My Alpha’s Betrayal: Burning In The Flames Of His Vengeance

55.A Cold Morning YILEYNA I awoke to find the bed empty, feeling a pang of pain inside of me. | know he had a lot to do, but I did wish | could at least wake up to him next to me, even if it was just occasionally.

My entire body felt sore and achy, yet the lightness that | felt in my chest was immeasurable.

A smile played on my lips and my cheeks burned as | thought of last night. It had been different, and even if | was blindfolded, it only heightened my other senses. | felt as if we had somehow beccloser. It was almost as if we had opened ourselves to one another in an entirely new way.

| was sure Theon felt something much more forthan he admitted. He couldn't put it into words, but | was positive he was falling for me. | smiled happily, hugging the blanket to my chest. He had cleanedtoo. No one did that unless they truly cared. | closed my eyes for a moment, feeling utterly happy and content. My Theon...

just like | was his... My heart leapt when | heard the sound of movement in the other room, and I jolted upright, wincing at how sore my behind and core felt.

He was home! | kicked the blanket off and quickly got out of bed, almost falling over my legs that felt like jelly. | opened the drawer to grab a shirt or something to put on, when | realised it was half empty. | frowned. Most of Theon’s clothes were missing... Feeling confused, | pulled on a t-shirt before | closed the wardrobe and pulled the curtains open. The window was entirely frosted, and from what I could see outside, the snow was still falling strongly and it was extremely windy. | stripped the bedding, the stains from last night a reminder of everything that we had done here. | don’t think I'll be able to cinto this room without remembering it. My heart skipped a beat as | held the bundled bedding in my arms and made my way to the bedroom door | opened it, to see Theon standing over a trunk, wearing black pants and a black shirt, which hung open, and his hair brushed back. He turned his gorgeous amber eyes towards where i stood, his eyes trailing over me, and | could feel my cheeks burning up under his gaze. It was almost as if he was undressingentirely, and the shirt | was wearing suddenly felt too small...

My heart skipped a thousand beats when our eyes locked. “Morning.” | said, my stomach all fluttery.

“Morning.” He replied, his deep sexy voice makingfeel giddy. Goddess, what was going on? | was feeling even more nervous than usual... He turned back to the trunk and tossed in sclothes. | frowned, remembering the wardrobe that was partially empty.

“Are you going somewhere?” | asked, walking over to him.

There was over a foot difference in height between us, and although | wanted to pull him down and kiss him, he had turned back to the trunk.

“I'm going to be moving to the castle for a while. | have to take the Beta title soon. The ceremony should be coming up and then my workload will increase. It makes sense forto take up my old room at the castle.” He replied, his voice emotionless and cold. My stomach sank at those words, and deep down | wondered if he'd invitetoo. “So, do you mean permanently?” | asked, taking the clothes he was shoving in and beginning to fold them.

My eyes fell to the red welts on my arms where he had tiedup. They were fading, yet the reminder of what happened remained. Making an illicit desire throb in my lower regions.

“Pretty much, you can keep staying here. No one will remove you.” | froze, my heart thundering at what he had just said. Why did that sound like... It didn’t sound right.

“You're speaking as if you might not even cback here.” | replied lightly, raising an eyebrow He looked down at me. Reaching up with his hand, he cupped the left side of my face, brushing his thumb over my cheek.

“Who knows.” He smirked arrogantly.

| frowned.

“That's mean.” | huffed, pushing his hand off. His smirk had eased me. “I'm sure you'll cto seeat least.” “Hmm, well you are a beautiful distraction.” My heart skipped a beat. “I'm glad | am.” | replied softly.

His smirk vanished and he frowned.

“Although | will be busy over at the castle, | do want to see if we can push to awaken whatever you are and maybe your shift... without anyone else knowing.” ! My unease vanished and | nodded, internally scolding myself for feeling paranoid.

“Thanks, I'd appreciate that.” Our eyes met and stepping closer, | reached up, locking my arms around his neck and pressing my entire body into his. My heart pounded as | felt him tense, but it wasn’t even a split second later when his hands wrapped around my waist and he stood up straight, liftingoff the ground completely and crushingagainst him. I smiled, kissing his jaw softly. He nudged my face away, kissing my neck sensually instead. | resisted a moan and his hold ontightened before he inhaled deeply, burying his nose in the crook of my neck For a few moments, he didn’t move. | wrapped my legs around his waist, enjoying his embrace and the steady beat of his heart. He exhaled slowly and placeddown.

“Are you going now?” | asked as he continued to put his things into the trunk. “Yeah, I'll be leaving. Don’t wait for me, alright? | won't be coming back” | suddenly felt cold inside, but | nodded.

He slammed the trunk shut and closed the buttons of his shirt before he put on one of his big coats.

“Every evening at ten o'clock, down by the White Dove, starting tomorrow, meetthere.” | nodded, feeling a flash of confusion. Why was he acting like that was the only the'd see me..? He picked up the sack and trunk, and walked towards the door. Stopping, he placed something on the shelf by the front door before opening the door. Instantly the howling wind beclouder, and | flinched as the blast of bitter cold rushed through the cabin. Theon stepped out and pulled his trunk out behind him, he paused for a moment as | walked over to the door.

“See you...” | said softly.

He didn’t reply, and after a moment, he walked off in the deep snow. | watched him until | could no longer see him, and closed the door to the cabin, locking it.

This was... strange... Was he really gone? Not all the higher-ups lived in the castle... Sure it was easier, but the sudden plan to move there...

| turned to the shelf, wondering what he had put there. Pushing aside the small box that stood on the shelf, my heart sank when my gaze fell on the key. The key to the cabin... | looked at the door, my heart thundering as | realised both keys were here. Why did he leave his key? Fear envelopedand | unlocked the door, running out into the snow in nothing but the shirt | was wearing “Theon!” | shouted, but my voice was drowned out by the howling wind. “Theon!” Surely, he'll hear me! He couldn't have gotten far with his luggage. | looked down at the snow covered ground that was eleven inches deep and saw his tracks, not caring about the cold that was biting into my feet. | ran through the blizzard, my heart leaping when | saw his back, in his dark fur coat, “Theon!” He stopped in his tracks, and | ran over to him, brushing away my hair as the wind blew around us violently. He turned to look atand | gave him a small smile, despite the cold that was sinking into my skin. “You left both keys.” | explained, holding it out to him. “One was in the door.” He glanced down at my hand. I stood there, hand outstretched. He didn’t take it and | realised his hands were full. “Shall | put it into your pocket?” | offered, stepping closer. “No. | don’t need it. | left it on purpose.” He replied emotionlessly. My heart skipped a beat and fear began to settle into me. Don’t think negatively, Yileyna; he probably doesn’t trust it at the castle... or something... “Oh! Ok, um, what if you cwhen I'm not around or-" “I'll knock on the door if | do come, but it’s not necessary. | no longer need the key. The place is yours. Consider it a gift.” | frowned, confusion filling me.

“Theon, you're scaring me, it's almost as if you're not coming back” I said with a small forced chuckle. He didn't reply, he simply looked at me. “Theon?” You're really scaring me. Say something. Silence ensued, only the sound of the screaming wind and my pounding heart filled my ears. “Like | said, as future Beta of this kingdom, | need to focus on that. | realised when we were late for training that | can’t afford to have distractions. | need space from anything that holdsback from reaching my full potential, and if that includes you, then so be it.” | felt as if someone had just wrapped their hands around my heart and were crushing it.

He was leaving me. Goddess, he was leaving me. “L.. I'm sorry if | made you late, | promise | won't do it again.” “You're wasting my tright now; | have a meeting with the king in half an hour.” It felt as if he had just slappedacross the face. | looked up into his eyes, my own stinging with hot tears that | refused to let fall.

“I'm sorry.” | repeated softly, stepping away. He didn’t reply as he continued walking away, my own pain in my chest worsening.

| felt alone. So, so alone. The fear of abandonment raged within me, mirroring the storm around me. The wind blew harshly, and | backed away, staring at his receding figure.

Do | really mean nothing to you Theon? | was praying for him to turn around, just one look... one reassuring nod.

To look atand tellhe’ll be back But he didn’t. | backed away slowly, the pain in my chest stronger than ever, and when the first tear spilt down my cheek, | turned and ran back to the cabin. The one I had thought was our home. Once again, those that | loved had leftalone, in what was just a house... | stepped into the warmth, slamming the door shut and locking it before | clamped my hands over my mouth, muffling the painful sob that wracked my body. | looked around the small cabin. The fire was blazing, casting warmth around the room. Memories of our there consumed me. The table was gone... a reminder of that moment... The two chairs and a small makeshift table stood to the side, and there on the kitchen counter stood a single steaming mug of coffee. | walked over to it, wiping my tears away. Did Theon forget to have it? His coffee... | would miss it.

| wrapped my freezing hands around it when my gaze fell to the sink, a matching mug sat in the sink and | looked down at the one in my hand.

He had made it for me...

A single tear splashed into the mug, and | wondered what was wrong withthat not even one person wanted to stay by my side? What had | done, that | deserved to be deserted? 2 I let go of the coffee mug, dropping to my knees and resting my head against the kitchen cabinet.

| felt empty and alone.

He said we would meet for training, right? It means something, right? The fact that he made coffee, surely | meant something to him... 1 Right, Theon? Stop it Yileyna. | was only trying to make myself feel better, but the truth was that | just wasn’t enough.