(Lina's POV)
My hand lingers on the door handle as I decide the best way to handle this unpleasant situation.
The door shuts with a soft click—but I don't lock it. God knows if I'll need an urgent escape route in the next few minutes.
I turn around and face a pair of narrowed eyes streaked with heavy eyeliner and blood-red lips pulled up in a pout. Her stance is clearly confrontational—one hand cocked on her hip, legs crossed at the ankles as she leans against the glass window of my room.
I sigh. Such a lovely skyline scene, disrupted by this drama on stilettos.
Daniel's fiancée/girlfriend/carriage partner prowls forward—like a cat—and gives me a once-over.
"You're not what I was expecting," she says, smiling in satisfaction."I don't see what the Alpha sees in you, to be acting like this."
I so don't have the energy for this new brand of nonsense. I roll my eyes.
"Why are you in my room?"
"Aren't you presumptuous?" Her tone is laced with venom. "What do you think, girl—that just because the Alpha gave you a place to stay out of pity, you get to stake your claim?"
"I did no such thing." I fold my arms calmly. "I simply inquired what you were doing in my room—which was given to me by the Alpha. I'm not particularly fond of strangers, you see."
She gives me a nasty glare. Talk about gracelessness.
"I'm not particularly fond of people taking what's mine," she snaps, voice rising.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Don't act dumb. You know exactly what I mean. Our Alpha is acting out because of you, and just because you seem to have some history, you think you can stake a claim on him."
"I said no such thing." Her words make me bristle, but I'm proud of the nonchalance in my tone. I refuse to drop to the level of catfights.
"You're clearly thinking in that direction."
"Oh?" I cock an eyebrow. "So what if I am?"
She crosses the room in a few sharp steps, getting right up in my face.
"The Alpha is going to be my mate."
Shit.
I'd thought of this the night before—tossed and turned over it as sleep refused to come. But hearing it out loud still shocks me.
I'd allowed myself the comfortable delusion that Daniel would never fall for someone like this. She clearly cared only for his title. Not once had she taken his name. To her, he was the Alpha—a prize, not a person.
My shock must be written all over my face, because she smirks, recognizing her victory.
I take a step back, scrambling for something to say. Whatever I thought of her, Daniel was capable of making his own decisions—even if that meant choosing someone like her.
My petty jealousy had turned me into the other woman.
And she had every right to be confrontational, if her fiancé was getting cozy with me. If I were in her place, I might have done worse.
I hang my head in shame. There isn't anything else I can possibly do.
"Forgive me," I say quietly. "I... have no such intention."
She cocks an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.
"I'm not hoping to get Dan—I mean, the Alpha. I'm just here until this problem is solved. Then I'll leave in peace."
She harrumphs and walks toward the door, leaving me with my shame.
The door slams behind her.
I sink into the nearest seat, head in my hands, cursing Daniel for putting me in this position.
Not that my feelings were his fault.
I only had myself to blame.