FIVE

MATTHAN

I should have run after her. Heaven knows I wanted to. Why them did I stay back? I could lie to myself but the voice within told me it wasn't because I was afraid of being charged for public indecency. The feeling was odd. I wasn't one to stop chasing things or people that fascinated me but after Alice's rejection, I was starting to think in a more calculated manner. I hated it because it was unlike me. But I detested the thought of scaring her. Eloise. There was just something about her. Even when she has been dandy high on moonshine, I could recognize it. A spark that was calling on to me. There was no mate bond. Yet, my wolf lurched at the thought of her. I didn't think I would be able to get over Alice's rejection so fast but it was a pleasant surprise to know that I wouldn't be downing another lofty dose of moonshine or a good time at the Incubus brothel. I had to get back to the Cafe. I had to see her one more time.

"Do we like her?" My wolf being the more rational extension of me asked. "Or do we see her as a distraction to momentarily forget about Alice?"

I honestly did not know. I had talked to Eloise the night before because I noticed something different about her long before I even realized she was a werewolf. Her beauty. The innocent look that masked something nasty. Call it a hunch but the turbulent mix of chaos and grace interested me. I Matthan Gardenia liked fire and the existence of Eloise was like smoke. A werewolf with no heritage, no pack, pretending to be human and serving coffee in a near desolate small town was a mystery I just had to solve. I was going to win Eloise Carter's heart. That I swore.

"We will find out today. Shall we not?" I replied my wolf before making my way to the bathroom. I washed my face and mouth and was preparing the boiler when my phone chimed from the bedroom.

"What now?" I swore under my breath, grumbling as I strolled back to my bedroom to retrieve the device. I flipped the small phone open and peeked the caller ID. Speak of the devil. It was Alice. I gave it no thought before I hit the recuev button and placed the phone on speaker.

"Hello Alice, did you sleep well?" I spoke first. There was a sigh at the other end, implying that she in fact did not have a good sleep. It made me wonder. It the rejection had such a toll on her, why did she reject me in the first place?

"I know you are mad at me Matt but you have to know that I did not intend to break your heart. I found no joy doing what I did to you yesterday. You are a good person. It's just that..."

"I don't need you to tell me I am a good person Alice. I know very well I am. You know when werewolves get rejected, it's usually because of superficial things like looks or the mind over matter complexities like refusing to fix a broken man or woman just because fate believes you two make a good pair. Call me a narcissist but I don't think I look that unattractive. Neither am I broken. But it is all in the past now. I don't hate you for your decision Alice. Not anymore. I am past such childish vices. I wish you luck in finding your perfect man."

"If it was all in the past," Alice continued. "You would be in pack grounds already but you are not. Because that isn't the truth. The Alpha has been asking around for you. I don't want my rejection to become public knowledge to the pack. Please come back."

Why did she care about the opinions of anyone in the pack? It was not like this was the first time a rejection as salty as ours had occurred. There was more to it. I just knew it.

"I don't care what the pack thinks and neither should you? You made your choice when you rejected me. Why are you so worried about what the pack thinks of you? It isn't like you rejected the Alpha." I did a stretch before continuing. "If you don't mind Alice, I have somewhere I have to be soon."

"Wait!" She sharply retorted. "Yesterday, you asked me why I did it. Why I rejected you. I told you I had my reasons and that is true. I... Please don't hate me for this Matt but if the pack knows they will look at me differently. I am not a power hungry whore. I am just a girl doing what her parents expect of her."

Now that caught my attention. Because, what did she even mean by that statement? I picked my phone up and spoke. "What are you getting at?"

"My father never wanted me to come out like him. An epsilon. If I had come out a boy. I would most likely have been a Delta like my mother. I do care about you Matt but if I had chosen you, I would remain the runt of the barrel."

It made sense then. Our time together meant nothing. It wasn't me Alice had been interested in from the start. I had been a fool. Even the moon goddess had been tricked because Alice only had her sights on Declan. "But if you chose our Alpha, Declan. You will be made honorary Luna."

"I'm sorry, Matt. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You didn't." That was a lie but I refused to let her words tear through me. It was a noble attempt. One that was slowly breaking me. "I am just disappointed really. Because we could have had something but you would rather choose power. And you shouldn't be afraid of being perceived as a greedy whore Alice. You are greedy. It's only a matter of time before the whore part comes into a full circle."

"Matt–" She tried to speak but I ended the call. It was better that way. For both of us.