mixed signals maybe?

Claimed by the Arrogant Alpha

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Chapter 11: mixed signals maybe?

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“Jessica,” Tasha started but a pleading look from Kai and she stopped.

Jessica gave Tasha a tight smile, I can handle it.

This wasn’t Tasha’s problem, it was Jessica’s, and she had to fix it herself.

“Fine. Fine!” the Beta snapped to herself more than anyone else. She gave Jessica’s shoulder a quick squeeze, making sure she really was okay, before spinning back to Kai, eyes grave. “But, I swear, if she comes back upset again I will –”

“Alright, that’s enough you two,” Amir interrupted, taking Tasha’s hand as he tried to put into words the torture she had in store for Kai. “I think he got the message. Yes, I know, he’s a brat. Let’s go, Jessica will be fine.”

Amir glanced over his shoulder at Kai and maybe it was because he was older, or his piercing stare, or something else entirely that Jessica couldn’t quite pinpoint, but she swore everything became tenser than before.

The air seemed to get colder, too.

Kai may have even cowered a bit.

“Right, Kai?”

Kai met Amir’s glare but his tone had changed when he replied; it was politer, less harsh. “Yes, I promise.”

Tasha looked stunned (then smug) whilst Amir was satisfied with Kai’s response.

He looked at Jessica and gave a small, almost encouraging, smile before hitting Tasha lightly on the back of the head.

“And you, I told you to just leave it alone…”

Tasha retorting something back after one last worried glance, still fired up, was the last Jessica heard of her before facing Kai.

His strained expression relaxed as he faced Jessica, a hand on Jessica’s narrow shoulders. “Hey,” He sighed and brushed some of his hair back. He looked genuinely remorseful, looking away a few times like he was ashamed. “I’m sorry.”

Jessica tilted her head back.

Kai was at least a head taller than her.

She wanted to reply with something smart, something angry to show Kai just how much he troubled her, but a shiver ran through her body and the chilly breeze whipped her bare arms. “I’m c-cold.”

“Oh,” Kai said and after a brief pause he tugged off his hoodie, wearing a long sleeved shirt underneath. He gave the hoodie to Jessica who put it on without a second thought.

The sleeves were too long, it was loose on her petite body but it was warm. And it smelt like Kai.

“Weren’t you the one warning me about getting a cold before?”

Jessica nodded dumbly before swaying and crashing forward into Kai’s chest, hitting his chin with the top of her head.

Kai hissed but quickly balanced Jessica, holding her against him. “Whoa, how much did you drink?”

“Not that much,” Jessica answered as she tried to count how many she had consumed, but the simple maths hurt her head and she gave up. She sighed into the warm material. “You smell nice.”

Kai ran a hand through Jessica’s silver hair. Jessica couldn’t be bothered to try deny how much she liked the contact.

“You smell like vomit and alcohol. And cologne. And Amir. And other people.”

“What did you expect?” Jessica’s voice was muffled against Kai, still a bit of wit left to make the comment.

Kai pulled the hoodie up over Jessica’s head, warming her numb ears and ignoring Jessica’s rhetorical question. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I feel alone,” Jessica said, voice small.

Her hands were clasped together (sort of – the long sleeves got in the way) and she was staring at the ground. She needed more alcohol – that ugly emotion was gradually seeping back.

“You’re not alone,” Kai assured her, voice so soft and caring it caressed Jessica and eased her feelings of trepidation. Her wolf made a sound that could have passed as a purr.

Kai cupped Jessica’s cool cheek and gently tipped her head back. “I’m here.”

Kai leaned forward and kissed her, a mere press of the lips but it was so gentle, so sweet, so loving. When he drew back, the waves of emotion overflowed with a crushing force – anxiety, delight, fear, sadness, joy – and Jessica broke down in her hands.

Kai made sure he caught every single piece.

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Jessica snuggled closer to the source of heat, breathing in a delicious scent and unconsciously letting audible a clear sound of contentment.

There was a chuckle, sweet and affectionate, and hearing it made her feel at ease. She tugged on a soft material – a blanket - and brought it up to cover half her face, eyes opening with great effort.

The room was dim but she saw faint light peeking through the blinds; she guessed it was early morning, perhaps an hour after sunrise. She tilted her head back and squinted, making out a strong jawline and smooth neck which she was currently resting against, extremely comfortably.

She yawned and felt her eyes closing again, too heavy.

“Go back to sleep,” the person said, drawing circles on Jessica’s back through her shirt with his thumb. “It’s still early.”

“Mm, ‘kay,” Jess mumbled, words sounding unclear to even her own ears.

She was about to do just that when she realized I am in bed with somebody else.

What.

She shot up, fast – too fast because her head throbbed in pain. Sleepiness ebbed away as she came face to face with a startled but amused Kai. They were both clothed (thank goodness), and it didn’t feel like anything happened…

“Please tell me you haven’t forgotten everything,” Kai teased, that goddamn eye-catching half smile on his handsome face. “You weren’t that drunk.”

Jessica paused and thought back, flushing in embarrassment.

‘Oh God, I cried in front of him.’

Kai had held her to his body, arm around her waist, and walked her to the hotel where he was staying at. They hadn’t talked much after, just a comment here and there, and Kai let her shower and gave her a spare change of clothes, which Jessica was wearing right now.

She looked down at her attire meekly. The pants were long and loose, just like the shirt – it slipped down a shoulder and, Jessica blushed furiously as she realised Kai was staring at the exposed pale skin, eyes inviting.

Jessica huffed and tugged the sleeved up which only made the neckline sink low, exposing her chest because Jessica’s frame was far smaller than Kai’s. She adjusted the clothes and Kai shot her a look of deep disappointment.

“Pervert,” Jessica snapped and Kai chuckled, before trying to piece back the rest of her night. After getting changed, she had sat down on the bed, intending to talk it through with Kai once and for all, clearing up whatever it was that was between them when… Jessica frowned.

“Did I, uh, pass out?”

“Yes. Almost immediately,” Kai replied, sounding entertained yet doting. “It was very cute how quickly you fell asleep.”

Jessica glared as she felt heat rising up her neck. She hated how flustered Kai made her. And with no trouble, too. “So, nothing happened?”

Kai raised an eyebrow in suggestion, but Jessica could tell he was serious. “No. I wouldn’t do anything whilst you were in an intoxicated state.”

“Oh,” Jessica nodded and didn’t know why she felt a bit saddened.

She was happy that Kai didn’t take advantage and it definitely spoke to his character, but she felt disappointed that nothing at all had progressed.

“Oh, thank you.”

Their eyes met and Kai looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.

Jessica got up slowly, sliding off the bed. “I guess I should go.”

Kai sat up, hair ruffled from sleep and it only added to his boyish good looks. “You don’t have to.”

His response set free thousands of butterflies, but Jessica didn’t welcome the feeling with ease.

“If I stay, then what?” Jessica sighed, confused.

They were just going around in circles.

What were they doing with each other?

“What are you trying to do?”

The other swallowed and glanced down, and something popped into Jessica’s head without consciously thinking about it.

He’s shy.

Jessica’s fingertips grazed the edge of the bed as Kai shifted, uncomfortable… or nervous? She had to admit he looked adorable like this – like a little puppy.

Jessica’s wolf on the other hand snarled, not liking it one bit.

‘He’s not shy. He’s trying to save his own ass.’

“I can’t do this with you,” Jessica finally said and Kai’s gaze snapped up, almost alarmed.

Jessica sat on the edge of the bed, the distance between them feeling like miles.

“You’re too confusing. You act like you want me, but you say you don’t. I don’t get you, and even though I like you, I can’t keep waiting for you to give me some sort of indication that this isn’t a game for you. It’s not fair. It hurts. It’s not fair that I’m the only one hurting.”

Jessica stared at the generic white bed sheet, pads of her fingers running across it to distract herself from the gaze of the other.

Her stomach was in her mouth but she praised herself for having gotten through it. Kai licked his lips, and he was back to looking obscure.

Jessica wondered if his close friends and family could see past it, see what was really underneath his cold façade. She felt jealous. She wished she could too. She wanted to be able to see Kai behind the cold exterior he created, she wanted to know Kai for all that he was and wasn’t, his deepest fears, his biggest dreams.

Jessica swallowed a lump in her throat at the fact she wanted so badly to continue waking up beside him, be able to be close to him, to love him; the possibility that she may never have that, couldn't have that, upset her.

Is this what it felt like to just know when you wanted someone as your mate?

“I never said I didn’t want you,” Kai spoke, voice low and it sounded like he had decided to pick his words carefully this time around.

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TBC