A Moment of Clarity

Muttering a curse under my breath, I adjusted the hem of my gown so I wouldn't trip as I made my way toward the exit, only to stop when two pairs of expensive stilettos stepped into my path.

I looked up to find Christina standing before me, that same forced smile on her face.

I groaned inwardly. Just what I needed.

"Move aside. You're in my way," I said with a glare.

Christina ignored me, glancing around instead. "Where's Zephyr?"

"Don't know, don't care," I lied, folding my arms.

She smirked. "Oh, really? Shouldn't you know the whereabouts of your future husband?"

I sighed. "Do you actually want something, or are you just here to bitch around?"

"Careful how you speak to me," she warned, her tone growing icy. "Zeph's not here to protect you, human. And trust me when I say, a whole lot of people here would gladly join me in ripping you apart. Females, mostly"

The threat rattled me, but I hid the fact that it did, perfectly.

Rolling my eyes, I replied. "If you won't move, I will."

I went around her.

"You know what people are saying?" she continued, and I stopped.

Slowly, I turned back to face her.

"They're whispering about how distant you two seem."

She too, turned to face me, drawing closer. "How you chose to dance with Charlie instead of your own fiancé. How utterly disrespectful that is..."

"And why exactly do you care?"

Christina casually flicked back her hair. "People are watching, Lyla."

"Let them watch," I replied nonchalantly. "I don't give two fucks."

She chuckled softly, "You're supposed to be the future Luna of the Wrath pack, yet you're acting like some rebellious little girl throwing a tantrum cause she didn't get her favorite toy."

Her smile dropped. "Show some appreciation. Show some gratitude. Some people would spill blood to be Wrath's chosen."

Appreciation? Gratitude? For being sold off like a portrait? For being sentenced to a life with a man I didn't love? And one day, being forced to become a beast like the rest of them?

Christina eyed me up and down, "Zephyr never did have the best taste. He deserves better than a human who doesn't know her place."

I didn't respond. Instead, I inched closer, closing the space between us. Holding her gaze, I leaned in towards her ear, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Take a deep breath and tell me what you smell."

Christina's body stiffening was all I needed to know she had already caught it.

Straightening, I let a slow, wicked smile grace my lips. "That's right. He already marked me. We're bonded."

She took a step back before scoffing. "That means nothing. Bonds can always be broken. Don't get too comfortable."

"We'll see about that," I remarked, throwing her a wink before sashaying away.

I had just reached the entrance we'd come in through when a hand gripped my arm. I whipped around, expecting to see Christina, only to find Zephyr staring down at me.

"And where do you think you're going, Wildflower?"

"I was going to wait in the limo," I bit back, shaking off his grip.

I didn't want him touching me, not after what I'd seen him doing.

"The event isn't over yet," he said coolly.

"I don't care," I responded, my voice nearly breaking. "I'm tired."

And I was. Tired of everything. Tired of this suffocating jealousy and anger. Tired of the judgmental stares from werewolf women who wanted Zephyr for themselves. Tired of the whispers about me being human… unworthy of Wrath's mate. Tired of Christina. Tired of these damn heels.

Zephyr didn't argue. He must have sensed my mood because instead, I heard him pull out his phone and call Anthony. Moments later, the limousine rolled up in front of us.

Without speaking, I got inside, Zephyr following after me.

I put as much distance between us as possible, crossing my arms and turning away from his ridiculously handsome face.

The drive was silent, filled with tension so thick, I felt I might've passed out from it, made worse by the fact that Zephyr never stopped staring at me the entire time.

When we arrived at the mansion, Anthony parked, handed over the keys, and left for the staff quarters. Benedict, the butler, got the door for us before retiring for the night as well. Now, it was just Zephyr and me in the main living room, alone in the entire house.

Nik and Alex had left earlier in the day, and according to Celine, they had business somewhere.

I was heading upstairs, heels in hand, when Zephyr finally spoke.

"Spit it out."

I barely glanced at him. "Spit what out?" I asked, exhausted. I wasn't in the mood for drama.

He shrugged out of his tux, and his wide frame became even more pronounced. The white shirt stretched over his broad shoulders, his muscles straining against the fabric of his sleeves.

"Anger. Disappointment." He listed casually. "I can smell it all over you, stronger than usual."

I scoffed and shook my head. "Forget it."

"This about the blonde fuck I beat up?" he asked.

I had nearly forgotten about Charlie, and that only fueled the anger I already felt at myself. Because what really bothered me wasn't Christina, wasn't Charlie, wasn't any of it. It was what I had seen back in that room.

"I went easy on him," Zephyr added as if he'd handed him a lollipop instead of beating the shit out of him. "He'll be back to normal in a few weeks."

I dropped my heels to the floor, the anger returning. "Hypocrite." I spat.

Zephyr's frown deepened. "What?"

"You're a fucking hypocrite," I said again.

Zephyr's jaw ticked. "You're mad at me for putting my hands on some guy who had his hands all over you?"

I let out a humorless laugh, throwing my hands in the air. "For dancing with me, Zephyr? You beat someone to a pulp for dancing with me while you were doing worse?"

He inclined his head. "You weren't just dancing, you were flirting."

"Flirting," I repeated, my voice rising. "Harmless comments, that's all they were. Not like you!"

His brows furrowed in mild confusion. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"That you would let another woman touch you! Inappropriately! That you would let another woman suck you off!" I exploded, unable to hold back any longer, stalking towards him in anger. "And at the same event where I was present?! That woman at the soiree… she was all over you, and you just sat there, entertaining it! You didn't even push her away!"

I jabbed a finger in his direction. "You, who call yourself my mate… my husband-to-be!"

Due to my anger and jerky movements, the left strap of my gown had slipped down my arm, and I saw Zephyr's eyes follow the lazy movement.

He held my gaze for a long moment before finally speaking. "Would you rather do it, then?"

I blinked. "Do what?"

"Suck me off."

Caught off guard by the response, I shifted back, heat immediately rushing to my cheeks.

"You accused me of letting another do it," he continued in that casual tone of his. "I'm your mate after all, and I can tell I haven't been the only one feeling the effects of our bond since the afternoon I marked you."

He took a slow step forward. "So... would you rather do it, Wildflower?"

"That is not the point of this conversation, Zephyrus Wrath," I whispered shakily, the sexual tension from before enveloping me.

Something dark flared in the deep green of his eyes at the sound of his full name coming from my lips.

"Darling, I know you've been dying to," he continued. 

I shook my head. "You're delusional."

I turned to walk away, but Zephyr grabbed my waist, pulling me back.

"Leave me alone," I demanded, intending for it to come out sharp and angry, but instead, my voice was soft… more of a childlike whine.

His touch against the bare skin of my waist, gently ascending to my back, sent shivers up my spine.

"You let her touch you," I said again, softly, my voice cracking as the memory of the woman resurfaced.

His hands left my back, moving up to my face, caressing it, then cupping it gently. More gently than I ever expected from him, ruthless Lycan Alpha and all.

The softness of his hands, the warmth of it, made the anger and everything else I was feeling evaporate, just like that. Until…

Until I remembered.

Another woman had had her lips wrapped around him about an hour ago, and now he was acting like nothing had happened, touching me like I actually mattered to him.

If I truly mattered, he wouldn't have done what he did.

Yes, I was insanely attracted to him, but I wouldn't humiliate myself this way.

Zephyr must have noticed the change in my demeanor, the sudden stiffening of my entire body, because his voice lowered to something impossibly soft, I doubted the words had left his lips.

"I didn't let her," he said.

My gaze lifted to meet his in sheer shock, and his eyes weren't cold or unreadable this time. They were warm. Soft.

"What?" I whispered in disbelief.

"I didn't let her," he repeated, genuineness in his eyes. "She got close, but I turned her away."