Emerald's POV-
I tried to slip my clothes on as fast as I could inside the shed. I wasn't expecting for Keith to show up early like this, but it hasn't been the first time and I guess since he didn't take me home last night he wanted to check on me.
Such a sweet boy sometimes.
When I was finished getting dressed I fluffed my curls out and slipped my shoes on before knocking on the door so Keith would let me out. He did and slowly pulled the door open for me. Before I could even walk out all the way August's large wolf walked past me and brushed himself against my legs before going into the shed.
I quickly tried to look away and at the ground to hide my flushed face and closed the shed door for August to have privacy. I looked up at Keith who was giving me a hard expression as if he were upset about something.
"Hey, what are you doing here so early?"
"I woke up and you were gone, so I figured I'd make sure you were alive. I can see that I clearly interrupted something though." He said in annoyed tone while crossing his arms over his chest.
I furrowed my brows at him and cocked my head to the side.
"What are you talking about? We went for a run. You know I run in the mornings."
"Yeah, alone though. Who is that?" He asked raising his voice a little at me.
"Alpha August is my name and if you don't lower your voice when talking to her then I'll have to raise mine."
I turned around to see that August had walked out of the shed, but only got half dressed as he held his shirt over his shoulder. He most certainly wasn't an old man. His shoulders were broad and he definitely gave plenty of attention to his chest and biceps from working out I'm sure. His stomach was of course was sculpted, outlining each ab he had. It led all the way down to show the v line that disappeared into his shorts.
"My eyes are up here Emerald."
My eyes snapped up back to August's eyes and a wave of heat went across my face from being caught staring for much longer then necessary. I rolled my eyes at him and tried to remember who the hell I was.
"Keith this is Alpha August, Helen's nephew. August this is Keith my boyfriend that I told you about." I said narrowing my eyes at him.
He held his composure well, but I could still the playful smirk he was holding back. Keith walked next to me and dropped his arms over my shoulders before bringing me close to his side.
"Nice to meet you, Em never told me Helen even had a nephew."
I saw a flash of hurt go through his eyes and suddenly I wanted to pinch Keith for even saying something like that.
"Yeah, well being Alpha makes it hard to take long trips, but me and Emerald go way back, don't we?" August asked looking straight at me.
Daring me to deny knowing him.
"Something like that." I said trying to mask the smirk on my lips.
"So baby what are your plans for today hm?" Keith asked in an overly adoring tone while still holding me by his side.
"Actually Keith, I was going to show August around since he's new here and all." I said while slowly walking out from under his arm so I could face him.
"Oh okay cool, where are we going first? I'm starving we should get breakfast."
I turned back to look at August who still staring at me with a very dark look in his eyes. I wasn't really sure where the tension in the air was coming from, but if I had to guess I'd say it was coming from him.
"Is that alright with you? You might poison me with your cooking after all." I said playfully to try and lighten up the mood.
He put a smile on his face, but it didn't reach his eyes. He shrugged his shoulders a minute and took a step towards me. His eyes were still darker then normal.
"Whatever you want is always okay with me Emerald."
August walked past me and Keith before going back into the house and leaving me feeling a little lightheaded.
Even though I could tell he wasn't in a good mood for whatever reason, his words still gave me butterflies. I didn't even realize I was still staring at the back door until Keith stepped into my view.
"Is there something I should know about? You've never mentioned this guy before and now all of a sudden I find you going off on runs with him?"
Sheesh. I know I'm a cold person because when guys show just a little bit of insecurity I get turned off fast. It's wrong and I know everyone has insecurities, trust me I know I do. Something about it though just makes all attraction for that person disappear. I definitely had a type and I know it was mostly influenced by Anala.
"I never said anything about him because I haven't seen or talked to him in years. I didn't even know he was here until yesterday."
Keith raised an eyebrow at me and took another step closer to me.
"You mean you knew he was here and didn't say anything to me about it?" He asked and then I felt like a kid getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
"I don't understand what the big deal is. He's here because his Aunt is dying Keith. What do you want me to do? Ignore him because you feel threatened?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest.
"Should I feel threatened Em? Because you two seem very comfortable around one another. Where is he even staying at while he's in town?"
"He's.. staying here." I said lowly and Keith let out a hard laugh.
"You're fucking joking? That guy is not staying in this house with you Em. You can stay with me while he's here." He said to me as if it wasn't up for discussion and I felt that rebellious part of me wanting to come out.
"That guy in there saved my fucking life. I will not be staying with you. I will stay here with Helen where I'm supposed to be. Do not talk to me as if you actually have a say in what I do or who I talk to." I said trying to keep the heat that was starting in my hands.
Keith narrowed his eyes down at me and he just threw his head back and laughed.
"You know what? I don't even know why I'm still with you honestly." He said to me making the anger turn into pure shock.
"W..what?"
"Three years Em. I've been waiting for you for three years and you still won't even go past second base with me. You're nothing but a fucking tease." He spit at me venomously.
I winced back at his harsh words, but they weren't hurtful enough to make me too upset. I understood what he meant and how he probably felt. Not a lot of guys his age would have waited as long as he has and I knew eventually it would be the thing to break us up.
I wanted to sleep with him, but I cannot do that to my wolf. Not to mention he basically admitted that the main goal of him being with me was to sleep with me. Major red flag.
"I'm sorry you feel that way Keith. I'm not trying to tease you, I obviously find you attractive and I want the same things just as badly. It's just complicated okay?" I said back to him trying to reach out for his hand, but he took a step back from me.
"I don't think it's so obvious Em. You won't open up to me. You won't talk to me about anything serious. I deserve a reason, what is it about me that's making you hold back?"
I groaned and rubbed my eyes and face with my hands before running my hands through my frizzy hair. Why is this happening right now? Why do we have to have this talk now? Can't he just take the fucking hint that I'm not ready? He wants honesty? Fine.
"My wolf isn't attracted to you Keith." I said looking right into those gorgeous brown eyes of his.
I could see the hurt in them from my words.
I should've lied.
Lying always has better results.
"Since when?" He asked letting the confusion show in his tone.
"Since always. You know it's that stupid mate bond shit. I just feel bad about sleeping with someone when she doesn't want to." I said lowly trying to be as gentle as I can with my words.
"So when were you going to tell me? Where you just never going to sleep with me and keep leading me on?"
"Can we please talk about this later? I have a guest and lower your voice." I hissed at him worried that August might hear us arguing.
"No, we can not talk about it later! Answer me, were you ever going to tell me?" He demanded while raising his voice and taking a step towards me.
I took one back and stayed watching his movements. I could see the anger in his eyes and I could see the veins popping up in his neck. We rarely had fights, but if we did Keith never acted like this.
"I don't know. I have a lot going on right now, so between the dying woman in the house and me wondering where I'm even going to be living soon, sex hasn't really been on my top list of priorities okay?" I said back raising my voice to match his.
"You just love throwing that in my face don't you? You've been playing me Em, you've done nothing but wasted my time."
His words were icy cold, but the heat bubbling inside my chest didn't subside because of them.
I was not going to let him gaslight me into thinking I've done anything wrong. I wasn't playing him or leading him on at all in my mind. I truly did care for Keith, I wanted to sleep with him, I wanted to be with him.
But if the answer is no the fucking answer is no. No matter the reason. I could have two perfectly healthy parents in there and that wouldn't change my decision. If Alana isn't feeling it then maybe I shouldn't be either.
"Well if all you wanted was to fuck then yes. I guess I have wasted your precious time. My dearest apologies."
"You're such a child." He groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I'm a child? You're throwing a fit out here because I won't sleep with you Keith!" I said to him as I felt the anger heating up in my palms again.
"I don't need this okay? I have a good life and I thought I could let you be apart of it despite the fact that you're not my mate. I have a nice family that have money and I've spent years defending our relationship to them and to get them to accept you. I have my own place, a decent job, I'm not some freak with a missing eye. What else do I have to do Em?"
His words sunk deeply into my skin and then my muscles and eventually reaching my bones. I let them sink to my very core.
Nothing. There was nothing he could do that would change Anala's mind. There was nothing he could do to make me see him in the same way after seeing this side of him.
All of this over sex?
That's all any of that ever was. It was like I had fallen for the same dirty trick that August had done. Thinking my relationship with him was one way, when really he had his own agenda the whole time. I mean it was no real secret to me that he wanted to sleep with me, but the guy has been acting like he loved me or something.
Did he only say that to get me to sleep with him ?
"You need to leave." I said with wide eyes as I dug my nails tightly into my palms. They were shaking and I wasn't sure if I could hold back the flames that wanted to burst out.
"So that's it? Just like that huh?" He asked taking another step towards me.
My finger tips started to hear my palms like a lit cigarettes was being burned into my flesh.
"Leave. Now." I said through clenched teeth as I closed my eyes to tried hard to smother the burning rage.
"I'm not fucking leaving until you talk to me!" He screamed at me just a few inches from my face. I could feel his spit hit my cheeks.
My eyes snapped open and from the pure shock in his eyes I could tell my eye must've been glowing. I could feel the heat of the flames around my fists as I held them tightly by my sides. I couldn't stop it. I couldn't make the fire go away and the more I looked at his stupid face the more angry I felt.
"W..wwwhat are you?" He asked and took a step away from me looking afraid.
Suddenly someone grabbed Keith up by the collar of his shirt and literally jerked him back off of his feet. August was holding a handful of Keith's shirt in his hand and was holding him off the ground. He brought his face close to Keith's and suddenly I didn't feel so angry anymore.
"I think I heard her tell you to leave." He said in a much darker voice then normal.
'Mmm Zeb came to rescue us.' Anala said as if she were swooning.
The flames had disappeared and I unclenched my fists while watching the scene in-front of me play out. I didn't really care too much to help Keith or feel sorry for him. I wasn't sure if that was because of his hateful words or because I never had very strong feelings for him in the first place.
Keith nodded his head and August threw him to the ground as if he weighed nothing. Keith landed on his back and quickly scrambled to his feet and ran back inside the house and I'm sure out the front door.
August turned back to me and immediately put both arms around me and brought me in close for a hug. I didn't hug him back, but I did enjoy how warm his skin felt on mine. He held both hands over my arms and looked down at me for a minute.
"Are you okay?"
I was just staring at him. Taking in his rugged features again and feeling just how big and rough his hands are on my skin. He made me feel tiny, almost delicate even and it was strange. I felt like my heart was beating out of my chest and a warm feeling building up low in my stomach.
I just slowly nodded my head to him and he smirked at me.
"You still want to get breakfast right?"