CALIFF
I watched Shadow writhe in bed. She was probably dreaming about intense sex. She grasped the bed sheet, gripping it tight as she bucked her hips, and her head threw against the pillow, exposing her neck. As her chest rose and fell, her lip caught between her teeth, and then she moaned. Her thighs pressed together and spread them apart, seeking friction.
A low growl erupted from my chest, thinking she was dreaming of sex with another man.
However, I could have made her dream come true if I hadn’t controlled my wolf. I groaned as the scent of her arousal grew strong enough to make my dick harden in my jeans, but my mind warned me to proceed with caution.
My pulse raced as my body responded to her motion. And no woman had ever affected me this way, even women who flirted and seduced me to get to bed with them.
What I had with Everlee was nothing but sex, but something with Shadow that made me crave her, even if I hadn’t tasted her. And her smell was so addicting and alluring, but she would be sweeter than that.
She let her other hand go, dragged it over her chest, and cupped her breast, kneading it. I found her action intense that I began stroking my cock through my jeans.
I shouldn’t have accepted the truth, but Moon Goddess moved in a mysterious way. My wolf instinctively insisted that I get what I wanted, and she’d give everything I asked.
The sexual tension from last night when she woke up sizzled in the air, and she felt that. I watched those eyes darken, almost stormy purple, but I refused to take her. She had just recuperated from the fight.
“Califf…” she let go a long moan, shuddering.
My lips curved in a smile. My heart beat a little faster. Indeed, Shadow was dreaming about me. My little show was cut short. I wasn’t done watching her, and she was already jolted to sit on the bed with a scowl on her face.
“How’s your dream?” I smirked.
Her eyes narrowed. “You’ve been watching me like the creep you are?”
“Yeah. Call me a creep again, and you will see what this creep can do to you.” I crossed my legs to hide my hard-on, but she could probably hear my heartbeat racing.
“And what is that?” She tilted her chin up.
“I will rip the clothes off your body, tear off your panties, and see if you come in your sleep.”
“Asshole.” Groaning, her scowl deepened. She picked up the pillow and threw it at me.
I caught it effortlessly and threw it back to bed. “You called my name, little lone wolf. Were you dreaming about me?”
Her face flushed, growling. “No. I’m dreaming of another man fucking-”
Before she could finish her words, I was already hovering over her, my fingers against her throat. My wolf growled as possessive as he was. “Mention another man again, and I will lock you up underground, tie you on four, and fuck you when it pleases me. Do you fucking understand?”
But Shadow didn’t even flinch, so I tightened my finger around her little neck as I met her gaze.
“Do you fucking understand?”
“I’m not your slave, Alpha dickhead.” She groaned. The corner of her lips barely curled.
A low growl erupted from my chest, and my wolf howled, his feeling hurt. My body burned, and I felt my claws coming out. My eyes glowed. “Take it back!”
“No. I don’t even like you. Why would I dream about you when you are nothing but an arrogant, selfish SOB?”
“Was that man in your dream fucking you, or was he between your legs?”
“Take your guess, Alpha.”
“Don’t test me, little rogue. We both know who will win.”
Her face was red as my fingers tightened further. Her breath shuddered out. “Snap my neck. Go ahead and get this over with. I’m tired of you barking at me to follow your order when we both know I’m a stubborn bitch.”
“I would love to, but I’m not ready to have half of me die.” I took a deep breath and loosened my grip but didn’t let go. Then, an unexpected happened that could ruin my reputation. I kissed her forehead before letting her go and getting off the bed at superhuman speed. I turned on my heels and walked towards the door when I heard her calling my name.
“Can you stay for a while?”
“No.” I walked out before I did something I would regret later.
***
During breakfast, I joined my pack. I knew Shadow was already awake, and she was coming to the dining.
Everyone applauded to welcome her to the pack. They knew she was already one of them the moment she walked in. And I already did the ceremony earlier last night.
Her eyes widened. She probably wasn’t expecting their warm welcome, considering what happened yesterday.
Tor rose from his seat and extended his hand. “You did well.”
“I’m glad you’re okay.” She shook his hand, and my wolf just groaned inside.
“I healed fast, and I’m happy you’re too.” He didn’t have any idea what happened in the infirmary. Only Dr. Callie, Kindra, and I knew what happened, and we kept it that way for now.
She looked at everyone. “Thank you, guys.”
“Shadow, come and join us at the table.” Kindra went to her.
She shook her head when she noticed who was on Kindra’s table. “No. I can’t. I’ll just find another empty seat.”
“It’s your Alpha’s order.”
“I just got my membership. I don’t want to step on everyone’s toe. I’m good. Really. Thanks for the invite, and tell the Alpha that I respectfully decline the offer.”
“You should not do that more often, defying his order. You don’t want to see a pissed-off Alpha, Shadow, and you are a part of our pack now. You should respect those higher ranks than you and follow the rules.”
“Of course. Just not the table. Please? Let me get my bearings, and I’m new to this.”
“Let her go,” I told Kindra telepathically.
“Okay, but you have to think about it.”
She smiled. “Sure.”
I watched Zack raise his hand. “We have an empty seat over here.”
“Hey, Zack. Let me get my food. I’ll be right there.”
“Tell me what’s going on,” Duke said.
“She’s back on her feet. That’s all.”
“You don’t see it?” Kindra asked.
“What?” Duke was sometimes dumb. When he first met Kindra, he avoided her for a week even if his wolf was suffering from his actions, and every time they bumped into each other, he just stood there and stared at Kindra like a lost puppy.
“You’re so dumb, but I love you. Just eat, babe.”
I ignored the discomfort of my chest for rejecting the table offer, but this wouldn’t happen again. She had to learn her lesson and where she fit in the pack.
***
For every new pack member, I updated the list on the council, just like the census, to avoid conflicts with the other packs. And we had a little party at night and a lot of drinking to celebrate a new member.
“You look pretty.”
“I think I look ridiculous.” She was fixing her red low-back dress in front of the mirror. She let her hair down in a wavy style. Her makeup was not too much, with a dash of eyeshadow to make her eyes more stunning.
I looked at her full red lips, and it took a lot of control not to give in to the temptation of not cupping her face and kissing her. “You’re stunning. I like the dress, but it’s showing too much skin.”
“Who’s fault is that?” She growled instead of being grateful that I wasted my money and time buying her a dress. Why would I still be surprised by her golden attitude?
I shook my head in disappointment. “Let’s just go down when you’re done.”
“I’ll stay here. Go ahead and welcome your guests. No one will even notice my absence.” She walked past me to the bed to put on her shoes.
“Don’t defy me again, Shadow. I have had enough of your excuses-no more bullshit. If you want to be a part of the pack, you should participate in any activity. And tomorrow, you will have your assignment like everyone else.”
“I wanna be in the enforcers.”
My head snapped in her direction. “No fucking way. You won’t be with those boys.”
“They are not all boys.”
“I said no.” I raised my voice.
“Where should I be? Filing documents, printing receipts, answering calls? Boring.” She rolled her eyes.
“Just do as I say, or we will have a problem.”
“Of course, you’re the Alpha, Alpha.” She stood up, stomping, and went ahead of me toward the door.
I was losing my patience in being lenient with her. I grabbed her wrist, slammed the door shut, pressed her against the door, and pinned my gaze on her. “I want you to understand something, Shadow. I’m the Alpha, and you haven’t earned your rank, which means you can be Omega if I want to. So I suggest you behave and do as I say, or you will take care of those pups or mop the floor in this house.”
She gulped and blinked. When I thought she would say yes with a shaky voice, I was wrong. Her unyielding mindset was admirable, but her defiance started to piss me off.
“You took away my life. I was happy being a lone wolf out there. You starved me in the hellhole. I cleaned the kitchen spotless. I broke my bones, dropped my blood to the ground, and I haven’t received my prize. I don’t even have money to buy the things I want. I can’t even talk to the only family I have left-”
“I am your family!”
“You’re not. A family doesn’t treat a member of his family like a slave. He shouldn’t control his family to beg on her knees if she needs something. I’m not your family.”
“Listen to me, Shadow. If I let you go, Kent is dead. I don’t think you understand what danger you put on him. And your life has never been free. You’re the sole survivor of the attack on your pack, and they could still be looking for you. You’re a threat to everyone. You should be thankful I am wasting my resources, risking my alliance to keep you here.”
“Then just let me go,” she said through clenched teeth, her eyes narrowing. She just never knew when to back down. Then, I might force myself to do something, and she would never forgive me.
“No!” My fist slammed against the door beside her head. My rage and anger boiled in my body. No one had defied me as she did, but she didn’t even blink or flinch. She was stronger and unbreakable, but I knew what was her only weakness, and I would not hesitate to use it against her. I pulled my fist out of the hole in the door. “You are my-”
She slammed her hand onto my mouth to stop me from saying it and pushed me hard enough, throwing me against the wall. My ass landed on the floor with a thud. “You’re not. I hate you, Alphasshole.”
“What the fuck?”