I showered for about an hour and with that water pressure I feel like a whole new girl. That shower worked some kinks out of my muscles that I didn't even realize I had. Wrapped in a plush, white towel, I walk over to my vanity mirror and plop down on the padded bench in front of it. On the vanity I see lotion, hair brushes, combs and what people would call night time oils. What. In the. Ever loving hell. Is night time oils? I honestly had no clue that was even a thing.
I unwrap my wet, tangled hair and let it fall down my back with a sigh. I doubt once I start dealing with my hair I'll feel like doing anything else, so I hurry up and dry off and apply some vanilla scented lotion before digging some shorts and a tank top out of my duffle bag. Once I'm dressed and confident my ass won't hang out of my shorts, I sit back down on the bench in front of the vanity and grab a brush. Starting from the ends of my hair, I slowly brush and work my way up to the roots at my scalp.
After all the tangles are removed, I take pleasure in simply brushing my hair from root to tip, taking leisurely strokes of my silky brown hair. I get lost in the motions of my self care, so I'm slightly surprised when I catch Kade leaning against the door of my room.
Well, it's safe to say I was right in my assumption that the ass wouldn't knock before entering.
I only meet his eyes for a brief second before continuing to stroke my hair twice more before putting the brush down and slowly standing from my bench. I turn to face Kade and lean against my vanity, pushing my hair back over my shoulder so that it can cascade down my back once more. With little interest I notice that Kade's eyes track every move. Staring, unblinking, eyes of a predator.
Good thing I'm a predator too.
"Did you come into my room just to be a creep and act as though you have no mouth to speak with?" I say, snapping him out of a staring contest he seems to be trying to hold.
With those words though, his face goes from perfectly blank and impersonal to simmering anger. "You must've forgotten who's pack house you're in," he sneers, taking steps closer to me. As he steps closer I faintly notice that he smells of fresh snow and pine. Weird.
I laugh in his face as he tries to intimidate me. "Oh no, your Highness," I snarl sarcastically. "I didn't forget where I am and because of whom. Neither did my wolf," I say with an angry smirk on my lips as I let Fatima merge with me, her gaze shining through my eyes. No Kade, I didn't forget that you've taken me from the only people I've ever truly loved.
Just as I'm sure my eyes are shining gold because of my wolf, Kade's eyes are shining silver because of his. I feel Ace reach for Fatima but she waits for my reaction before accepting communication. When I don't give any, she pretends that she doesn't know he's trying to speak to her, even though it pains them both.
That's not what I want for Fatima, or even Ace. But there's also no way that I'll let Kade think he got away with this and make it easy for him. I want him to realize how he fucked up. I want him to try to make it better. I don't feel the mate bond, even though I can tell that Fatima does in some way. Other than appreciating Kade's looks, I'm not attracted to him at all.
When a smug look pastes on Kade's features I stiffen just a little, but he notices. I stare at him unblinkingly until he says, "Since your wolf was so kind to make an early appearance, I don't see why we should wait a month to get married." He pauses, waits, for dramatics I'm sure.
"The day after your 18th birthday we'll seal the deal." He says, stepping into my personal space. Bending at the waist, his breath fanning across my neck and shoulder. "And then you'll be mine forever." He says, like he's just so proud of himself for having a grand idea.
Upon hearing those words my nostrils flare and my body burns in anger. I hiss at him with so much venom I thought he'd die. "I'll never be yours, not even the day you die. I would never belong to someone who thinks it's alright to just casually buy someone like they mean NOTHING. Like I am below even the most basic respect given to a human being. Bought like a slave or a whore. " My face is red with my words and I tremble as all of my hurt and angry feelings come surging back. I watch as Kade's face falls and before he has a chance to speak I push him towards the door and watch with satisfaction as he stumbles back. Once I get him out of the door and into the hall he tries to speak again but I cut him off with a glare and say, "Fuck you."
I get little satisfaction in slamming the door in his face and listening to his stomp away from my room. I throw myself onto the bed, forbidding myself to cry in this place. Don't show weakness, or they'll try to tear you down. Fatima and I are not weak, we're the apex predators in this kingdom, and one way or another we're going to act like it. I guess it's time I step up and act like it.