Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

After the pizza tray incident I have no doubt that this plate will burn me. I can see the steam of heat rising off the dishes. They are burning hot. Time passes while her hand remains stretched out in front of me and I am just not taking the plate off her.

"Cleo?"

"Allow me..." Jaxon appears behind me, taking the plate from Kaia and setting it down in front of me.

"We wouldn't want you to burn yourself would we. He snarls into my ear, my head turning to meet his eyes.

"Back off." I grit out, just loud enough for him to hear.

"Not enjoying the little soiree?" He hisses back, just loud enough for me to hear above the general conversation now happening around us. "What's that?" Jace demands out, his eyes cold again as they look my way.

"Nothing brother.." Jaxon pushing off the back of my chair moving back towards his seat.

That awkward silence returns again to the table, eyes darting around the room...not quite understanding what was going on.

If Jaxon could just keep his mouth shut I would be able to make it through tonight and nobody need know anything was wrong. Why..why is he so hell bent on ruining their special night.

I was here....me of all people...surely that must count for something. If I can do this, then so can he.

He just needs to keep himself in check, needs to remind himself that this isn't about him...that this is between Jace, me...and Callie.

"Callie dear, if you will do the honours.." Kaia passes a sharp knife over to Callie, who takes a stand...preparing to carve into the beef wellington.

As soon as she does, the juices of the medium-to-rare cooked beef oozes out.

The sight causing sickness to rise into my gullet and at the back of my throat.

I try to push it down...the burning hotness of it making my eyes water.

"Excuse me." I push off my chair, hastily excusing myself from the table...running into the downstairs bathroom just in time.

I lock the door behind me, making it just in time to

empty the contents of my stomach into the toilet. Just the thought of having to sit there and chew on the beef wellington was bringing me out in a cold sweat.

Whether it is because she made it and was serving it for me, or whether the baby has an adverse reaction to meat right now...

"Cleo?" I hear a knock on the door, only to place my head back in the toilet, trying to push out the noise of the person on the other side.

When the door is kicked in...a hand is placed upon my upper back.

"Oh Cleo..." He strokes my back before handing me a tissue.

I sit up...letting the back of my shoulders cool down against the wall, complete exhaustion washing over me.

Why was I here, why did I come.

Why was I wearing this tight black dress...my boobs were almost too big for it and the dress was making me so hot that I just wanted to rip it off me.

"Is this a joke to you?" My breathing is difficult as I wipe the tissue across my lips.

Placing it down the toilet and flushing it.

"Because my life right now, it's not funny Jaxon. I'm not here for your amusement." Defeated, I sigh out.

"I know you're not."

"Then why...why are you torturing me."

He takes a moment, takes in my words...I hope. He moves to the basin, dapping a hand towel with cold running water before placing it on my forehead tenderly. I moan into the coolness of the towel high was giving me short reprieve from my burning head.

"So it is his." He's crouched down in front of me, my eyes forced to look into his.

Gone is the arrogance, the dark aura...he was opening up to me...he was letting me see his gentle side again. Just like when he came to my pack pretending to be Jace, only for it to then kick off between us.

"Didn't you already know that?" I scoff out to him.

"Yes, but you are convincing Cleo."

I take a moment before I sit up straighter, the nauseous sensation that had hit me at the dinner table now gone.

"I will tell him Jaxon, I will. But I

can't...not when her parents are here. You must understand that... You must see the predicament I am in. need you to back off, to give me time. I make once last attempt at trying to get him to understand my side of things.

"You wont run?"

"No unless you give me cause to run. You can see how much he loves

her, I'm not just telling him....I'm

breaking a heart. He's been with her this entire time, they have a business venture together. He's cheated on her with me...I'm the

mistress, I'm the

mistake..."

"Cleo.." He cuts me off with a displeased rumble at my truthful words.

"I need you to stop, I need you to eat your food without making another snide comment, without agitating him up, please Jaxon...do it for me." "You'll tell him?"

"I'll tell him...when the time is right. But not tonight..."

"Tomorrow? Before you go home."noveldrama

"Yes, tomorrow."