by JP Vasha
Fuck, Khloe's growl filled my mind.
The decision was made. It was either that or... nothing really. This past five months had been great, Khloe. If something happens, know that I love you.
Oh, for fuck's sake! Khloe snapped. Get your wits together, Carla. Don't be a wimp. Nothing will happen to either of us if we're strong enough. So push your 'I love you' to the throat and let's go kick some ass. Zack fucking Grey will not win!
I chuckled. I think this is the first time you were the positive one in this relationship.
Fuck you, she growled, but I was smiling now. Khloe was right. I shouldn't give up hope yet. We could do this, and we could keep our secret intact.
Decision made with more finality now, I paid for the beer and paced my way home.
Chapter Four
I'd gone to bed before any of Khloe's family made it home, and by the time they did, I pretended to be asleep, snoring and all, just so no questions would be asked.
I hadn't slept the entire night. Even Khloe drifted off, inside my mind, being as unusually quiet as the rest of the evening before. But I had too much in my own head to be able to relax completely and sleep. So I just stayed awake, stared at the ceiling, and forced myself to think about nothing.
Only when dawn came, I was finally able to fall asleep, but unfortunately it didn't last. After what felt like minutes I'd been woken up by Catie. She had a peculiar look on her pretty face when she said, "Get dressed. You have a visitor." She took off without elaborating.
It's probably the Beta, Khloe murmured in my mind. You don't want to make him wait.
I sighed. If I was the swearing type, I would've turned the air blue with my curses.
No doubt about that, Khloe remarked dryly, but unfortunately, you don't swear, so why won't I do the job for you?
Sure, go ahead, I said, and while I gave her the green light and she started swearing, I dragged my ass to the closet and debated what to wear. Then I wanted to smack myself over the head. It really didn't matter what I wore, because no matter what he said, Zack is not my mate. He's probably Khloe's. I was just a parasite human human after all.
Dumping some jeans and turtleneck shirt on myself, I pulled my golden curls into a ponytail and gave myself a mental lecture. You can do this. You're a strong, independent woman. You're awesome. Go kick some wolfish ass.
That's my girl, Khloe said with fierceness I hadn't heard in her voice since, well, forever. Smiling with the knowledge that I had Khloe with me for backup, I squared my shoulders and marched out of the room.
The living room view was one of a kind, I decided when I stepped into the room. Candy and her mate, Borris, were sitting together, watching their parents, Noreen and Jermey, who were scrutinizing the guest with both fascination and curiosity. Catie was sitting not too far away from the guest, and when she saw me entering the room, she gave me a jealous look.
Ignore her, Khloe told me and I listened to her, instead fastening my gaze on the guest.
Zack Grey looked up at me, a cup of black coffee in his hand. He put it on the coffee table and, in the silence, rose to his full heigh. He looked as hot as he did yesterday, only today he wore simple jeans, black buttoned shirt and dark leather jacket. His hair had a slight kink to it, as though he hadn't bothered arranging it this morning, and his green eyes were hardened into emerald granite with undiluted determination.
Those eyes were currently capturing mine in an unbreakable hold, and something clenched in the pit of my stomach while my breasts suddenly felt a little heavier in my chest.
Carla, meet arousal, Khloe sneered. At that, I flushed and would've looked away had he not spoken.
"Good morning, Miss Daniels," he said, making me tense, "may I speak with you privately?"
Why is he so formal? Khloe wondered. It's a little creepy.
He's being a gentleman, I told her. "Sure," I said aloud, and glanced at Khloe's family. Candy and Borris were giving me the thumbs-up while Noreen's eyes glistened with unshed tears of absolute relief. What the hell did Zack Grey tell these people to make them react like this?
A big, warm hand seared me through my shirt when the Beta of the Biwole put it on the lower of my back. I didn't remember being so extremely attuned to him the night before, but for some reason I was now aware of him being close, ushering me to the backyard balcony silently.
When we were alone, Zack pulled away from me and went to lean against the balcony's banister. Not knowing what to do with myself, I sat on a wooden chair and crossed my legs. His eyes flashed to them for a flickering moment, and then trailed all over my body until they returned to my face.
For some reason, with just this one scorching look, I felt like I was on fire.
"Miss Daniels," he said, and I snapped my attention to him, folding my arms as I did so. "I've talked with you family regarding your being my mate."
That made me freeze, the heat I'd just begun to feel evaporating. "You've done what now?" I inquired, incredulous. My eyes found his watching me intently.
He shrugged. "I'm not beating around the bushes. I like to think of myself as an honest guy. That's why I sought your family's blessing before I began with my pursue at courting you."
My mind was a jumble by now, and Khloe didn't help at all, with her falling silent again. Thank a lot, I chided her bitterly. "Blessing? Courting?" I was astonished, my voice arch with disbelief. "And you didn't think you might want to ask me first if I wanted to be courted by you?" The assumption I would simply be willing made my skin crawl.
Zack's eyes narrowed dangerously. "We're mates, no matter that your smell is strange. It doesn't matter if you want me or I want you. Fact is, we're destined for each other." His looked turned steely. "That's why I wanted your family's blessing before I started anything. Since I have this tackle out of the way, it's time for the next phase."
Bristling with the sheer incredulousness of the situation, I couldn't even speak when he said, "And the next phase is, of course, the courting part. I'll take you on dates, we'll get to know each other, and then we'd be together. End of story."
Something flickered in my mind, and then I burst out laughing. "Oh. My. God." I said, almost chortling, "you cannot be serious."
Carla, Khloe hissed suddenly, her voice scolding, don't forget our place. He's the Beta of the Biwole, one of the One True Alpha's crew. Despite either of us being his mate, mocking him would no be tolerated.
Khloe was actually being sensible, and frankly she was right. But I was beyond listening right now. Because what this man had just said, as though I was a default choice on his part and getting me was just another task after shopping for groceries or something...
I rose from my chair, still laughing and then looked him straight in the eye. His were warning, telling me that I was dancing closely to the limit. I couldn't care less, however, which wasn't like me. I guess that's how I got when my ego was being stomped on. Since no one had done so before – mostly because I believed I had no ego – my reaction was unpredictable even to myself.
Stepping closer so only a few inches separated us, I rinsed my chin and gave him an intimidating look of my own. "Listen to me well, Mr. Grey," I said softly, yet with a hard voice so my point would cross. "I don't know what you think you're doing, but I know what I think. And that is, I would never agree to even date someone who took me for granted, no matter the reason."
He moved before I could blink; his arm was around my waist, twisting me suddenly so my back was the banister he'd just leaned against, his other hand grabbed my chine, his knee was cuddled comfortably between my thighs, and his face was so close, the tip of his nose brushed mine. Then there was his minty breath on mine when he spoke.
"You're mine, Khloe," he said, on the verge of snarling. I stifled a gasp when his knee suddenly brushed against the most intimate part of me, making me blush furiously at the contact. He grinned wildly in triumph, his eyes no longer green but rather silver, like that of a wolf. "Your body knows that it's mine, too. It doesn't matter that we've jus
t met yesterday. It doesn't matter that we know shit not about each other. Our most primitive instincts call for one another, and nothing you could say would make me turn tail and walk away. Because what's mine, is mine." His grip on my chin tightened, making me wince, and his voice was a guttural growl. "And no matter how far you run, I'll catch you. And I'll claim you."
Then, just because I was in a compromising position, the bastard lowered his mouth to the soft spot between my neck and shoulder. My heart pounded with alarm and Khloe was suddenly screaming inside my head, Run! Carla, fuck it, run! He's going to –
He words were swallowed under an avalanche of feelings. His lips were touching my skin, and then I felt the tips of his teeth. Using his hold on my chin, he tilted my head to give him more access and tore the fabric of my shirt before sinking the teeth into my visible flesh, biting me.
Heat flared everywhere in my body. My nippled hardened, my panties dampened, every part of my skin was aflush, and I was trembling, unable to sort one emotion from the other. It didn't matter, though. Nothing mattered at the moment, except the exquisite feeling of his teeth on my skin.
Then those teeth were out and his tongue was licking at the bruise. A canine, predatory grin spread wide on his face when he raised his fact. "You have no choice now," he said, his voice almost a purr. "I marked you. You're mine. And you're going to let me take you out on a proper date tonight."
Dazed, I raised a shaky hand to the mark and flinched when I felt the bump in my skin. Khloe was aghast inside my mind. He marked you. I can't believe he marked you. The nerve! Goddamn dominant werewolves!
What do it mean? I asked her, hazily watching as Zack lowered his head and licked the mark he'd planted on my skin again. What does any of it mean?
It means, Khloe said with barely contained irritation, that the bastard made sure his scent was on you, embedded through you mark, and that every male who comes into your vicinity would get a very definitive "hands-off" sensation off you. Which means, she growled now, that he made you exclusively his before the other unmated males, and that until the marks fades, usually in a month's time, your body would be so high-strung on sexual frustration, you would beg for him to fuck you, to mate with you.
I couldn't concentrate on the importance of her words just yet, because Zack suddenly took a few steps away from me and grinned. "Be ready tonight at eight," he said, voice filled with proprietary that made my figurative hackles rise. "Wear a dress. I'm taking you somewhere really nice."
Then, still slumped against the banister, my hand on my mark, I watched as the Beta of the Biwole gave me one last triumphant leer before taking his exit.
Chapter Five
After Zack's departure, Catie found me first, still in the balcony with a torn shirt and a tender bruise on my neck. She froze at the sight of the mark and looked at me with wide eyes. "He marked you?" she asked, shocked.
I would've shrugged if the mark didn't still hurt. "I taunted him," I told her flatly, trying to fight the daze from the marking that still invaded my head. "He thought he should teach me a lesson."
And he did teach me a lesson: no taunting the Beta of the Biwole ever again. He probably wasn't even my mate anyway, so pissing him off would just prove to be a stupid move. Khloe was his. I would not deprive either of them when the time came and Khloe could finally be with him.
That meant I should bury this newfound ego of mine, suck it up, and let Zack court me. Khloe's happiness was assured that way –
For God's sake, shut up, Khloe snapped, making me tense. Zack is not my type, and his personality – that of a brooding alpha-male – is not my type, either. And if he were to really know me, the actual Khloe Daniels, I don't think he would love me either. That leaves one last option; you're his mate. So you do whatever the fuck you like with him.
"Khloe," Catie's voice snapped my attention back to her. For my surprise, she seemed a little angry. "Is he really your mate?"
I swallowed. This was a trick question. From the research I'd done about werewolves after the revival, it said that mates knew they were mates from the first time their gazes met each other's. Zack's eyes met mine, yet I had no thought of him being my mate. Sure, I'd thought he was hot – still thought so, despite me annoyance – but my mate? My true love or whatever? Not only I'd never believed in this kind of things because I was a practical person, but I was human. Werewolves mating with humans wasn't so common. Also, despite me being human, I should've still felt something. That I didn't...
Anyway, what Catie was trying to gauge was whether Zack was simply smitten with me because I was gorgeous or he was right and we were mates. If I told her the former, she would probably accuse me of something. If I told her the latter, well, then nothing of importance might happen.
"Yes," I said as firmly as I can. "He is my mate."
Catie sighed then. "Lucky you," she said, flicking her long hair back behind her shoulder. "Well, I'll leave you to deal with whatever now."
As she left, I sighed in relief and allowed myself to sit for a moment on the ground. I needed to decided what to do and faster. And the fact that a sudden, shocking bolt of lust flooded my veins only urged me to think faster.
I think that pondering it now is redundant, Khloe remarked. Just go with the flow. Date him. Allow him to make you laugh, to take you out, to talk to you, everything. Then, only then, you can reach a decision regarding everything.
But I would be deceiving him, I told her. What if you're wrong and you're his mate? And even if it's me, then I would still have to tell him about you, abut the revival, but all this freaky stuff...
One step at a time, Khloe advised. For now, I say enjoy it. Kiss him. Screw him. Just don't let him mate with you yet.
That was just getting more and more complicated. And how would I know when he's trying to mate me? I'm a novice in all this werewolf crap, let alone in romance. What would I know?
Khloe had no answer to that, and I didn't expect her to have. So, instead of driving myself mad with somber thoughts, I decided to go with the flow, just as Khloe said. It might be the best of all other options, all involving running away one way or another.
Sighing, I went back inside the house and hunted for breakfast in the kitchen. I was starving, and I needed energy for what was to come tonight.
Zack wanted me to wear a dress because he was taking me somewhere nice. While the new, petulant side of me wanted to wear some sweats and jersey to stick it to him, my sensibility disagreed; if it was a nice place, people would be dressed up. Since the last thing I wanted was to stick out more than necessary – which would be close to impossible, seeing as I was the Beta of the Biwole's date – I decided to just let go of the issue.
Wearing a strapless maxi dress in a deep opaque ebony color, I did my hair up Chinese-style, with two red sticks I found in Khloe's drawer. It looked nice enough, and, despite its name, simple. My feet slid into a pair of plain black heels that went along nicely with dress. For jewelry, I chose simple elegant silver long earring woven with ruby gems, and my necklace was a matching silver chain with a dark ruby pendant. I debated with Khloe whether I should put on bracelet but both of us voted against it. It would just look like I was trying too hard.
Once I was ready, I realized something crucial. It's going to be my first date, I told Khloe as I rummaged through some magazine in order to calm me down.
Of course it is, Khloe said dryly, and I could imagine her rolling her eyes in my head. Zack and you have just met yesterday, after all.
I'm not talking about first date with the Beta, I told her, grimacing. It's my first date ever. I had zero love life when I was, well, me.
Khloe was silent for a few long moments before replying. Going on a date is much like hanging out with a friend, she told me, voice dryly amused at my inexperience. Just think of it as that and it'll go much smoother.
I didn't think so, but I let that reassure me as much it could.
A few minutes later, there was buzzing at the door. I looked at th
e watch in my iPhone and saw it was exactly eight. Grimacing, I walked out of my room and down the stairs to see Noreen, eyes glistening with happy tears, opening the door and revealing Zack. "Mr. Grey," she said, voice breathy like she was some teenage groupie, "I'll call Khloe immediately – "
"No need, Mom," I said softly and walked toward the door. Noreen's eyes lit up at the sight of me all dressed up for my date, and when I turned to take a real look at Zack, my heart skipped a beat.
He looked... delicious. Wearing a formal black three-piece suit with crimson-red tie and black shoes, he seemed like some sort of an eloquent, suave bachelor on the lookout for his next conquest. His tousled dark hair was bright with freshness of probably taking a shower not too long ago, and his eyes, those damned green eyes... they were eating me up with a simple, searing gaze.
When his eyes finished their trip down my body and back up, he grinned. "You're very beautiful, Miss Daniels."
Like some young maiden in love, I blushed. With last glance at Noreen, who was now openly sobbing for whatever reason, I walked towards him. "I'm ready. Let's go."
At another look he gave me, my hand clutched around my black purse bag, and I took a deep, calculated breath before exhaling softly. Zack nodded at me, said goodbye to Noreen, and led me to his car, a sleek black Porsche that parked just before of the house. His hand was on the small of my back, scorching my skin through the thin fabric of my dress.
As though we were in some romance movie, he opened the passenger door for me and closed it after I slid inside the leathered seat. Then he was in the driver seat, made the engine roar to life, and rolled out of the parking lot and away from the Daniels' mansion.
The silence in the car was heavy, yet I couldn't think of a way to break it. Instead I looked on ahead and tried to understand where he was taking us, which was moot. I may've lived in Houston as Khloe for the past five months, but I still didn't know a lot of places.
Zack spoke after a few more minutes of silence. What he said made the tiny hairs of my nape stand. "Are you scared of me?"
