CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
His nose flared furiously at the sight of me, and I furrowed my brows in confusion. Then I remembered the fact that my towel was short and he might have seen –
“Why are you wearing his clothes?” He gritted out, fists clenched tight.
Oh.
“Would you rather I be naked? I didn't come here on a planned trip,” I snapped in response.
“Take it off. I'll have clothes sent to you in the morning.”
“The nerves of this man,” I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes. He was jealous even though he rejected me without even giving me a chance.
I plumped my hands on my waist and took a good look at him.
He was dressed in grey shorts and a hoodie that failed to hide the outline of his chiseled chest. If he wasn't such an a-hole, I would have been unable to resist him.
“And why are you concerned about me wearing my rescuer's clothes?”
“Don't pretend like you don't know why,” he ground out, looking around him. “Can I come in?”
“Oh, you're really that ashamed to be seen with me? Scared people would be able to figure out that you rejected the bond the moon goddess made between us?”
“Stop! Don't say that out loud,” he growled, pushing past me to walk into the room.
The room significantly became small and hotter with his tall, overbearing form pacing around it, his scent wrapping me in a sweet cloud.
“Look,” he breathed, his voice lower, “I just came here to tell you that I'm going to be having my mating ceremony tonight. I don't want it to come as a shock to you –”
“So instead of sending me an invite on paper, you took the time to come specially inform me yourself? Why, so I wouldn't yell out loud to the entire pack that you rejected me?”
“You still haven't explained to me why you were in a human pack, smelling like a human!”
“Since you so desperately want to know, I was raised in an orphanage and didn't know I was a werewolf until I woke up here! Staying inside of a pack territory must have given my wolf the encouragement she needed to show up. I still can't shift but don't worry yourself about me, I just need to get my bearings, I'll be out of your hair before you know it so go and enjoy your mating ceremony with the woman of your dreams!”
“She's not – you know what? Don't go anywhere, I'll see you in my office tomorrow and –”
“I'm not doing anything you tell me to do, Alpha Lucian. And just to spite you for hurting me, I'll come to your mating ceremony and ensure your wolf gives you headache throughout the process. You deserve it for putting me through pain that I didn't deserve. We're done with this conversation, please leave,” I finished, opening the door for him.
He opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it and walked out, shifting into his wolf the second he was out of the door.
After the Alpha left, I struggled to get my emotions under control for a few minutes. I sounded confident and strong when he was standing there, telling me he's about to be mated to another but in his absence, I mourned with my wolf.
If she didn't get the message before, it was obvious to her now that we're never going to be with the Alpha.
“Why the hell did I tell him I was going to be there? I'm simply going to torment myself,” I grumbled under my breath as I got up from the bed. “I don't even have anything to wear. If I'm going there to spite him, I'm supposed to look like the woman he'd want but can never have.”
“We don't have that option,” Nyx replied, “but we have Darius's wardrobe right there with his scent all over them. That will give him enough headaches that he won't be able to get his dick hard for the bitch he's choosing over us.”
“You're brilliant, Nyx,” I laughed, heading to my second mate's wardrobe.
As I sifted through his array of dark coloured clothes, I reminded myself that if Darius didn't ruin my plans, not only would he not be able to get his dick up, he wouldn't even be getting up at all.
Forever.
I had to stop myself from crackling like Ursula from the Mermaid movie after she'd successfully stolen Ariel's voice as I picked out a shirt that was big enough to serve as a gown. I just needed to find a belt.
“Yes!” I cheered when I found one, strapping it around my waist to achieve a look that may not be red carpet worthy but was absolutely perfect for the evening.
I went to the bathroom and I realized I was being really callous.
My hair had grown way past my shoulders and one or two more days more, it would have been a dead giveaway that I wasn't normal.
I took a pair of scissors and gave it a bob cut, and I smiled at the result.
I did one final check in the mirror before dashing towards the door. I opened the door and paused on the threshold. I turned, letting my eyes sweep over the room one last time. If everything went according to plan, I wouldn't be coming back here.
My gaze lingered on every corner, I wanted to be sure I hadn’t left anything behind.
“Going for a burial?” A voice cut in, making my turn fast, his fresh scent almost swept me off my feet. Daruis was wearing a tan suit that complimented his olive skin, standing in front of me with a box under his arm.
I rolled my eyes and stepped out of the way, watching him walk into the room.
“I refuse to let my date out like this,” he said, handing the box over to me.
“Date? You must be joking.” I snapped, “I thought you weren't going.”
“Well, for some reason, the Alpha thinks you need to be at the Mating Ceremony and that you need a chaperone.”
I couldn't hold the laughter that bubbled out of me.
“And let me guess, you're his best choice?”
“I could swear he just wants to suffer,” Nyx said in my head.
“What? You don't think I can make a good date for you?”
“Oh don't worry, you're the perfect date,” I smiled, taking the box from him.
If the alpha nearly went feral with rage earlier at seeing me in Darius's clothes, let's see how he'll breathe properly with the both of us together. Even if I didn't have plans to make him jealous, the mate bond sizzling between Darius and I would do the work.
And who knows? I might steal a kiss or two before running away. Who says revenge can't be sweet?
I eagerly opened the box and brought out its content. It was a long black gown adorned with gold stones along the waist and a gold clutch with matching shoes. I eyed the plunging neckline.
I rushed into the bathroom and changed out of the big shirt I had on earlier and even before looking at the mirror, I could tell this dress was meant for my body.
I stepped out tentatively, suddenly worried about what he'd think.