Chapter 23 CHAPTER 023
Stone POV:
My hands were practically shaking as I still laid on the chair, face hidden. Not here. Not in this crowded area. If I went out of control, no one, not even the strongest wolf could hold me.
I swallowed a hard lump in my throat as I touched my face. A half of my face had transformed, the long sharp teeth already out. I could feel my sanity tapping out slowly.
All I needed was to get out of here. The girl had left me out of anger and I hoped she thanked her stars for that save or her head would have been the first to be snapped by my wolf.
"Mate." Krai growled.
"Fucking idiot! There's a time and place." A burning pain cut through my muscles as hair grow on one arm. "Fuck!"
Where is the goddamn restroom? I glanced up a bit to get a glimpse. It was on the left side of the room. Of course. Luck was never a good friend of mine anyway.
I stood up and began to make my way to the rest room while hiding my face.
"Hey, Stone," I heard Rob call behind me. The girl had probably gone to tell him. I refused to stop or turn. "Wait up. What the hell is wrong with you?"
I knew he was going to follow and that meant one thing. If he so much as touched me, it would trigger Krai and cause me to lose even more control. So I began to run to get away from him. Just when I turned the corner and thought I was at a dead-end, someone pulled me by the sleeve and dragged me out of the way into a room.
It was dark and small but it was away from Rob.
I was panting hard, my wolf trying to emerge in the most painful way. I could no longer see anything as I let it go free. Whoever had pulled me into this hiding place would be the first to die.
Or not. A soft touch and I was thrown off the high cliff of transformation. I held the wall for support as I gained control of my breathing, my heart rate and every part of my body.
Then I perceived the familiar scent. The same one I'd gotten so used to. I looked down and realized I was towering over Ari, her green eyes glinting with worry. She was pressed against the wall while I supported my body by placing a hand above her head. The soft rise and fall of her chest mirrored my heart beat and I felt a sudden relief at her presence.
My brows furrowed.
"How did you know I was here?"
Her eyes dimmed and her lips twitched. "You're welcome."
I scoffed. "Don't act so important now. You don't have the switch to how I react!" I hated how the way my wolf acted was solely dependent on her.
Anger made her nostrils flare as well as she lifted her chin in defiance. "I wouldn't have come if I didn't get the feeling that something was wrong."
"Nothing was wrong..."
"If your wolf had transformed fully and killed everyone in this bar, causing you to have to fight a war against this pack, maybe you wouldn't say that!"
I grabbed her chin, firmly between my hand as I leaned in closer. She was making me lose my shit with her audacity and sharp mouth.
"Say another word and I promise to do unthinkable things to you." I growled into her ear, hoping she gets the memo.
With my dick hard against my pants, it took a lot of restraint to not press her against the wall and ram my dick into her while she came all over me. I would fucking love to see that happen.
Maybe when she wasn't plotting to kill me behind those eyes. I pulled her hair behind her ear with my other hand as I stared into her eyes.
"So beautiful." Her lips parted in surprise as her cheeks reddened. Her reaction made my dick twitch again. I heaved a shaky sigh as I shut my eyes tightly. "Don't look at me like that."
"How?" She asked with her small voice.
By the time I'd look at her again, her eyes were wide with questions, her lips parted slightly. I rested my forehead on hers, wanting to taste her lips, wanting to touch her in forbidden places. But I wasn't going to give my wolf that satisfaction. It needed to live without my mate so that when she finally leaves, I could live my life like I used to.
"What's holding you back, Alpha?" She asked in that same tone, arching her back so she could press herself against me. Her knee brushed against my cock. I jerked. "Didn't you say you would do unthinkable things to me?"
She was enjoying this way too much. I released her chin and stepped back. "Next time you get a feeling I'm in trouble, send my Beta. You have no place in my pack."
I adjusted my shirt and saw for a flash of second how her gaze traveled to the lower half of my body. She looked back up at me and for a moment I thought she was going to say something about it.
"I'm sorry, Alpha." That was even worse.
I turned to leave the small dark room and bumped into my Beta. He looked flustered and worried until his eyes traveled to whoever was behind me. Then he looked relieved. My frown deepened and he must have taken the cue because he stepped back and bowed immediately.
"I'm glad you're okay, Alpha. We were worried about you."
I dug both hands in my pockets. "Why? I'm perfectly fine."
Harry smiled wryly before turning to leave. "I'm just going to return to Ricko. Let me drop you off, Ari."
"Ari is staying with me." He didn't need any more words as he exhaled and nodded.
"Then I guess we will meet in Ricko. See you, Alpha." His gaze softened when he averted his eyes towards Ari. "Good night, Ari."
As soon as he was gone, I turned towards Ari, anger and desire curling flush in my chest and sending blood straight to my dick.
"I see you've been disobeying orders since I wasn't there." I approached her slowly until her back was against the wall before trailing her face with the back of my fingers, loving the way she squirmed. "How shall I punish you stubborn kitten?"