Chapter 14

Zander

Piper never met my gaze once during dinner. Not once. She answered my questions while staring at her food, but I didn"t miss the way she shifted in her seat at the sound of my voice, or bit her bottom lip.

My wolf called to her during her nap.

That kiss had ignited the claiming process. Now my wolf would haunt her until she finally gave in, until she finally let down her guard and realized what a mate bond truly meant.

I left Piper with Vivian at the table to grab a shower before the beast came for the night. The sun was making it"s way to rest, and I felt it in my bones with each passing second. William would be home soon to make sure I was secure for the night. He went to check on the pack, make sure they were doing well, something I longed to do.

Shutting the door with my foot, I tugged my shirt from my body and walked into my adjoined bathroom. My reflection in the mirror caught my eye. Something looked different about myself.

Maybe I looked stronger, less pissed at the world, I wasn"t sure, but I liked it. Unable to stop it, my eyes landed on the rose tattooed on my forearm.

A petal floated down toward my wrist and disappeared.

My wolf howled in anguish.

My teeth gnashed together in fury.

I did my best to avoid looking at it, so I wouldn't be reminded of what happened. So I wouldn"t be reminded of what little time I had left as a somewhat normal person.

But there it was. Another one bit the dust.

Another petal disappeared.

Another minute less to win over Piper Sloane.

Swallowing the scream riding my throat, I turned and buried my fist into the wall. Blood dripped down my hands, falling to the tile floor beneath me. I didn"t feel it. The numbing feeling of being trapped with the beast forever masked any emotion wanting out.

The frustration built in my stomach, and even as I slid all of my belongings from the bathroom counter, and tore my door from the hinges—it still lingered.

Like a demon waiting for me in the corner, wearing a happy grin at my expense. A black hole hovering patiently to swallow me hole.

The curse lingered like a bad day, slowly eating away my normality, burning my self-worth as we went on this rope bridge of a journey.

Sliding down the wall, I braced my elbows against my knees and covered my face with my bloody hands. The smell of iron and pity hung heavy around me.

Soft footsteps fell near. At first, I thought Vivian had come to clean up my mess, which I planned to dismiss her. I didn"t hire her because I needed a maid. William and I hardly messed, but I needed to feel somewhat normal.

She"d been part of the pack since she was a pup, so when she asked, I gladly accepted.

Then Piper"s scent filled my nose, and I lifted my gaze to look at her. She stood at the doorway, unimpressed with the mess around me. "A little afternoon tantrum to stroke your ego?" she asked.

I didn"t bother debating I"d thrown a tantrum in the name of self-pity. I eyed her shapely curves in the corset dress she wore. "Have you asked William to buy you anything else to wear?"

"Do you suddenly not enjoy my dresses that you picked out?"

I scoffed. "I"d enjoy anything you wear, Mrs. Sloane. You mentioned that you did not. Why are you in here?"

"Oh, I don"t know, maybe because it sounded like a sledgehammer went through the wall. Call me crazy, but for the sake of sanity, I needed to know the culprit of the sound. And it looks like you"ve had a mini meltdown, and now you"re bleeding."

"It"ll heal."

She stepped over the pieces of wall and objects on the floor, standing on her tip-toes to rummage through my cabinet. She pulled down a first aid kit I didn"t realize was there, and sat on her knees in front of me.

Vivian"s shadow caught my eye, but she backtracked out of the room with a small smile on her face. Maybe she thought Piper helping me would bring us closer. I wanted to tell her that I meant my wounds would heal in minutes, but I kept my mouth closed.

Having her near soothed me in brand new ways.

She pulled out some spray ointment and cleaned my wounds with a small wipe. Her fingertips were quick, and gentle like my mothers had been as a child. "What did you do for work?" I asked.

Her gaze moved up to mine. "Insurance agent."

"You liked it?" I asked, watching her bandage me up like an experienced nurse.

"Not really," she said, turning her head from one side, but not meeting my stare. "It was good money, and helped pay my share of the bills."

My wolf barred his teeth at the thought of her sharing a home with her ex. She chuckled. "I"m sure they"ve already listed a job opening for my position, not that I care, my degree was in literature anyway."

"Hence your love for my library. If you"d like to order more books, I see you like the smutty ones—," she gave me a look, "—William will buy you more."

She sat back on her knees and glared at me. "What do you do for money? I"m assuming this castle didn"t fall from the sky."

"Family money. The pack lived here before—," I trailed off, not wanting to be pulled back into the past at the moment.

"Before what?" she prodded.

I stood, leaving her sitting on her knees in front of me. Something about that position appeased my wolf. "Nothing. I need to clean this up, and shower, unless you want to join me."

Her gaze shifted toward the large shower, and I imagined a million things running through her mind. Naughty things. Perhaps things we would actually do in the future. She stood up slowly, dusting off her dress, she walked out of the bathroom, leaving me cold.

I turned on the shower, then walked out to grab a broom from the hallway closet when I noticed her standing in my room. My body ran cold. She stared at my opened closet door. "What are you doing?" I shouted, unable to stop the chill in my voice.

She turned around and looked at me, pointing into the dark depths of the walk-in with her mouth opened. "What is that—,"

My anger soared high, deafening my ears, clogging my throat. "I told you not to come into my room," I said, stalking toward her, grabbing her upper arm, I hauled her closer to me.

Her eyes looked—sad. Afraid, but pitiful. "You didn"t mind when I helped you with your tantrum—,"

I roughly ripped the bandage from my hand and showed her. "I heal on my own. If you did any research on wolves, you"d know, wouldn"t you? I didn"t need your help, I wanted you near me. And I told you to stay out of my room and now you"re snooping in my things?"

She jerked her arm from my grip. "Piss off you pompous asshole. I only came in here because I thought you needed help. You need help alright, but whatever this is," she said, gesturing around the room. "I won"t be helping you with. This mate bond you"ve concocted. Screw it. I will never love you, I will never sleep with you, or let you mark me, no matter how many witchy dreams you send my way."

She stalked toward the door, grabbing the handled and glanced back over her shoulder. The disdain on her face shot pain into my stomach. "You"re going to die with that ugly beast inside of you, because how could anyone love a man that kidnapped them, and who turns into that beastly thing every night? Maybe someone, but not me."

She slammed the door, rattling the artwork on the walls, and my soul. I cursed loudly, and walked over to shut my closet door on another piece of my curse that I couldn"t find the strength to look at. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down.

The sun was setting soon, and the beast was ready to break free.

Like I wish I had the chance to do.