Chapter 22 She's mine
Lydia's Point of View
Justin saying he's in front of my house was certainly not on my today's binge list, and I didn't know whether to be happy or sad about it.
Harridan looked outraged, his fists had clenched, and he looked at me, patiently waiting for what I'd do. I know that he expected me to shun Justin and focus on him, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
He needed to understand that we are not dating just because of a kiss, and Justin means a lot to me. After several emotional eye contact with Harridan, I moved towards the door to open it. Harridan was still fumbling but didn't say anything.
When Justin entered he looked cheerful, but his face dropped the instant he saw Harridan. He froze in the doorway as if he’d walked straight into a crime scene. His bright smile collapsed, replaced with a cold, unreadable expression that made the air feel ten times heavier.
His yellow eyes flicked from me… to Harridan… then back to me. It was slow, like he was observing something. I was nervous but I masked it with a smile.
Unfortunately, when Justin went silent for a long time it hurt more than anything he could’ve said.
Harridan shifted behind me, not bothering to hide his irritation. I could practically feel his jealousy spilling into the room like smoke. His arms were crossed, jaw tight, muscles flexed in that “mine” posture he used even when he had no right to claim anything.
Justin finally spoke with a grimace. “So… this is why you didn’t pick up, Lydia? You were busy with Harridan.” He said, his voice dripping with disdain.
I swallowed, guilt punching my chest. “Justin, that’s not-”
“It’s fine,” he cut me off, brushing past me as if he wasn’t dying a little inside. “I shouldn’t have come, obviously.”
He wasn’t yelling. That made it worse. Justin looked like the type who'd curse instead of walking away quietly.
Harridan gave a low, humorless chuckle. “Relax. She wasn’t doing anything wrong. We were talking. Not that it’s any of your business.”
Justin turned slowly, one eyebrow raised. “Right. Talking.” His eyes dropped to my lips. “Didn’t know that conversations these days leave… smudges.”
I was caught off guard by this, and I quickly wiped my lips. Harridan stiffened, angry that Justin made me clean my lips…..(he's confused)
“Watch it,” Harridan snapped at Justin.
Justin raised his face, his eyes glowing, ready to fight. “Or what?” He asked calmly, stepping fully inside. “You’ll kiss her again?”
My breath hitched. Harridan took a step toward him, but Justin didn’t move. He stared with obvious rage.
“Stop,” I said quickly, stepping between them, palms up. “This isn’t….. Justin, I didn’t ignore you. I just…..things were-”
“I waited for you,” he said quietly. His eyes didn’t lift. “For a week, I couldn't see you. And the first time I finally came to see you… He’s here, and you kissed him.”
His voice cracked, just slightly. It felt like someone slit open my chest.
Harridan scoffed. “She doesn’t belong to you.”
Justin looked up. “And she belongs to you?”
The question slammed into the room like a dropped boulder.
Harridan didn’t answer, at least not directly. His jaw flexed, his chest rising and falling like he was holding back something dangerous.
Justin stepped closer, his tone soft but sharp enough to cut a piece of paper. “You’re engaged, Harridan. Don’t stand here acting territorial over someone you plan to hurt.”
That sentence hit like a spark to dry gasoline, and I realized something. Neither of these men was exclusively mine, I don't even know them, and they owe me nothing.
“Your presence is not needed, you can leave,” Harridan said with a smirk.
Justin nodded and brought out his phone. “I'm sure Amber will be so happy and excited to hear about your cheating secret,” he said with a threatening smile, and I watched as Harridan's face turned pale.
Harridan didn’t move at first. His entire body went rigid, like Justin had pressed a knife to his throat. The face burned with furious so fast I almost stepped back.
“Put the phone down,” Harridan said quietly.
Justin scowled, tilting his head, mocking him with a slow smile, one that didn’t touch his eyes. “Why? Feeling nervous? You should be. Amber doesn’t forgive betrayal. You know that better than anyone.”
The name Amber shot through Harridan like a bullet. His breathing changed. His eyes darted to me for only a second, but that second was enough.
Guilt? Fear? And something I couldn’t name.
Justin saw it too, and it fueled him.
He raised the phone higher, like he was about to send a message. “Maybe I’ll even add a little detail, like how your tongue was down a lady's throat when I walked in.”
“Justin,” I whispered sharply, but he didn’t hear me. He was too far gone.
“Don’t you dare.” Harridan’s voice was now a low, dangerous growl. His wolf was surfacing, and his eyes were glowing faint gold. “You have no idea what you’re doing.”
Justin let out a short, bitter laugh. “Oh, I think I do. I get to watch you panic for being a trashy person.”
Harridan grabbed Justin's collar, pulling him closer to whisper something to him. “She'd kill my family if she finds out,” he whispered, and Justin shrugged his shoulders, unbothered.
Later he whispered into Harridan. “Let me tell you a secret, why she's mine.”