. I am hurt beyond words.
"Don, please don't overreact"
"Me? Overreact? You cheat on me and you call my reaction an overreaction?" I move closer to her, firmly resolved not to hurt her physically, as my father did a lot of that to me. I know the terrible effects it can have on people.
I pull her closer to me and kiss her roughly, making sure she kisses me back.
"You are mine, and I don't share what is mine," I whisper and she nods.
"Good, I don't ever want to smell him on you"
She nods again and begins to cry. She quickly runs up the staircase.
Fuck!
I call Carson. I really need to talk to someone. He picks up on the third ring.
"Carson, she fucking hates me" I spit into the phone.
"How do you know that?"
"She came home and I perceived someone else's scent on her"
"It could not be a friend, Don. She had a life before you kidnapped her"
"Well, they kissed, and mind you, I did not fucking kidnap her. She is mine"
"You see, Don, that's the problem with you. She is your mate, not an object you claim.
"What can I do to salvage the situation? I am really scared"
"Well, first apologize for taking her without her permission. That is the first thing you did wrong. Then, be kind to her." Carson advises.
"Okay, thanks." I hang up and enter my broom, only to find her sound asleep. Carson's advice will have to wait till tomorrow.
I sleep beside her and move closer to her so I can take in her scent. I really need her to help me stop being this heartless monster everybody thinks I am.