Chapter Three: WHY THANK ME?

CARLY WOODS

"You don't look good, are you sick?"

Mia, my best friend, observed as she loaded the dishwasher.

I yawned, shook my head, and wearily rubbed my eyes.

My mind became the worst place to be in. The previous night haunted my mind with guilt and fear. I should've been warned about the guilt that accompanied a reckless night.

He marked me.

Alpha Jace marked me. It happened in the heat of our recklessness. He never would want me. I knew the Alpha didn't want me yet I chose to act shamelessly.

The handsome Alpha was getting married in the next full moon and I only wanted to sate my sexual curiosity. I did and it felt way better than I'd imagined it would be. Why couldn't things feel as easy as this?

I heaved a sigh and worked on plucking the bird for lunch.

"Did Mr. Harold yell at you?" Mia prodded.

Mr. Harold was the head of the Omegas around here and the least of my problems at the moment.

Jace being much sober that noon would never entertain rumors flying around the pack he marked an Omega so I chose to keep my lips sealed.

"I have a terrible headache." It wasn't completely a lie.

Just then, the kitchen door flew open and Gamma Nate strode in, his face inscrutable.

I trained my gaze on the turkey before me, shame around my neck like a manacle.

"It is quite shameful..." He started quietly and remained abruptly silent with lustful gazes wandering my body. "You're my mate and I want you this second." He muttered.

What?

I blinked repeatedly at him. There was no way I understood what he meant but when I saw the intensifying lust in his gaze it dawned on me.

"I can choose to forgive your wantonness with Jace last night."

"I am not your mate. You rejected me." As though to ease the guilt in my chest I added, "You're married to Ophelia, my cousin."

I used to be terribly afraid of them but now, all I wanted was to protect myself.

"I'm not going to repeat myself, pathetic whore."

The movement at the door caught both of our attention. At the sight of Addison and Ophelia, he slipped from where he stood using the left exit door out before Ophelia could notice him with me in the kitchen.

If they picked up his scent, the gossipy best friends didn't say a word.

"How was it, darling?" Addison drawled, her fingers raking through her hair, "Having a taste of what I do every day."

I bite at my lower lips, my fingers trembling in fear.

"It took you one drunk night..." she edged closer to my petite frame by the island, "I got drunk and you fucked my man."

Her anger echoed in the vast cooking area. Stirring reactions from Mia and the rest of the girls.

When it came to Addison biting my tongue was always safer. So I did.

"Jace and I made love this morning. He tells me just how horrible you were last night." She stuck out her tongue in disgust.

Ophelia's giggles soared her ego.

Sour grapes were never pleasant. Her words had the worst effect on me, no matter how hard I tried to shake it off, my insecurity kicked in.

I left Jace's side before he awoke this morning. I didn't expect anything from him but why did this sudden revelation hurt so badly?

Addison's smirks instantly faded the second she saw the mark on my neck. The mark which stated I belonged only to Alpha Jace.

"Jace marked you?"

It was my turn to smirk at her.

"So much for a horrible night, huh?" I murmured.

Addison didn't quite welcome my remark, or was it the mark on my neck that rendered her instantly murderous? Her claws snapped out, and without warning, she swung at me cutting deep into my ribs.

A yelp left me. Gasps filled the kitchen.

"Slut!" She spat, "I'm going to teach you to go be a slut to another she-wolf's man. Not mine!"

She struck out again, this time her claws caught my face and neck leaving ugly marks there. Hurting terribly as blood trickled down my face and neck.

"I want you gone from this pack this second. Got it?" She yelled, grabbing my neck firmly, her claws digging deep into the supple of my neck.

I tried to break free but Addison was a strong wolf.

"You do as I say then you live, you choose to go against it then I will kill you. We can't breathe the same air knowing you've gotten a taste of Alpha Jace!"

"Such a horrible whore!" Ophelia chimed in.

~

The rest of the day went by like a blur to me. I tended my cuts and packed up my clothes, unsure of where to go but I was determined to leave. I didn't ask to be in Alpha Jace's bed but the taste of the previous night became one I never would forget, one nothing could ever match up to.

I stepped into the tiny bathroom I shared with Mia and when I stepped out of the shower into the room to get dressed, all the lights left my vision, my soul left me at the sight of Alpha Jace's super hot figure in my room. Waiting.

I felt so exposed in the white towel securely wrapped around my chest dropping halfway down my damp thighs, his ensnaring green eyes roving my body, making it hard to breathe. Surging heat through my entire being.

"I wasn't expecting to see you–"

"Mistake," his tone was gravely low, "Last night was a terrible mistake."

"I know." I shrugged, "And I'm not going to hold you to anything." The truth in my heart. "I was just curious. Thanks."

His eyes darkened slightly and an inquisitive brow arched. A curse sounded low in his throat. If only he had the slightest idea of what his scent was doing to me.

"Why thank me, Carly?"

His towering height ventured towards me. He didn't bother to inquire about the wound on my face and neck.

"I don't want anything to get in the way of the next full moon." His lustful gaze didn't seem to agree with his words. Alpha Jace was visibly fighting with himself not to touch me. "I want you to take a pregnancy test." He added leaving me utterly speechless.

It didn't matter. I was leaving for good.

"Why the hell would you imagine I'm pregnant? Girls don't get pregnant the first time." I tried not to panic.

His eyes revealed the intensity of the fury coursing inside of his feigned imperturbability.

"Smart girls don't." His eyes snagged mine, "We were reckless last night, you're an Omega. I can't have your child."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, tried to breathe adequately but how could I?

"I can assure you that I am not pregnant. You will get married on your big day to your beautiful bride." I offered him a sweet smile waiting to see him nod and exit the room.

But he didn't.

"Get dressed!" He commanded.

When he didn't make any attempts to take his eyes off me, let alone excuse himself from the room, I moved towards the wardrobe built into the wall.

"Do you mind?"

"Don't flatter yourself, I won't look at you."

But he was. His eyes searched the purple marks on my skin from the love bites he imprinted with his mouth, the mark on my neck remained one subject he didn't bring up. He was either not fazed or completely avoiding the subject.

"Five minutes."

He turned from my room leaving his sweet woody scent to torment my nostrils, sending heated signals through me, reminding me of things best forgotten.

Alpha Jace waited behind the wheels of his Rolls Royce when I slipped into the front seat. How ironic things were. I was supposed to be escaping the Brookside Pack and not drive around town with the Alpha.

It was almost seven p.m. when we arrived at the central pack clinic. My heart was in my mouth. What would be my fate if a baby became involved?

"Can I at least eat something first?"

It wasn't just an excuse to try to avoid the pregnancy test, I felt so lightheaded. He noticed and I was grateful when he didn't argue.

Silence filled the air between us as he led me to the cafeteria of the clinic and the air remained that way. Heavy. Painfully awkward. Intimidating.

I quickly and hungrily bit into my fries with glances at the handsome Adonis before me.

His phone buzzed. He answered and listened to whatever the caller had to say before he muttered.

"We're at the clinic. It has to be positive. It has to go as forecasted."