I feel the weight of my mistake as soon as the words leave my mouth.
Not a word escapes Kieran's lips, but his expression says it all.
I sense his anger pulsating, causing an involuntary shiver to run down my body.
Hugging myself tightly, I instinctively stumble backward, a whimper rising in my throat as I press against the unyielding hardwood.
I gulp, my heart pounding, as I watch Kieran take a menacing step forward, his eyes filled with murderous intent. I marvel at the miracle that his eyes aren't as black as coal at this moment. It's as if his eyes could pierce through my soul, filled with a desire to break me into pieces.
"Why the fuck do you keep talking about that annoying pup? That son of a bitch is nothing but dirt, it's getting on my nerves!"
Kieran's bellow echoes through the air, startling the ravens perched in the trees, causing them to scatter and find solace in a calmer, quieter place. As I watch the birds fly away, my lips begin to tremble, a voice in my head urging me to follow suit.
Kieran's interruption prevents me from expressing myself. In one swift motion, his hand shoots out, gripping my chin tightly, compelling me to meet his gaze. As Kieran snarls, I feel the heat of his breath against my face. I can barely stand as my knees quiver.
"Keep searching for the pup, but open your eyes, sweetheart. I'm the only one around. I'm the only one who gives a damn about you!"
I feel a strange, unsettling sensation swirling inside my gut.
The sensation of my trembling lips and furrowed eyebrows makes it clear - anger has consumed me.
It's an anger that consumes everything, leaving no room for any other emotion. Staring into Kieran's eyes, I can see the weight of the truth I have just discovered lingering between us. The werewolf locks eyes with me, its fierce gaze refusing to waver.
My nostrils flare as the fiery flames of rage burn within me, desperate for release.
An outlet. And I know that I have to follow the electric impulses coursing through my veins.
Without hesitation or conscious thought, I swiftly raise my arm and slap away Kieran's touch.
I lock eyes with him, raise my hand, and swing, the force of the impact reverberating through my arm.
As my palm connects with the skin, a searing sensation courses through me.
It burns. Burns. Burns. Burns.
The resounding slap reverberates through the air, startling the birds perched in the trees, causing them to scatter in all directions. And yet, even in the chaos of it all, I can't help but feel the stillness that blankets the entire small mountain town. Kieran's face flushes with anger, his eyes narrowing, as if on the verge of losing his sanity over the audacity of being slapped by a mere human like me.
It doesn't take long for me to realize the magnitude of my mistake.
With a gasp, I stare at Kieran, his eyes widening in disbelief as his face remains turned sideways from the slap I just delivered. A palm-shaped red mark quickly appears on his cheek, right in the center.
I stand my ground, my hand curled tightly around the one that just slapped him.
Getting ready for the retaliation, I clench my teeth, determined not to lose a single one. Kieran seems like the person who wants to get even, and well I sort of deserve it. There's an intensity in his gaze that sends shivers down my spine.
While he had no right to scream in my face, resorting to violence was not the appropriate response, especially considering that he never harmed me.
I close my eyes and wait, listening to the distant chirping of birds.
But to my surprise, there is no punch, only a gentle tap on my shoulder.
No.
All I can hear is contagious laughter.
I can't resist opening my eyes when I hear a genuine and deep chuckle. Instantly, I am stunned as I witness Kieran's uncontrollable laughter, causing him to fold in half, his hands gripping his side as if he were experiencing excruciating pain.
I watch as the man straightens in a few seconds, his body shaking with unrestrained laughter. After a few seconds, Kieran takes a deep breath and regains his composure.
Tears well up in his eyes, and he hastily brushes them away, his knuckles grazing his flushed cheek. With a toothy grin, he looks at me, his eyes gleaming with joy. Understanding it is a challenge for me.
I just slapped him hard across the face!
Why is he still looking at me like I'm the most amazing person on earth?
What happened was completely unexpected and not at all what was supposed to occur.
He was supposed to deliver a forceful blow, either with a punch or a slap, to even the score. The sound of his laughter makes me feel absolutely horrible, as if my actions were meaningless.
"You've got quite the arm."
Kieran's breaths are labored, his voice raspy and wheezing as if he exerted himself greatly. Frustration creeps in as I nibble on my bottom lip, my mouth moving in sync with my racing mind.
The only problem is, there isn't a single word that comes to mind.
I slapped him hard, and instead of reacting in pain, he burst into uncontrollable laughter. As Kieran raises his hand, my body instinctively flinches, but I immediately feel foolish as his hand tenderly ruffles my hair, his fingertips lightly grazing my ear.
"I'm all about a woman who says what she wants and isn't scared to throw a punch."
I feel my cheeks heat up, overwhelmed with embarrassment for feeling sorry after accidentally hitting a foolish dog. Frustration groans escape my lips as I reluctantly raise my hands once more, my body moving on autopilot.
I clench my hands into a tight fist, summoning every ounce of strength I have, which pales in comparison to the power that surely resides within Kieran's hulking frame, and strike him forcefully in the chest.
Repeatedly.
I don't dare look up, my eyes fixated on the man's chiseled chest muscles. I can't help but compare the size of his man boobs to mine, and it seems like his are larger.
With each punch landing on his chest, I can already anticipate the disappointment I'll feel when I finally look up at him.
The moment my gaze meets his, Kieran's eyes will likely light up with joy, and a smile will play on his lips, showing his satisfaction with just being with me.
For some reason, it fills me with rage to see the man radiating an unnerving sense of happiness.
It makes things weird. It makes me feel weird.
His smile alone sends a whirlwind of emotions twisting and turning inside my gut, leaving me utterly bewildered.
The only time I ever felt that way was… was…
With Evan.