I watch as Lilith curls her lip and looks Abi up and down like she smells something foul. “I don’t know if that’s any of your concern, but yes, I am. Now, do you mind giving us a moment to talk?” she says, stepping into the office and giving Abi the evil eye. Abi gives me a tentative smile as she wishes us a safe journey, waves goodbye, and slips out of the room.
Focusing back on Lilith, I catch a few emotions surfacing but I push those to the back of my mind when I see a small smirk on her lips.
“Was that really necessary, Lilith? You didn’t have to be rude about needing a moment with me. You know she’s just a friend,” I explain in confusion.
I take a moment to assess her emotions, and anger is rolling off of her—with a hint of glee. That’s unlike her. She loves Abi, and for the life of me, I don’t understand what’s going on.
“I guess not, but it doesn’t hurt to remind her that you’re above her station,” she says coyly. Annoyance pricks my skin as she slams Abi’s lower station. She isn’t a strong vampire, but what she lacks in strength, she makes up with knowledge and charisma. I watch as Lilith sways her hips as she walks over to my desk. Leaning against it, she picks up one of the trinkets and gives it a curious look before wrinkling her nose in disgust and puts it down.
“So, what did you want to talk about that made you so rudely dismiss Abi like that?” My annoyance is clear in my voice.
“Well, it’s a good thing I did, else you might have caught yourself in an even more compromising position,” she accuses, yet it’s not jealousy I’m picking up.
“Oh yeah? Then why does that excite you? You’re acting like it bothers you, yet you’re happy about something,” I accuse.
Her body language and emotions are at odds with each other. The only time she does this is during foreplay, trying to play all coy and shit, but even that is easy for me to pick up. This is something completely different.
“Let me guess, you’re trying to read my emotions again,” she sneers.
“You’re blasting me with it, but yes. You know this, though. I can’t count how many times you’ve told me it’s one of my best qualities. I’m able to read you like a book,” I say, walking over to her. I rub my hands up her arms and smile as goosebumps erupt along her skin, that is until revulsion hits me, and I drop my hands. “I disgust you?” I choke out.
She moves away from me and starts to rub her arms from where I touched her. A knife stabs into my heart, watching her wipe my touch away, as if it’s something vile.
“You have no boundaries, Matthew. You’re constantly invading my privacy, and I just don’t feel comfortable with you anymore,” she whines and moves closer to the door.
“What? No, Lilith. That’s not what I’m doing at all,” I reassure her and take a step closer to her, where panic hits me straight to my chest. Her fear of me almost sinks me to my knees as I reach out to stabilize myself against my desk. What the hell is going on? Since when is she terrified of me?
“You might not think that’s what you’re doing, but you are, and I can’t handle it anymore. You’ve been so wrapped up in reading emotions that you can’t stand on your own two feet without leaning on them. That doesn’t make you strong, Matthew, that makes youweak,” she snaps.
“You don’t mean that,” I whisper.
“What do my emotions tell you?” She raises her chin. “I’m going to Earth without you, and I suggest you move on. Go have those disgusting brats you wanted to fill your house with. You might as well since I was never going to go through with it or take the oath with you. I would have just resented you later in life for it.” Her emotions are all over the place, but the underlying one was joy. She’s happy that she’s ripping my heart out and serving it up on a bloody platter.
My Queen, the love of my life, is tearing me apart one shredded piece at a time. A black hole opens up, and I feel myself fall into despair as she just gives me a tight smile and waves. She walks out of the door, and my life, as if my soul isn’t shattering into a million pieces and may never be whole again.
CHAPTER7
Rabid Beast
Jessup
Cracking my neck, I take in my opponent standing across from me. It was Talon’s last day visiting Nova, and I promised him a match before he went back to his own pack. He’s a good guy that at times I envy, but not for his good looks or his massive size, which overshadow my six-foot frame. No, what I envy is how he isn’t controlled by his rage like I am. Though, if you look at that alone, it means I’m stronger than him, but at times I wish it wasn’t the case.
The more rage a Shifter has, the more power they are said to possess, and the forms we have represent that. Most Shifters have two, a large and small form. Talon’s smaller form is a tan and black falcon with golden eyes. His larger form is a polar bear that’s right at home on the other side of the mountain, far North from here. His long golden hair is pulled back into a bun at the base of his skull, and his bare chest is covered in tattoos. Flecks of gold shine out between his light brown eyes, signaling his power is close to the surface.
“I’m gonna eat you alive; you know that, right?” His deep timber booms out, bringing a hush to the crowd.
I smile back and crack my knuckles as I watch him shift his stance. Once you’ve crossed over the threshold of the sacred circle, all friendships are put to the side. It’s a time to allow your inner beast out to play. Shifter against Shifter, beast against beast. It isn’t always an equal match-up, but if you have a grudge against someone, this is how you take it out, in the fights.
This match, though, we need to feel the blood flow in our natural forms. Fists, legs, and teeth. Nothing is off the table, and if you can partially shift, then all the better. It takes extreme concentration to partially shift or a lot of rage to fuel you, and I can do both. Not sure if Talon can, but we’re about to find out.
Talon circles to the left, and I follow him with my eyes as we assess each other. It’s common knowledge everyone has two forms since we formed packs, but I have a secret weapon. I have more than two, and I pull my wolverine to the surface just as Talon lunges for me with the swiftness of his falcon. He tackles me to the ground, and I quickly shift my hips, throwing us off course. Rolling us forward head over our shoulders, I spread out my legs, stopping our momentum, and we roll to a stop as I land on top of him. I throw a right hook before his face even comes into focus, and I hear a crunch as my fist connects. I’m so focused on keeping my balance from the force of my punch that I don't see the jab coming in for my ribs until it is too late.
I grunt in pain as air wheezes out of my lungs. The brutal force of the hit causes me to roll and fall off of Talon. Quickly pulling myself up to a standing position, I watch as Talon pops his jaw back into place. Rolling my shoulders and pushing down the pain in my side, I observe Talon as his eyes watch me like a…well, hawk.
He lunges again, but this time I’m ready for him. I feint right and flank him, bringing up my knee to hit him in the diaphragm, causing air to swoosh out. But before I can move my leg, he latches on with his black claws and digs in, immobilizing me in a pretty awkward stance. Before I can try to flip myself out of his hold, he throws me into the air, spiraling towards the other side of the circle. Landing with a grunt, I see spots start to cloud my vision before the darkness of the rage overtakes me.
“Jessup! STOP!”
