Page 20 of Orin

My heart sank. I had to escape before my tears started. It was evident he didn’t want to acknowledge the connection between us. I put my hands in my hair shoving it off my face. Maybe he didn’t find me attractive?Stop it. Stop torturing yourself. He has someone else.

I was about to turn and run away, but he spoke again.

“Are you going to stay on Alara after you give birth?” Orin asked, meeting my eyes with his.

I was numb. Huh?“I...I don’t know. I want to teach and the only way I can see that happening is if I go to a human colony,” I stammered, not sure where the words came from.

The guy hardly ever smiled or talked, and I had no clue what was going on in his head or why he would ask about my plans.

Orin eyed me before declaring, “I need to leave.” He left, taking what remained of my heart.

I needed to get it through my skull. Orin would never be mine.

10

Olivia

WITHOUT TAKING THEtime to think about it, I found myself standing outside the palace having made my way through the staff entrance. My thoughts were a muddled mess of hurt and anger towards Orin for rejecting me.

And towards myself for having allowed myself to have hope.

“It’s my business what I do with my life.” I muttered. “There’s no reason I can’t go for a walk outside. I have the freedom to make my own choices. Orin isn’t in charge.”

Women weren’t in danger here. What was the worst that could happen? No one was going to bother a pregnant woman.

“Alaran males would never do that,” I said, glancing around to make sure I was alone. I huffed as I began walking.Maybe I should confront Orin and say what I really think?

Our earlier encounter had left me confused, and I wanted to know if we really were mates. And if it were true, why was he choosing to pretend we weren’t? Surely his current mate would understand it if he met his fated mate? My face burned at the thought.Liv! Don't be that woman.My inner voice admonished. I was no home wrecker.

After taking a few deep breaths, I made a solemn commitment to myself to take one last look at his handsome face before moving on. Permanently. I would leave Alara as soon as the baby came and we would start a new life somewhere else.

I felt safe taking the main street to the downtown marketplace since it was the route Clor and I always took.

But I thought better of it when my ankles began to ache.

Two Alaran males approached, and I went to great lengths to avoid making eye contact. When they got closer, I saw them holding hands and felt stupid for thinking they’d bother me.

It was too late to call aviko, so I took my time heading toward the market, stopping often to rest my feet. Soon I reached the corner nearest the stalls and was greeted by boisterous laughter and lively voices coming from the vendors at the market stalls.

Despite feeling tired, a smile spread across my face as the alluring aromas of flowers, food, and cooked meat reached my nose.

I hadn’t eaten since before my appointment with Rekna in the early morning. My stomach growled, and I looked down, rubbing circles over my baby bump. “Would you like to have some delicious ciglemia bread?” I asked, and the baby’s reply was a forceful kick. I laughed and continued toward one of the stalls that sold cooked food.

While scanning the crowd, I told myself I wasn’t searching for Orin. Then my eyes locked onto him and my stomach fluttered with excitement. He hadn’t seen me and I was frozen on the spot unable to look away.

My goodness, he’s handsome. My knees weakened at the sight of him.

His shoulder-length hair spilled over one cheek and I yearned to run my fingers through it. And even though I’d rarely witnessed it, I was aware that beneath his broody exterior he possessed a stunning smile.

My spirits instantly plummeted when I saw Orin and the same Alaran woman from before, locked in an intense conversation. The sight of her standing in front of him left me with a sinking feeling, as if a stone had been dropped into my stomach.

A warm smile spread across her face as she looked at him. Then, she handed him a small, metal container that he accepted.

First, anxiety coursed through me, tightening my chest, then jealousy overwhelmed me, coloring my vision with a red haze.

An argument broke out a few feet in front of me and I tried to ignore it to take in the woman...alien...whatever. I watched as she leaned in and planted a quick kiss on Orin's cheek before disappearing into the busy crowd. I swallowed to clear a knot of emotion, and my eyes filled with tears.

Bolting from the food stall, I glanced down at the pavement as I hurried away. Chaos erupted among the crowd and the sound of fists striking skin registered in my ears.

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