CHAPTER 14

VENUS

After the day I had—the last few days actually—I needed a bath. So I raided my stash of bath salts and oils, filled up a glass of wine and grabbed a book. I'd escape the stress of my own love life by jumping into someone else's … of the fictional variety.

Training, after Zander and Griff went at each other, was less heated. The tension seeming to have dissipated with that release of male bravado. At least for the moment.

Who knew what tomorrow and the days after would bring.

River stayed by my side and remained the diplomat, keeping his distance from Griff and his words respectful—even if he did seem like he was occasionally biting his togue.

He continued to pay no heed to any other digs Griff threw his way and I was extremely grateful for it.

I'd basically ignored the hunter—who usually plagued my thoughts—for the rest of the day as he went through some combat techniques the pack could use.

I was pretty sure training them gave him this untapped joy that he usually didn't find in training the cadets. Whether it was because of the possible danger, or the fact that he had wolves looking at him with respect, I wasn't sure. But I knew his ego loved the attention. Talk about a god-complex.

I on the other hand looked at him with no such thing.

I knew this wouldn't be easy, having him around the pack—let alone around River. And I understood that just because I forgave Riv, it didn't mean everyone else would. I'd painted this false image of him to the Knights, on top of their natural aversion to the wolves. Considering how they felt about shifters, it still shocked me that Griff didn't seem to care that wolf blood coursed through my veins too. Not that it was something I thought about often either; most of the time it slipped my mind. It's not like I could shift anyway.

The two guys obviously felt like they had a rivalry going on between them. One that I clearly fuelled with this whole ‘needing to choose' nonsense.

I knew Griffin felt tension between them even before coming here. Like he'd always been competing against the Alpha.

He showed me as much when he asked if I still loved and thought about the wolf that night at the club. The night we first slept together.

In fact, there were a few times he'd shown his hand.

So seeing River now, being in his presence, it must have been hard. Must have unlocked some swaggering alphahole part of him that made him even more cocky and condescending.

So maybe I needed to give him a break.

But today did not go well. And I was fucking stressed.

Being the middleman and needing to douse the situation wasn't easy for me. Especially right now when they both expected me to pick a side. Both expected an answer that I wasn't ready to give.

I wasn't sure how I was going to continue to do this.

And while I appreciated Griff coming here to help me, coming for me, I wasn't sure if it would have been better if he didn't. If he just let the task force that was already planned come on their own.

But then that meant that I wouldn't get to have this time with him. To have him here.To show him my life.

And it was selfish, but I wanted that.

Even though it made things harder for River.

Riv obviously knew that I had slept with someone else while I was gone. That I'd slept with Griffin. But it didn't need to be shoved in his face.

The embarrassment from the debacle lingered.

As did an underlying fear.

This time it had ended fine. River had walked away. But what would happen the next time Griff taunted him?

I couldn't stand the thought of either one of them getting hurt because of something so menial and dumb. And because of me, no less.

At least Zander had seemed to develop some newfound respect for the Knight. And Zander's hot headedness definitely exceeded River's. The Alpha was thankfully patient and even-tempered.

It was unusual to see Zander so worked up though. He was normally so silly and carefree. But when it came to defending his Alpha, he was extra touchy. Hopefully their little truce would bring back the normal Zander we knew and loved … and constantly got annoyed with.

The tub filled and I dashed a healthy dose of bubbles in before lighting a candle and putting my hair up in a messy bun. When my toes hit the water, I jumped back at the heat before adding a touch more cold in, hoping I didn't screw up that precarious balance and that it wouldn't overflow when I got in.

I sighed in relief as I settled down in the comforting warmth.

Finishing my wine quicker than expected, I soaked for a while.My eyes tired, chest warm and head slightly buzzing.

The door clicked open, and I looked up in pure shock when Griffin slipped in. I hadn't locked the door. I was so used to a house full of females that didn't care too much about personal space.

When I gathered myself—my brain slightly slower than normal due to the alcohol haze—I quickly brought the bubbles closer to ensure I was fully covered.

"Griff," I quietly hissed, not wanting to draw the attention of my mother who was likely only a few rooms away.

This was the first word I'd said to him in hours. Not since training finished and we left the packhouse. I had made him sit in silence the whole drive home and didn't say a word to him when we entered the house, heading straight for my room and slamming the door in warning not to bother me.

I knew I was probably being overdramatic, but I was disappointed in his behaviour. Although, honestly, I didn't know why I expected anything else from him. He was itching for a fight. And he got it.

That devilish grin that I simultaneously knew, loved and resented graced his face and a flash of silver crossed his eyes as he took me in. And then took in the bubbles I'd strategically placed.

"What, Supernova? It's not like there's anything I haven't seen before."

My cheeks heated and he meandered closer until he perched himself on the tub. He took in the empty wine glass and chuckled. "Looks like you're having a good time."

I forced a glare at him. "I was."

A serious expression took over his playful one.

"Are you okay?" His voice was uncharacteristically sombre and worried.

I kept my expression neutral but focused on my page in the book instead of him. "Yep. Great. Fine."

"Funny. I thought the silent treatment I was getting indicated the opposite." His gaze fell to the bubbles again. "I just wanted to check on you," he looked at me through dark lashes, "and apologise for attacking your friends. I'll be on my best behaviour going forward."

I tore my eyes from the page to bring them to his.

He looked sincere. But seeing my gaze, his own changed. That devious smirk slowly spread again. "But since you're ‘great' and ‘fine', I guess there's no need," he said jovially, trying to lighten the mood and break the tension between us.

The face I gave him in return was anything but friendly.

He smiled wider.

I sighed. "You better be on your best behaviour. This is your first strike. Three and I'll find a way to get your ass back to the city and figure this out without you."

"What constitutes a strike, exactly?" He asked, feigning innocence.

"You'll know," I threatened. He laughed and the sound vibrated through me, lowering my guard just that little bit.

After a beat I sighed and said, "I need you to take it easy on River."

His fingers danced across the surface of the water where the bubbles seemed to have disappeared.

"Lover boy doesn't know I've been your lover boy for the last however many months?" The remark was laced with snarkiness that matched the wicked tilt to his lips.

"He does. But it doesn't need to be rubbed in at every opportunity."

Succumbing to my glare, he gave in. "Best behaviour," he reiterated. Then he pulled the book from my hand, examining the cover. With a raised brow he asked, "Supernatural?"

"Fantasy," I replied. He nodded and handed it back.

"So … any room for me in there?" His eyes danced mischievously at the inappropriate thoughts clearly running rampant in that pretty head of his.

I levelled a look at him from under my lashes.

"What?" He asked casually. Innocently. "Don't want to play into my fantasies?" Silver flashed through his eyes at his own suggestion.

I splashed him with water. "You're not really in my good graces right now."

"I'm alright with being punished by you."

"Out," I commanded. "Before my mum catches you in here."

He laughed and my heart warmed at the sound, cracking my icy exterior.

Nothing had actually happened this morning. No damage at least. And in the end he'd ended up winning over most of the pack. Miraculously. He'd managed to make training productive and even helped with some of the strategic details of the planning after.

He'd still made remarks, but that was just Griffin being Griffin.It was to be expected.

His hands raised up in surrender. "Alright, alright." Standing, he turned and walked to the door but stopped short before opening it. "Maybe I'll try my luck with Mumma Stone instead then," he taunted.

"Griff!" I scolded, disgust coating my tone.

"I'm kidding. Geez, so jealous," he smirked, shaking his head in mock scolding. "My attraction to your mother is purely based on the fact that she's an older you. I'm not mad at what I can expect later."

I looked at him with wide eyes. Whenever he implied a future with me it made my fucking fanny flutter and my traitorous heart melt. This was the guy that had never dated and always said he didn't do the whole ‘boyfriend' thing, yet with me he'd always thrown out casual remarks about a future together. And now he was apparently offering me just that.It was all laid on the table. Up to me to take it.

He was somehow different with me. He had been from early on and it had clearly scared him in the past. Yet now he wasn't worried about hiding from it anymore. Was willing to face his fears and prejudices regarding relationships.

Wasn't that what every girl wanted? For the bad, misunderstood boy to change for them?

Despite my fears—that I still definitely had—I knew in my heart that when he spoke about a future together, he really did mean the words.Or at least hoped he could stay true to them.

But I still had my doubts.

Taking my silence as his cue to leave, he twisted the doorknob."Enjoy your bath, baby girl."

With a wink, he snuck out and closed the door behind him.

I sunk down deeper into the water and let out a heavy sigh.