Chapter 3

• I pushed the door to his office open and slammed it hard, my eyes fixed on him as I waited for a reaction, but the bastard was too calm and way collected to react.
• Kane’s gaze lazyly left the piles of books that were sitting on his desk, and he glared at me. “There is no need to put a door when you blatantly refuse to use it.”
• He was referring to my habit of just entering inside without waiting for his response.
• We have been over this; a lot of words have been exchanged, maybe fist too, but I was not about to change. In my defense, a knock was more than enough to alert him of my presence.
• And if he was the ‘great’ alpha he claims to be, he should have already perceived my scent a long time ago.
• The fucker keeps forgetting we are equals.
• Anyway, I came for something important, and that was the only reason I let his comment slide.
• “I am leaving the pack.”
• “About time, you have overstayed your visit.” I could swear I heard him say it under his breath, but his facial muscles barely moved. “Is Toby going with you?” I froze at his question and looked at him with wide eyes. “Wait, you haven’t asked?” Kane pressed on, but my mouth refused to work.
• How could I start explaining to him that I was afraid to ask my mate to go with me because I knew the answer?
• I already know it wasn’t going to be favorable to me, so why ask?
• But with great pain, I replied with a. “No.” He was going to say something, but I beat him to it. “I will ask him later.”
• “Hmmm.” Kane stroked his jaw, acting like he was thinking about it, and he shrugged his shoulders. “Do you have to go?”
• I released the breath I was holding slowly. I have pondered about this particular question for weeks, and there was no other answer. “Yes, I have to take my rightful place. There is nothing for me here.”
• “I understand, but what will you do if Toby doesn’t want to go? You know he has an allegiance to the pack.”
• I swallowed the lump that was stuck in my throat. Kane sure knows how to pull the bandage where it hurts the most. “I know, but I am still going back.” It took everything in me to say those words, even though I wish it would never be a reality.
• “I can’t hold you back; you have endured more than I thought you would, and I know it is because of my friend. It is sad that your story is ending this way, but we don’t have to be enemies.”
• I whipped up my head to look at him, to be sure if those words just came out of his mouth. “What are you trying to say?”
• “I would like to propose an allegiance.” Kane declared, rising up to his full height, and if it were others, they would have been cowering under him but not me. I straightened up and walked towards him even as he stretched out his hands. “To the future alpha of the Woodlock pack.”
• I stared at his outstretched arms; maybe glaring should be the right words, but I like the positive word. It was the first time someone was acknowledging my position, and a small smile played on my lips. “To the future alpha of the Woodlock pack.” I took his hand, shaking it firmly. Alright, I may have tightened my hold on him a little trying to see him in pain.
• But the cocky bastard's smile only widened as if he knew what I was trying to do, and when I noticed it wasn’t getting to him, I withdrew my hand.
• “Is there anything you may need?” He suddenly asked, and my eyes narrowed slightly. “In the spirit of our alliance, of course.” He continued like he hadn’t dropped a bombshell on me.
• Kane and I were always at loggerhead, and we have made it a point to always avoid each other even though it bothers the partners. It was understandable that I was confused about his offer.
• “I don’t think so.” I replied, and I turned on my heels to head for the door, but I remembered something, and I turned back. “On a second thought...”
• I came out of the door, and this time I gently closed the door, the smile refusing to leave my lips.
• I may not like Kane, but he had just offered me an alliance, and I would be crazy not to accept it. With that confidence, I straightened my shoulder and began to march towards my room, but his scent was stopping me before I could go further.
• The smell of pine trees and bergamot was overwhelming, his scent clouding my senses and making me weak on the knees. But I pushed through and managed to look at him.
• “Toby.” I began, but I only needed to take one look at his face, at how he went pale as if the blood had drained from him, and I knew he had misunderstood me. “No, I was just...” I tried to explain myself, but it was just a jumble of words; nothing suitable was coming out to justify my actions, and I decided to just let it be.
• “You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Maddie.” Toby said with a sad smile, trying to lessen my guilt, and I nodded.
• “What are you doing here?” I asked, and I was almost slapping my mouth for the question. It wasn’t my intention to sound like a jealous mate.
• “I have a meeting with Kane.” He replied like it was the most obvious thing, and I nodded my head.
• “Yes, of course. See ya.” His arms brushed me as he passed, and I was beginning to think it was done purposefully, but that didn’t stop the flood of pleasure that filled me, so fierce that I staggered.
• And his hands flew up and held my waist, holding me firmly. “Are you alright?” Toby asked me, staring into my eyes so intently that for a second I lost every motor skill I had, and I flopped on his body. “Maddie?”
• His words broke my reverie, and I allowed myself one more second to bask in his presence, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath so his scent could fill my nose.
• It was only when I was satisfied that I pulled away and nodded my head. “Yes.” I whispered in a raspy voice, and I cleared my throat before I could speak again. “I am fine, thank you.”
• I didn’t wait for any more words before I was dashing to my room.
• It was frustrating that in the months I have been here, Toby and I have never gone past kissing, and it was particularly frustrating because Toby was the ‘good guy’.
• He didn’t want to do anything that would make me feel comfortable. He made no effort to push me, and I was too proud to ask him to take this further.
• I have been content with what he was offering, but now my boundaries are chipping at the edges; they are beginning to wear out, and it is only a matter of time before I crumble.
• I managed to make it to my bed, but not before I grabbed his hoodie that I had stolen just a few weeks ago.
• Toby was too oblivious, and he rarely noticed that every two weeks or more, I would make my pick of his favorite hoodie—always unwashed—that had his scent saturated in it.
• And once the scent was gone, I would return it back and pick another.
• Those hoodies have been my comforts for when the storm gets too tough and I can’t help myself. It was a curse that we have very high libido, and since my mate was too busy being the goody two shoes, I had to help myself.
• This time, I pulled the hoodie over my face, enveloping myself in his scent. I closed my eyes, taking in deep breath and letting his scent sink into my pores.
• Only this time, his voice was replaying in my head, and I could still picture the way his lips moved as he called my name.
• “Maddie.”
• A moan escaped my lips as I caressed myself, wishing it were his hands—those strong, big hands that had a lot of veins running through them, making me want to trace every single one with my tongue.
• And I wondered if he was veiny down there.
• Another moan.
• This time, my hands found their way to my folds, already slick with my arousal, and I touched myself, wishing it were his hands.
• It wasn’t so difficult to let my imagination run wild, as his scent was enough to make it look real, and I writhed on the bed, moaning his name and begging him to take me.
• I continued, increasing the pace as my fingers rubbed at the little nub, faster and faster, his body moving above me as he whispered dirty things in my ears.
• And I come undone while screaming his name.