Chapter 10
Dwayne's POV
I stood in the courtyard, my arms crossed as I leaned on a pillar. I could see the evident frustration on Louise's face as Felicia, the gamma's daughter and a healer in the pack followed her around probably pestering her about me. Ever since we were Kids', Felicia clung to Louise just to get my attention thinking I would somehow notice her. I had always ignored all of it. Her desperation, antics…it all seemed pathetic to me and I was irritated.
Felicia noticed me from miles away and smiled seductively at me. She was at a far distance but my wolf had incredible eyesight so I could see her little display she put up to try to get me to notice her. I normally looked away and not spare her a glance, but today, I didn't look away.
Felicia noticed immediately. Her eyes lit up like she'd just won the lottery. She batted her lashes, tilting her head as if she thought that would make her look irresistible. Then, biting her lower lip in what I assumed was meant to be seductive, she then gave me a shy smile.
Pathetic.
I wasn't looking at her because I wanted to, I stared at her because she seemed like a good enough distraction from my wolf stirring wildly inside me.
Nina.
Ever since I met Nina at the bar, my wolf had been incredibly restless. He growled and yearned for her, a werewolf. It was infuriating to think that a mere werewolf had such a hold on me. She clouded my mind, rendering me useless. I couldn't function the way I did before she came into my life.
My wolf didn't care that she was a werewolf, the one thing I was supposed to hate more than anything. All it cared about was her—her scent, her fire, the pull I felt every time she was near. It made me furious, the way she consumed my thoughts.
I needed to recover from whatever madness this was. Very fast, and what better way to get over a women with another woman?
Felicia was standing right there, practically begging to be used. Maybe she was what I needed to quench this brewing insanity.
I gazed intensely at Felicia, Allowing her to notice that I was staring at her. It was an open invitation.
Her face brightened, and she took that as her cue. I saw her excuse herself from Louise and walk toward me, her hips swaying with exaggerated confidence.
"Alpha," she greeted me sultrily, her voice laced with sweetness.
I didn't respond. I just stood there, letting her speak, letting her think she had my attention for a reason other than ease.
"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" she purred, stepping closer.
Still, I said nothing. My silence didn't deter her; it never did. She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice.
"If you're free," she whispered, "I know a place where we could… talk. Somewhere private." She bobbed her perky breast to entice me. None of it was working and I forced myself to follow through because I couldn't think of any other solution.
"Your study…" she trailed, the suggestion in her voice wasn't subtle.
I nodded once, curtly, and followed her as she led the way toward my study.
Once inside, I closed the door. Felicia turned to me and smiled expectantly. Without wasting time, she reached up and kissed me.
I let her do it.
But it wasn't passionate. It was a calculated, mechanical kiss. Her lips touched mine, and I met her expectations. If that's how I could forget Nina, Even if only for a moment, I would take it.
But my wolf hated it.
The kiss made my skin crawl and I could feel bile rising up my throat.
As the kiss deepened as Felicia pressed herself against me, but it felt empty. Wrong.
Just then the door swung open.
I turned, startled to see Nina standing there.
Her wide-open eyes stared into mine. She was stunned, and she didn't seem to be expecting what she had just seen.
"I'm sorry," she said disinterestedly, turning her gaze anywhere but on me and Felicia. She stepped back and closed the door as quickly as she had opened it.
I stared at the closed door, my chest tightening. Felicia tugged at my shirt, trying to get my attention back.
"Dwayne…" she purred, but I snarled and pushed her away.
"Get out." I commanded at once. She squirmed, shock reflected on her face.
"I said, get out." My tone was sharp.
"But—"
"Now!" I growled, my wolf surging to the surface.
Felicia flinched, but quickly regained her composure and hurried out of the room without another word. As soon as the door slammed shut, I slammed my fist on the table.
What the hell was wrong with me? I didn't want Nina. She was everything I despised and everything I should have stayed away from.
But my wolf didn't care about logic or reason, and he didn't care one bit about my pride.
"Dwayne?" I looked up in surprise as Louise entered the room. She had her arms crossed and her expression was unreadable.
"What do you want?" I was still indignant and I avoid eye contact. It wasn't her fault in the slightest, but I couldn't help but take my frustration out on her.
"We need to talk," she said, stepping closer.
"Not now."
"It's about Nina."
That sure got my attention and I hated it. "What about her?" I asked dismissively.
Louise sighed, leaning against the desk. "She asked me last night why you hate her."
I scoffed. "So?"
"So, I told her to ask you herself," she continued calmly. "But she wouldn't let it go, so I told her the truth."
My eyes narrowed sharply. I hoped it wasn't what I was thinking. Nina didn't need to know that, I didn't want her sympathy. Her pity.
"What truth?"
Louise hesitated, and for a moment, I thought she wouldn't answer. Then, she looked me in the eye and said, "I told her about your
mother."
I stilled, anger surging throughout my body.
"What?" I said, my voice low and dangerous.