Sparks and Jealousy

“So,” Liam said, clearly eager to change the subject, “I made some new friends today. A girl named Ivy and this nerdy guy, Aaron. We’re gonna go to school together from now on.” Iam didn't like that at his big age, his mom still has to bring him to school.

Selene raised a brow, a teasing smile forming on her lips. “Ivy, huh? Sounds like a pretty name.”

Liam instantly went red. “It’s not like that!”

“Oh?” Selene leaned forward, smirking. “Then why are you so defensive, hmm? Is it because of Ivy’s pretty smile?”

“Mooom,” Liam groaned,“It’s not like that. Seriously.”

Selene laughed softly, her teasing easing some of her earlier frustration. “Alright, alright. I’ll drop it… for now.”

As Liam got up to put his dishes in the sink, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and typed for a while before raising his head as if to recollect something, “Oh, uh… Aunt Clara messaged me. She says she’s coming to visit.”

Selene’s stomach dropped. “What?”

“Yeah. She said she wants to check on us and… you know, see how I’m doing after the ceremony.”

Selene leaned back with a heavy sigh. Clara. That nosy vixen. Her older sister had always found fault with her choices. “Great,” Selene muttered. “That’s just what I need.”

“Is it a bad thing?” Liam asked cautiously.

“No. Not really.” Selene forced a smile. “It’s just… your aunt can be… overwhelming. But don’t worry, I’ll handle her.”

Liam nodded dismissively and went to his room. Selene peered her gaze at the window, staring out into the fading evening light. She could almost picture Jenna’s smug face, her perfectly styled hair, and the way she had looked at Kyle like he was hers.

' Not happening,' Selene thought bitterly. ' If Jenna thinks she can waltz back here and take him, she’s got another thing coming.'

Selene had long decided that Kyle was hers when her heart had started aching every time he wasn’t around.

All she knew was that Jenna was going to be a problem, and she needed to deal with it. She planned to.

...

At Kyle's place across town.

Kyle sat on the luxurious couch with a glass of whiskey, Jenna perched next to him like a glossy magazine model.

“Selene’s back,” Jenna said with a sly smile, her nails tracing the rim of her glass. “She didn’t mention that to me last time we spoke.”

Kyle’s jaw tightened at the mention of Selene, but he hid it with a small smirk. “She has her reasons.”

“Oh?” Jenna’s tone was laced with curiosity. “And I bet you’re her reason for coming back, considering we spoke about you the last time we met. And all of a sudden, she's back.”

Kyle didn’t respond, he already knew this since Selene tried to seduce him and had him attend her son's ceremony by all means. Instead, his mind momentarily flashed to Selene’s accusing gaze earlier.

The way she’d looked at him with so much hurt, anger, and almost vulnerable stirred something in him that he hated to admit. It felt good to see her jealous, but it wasn’t satisfying. Not really.

He had planned Jenna’s visit to get under Selene’s skin, and it had worked. But the hollow feeling in his chest annoyed him. No matter what he did, the memories of Selene breaking his heart years ago still cut deep. Deeper than any of his revenge could ever make him feel.

Jenna leaned in, her perfume sweet and cloying. “You’ve been quiet,” she teased. “Too busy thinking about her?”

Kyle’s gaze darkened. “Don’t push it, Jenna.”

Jenna’s smile wavered, but only for a moment. “Fine,” she said, leaning closer. “Why don’t we talk about something else, then?”

Kyle's jaw clenched. He wasn’t interested in this lady- not really -but if this was what it took to drown out the thoughts of Selene, he’d do it.

So, with an almost angry determination, he pulled Jenna closer and kissed her, hard and unfeeling.

Jenna gasped but didn’t pull away, leaning into him with the kind of desperation he’d seen before. They moved toward the room, but even as he touched her, Kyle felt nothing. No warmth. No spark.

It had always been like this since Selene shattered him. No matter how many women he touched, none of them were "her".

A curse he'd placed on himself out of the deep bond he'd nurtured in his obsession to have her in the past...

...

Days later,

Selene was halfway through the cereal aisle, but her mind wasn’t on food. She had barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Jenna. Her tall, sleek, and gorgeous figure standing so comfortably beside Kyle.

' He didn’t even care that I was there.'

The thought gnawed at her like a dull blade. She wanted to hate him for it, but all she could do was replay the sight of his smirk. A smirk that seemed to say, I know you still want me.

She tossed a random box of cereal into her cart a little too hard, muttering under her breath.

“Selene?” a familiar voice chimed behind her.

Selene stiffened when she turned and saw a woman.

Melinda Harris.

Slowly, she turned to see the tall brunette gliding toward her, wearing that same polished smirk that had always made Selene grit her teeth. Melinda had been one of the pack’s golden girls years ago.

The kind who wore expensive perfume, smiled sweetly, and knew how to draw blood with words. They'd been some sort of rival for her baby daddy back then.

“Well,” Melinda said, giving Selene an unapologetic once-over, “I didn’t think I’d see you crawling back here.”

Selene forced a thin smile. “Melinda. Still as charming as ever, I see.”

A soft, curious voice interrupted. “Mom, who is this?”

Selene’s gaze shifted to the young girl standing behind Melinda. She had soft curls, a round, curious face, and warm brown eyes. Something in her shy posture made Selene’s chest soften.

“This is Selene,” Melinda said with faux sweetness, her tone dripping with implied judgment. “She used to be quite the talk of the pack back in the day. I’m sure Liam’s mentioned her.”

Selene ignored the jab and crouched slightly to meet the girl’s gaze. “You must be Ivy. Liam’s talked about you.” She deduced this must be the girl Liam was talking about.

Ivy’s cheeks turned faintly pink. “Oh. He did?” she asked, almost whispering.

Selene smiled warmly, deciding she liked the girl already. “He’s lucky to have a friend like you.” She straightened and looked at Melinda pointedly. “Not everyone here is known for their kindness.”

Melinda’s smirk only deepened. “Small towns remember everything, Selene. You should keep that in mind."

Selene’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t bite. Instead, she pushed her cart forward, glancing back at Ivy with a soft smile. “See you around, Ivy."