THE PROBLEM WITH ELISE

Richard’s POV:

“What do you want?” was the first thing I could think to ask. Being sleep-deprived was not a good feeling, and the hot shower I had helped to loosen my stiff muscles, thus worsening my drowsiness.

I could see Elise flinch as I practically snapped the question at her, whilst moving to my closet to pick out and wear something suitable for bed. I removed the towel from my waist unceremoniously, and I could feel her eyes rake over my naked bottom half like she had never seen it before. I felt a tinge of frustration and anger right then; she had not answered my question.

“Elise,” I ground out, “if you have nothing worthwhile to say, then please get out. I don’t have time for you or your antics today.” I finished putting on the cotton pyjama pants, turning to her with a piercing look. My eyes met hers, a clash of blue against blue.

Finally, she spoke, smiling sultrily at me, “I heard you had a lot of work to do last night. I wanted to come and check on you,” she took a step towards me, “Maybe, see if there was something I could do to ease your stress.”

I snorted at her, unsurprised. Of course, she would offer me sex now. It was unfortunate for her, then, that I did not want it.

I brushed past her, moving to sit on my bed while motioning to the door leading out of the room. “No thank you. I do not require your help. Now get out.”

A pout appeared on her pink lips and I groaned out loud. “Really, Elise. This is unbecoming of you. The only reason I am not throwing you out is because of our history.”

“Our history in bed, you mean?” She smirked, and I matched her smirk with a more biting tone as I responded.

“I meant our history as friends,” I emphasised the ‘friends’ part of my reply, which turned her smile into a scowl. She crossed her arms, looking very much like a child throwing a tantrum. I rolled my eyes at her, wondering why I ever made a mistake in starting a sexual relationship with her in the first place.

It must have been teenage hormones, I reasoned, bringing my hair up to brush back wet strands of my brown hair back before saying, “Elise, you are trying my patience. Do not think that this is a time to do so. I can and will punish you, as your Alpha.”

Those seemed to be the wrong words to say, as she moved to me again, crouching so that she was face to face with me, “A fun punishment, I hope?” Her tongue darted out to lick her lips.

That was it. I had enough of this.

I grabbed her hand which she had intended to touch me with, standing up and towering over her. I used the grip I had on her hand to pull her to me, looking at her with the most disgusted, infuriated stare I could have ever mustered.

“A horrible punishment,” I growled back to her. I could see her eyes widen in fear, and a second later I pushed her away from me and pointed to the door, glaring at her. She took the hint this time, shuffling to the door and exiting through it, but not before giving me a baleful stare.

As soon as she shut the door, I moved to lock it, silently cursing my luck.

Elise had been trouble in my life for too long. We had started a sexual (no love involved, friends-with-benefits) relationship when we were teenagers and foolish. Even as we became adults, we continued having sex, sure that we would stop as soon as we found our mates. At least, I was. Little did I know that it became more than just sex to Elise, and now, I had become the one she wants the most. Since she had confessed to driving other ladies in the pack away from me with the hope that she is chosen as my mate, I cut off all sexual relations with her. That was two months ago. Unfortunately, it seemed that she could not take a hint.

I needed to get rid of her.

I sighed deeply, laying back on my bed and my mind whirling. After what felt like ten minutes, I remembered the Everneal Pack. We needed to send a team there to negotiate.

Perhaps, Elise would get to show off some of her skills with regards to this. The mission would suit her perfectly. I made my decision to send her off that evening. It would be a one-month-long mission and it would also give her the opportunity to potentially find herself a true mate.

Both of us would benefit.

I shut my eyes, letting the drowsy feeling take me deeper into sleep.