02. King and painter

Kerris POV

We'll talk when I get home?

"Talk about what?" I asked. "The fact that you two are–"

"Fücking," Emily finished. "Yup!”

Tyrel scowls her way and she adds,

“What? You don't owe her any explanation, Ty. You're Alpha now, and what she just saw is pretty self explanatory."

I could not believe her attitude. The girl before me is different from the one I grew up with. The one I considered, not just a sister, but my best friend through childhood until this moment.

My knees feel weak from Nausea as I stare at her. "How could you do this to--"

"I said leave!" Tyrel barks. "We will talk after work!"

He's still speaking when I turn around on shaky legs and leave them alone. The door slams shut behind me. The sound is more sickening than what I just saw. They would continue from where they stopped. I'm sure of it.

My eyes blurs from tears as I race for the elevator. The gift basket full of cake is still clutched tight in my hands. What do I do with it? The elevator is thankfully empty, but only for a moment. It stops briefly and a few more people get in.

The thought of running into a pack member and having to chitchat makes me want to jump through the glass. When the door slides open, I keep my head down, hoping to hide my face from everyone. Hoping to hide the tears that slide down my cheek.

“Kes, wait!” Adora calls sharply when I reach the lobby. “What the hell happened? You said…”

I wouldn't have looked back as she trails off, but her voice sounds like she's right behind me and not at her desk.

I turn to check and bump into something hard and firm. Before I can step out of the way, my face makes contact with crispy white tailored shirt. Time stopped. I jerk back. The gift basket slips from my grasp as I look up to see the mess I've made. The man wearing the shirt is a werewolf with unfairly long eyelashes. Hair as black as night and a sharp jaw. His face is the type you see only on TVs and billboards.

“Your majesty,” Adora greets nervously.

I want to apologize but run out of words when eyes as gray as wild storm move from the bright red lip print on his shirt to regard me. I've only been in this male’s presence twice, thanks to his nephew. The words he said the first day echo in my head now. 'You two ever heard of a bedroom door that locks? A lady would insist on using one.'

The second time I was in his presence was at his coronation.

What is the owner of this place doing here at this time of the year? Shouldn't he be on vacation already?

I can feel his ice-cold irritation even though his face is as expressionless as ever. His eyes are still on his stained shirt as I force myself to compose.

Stepping back, I curtsy,

“Your majesty. I... I'm so sorry. I didn't see you."

"Clearly," he replies. "Do you always walk around painting men or is this just for the holiday?"

My annoyance stirs, mingling with deep embarrassment. I can't even lift my face because of my tear-stained cheeks. I consider wiping it off, but that will be as undignified as bumping into him and smearing lipstick on his shirt.

"It was an accident. That's why I said I'm sorry."

"You're sorry, and my shirt is still ruined. This is Kiton!"

"I don't know what that means, but I can get it dry-cleaned."

"Oh, you can? You think a twenty-dollar cleaner will get this off?"

Twenty what? Who the hell pays that much for dry-cleaning. King or not, the guy's getting on my last nerve. I have a broken heart to go attend to and don't need this right now.

"Then, thirty dollars?" I try to keep the edge of my voice. "I'm sure I'll find a cleaner specializing in kingly shirts if I look hard enough!"

I glance up just in time to see something flash in his eyes. Surprise, maybe. The first show of emotion that tells he's flesh and blood after all. It was gone in an instant. Adora is still waiting awkwardly. I feel her eyes on me now.

The king lets out a breath, brushing past me as he says,

“Next time, watch where you're going, Miss Hart!”

His shoulder bumps me enough to make me stumble to the side.

The guy has never liked me. His first impression of me was bad, and I haven't had the chance to correct it.

As I turn around to stare at his back, I recall the first time I ever met him. I was a college freshman and Tyrel and I had just started dating. He'd walked in on us, kissing on the Alpha's living room couch. No one was supposed to be at home. Tyrel had just undo my second button while kissing down my throat. That was when he strode in with steps as silent as a wild cat.

Before then, I'd heard so much about him and seen photos. I remember the look he gave me as he scolded that Tyrel ought to act more honorable and a lady should insist on a bedroom door that locks.

Tyrel had introduced us afterwards, and when I held out my hand for a handshake, he'd simply walked away.

That encounter is possibly the reason he makes me nervous and shy. Though not today. My heart is breaking, and I have no patience for anyone's attitude, not even the Alpha king.

“Aren't you going to pick that up? We don't litter here.” He calls out without looking back.

"Oh. Yeah. I... will." I must have blinked too hard. More tears escape my eyes, sliding down my cheek.

I wish he would go into his elevator already. I feel so ashamed as I grab the basket and readjust the pieces of pastry inside. The fruitcake is all scattered in the basket with some on the floor now.

“Kes, that's the king. You know, right? I'm glad it's you and I in trouble now, and not just me. You said Alpha Ty would be alright with your surprise!” Adora looks angry. “Guess what? You were wrong. He's pissed! What am I going to do?”

My only response is to hold out the basket to her. Her face softens when she looks at me again. She's only just seeing the tears, it seems. She gingerly takes it from me without another word. I all but run out of the lobby.

I need to get as far away from everyone as possible. Tyrel's party will be waiting for him once he gets home. His friends from college and the pack will be there to wish him a happy birthday. I won't be there.

He said we'll talk later. I don't see what there is to talk about. Emily's manner, her words and that confidence proves that the two has been cheating on me for a while now. Different memories replay in my mind of all the times that I should have suspect something.

Twice, in the last two months, I would come home to the sound of sëx in her bedroom. I would sit in the living room, waiting to see who my sister finally decided to let her claim her. The guy always leaves through the window. When I asked why, she said they weren't ready to go public yet, but I mustn’t worry because he's someone I know. She has been sleeping with my fiance?

The mystery guy is definitely Tyrel. No way I'm going back to the Moon Shadow right now. I need time away from the pack. Maybe for the rest of the night.

Tomorrow won't be the new Alpha's birthday, and I won't have to deal with people's festive mood and the sound of celebration. Not when Tyrel Stone is the male they're all celebrating.

Maybe he will announce that he's engaged to Emily instead me. The thought feels me with a strong need to disappear altogether. But my dad is still here. Not to mention my entire life.

My phone starts to ring. I consider ignoring it thinking it's probably Alpha Ty. Who else could be calling? I look at the screen and see that it's dad.

Maybe he has been to the chemist or the Alpha's house and is calling to know where I am. I clear my throat and take a deep breath so he doesn't suspect anything wrong when I speak. When I slide the answer button, it's not his voice that comes on,

"Am I on to Kerris Hart?"

"Yes." Fear immediately replaces the heartbreak.

"They found your father unconscious in front of your house. He was brought in by the medic. You need to come to the hospital immediately!”