Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The insinuation that Killian and I might have had sex had Griffin visibly shaking beside me. I touched his arm, trying to calm him. You know that’s not even remotely true.
Luna sashayed to the cash register and flipped her golden bronze hair over her shoulder. Her Caribbean blue eyes landed on my hand, and she straightened her back, probably trying to appear as tall as possible despite being two inches shorter than me. She smirked and said, "I wonder where you’ve touched Killian prior to you and Griffin getting together."
That bitch wanted to cause problems, but little did she know that my relationship with Killian hadn’t been like that. We’d been exclusive, but only to prevent her from trying to hook Killian up with her best friend. Griffin was fully aware, so the only person he was getting angry with was her. "For someone who has so much interest in Griffin, you’re very focused on Killian’s and my former relationship."
"Well, I just want to make sure that Griffin has fully thought through the implications of being with you." She lowered her head and pushed out her breasts so the cleavage framed by her skimpy, thin, royal-blue sweater’s low neckline was available for view. It was a miracle her nipples didn’t pop out.
I swear, if she doesn ’t shut up — Griffin was so enraged that he couldn’t finish the sentence.
"He has, just like he thought out not wanting to be with you." My skin tingled as my wolf got riled too. If I wasn’t careful, I’d shift, and we didn’t need Luna knowing more about me than she already did.
"It’s funny." She crossed her arms, lifting her boobs even more. "You’re doing a whole lot of talking, and he’s remaining quiet."
"Luna, we’re not open yet." Carter hurried over and wiped sweat from his brow. "Why don’t you come back in ten minutes when everything is open and ready?"
She didn’t even acknowledge the poor guy and took a few steps closer to Griffin. She pouted and lowered her voice as she reached for him. "It’s not too late—"
Griffin stepped back out of reach and glared. "Do not touch me. In fact, don’t come near me or Dove ever again."
"Are you fucking serious?" She dropped her hand and sneered. Unlike her dad, she didn’t have a good poker face—but maybe that would improve the longer she practiced. "She’s an outsider who screwed your best friend, and you want her instead of me?"
"He not only wants me…he chose me." I was going to make this crystal clear. If I had to pee on Griffin’s leg, so be it. I pointed at the faint teeth-mark scar on my neck. "The decision has been made, and Killian has given his blessing, so why don’t you leave like Carter asked, and maybe don’t bother coming back."
Her mouth dropped open, and her breathing increased. "Tell me this is some kind of joke." She looked at Griffin. "This can’t be real."
"It is real, and you need to get it through your head that you and I will never be together." Griffin walked behind the counter and wrapped an arm around my waist. "I never wanted you, and you knew it. The only reason I became your friend in the first place and tolerated your grand delusions was because of your father; I didn’t want tension between him and me. But I was being a coward."
"That’s not true." She huffed, not noticing the trickle of people entering the coffee shop now that we were open.
Carter groaned as if realizing that, once again, I was causing a scene. In a way, he should have been thankful. I’d bet that my employment here was helping business because people wanted to come by in case something else happened. I probably should get a raise.
"We kissed that one—" she started, and a low threatening growl escaped me.
The fact that his lips had been on hers rattled not only me, but my wolf as well. You kissed her? I didn’t have a right to be angry. The instance obviously occurred before we committed to each other—but the thought of his lips on anyone else’s made me see red.
She smirked, thrilled with my reaction.
"Don’t change the story," he snarled. It wasn’t like that, at all. His fingers dug into my waist a little as his anger increased. "You got me drunk and kissed me, trying to do more. Even in my drunken state, I pushed you off me."
"That’s not true." But the sulfuric smell of a lie wafted around us.
A few of the shifters who had walked in coughed at the rancid smell.
Her body stiffened, and she glanced over her shoulder, seeming to realize that we had an audience. She must have been so caught up in her anger that she hadn’t noticed when they’d entered.
"Look, it’s obvious that he’s never been into you." I was so tired of people not telling the truth; people needed to be direct. Like Rosemary. The angels had that right. It was something we shifters should embrace too. "Ever. It’s not my fault, even if you can’t see it that way."
"He’s confused." Luna spread her arms out. "That’s all. It makes better sense for him to be with me. I’m going to be part of the council in the future—taking over my father’s spot. I know how things work in the city. I decided to come to college to get the best education so I can be valuable in the future."
I’m going to follow your lead. Griffin waved his hand in front of his chest. "Maybe that’s all true. But you didn’t make those plans until I decided to come here."
Okay, he had laid it out there for her. Sugarcoating only got you so far.
"Griffin..." She stomped a foot, reminding me of a child. "Don’t do this. We’re good for each other."
"Listen, I’m not sure how much clearer I can make this for you." Surely if I ticked off everything on the list, the truth would finally click. Something had to work or Griffin and I might hurt her. And even though I didn’t like Dick, we had to be strategic—hurting his daughter was not part of a good strategy.
I lifted one finger. "He’s claimed me." With each point, I lifted another one. "I’ve moved in with him. He’s never been interested in you, and you’re coming off pretty pathetic right now."
"You’re such a bitch." She leaned across the counter, getting into my face. The corruption emanating from inside her seemed to darken to nearly the same shade as her father’s. "You will learn your place sooner or later."
"Or maybe you’ll be the one who actually figures it out." One of the first alpha lessons Dad had taught me was when I started elementary school. Another shifter there didn’t like me immediately; some boy who was the alpha heir of his father’s pack. He could sense my strong wolf, and because of our animal nature, he tried to assert his dominance. Dad told me that standing down from a bully, especially a supernatural one, only encouraged future mistreatment. I hadn’t believed Dad at first, but each day, the bullying grew worse until I finally made the boy submit to me. He didn’t return to school the next day.
This was the same situation—but instead of a boy, it was a girl vying for her sexist father’s approval. There was no telling how she’d grown up, and judging by the way Dick had acted at the house yesterday, he was probably the reason that Luna was so desperate to be with Griffin.
But Dick was never going to change, and she probably didn’t want to see that. Maybe at one time, I could have felt bad for her, but not now. Not anymore. She was old enough to make her own decisions, and her soul was darkening on her own accord.
"You don’t want to mess with me," she threatened, her face turning slightly red from her anger. "You have no clue what I’m capable of."
But that wasn’t true. I did. It wafted from her and slammed into me, making me feel gross. "And you don’t know anything about me. You may not like me—hell, the feeling is mutual—but I’m Griffin’s mate, and I’m not going anywhere." I leaned over, getting even more in her face; she had to realize that I would not be intimidated by her or anyone else.
"I want to add," Griffin rasped, "this is the last time you get a reprieve from talking to my mate like that. If you so much as look at her in a hateful manner, we’ll become enemies. I don’t give a flying fuck if Dick is your dad. Do I make myself clear?"
Her bottom lip quivered, and she stood up straight. "This isn’t over."
"Oh, but it is." I lifted my chin and laid my head on Griffin’s shoulder. We had presented a united front, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.
Her irises turned navy before she spun on her heel and marched past the growing line of people and out the door.
"Dove, I swear." Carter sighed and waved to the next person in line. "There is never a dull moment with you around."
"Yeah, I have to agree." I wished that wasn’t the case. At some point, things had to calm down...surely.
The next few days flew by. Luckily, Luna didn’t come back. She’d left with her tail between her legs—but if she was anything like her father, that wouldn’t last long. She’d come back at me, but when Griffin wasn’t around.
I counted out the drawer as Griffin entered the shop. He scanned the area like he expected to find Dick or Luna inside.
Stand down, Cujo, I teased. Only Carter and I are here.
That does not make me feel any better. He strolled over to me with a frown on his face. He’s the one who injected you with a drug and handed you over to that bear shifter .
He did have a point. True, but he ’s on our side now.
Supposedly, Griffin growled as Carter walked out of the kitchen and behind the counter.
"Oh, yay." Carter sighed. "Your boyfriend is here while we’re closing…like he has been the entire week."
"Mate," Griffin corrected, and kissed me. "And sorry if I don’t like her being alone with you."
"I made a mistake." Carter’s shoulders sagged.
"Let’s not talk about this now." We were supposed to be acting normal, and if anyone was watching closely, our cover was blown. "Carter has been a good friend." Hopefully, that last sentence would throw anyone off if they were somehow listening or keeping an eye out. No one would expect me to call him that if we knew what he’d done.
I closed the till and smiled sweetly at Griffin. "Are you ready to go?" We needed to act upbeat and not worried.
"Yeah, we’ll see you later, man." Griffin stood and waved at Carter. He took my hand, and we walked out the door together.
If you keep acting angry with him, he’ll be hesitant to help us if they call. Carter might feel like it would anger Griffin more, and we really needed him to be comfortable informing us.
I usually agree with you, but not on this one. Because he knows I’m pissed, he ’ ll call first thing. He kissed my cheek as we entered the hallway between the campus bookstore and cafeteria.
The seating inside, and the picnic tables just outside the glass back doors, were full. The view out back was beautiful with the scenery of the river and woods. The scents of maple and redwood swirled in the air. Most of the shifters were outside while the vampires were mostly inside.
Maybe he had a point. Carter did seem upset that Killian and Griffin were mad at him. In a way, those two had been angrier than I had been…and I was the one who’d been kidnapped. Granted, if something happened to either one of them, I wouldn’t be quick to forgive either.
We turned down the hallway to the front doors. The walls were the standard institutional beige, and the floor a warm, gray tile. A few students passed by us, heading in the opposite direction as we passed by the second hallway, which housed various administrative departments.
Griffin opened the wooden front double doors and waved me through. Of course, the scent of honey vanilla musk overpowered my nose.
The bitch was here...again.
My gaze found Luna sitting on one of the benches in front of the school. Her focus had already been set on us, like she was waiting for us to come outside.
Ignore her, Griffin said, as he angled us so that he walked in front of her like a barrier.
My natural instinct was to move so I was on that side, but he wanted to make a point to her that he would protect me. I couldn’t dissuade him even if I wanted to. He wasn’t trying to make me look weak—he was showing that he had my back.
She growled faintly as we walked by but didn’t say anything, which unnerved me. She liked to run her mouth, and her not doing so made me think she had ulterior motives.
We continued past her and soon climbed into Griffin’s Navigator and headed home.
"Should we be nervous that she didn’t say anything to us?" I already knew the answer but wanted to hear his take.
"No. She gives me the cold shoulder whenever she’s mad at me." He shrugged. "She’ll be trying to talk to me again soon enough. Just enjoy the quiet."
He sounded so sure, but the quiet was what scared me. I reached over and took his hand, enjoying the feel of his skin.
A few days later, I found Rosemary in the living room. "How did everything go at the coffee shop?" Rosemary asked, pacing the room like she’d been on edge.
"Luna hasn’t come in since the incident," I said as I walked to the loveseat and dropped onto it. "So other than her staying away, nothing out of the ordinary." The girl did like being the center of attention.
Killian walked out of the kitchen and joined us. "Well, Rosemary here has been pacing the room since she got back. Each day, she gets more amped up. She’s been a whole lot more nervous about Sterlyn going to the coffee shop than she let on." He took his usual spot on the couch and smiled at the angel.
Wait...he was smiling at Rosemary. What dimension had I entered? They had seemed to be getting along more amicably the past few days, but I hadn’t expected them to be friendly.
"If you’ve been that worried, why didn’t you go keep an eye on her?" Griffin asked, angrily.
"Because Carter and I flew off together the morning I brought him to talk to you." Rosemary scowled back at him. "So if I looked protective and whoever is behind all this was watching, they might become alarmed. We have to be smart."
Killian tensed, somehow adding more tension to the air. He glanced at us and cleared his throat. "Carter just linked with me. He said Rosemary needs to meet him. They finally made the call."