Chapter 8

• ELOISE
• The hunger in my system vanished. I rushed towards the door and slammed it open, disrupting customers who had their own business to attend to. I barely cared what anyone thought of me at this point.
• "What the fuck are you doing here?" I demanded, slamming my hands into his table. The content of his coffee poured. Some of the dark creamy liquid dousing his shirt. "Are you stalking me or something?"
• "Eloise," He replied, lifting his cup to wipe the coffee residue off with a handkerchief. "You are making a scene."
• "And I don't intend to stop!" I retorted, sharp as a blade. "You shouldn't be here."
• "Why not? This is a public place. I am a customer who has done no wrong. You on the other hand..."
• I didn't want to hear it. He was right in a way. My yells were gathering the wrong kind of attention. Even my fellow employees were throwing looks and whispers. I drew in a deep breath to calm myself down. Not that it worked. Anger still boiled in my blood. The only difference now was that I had a better grasp on it. With that unhealthy rage out of mind and sight, I started to think. He really followed me here after I left. Matthan pursued me this far. It would have been romantic if the context was missing. But that wasn't the case. This wasn't romantic. It was creepy and I was beginning to think maybe I needed to be afraid of this werewolf. Flashes of the terrible things a man of his kind could do me assaulted my brain causing me to droop into a chair. My head felt light and my heart repeatedly pounded that made it look it would jump out of my ribcages should the opportunity avail itself. I took my seat and faced him, trying my best to not look afraid. It was probably no use. We could both hear how hard my heart was beating. Fear and arousal. Those we're the two sensations that enveloped me. It made sick to the stomach knowing that as afraid as I was of the man opposite me, I still wanted to kiss him. That was tame compared to what my body and wolf wanted to do to him. It took a lot of mental fortitude to lock the beast in.
• "Why are you here?" I asked again. This time, the purpose was to gain information through civil communication.
• "I wanted to see you again." He replied. The sheen in his eyes told me he was honest. No good. My stomach clenched just considering it. Matthan looked like someone that was in love. But that made no sense. I wished that was good enough but with werewolves, nothing made sense. I wondered if it was the mate bond. A part of me wished I could ask. But if there was a chance that the bind was a one sided bond, I would be giving Matthan reason to stick around. I didn't want that. So I stuck with the cards I was dealt with.
• "I don't think you understand the unwritten rules of what a one night stand is Matt."
• "I don't view what we shared last night as a one night stand Eloise. It was something else. It wasn't just sex. It felt...almost... It felt like you kissed my soul."
• I swallowed. Good God. He was one of those men that got attached. "What the hell is wrong with you Eloise?" I silently questioned myself. Don't fuck werewolves! It was one simple rule and I broke it. Now it felt almost like my entire world had toppled over. "That wasn't what I felt." I returned. "It was sex and I don't remember most parts of it. It was one good night and if it did it for you. Good. But that is it. I understand that girl... I understand you are going through a lot considering your mate broke your heart. But it is unhealthy to think you can use me to cope with her rejection."
• "That isn't what this is."
• "What is then Matt?"
• Matthan paused. Almost like he was thinking about the right words to say. At the same time, a server walked towards us with a plate of steaming hot pancakes in her hands. She gave me a knowing look. I knew her. She was another of my coworkers. The one who loved the color black and piercings. Your typical goth girl.
• "Here is your pancake Sir." She recited. It was easy to tell because her cherry voice sounded like fingernails against a dusty chalkboard. Her eyes flicked at me then back at Matt. "Is she bothering you in any way?"
• "No." Matt replied. "We are simply having a conversation."
• "Well then." The server continued. "If you are done with your conversation Eloise, the kitchen still needs an extra hand."
• "I'll be there soon." I nodded, snatching Matt's plate the moment the girl waltzed back into the kitchen. Matt was silent. His eyes seemed to hover me like I was the greatest specimen he had ever laid his eyes upon. I would not mind if my mouth wasn't full with pancakes and sweet syrup. "You haven't answered my question Matt."
• "You know what. Why don't we go on a date? A proper one." Matt replied.
• "Again, that doesn't answer the question."
• "Rather than answer the question, I would love to prove it to you. You are not my recovery mechanism for rejection. Just let me show you."
• "Not interested." I was quick to answer. Usually, this was the precise moment they lost it and called you all sort of names by the book. Why? Because men like him were surely used to getting their way. But as the seconds ticked by, I had to admit that Matthan Gardenia was different. The look in his eyes. That glimmer right in the corner hinted that he wasn't a quitter. No. Matt was a fighter and my answer must have just made this another hurdle he needed to get over to reach me.
• He giggled as if amused. Sitting at the sidelines for most of my life, I could usually read people's energy but Matt's laugh was anything but hollow. He had something up his sleeve. His hardly hidden grin told me so. It sent a shiver down my spine. "Are you sure?" He queried. "It's just a fancy dinner. Other werewolves might be there."
• That solidified my reply but at the same time I worried. My heart kept thumping. My wolf didn't make the situation any better either. Playing the part of devil's advocate, she kept giving me reasons to give into this madness. All of which lead back to accepting that this was my mate. But I knew better. This was a one sided bond. Perhaps it wasn't. Maybe Matt was keeping it a secret because he believed he knew me and how terrified I was at the thought of being spiritually bonded to a werewolf. I must have probably shared that too whilst I was high. I went blue to just thinking about it.
• "I am certain." I mustered the courage to assert.
• "Rethink that answer." He retorted.
• My brow furrowed. What did he mean by that? "Are you...threatening me?" I had to ask.
• "Good question." Matt mused, sliding back the plate I had half eaten back to his side. He grabbed the fork from my hand and I let him. Beads of sweat suddenly broke out from my forehead as he switched teams. Mr. Good guy was long gone. "But I really wouldn't say that. I am merely performing my obligations as Beta to a pack. A werewolf without a pavk is a rogue and your case is even worse considering you know nothing about the nuances of our community. You are a risk to yourself, humanity and the supernatural community."
• My brain grew hot. What did he mean by that? What was he getting at? "We both know that is a lie. I have spent nineteen years of my life without the likes of you. I don't need a pack to survive!"
• Matt picked up his phone and showed it to me. It was in sound recorder and a session was rolling. His finger hit the stop button and the now saved session played. I heard my voice. "A spoken confession. This will solidify my truth with the regional elders."
• "What will that get you?"
• "A date." He shamelessly replied. "If this recording or my testimony gets to the elders. Scores of packs will come for you. You are strong. I can tell that from the energy surrounding you. If you ask me, you will be ranked a Gamma. No pavk would want such power to go to waste. You will be asked to pledge allegiance to the ones that come."
• "And if I refuse?"
• "You will not likely be eliminated like many rogues before you. After all, what good is a werewolf without a cause to fight for." Matthan succinctly answered. "But that doesn't have to happen. If you give a chance to prove myself Eloise. Go on this date with me."