Chapter Twenty
Shaken
Madam Stella couldn’t see me until later in the afternoon. So I headed home to hopefully unwind a bit before going at it again.
Stephan was leaning against the wall in the hallway when I got home. He reached out to touch my arm, but I flinched.
“I don’t want to be touched right now, Stephan.” I walked away from him.
He dropped his hands and they just fell to his sides.
“We still need to talk about what happened…” I opened the apartment door and stepped inside. He followed but remained in the small entrance and leaned against the door with his feet crossed at the ankles and his hands crossed over his chest.
“How long have you been lying to me?” I asked after throwing my purse on the couch and facing him.
“What exactly have I lied about, Jade?” he asked looking at me. His eyes were starting to tighten, to strain against any emotion.
“How did you know Seth fell off that path and died. Who exactly called you?”
“He didn’t give a name. He said Seth gave him my number in case something happened to him. Why would I lie about that?”
I frowned at his question.
He walked toward me very slowly. “No,” he said shaking his head. “Don’t do that. Don’t dismiss my question with a frown.”
“Let’s take turns on asking questions, all right?” I spat. “I don’t think you’re entitled to any. You know everything about me.
Stephan sighed and stopped walking. “I haven’t lied, Jade. I have kept information from you. That’s not the same thing. And it was for your own good.”
I dug my fingernails into my arms. “Don’t do me any fucking favors, Stephan.”
“It wasn’t a favor to you, Jade. It was a favor to…” He stopped talking.
“To who?” I asked through gritted teeth.
He didn’t answer. His eyes started avoiding mine.
I let out a grunt and in one swift movement, I started for the door. “I have shit to do,” I said as I reached for the doorknob.
Stephan was in front of the door. His palm pushed firmly against it as his eyes held mine.
“Please, Jade.” His voice was low. His face hovered over mine while his breath moved strands of my hair.
“I already knew you were keeping things from me. I know something is going on because when I touch you, I know I only see things you want me to see. The visions are blurred and they skip around.”
“You know all that and still you accuse me of lying?” Stephan asked.
“You didn’t tell me, Stephan. I figured that out on my own, and it’s not like I know exactly what you’re keeping from me.”
His expression softened. “I haven’t lied, Jade. You didn’t ask questions so answers weren’t required. To lie, you need an opportunity to tell the truth first.” His voice had relaxed and became that sweet honey tone I was accustomed to. I wanted to hold him, to feel the comfort of his heartbeat and the warmth of his arms, but I hugged myself instead and bit my lip. Slowly, I moved away from the door and sat on the couch.
“Ask me, Jade.” He dropped to one knee in front of me. “Ask me—”
“Are you really gay?” I asked.
Stephan’s eyes grew wide with surprise to my question. “Wha…?”
“Answer me.” I didn’t avert my eyes. I stared into Stephan’s and waited for an answer.
“Jade.” He reached up to grab my hand, but I pulled away. Tears stung the back of my throat. Could he have really pretended something like that for so long? How did I miss it…and why?
Stephan’s eyes glistened. “I’m…” He ran a hand through his hair. “I am, Jade,” he said with a long breath.
I bit my trembling lips and then with all my strength I slapped Stephan across the cheek.
“You said you wouldn’t lie!” I got up from the couch and paced. “How long have you been lying about this and…why?” I shrieked.
Stephan stood up and walked toward me. He didn’t touch me, but he put himself in my line of vision.
“Does it matter, Jade?” he asked with a soft voice. “All these years that I’ve been here for you. All our laughs and our nights of movies and…”
“Don’t!” I hit him in the chest with flat palms. “Don’t try to make it all right.”
“Jade, my feelings for you will not change. Regardless of what sexual orientation you think I am. My feelings for you can’t change.”
“Why?”
“Because I will not allow it,” another male voice answered.
A strong, harsh voice like the cutting wind that instantly shook me and weakened my bones.
Stephan immediately turned toward the direction of the voice and dropped to one knee. “Alpha.”
I was suddenly breathless.
My heart was in a knot, and I was frozen in place.
My limbs. My soul. Everything inside of me felt paralyzed by the man standing in front of me.
I could barely breathe.
“Daddy?”