Chapter 18 - Kelsey
The town is busy despite the cold weather.
In shock, I realize that Christmas is just around the corner and that colorful lights are strung from all the ornate streetlamps.
How did I not realize it sooner? I guess that’s why people are still out and about.
They’re buying presents and preparing for a feast with their family.
Christmas was never really a big deal for me.
It’s always been just another day in the year.
Mostly because I didn’t want to celebrate it without any real family.
Mira is the one who likes to make a thing of it, and this year she is especially excited because it’s Logan’s first Christmas and her first Christmas with Jace.
She’s been talking about it for a while, but I never really clicked that it was literally now, this month.
I guess it’s my first Christmas with Miles. I wonder if he’s big on celebrating.
The engine falls quiet as I turn the key and kick the car door open, sliding out of the driver’s seat. My boots land on the cold tarred street, and I sense how slippery the ice has made it. In the distance, I can hear the salt wagon’s wheels turning as it approaches.
There is an old man who has been salting these roads for as long as I can remember.
He has a donkey who is just as old as he is, and together, they pull a cart up and down the streets in winter.
He sits at the back, his legs hanging over the side, and sprinkles salt on the iced ground to make it easier to walk on.
He doesn’t even need to steer his donkey.
It knows the route so well it walks itself, happily plodding a little faster when it gets near the grocery store.
Mrs. Albert comes out to give it a fresh carrot and hand Mr. Smith a hot mug of coffee for his journey.
Across the road from where I’m standing is the old Irish pub. The Pig and Whistle.
Green light spills from inside onto the sidewalk beneath its wide windows, and merry music plays through the closed door.
I hurry across the street. It’s already seven thirty, and I don’t want to keep Miles waiting.
A big brass bell rings above my head when I push the door open and step inside. It rings again as the door swings closed behind me. The air is thick and warm inside. A fire burns in the corner of a big stone fireplace.
I shrug my jacket off and sling it over my arm, scanning the place to find Miles.
I spot him quickly, sitting by the bar next to a beautiful woman who has her hand on his leg.
Alice.
Alice is not my favorite person. She was one of the girls who liked to gossip about me. Making up stupid and embarrassing stories. She is from a different pack, but when you’re in school, you have a lot of social events where the packs come together.
Kala’s hackles rise at the sight of her, and my insides churn with disappointment to see them together. They look like they know each other very well.
“They look good together, don’t they?” A voice says behind me. I groan inwardly as Luke arrives at my side.
“Leave me alone, Luke,” I huff. I don’t have the energy to deal with him or his asshole bullshit.
“I don’t know why the fuck the Beta married you.
Look how much better a girl like that suits him.
You’ll never be able to satisfy a man like that.
You are so far beneath him in status it’s embarrassing for him to be with you,” he snarls coldly, mocking me, grating at my nerves as he whispers his nasty words at my side.
My eyes drift over Miles and Alice, and my heart knots tightly. I don’t say anything because it’s the best approach when dealing with bullies. Keep your head up, ignore them, don’t let them drag you down.
But his words are getting to me, even though I will try to hide it.
They really do look good together. She is stunning. And he’s gorgeous, and I can picture people adoring them as a couple.
“He’s probably fucking her on the side. They might even have fucked in his car before coming in here.”
Luke keeps pushing, testing the limits of my patience and my jealousy. His words hurt.
What if they did? Kala whines.
“He wouldn’t do that to me,” I mutter, more to Kala than to Luke.
“Are you sure? They’re very cozy there at the bar,” Luke says.
Pain builds in my chest. There is a growing heartache inside me as I consider that his words are probably true.
I’m not really good enough for the Beta.
For Miles. My status compared to his…I’m a nobody.
I don’t know why he chose me instead of…
her. He did it to try to better his image.
The wonderful Beta, willing to make a sacrifice and be with me for the good of the pack.
Alice laughs and flicks her silky black hair back over her shoulder. Her beautiful collar bones and elegant shoulders are perfectly sculpted. Her soft jaw line and full lips. Her bright blue eyes trace over his body while she speaks.
Everything about her screams elegance and class. From her red dress to the thick black fur coat she’s wearing.
I look down at my jeans and army boots. I look at my old khaki jacket with frayed sleeves and, self-consciously, tug at the loose threads with my fingers.
“Fuck, that woman is sexy. Miles is a lucky man,” Luke continues.
Inside myself, I shrink. Wanting to hide. Wanting to run away.
A flash of pink behind my eyes feels like a slap in the face. My own voice rings loud in my head.
Stop this right now.
An intense calm spills through me as I remember that Miles has been there for me every day since we were married.
He has shown me nothing but support and respect.
And maybe it isn’t love. Maybe he’s doing it for his image or for the pack, but the bottom line is that he wouldn’t go behind my back and do something like Luke is suggesting.
He wouldn’t do it even if it was just because it wouldn’t look good on his image. There is at least that kind of respect.
I stand up straighter. A smile touches my lips.
Luke is still talking when I walk away from him, his words no longer having the impact that he wants them to.
I stride confidently to the bar. As I get closer, I can take note of Miles’ body language.
No longer blinded by fear of not being enough for him, I can see the truth of what’s really going on.
He has his arms folded over his chest, and he’s leaning slightly away from her.
His body language is speaking for him. He’s being polite but distant, and while she is falling over him with clear intentions, he isn’t responding to any of it.
Immediately, I feel a boost of even greater confidence.
I was right. Miles wouldn’t do something like that to me.
I arrive at his side and practically force myself between them as I stand on my tiptoes to kiss him hello. He looks surprised to see me and a little confused at my boldness. I turn to face Alice and glare at her.
“If you lean over any further, your tits are going to fall right out of that dress. Why don’t you take a moment to pull yourself back together.
I know my husband is gorgeous, but you’re making a fool of yourself going after a married man who clearly isn’t into you,” I say, bolder than I’ve ever said anything in my life.
Alice’s mouth drops open in shock. She sits up straight and self-consciously tugs the front of her red dress up a little to hide at least some of her cleavage.
“You look desperate, Alice,” I muse. “But you’re barking up the wrong tree,” I add.
Alice scoffs indignantly and glares at Miles, perhaps expecting him to back her up or take her side, but all he’s trying to do is hide his smirk.
I grab his hand and pull him off the bar chair. “Let’s eat somewhere else,” I demand, tugging him to follow me. He lets me pull him right out of the Irish pub and onto the sidewalk before the cold air hits my face and I snap out of the moment and realize I’ve probably embarrassed myself horribly.
I spin to face him with shock coating my expression. “Oh, my word, I’m so sorry. I have no idea what came over me,” I blurt out. “I didn’t mean to…”
“Kelsey,” he says my name, and it cuts off my words. I stare at him, waiting for him to scold me or lecture me, but instead, he’s looking at me with fire in his eyes. “That was amazing,” he growls, reaching up to cup his hand over the side of my face.
“It was?” I whisper in disbelief.
“You’re really fucking sexy when you’re jealous,” he whispers, stepping even closer.
“I… I wasn’t jealous…” I stammer.
“Yes, puppy, you were,” he says darkly, and my heart slams against my ribs as I become hyper aware of his scent.
He pulls me tightly against his chest and wraps his arm around my back to lock me there. I tilt my head up to look at him, and his lips hover just above mine.
When he speaks, his breath warms my skin.
“You should claim me,” his words are a challenge. A dare.
I bite my lip.
“You should take what you want, Kelsey. If you marked me, it would be a clear sign that you own me in the same way that I own you,” he says.
Heat builds between my legs, and my skin burns with desire.
“I will,” I whisper, my eyes locked onto his lips.
My answer seems to surprise him. I think it surprises me more, though.
He cocks his head to the side and narrows his eyes.
“Will you?” He asks, amused.
“Yes,” I say boldly. “I will.”
Miles steps back and offers me his hand. “I think we should go home,” he growls.
He pulls me towards his car, telling me to leave mine, and we’ll come get it later. My heart races when I realize what he’s dared me to do. Do I have the confidence to do something like that? To claim him as my own.
Kala is clawing at my chest, raking her nails down the insides of my skin. She’s demanding I do it now. She’s demanding I take him and sink my teeth into his flesh. She wants him, and she wants his wolf.