Tyler.
I watched in agony as they took my Little One away from me, the ache in my chest growing with each step took that broadened the distance between us. This was exactly what I’d been avoiding. It was why I hadn’t said anything. I’d been this close, this fucking close to sealing everything. Once I marked her, everyone would know that she was my mate. That I was her destiny.
All of this was her fault. My eyes snapped to Lauren and I let my wolf eyes show. Her gaze was already on me and I saw the flash of fear that crossed her eyes. It took all of my strength to hold my arms back, and as I fisted them by my sides, all I could think of was wrapping my hands around her scrawny neck and squeezing.
I would kill her. I fucking wanted to. Shit. I had to get away from here, from her. I could feel the rage fighting against its restraint, begging to be let loose. That monster was buried deep inside me, and I’d sworn to never let it out again. And I was not going to break that promise for Lauren fucking Steele.
With a loud growl, I leaped into the air, transforming in one quick move before landing on the ground on all fours. I ran like the hounds of hell were at my feet, all the way to my mansion. I didn’t care that Nate had been calling out my name even before I changed, or that my pack now thought I was a selfish bastard who cared about no one but himself.
In less than five minutes, I was home. My housekeepers always kept an extra pair of pants hanging by the door for days like this. I changed back into my human form, throwing on a pair of sweatpants and heading for the minibar in the downstairs kitchen.
No matter how much I drank, I never got drunk, thanks to my werewolf genes. There were days when it came in handy but at times like this, all I wanted to do was get shitfaced. I didn’t want to think about how the only thing I cared about had been ripped away from me. The elders were as straitlaced as they came. I knew they would not let me see her until they were finished with her, however long that would take. Which meant it could be days, or weeks, or freaking years.
I would have died of heartbreak by then.
Grabbing a glass, I poured whiskey into it, throwing my head back and tossing the liquid down, enjoying the sensation as it burned its way down my throat. Reject Arya as my mate? That was exactly what Ethan had done and it had brought her straight to my door. How could I reject a woman who brought me so much happiness?
For the first time in my life, I actually wanted to fight. I wanted to fight for something, for someone. Arya had given that to me. I’d be damned if I let her go just like that. The moon goddess would just have to learn to share.
“I’ve been wondering what it is about her that’s got you so worked up.” I lifted my eyes to see Lauren leaning against the doorway, arms crossed over her non-existent chest. Anger resurfaced. I poured myself another glass, downing it in one go to steady my pulse. “She’s just a girl.”
“Who let you in here?” I asked lazily, dragging my gaze from the bottle of whiskey to hers. “Today’s going to be their last day working here.”
Lauren chuckled. “Don’t be so sour. It doesn’t become you.” I watched her in silence as she walked to the marble kitchen counter to sit on a stool. Calmly, like she hadn’t just turned my life upside down. What was with the Steele family and being a pain in my ass?
“Do you remember those nights when I would come over and we’d talk?’ she smiled, meeting my eyes. “And then afterward, we’d stop talking and—”
“Get out.”
I could feel the tremors of anger spreading through my body. Lauren disgusted me. There was nothing about her that remotely appealed to me. I couldn’t believe I’d ever considered the possibility of being more.
“Tyler.” She shook her head, unmoving. “We’re great together. And I’m not a silver-blue wolf. With me, you’ll never have to worry about putting the pack at risk.”
I fisted my hands. “I’d die first before I marry you.”
“Oh, Tyler dear, you’ve always been so irrational,” she cooed. “But allow yourself to think about it. The moon goddess will never let a wrong mate marry one of her daughters. I know you think you’re in love but I promise you that it’s just infatuation. When you decide to get over this, you’ll see that I’m the right person for you. Just like we’ve always planned.”
It didn’t matter what anyone said. I was not going to compromise my heart for the illusion of an easy path. “You and your father are snakes. I realized it a little too late but realized, I did.” I took a step back, the audacity of her proposal hitting me like a punch to the gut. “I’ll say it for the last time. I would consider all the women in Rogue City first before I think of marrying you. And even then, I’d rather kill myself than spend another minute in your presence.”
Just like I’d hoped, my words hit her hard. Her smile faltered just a bit. Her expression hardened, and for a moment, I saw a glimpse of the ruthlessness beneath her facade. “How can you be so blind? How is it that you’ve decided to see nothing past your nose? That… girl will be the end of our pack.”
“A pack under my rule!” I thundered, satisfied when she flinched at my tone. “A pack I built with my hands. A pack that fucking answers to me. By the moon goddess, if you don’t get out right now, I’ll send your dead body back to your father.”
Lauren sucked in a deep breath, her chest heaving as she dropped from the stool. Holding my gaze, the ice in them could have frozen the sun. “This is the last time I’ll make you this offer, Tyler. One last time.”
Was she deaf or just plain stupid? How hard was it to accept rejection? “Get out.”
Even in the face of rejection, Lauren Steele never faltered. With her head held high and her chin jutted out in the air, she swung on her heel and headed out of the kitchen. I waited until I heard the front door close before letting out a deep breath.
In that moment, the weight of my choices pressed upon me. The pack's skepticism toward my union with Arya and the elders' caution were challenges I had to overcome. But my resolve remained unshaken. Arya was my mate, and no amount of doubt or external pressure would change that.
I wondered how she was handling all of this. Was she scared? I expected her to be. It was my fault anyway for pushing her into a life of chaos. Because who was I kidding? It wasn’t going to get easier from here.
No. It was going to get a whole lot tougher and I hoped to the moon goddess that she would be able to handle it. If not, all of this would be a complete waste of time.