Tyler.
After Nate left, I spent the next few hours reeling from our conversation while clearing out my desk. The depth of emotion in his eyes had stung, and the more I thought of it, the angrier I became. Ethan had taken too much from me, from my people, and I couldn’t do anything about it.
No. It wasn’t that. I could do something about it. I chose not to.
Nate had earned his spot as my Beta, that I was sure of. If anybody else could protect Rogue City, it was him.
The weight of responsibility settled on my shoulders, and I ran through the points I needed to discuss with the elders of our pack. I needed to set a date for the marking ceremony, and get it over and done with to cement Arya’s place as the Luna of Rogue City.
Just as I was gathering my documents, the door swung open with a sudden force that made me startle. Before I could react, Lauren burst into the room, clad in a thick brown coat that was tied at the waist in nothing but heels.
It was after hours and I’d expected most of the employees to be gone by now. What was she still doing here? I’d even sent Arya home about an hour ago. Anger from earlier still filled me towards her and it took all of my strength not to ask her to get out.
“What are you doing here, Lauren?” I asked, adopting a bored tone as I fixed my gaze back on what I was doing.
“Tyler,” she purred, her heels echoing on the tiled floor as she neared me. “Don’t tell me you’re still angry because of what happened. You know how we women are.”
I couldn’t believe she was trying to brush what she’d done under the rug with that flimsy excuse. “Tell me what I can do for you. My patience is wearing thin and I have somewhere to be.”
She walked until she stopped just in front of my desk. “Remember how we used to be before she came? We were happy.”
“Hmm,” I shook my head, finally meeting her eyes. “I don’t remember that.”
“Well, I do.” Her voice had taken on a slightly exasperated tone. “You were promised to me, Tyler. We were supposed to marry. Everyone knew that.”
“Even if they were true, it was before I found my mate,” I said. “I’m sure if you keep looking, you’ll find yours.”
I wouldn’t lie; Lauren was exceptionally beautiful. There were many men in this city who would give anything for a piece of her attention. I had no idea why she was stuck on me. I had nothing to offer her. Mostly because I’d realized quite early that underneath that exquisite exterior, was a vile heart. And beauty without substance was the worst kind.
“What makes you think she’ll make you happy?” she asked, jutting out her chin. “Look at her, Tyler. Does she even know how to please a man? Does she know how to do that… thing you like?”
I watched her in confusion as she bit her lower lip, her hands reaching up to loosen the strands of the coat that had been tied at her waist. “I know you, Tyler. It’s just a matter of time until you get bored with her. She’s nothing but a wallflower. You need a confident woman by your side to lead your people. I am that woman.”
I blinked, trying to process the audacity of the situation. It took a moment for the reality to sink in, and when it did, I felt a mixture of shock and irritation. “Lauren, what the hell are you doing?”
She sauntered towards me, the coat slipping off her shoulders as she moved. “Don't act so surprised, Tyler. I know you've been thinking about me. I thought we could have a little fun. Something to make you see that I’m the only woman who can make you feel good.”
And then she was naked. My heart thrummed loudly in my chest as I took in her naked form. Before Arya, I would’ve been tempted to play into her hand, just to see what all this fuss was about it. We certainly wouldn’t be doing anything Lauren didn’t want.
But the fact remained that Arya was here now, and ever since she came into my life, I knew there was no other woman for me. Not even one as beautiful and as curvy as Lauren Steele.
My patience waned as I took a step back, averting my gaze and holding up a hand to halt her advance. “Cover yourself up, Lauren. Where is your shame?”
“They died a long time ago,” she let out a chuckle, a sound that grated on my nerves. “They died the day I met you, Tyler. The day I started wanting you.”
“Lauren.” My voice was hard. I thought about removing her from my office but I didn’t want to touch her. It was exactly what she wanted. I also couldn’t have my guards take her away as I couldn’t risk anyone seeing her naked. The only option I had was to convince her to cover herself up. “Your father will not like this.”
“My father has invested a lot into this city and it was because you gave him the impression that you would marry me.”
“I did no such thing!” What was wrong with this family? Were they all mental?
Because I was not looking, I did not see her reach me and wrap her arms around my neck in a deadlock. “Lauren, get your hands off me.” She didn’t budge, instead proceeded to place her lips on mine.
This woman was batshit crazy. I grabbed her hands, pulling her away from my body with as much as I could muster without hurting her.
“Kiss me, Tyler,” she said, then added more force. “Kiss me!”
Before I could respond, the door swung open again, this time with a less forceful but equally unexpected entrance. Arya stood in the doorway, her eyes widening in shock as she took in the scene before her. Lauren, completely naked, with her hands around my neck and my hands on her.
“Tyler,” Arya whispered, her eyes watering as her lower lip trembled.
“Shit.” I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, realizing the gravity of the situation. “Arya, this isn't what it looks like. I—”
Arya's expression hardened as she interrupted, “Save it, Tyler. I can see exactly what's going on here.”
Lauren, undeterred by Arya's presence, shot her a dismissive glance. “Oh, Arya dear, don't pretend you're surprised. Tyler and I have always had this chemistry. It was only a matter of time.”
“Shut the fuck up, Lauren,” I looked at Arya, attempting to diffuse the tension. “Little One, please, let me explain. This is not what I want—”
Without waiting for the rest of my statement, she turned and walked out, not before I heard a sob fall out of her mouth. Shit. Shit. I didn’t care about anything anymore. Not the damned elders and certainly not Lauren. With brute force, I pushed her off me, not caring that she fell to the ground in a loud thud as I ran after Arya.
I couldn’t lose my Little One. Not now that I’d just found her.