05. Paid & Amazed

Claire P.O.V

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" 

I'm getting fed up with what that guy next to me has been up to. He paid for all the food that Jane and Agatha ordered, then took off with Hendrik, leaving me hanging at the restaurant.

I even tried to find them at the beach, but surprise, surprise, they weren't there, and Agatha's car was gone too. They might pull something like this, but I wanted to tag along. Am I just being naive? That's not what they had in mind. They put me in a tough spot and made me look like a fool in front of everyone.

"Hey! Stop staring at me like that!" I shot him a glare because he wouldn't stop.

"Do you even realize who I am and where you stand?"

My heart skipped a beat when he said that. I stared at the sand under my feet, noticing a few grains stuck in my shoes. It took me back to when I first met him and how my body reacted.

Thinking about guys like Hendrik is different. Whether we touched hands or not, there was never any spark. But with this guy, it felt like I was being pulled into a whole new world I didn't even know existed, and he was right there with me.

Since that night, my inner wolf insisted that this guy was my Mate. It felt like the moon goddess had sent him my way. But a part of me also wanted to push him away. It's not like 'I crave food when I'm stuffed, but more like being forced to eat when I'm not hungry at all.'

I couldn't shake the feeling that meeting him was destiny and a mistake. I had this gut feeling he wasn't a good person, but remembering the moon goddess's gift made it hard to deny. Still, I didn't want to face that truth.

So, I just shook my head. "Nope. I don't know who you are. Thanks for helping me yesterday and today."

Instead of feeling let down, insulted, or furious, this guy just laughed. She rubbed her forehead and then pushed her hair back with a sigh. I don't know what that move means, but honestly, this guy must be out of his mind.

"Okay, I won't bring it up again. But what if I introduce you to something you've never experienced, like being in heat, for instance?"

I tightened my fists. Looking at him now, that grin on his face is just infuriating. "Are you out of your mind?! Why would you even say that to me? Go find someone else for that!"

"Oh, really? When I found who else did you suggest I look for?" he replied, still grinning. It wasn't just any grin. It was pure mockery, and I could see it clear as day.

"You're—"

He leaned in closer before I could say anything, catching me off guard, and then quickly pulled back to maintain some space between us.

"What's the deal? Are you worried that if you catch a whiff of my pheromones again, you'll get all worked up and lose it? Or are you just scared that it'll unleash even more pheromones and trap us in here for something crazy?"

"Can you please tone it down? I'm not the woman you think I am." I raised my voice slightly, but he seemed to enjoy the game.

He leaned in close, whispering in my ear like he was trying to flirt. "So, what kind of woman are you? Do you like it when someone constantly courts you, or do you prefer to be treated like a queen?"

I wasn't having any of his games, so I pushed him away. "Back off, that's not what I'm about."

"Then what makes you think I'm asking you something? Isn't it a bit nicer than just leaving you stuck in that restaurant with a bill you can't cover?"

"Are you asking me to pay you back?" I shot him a fiery look, determined to have the final say. He just stared at me, no smile in sight. "If that's the case, just drive me to the hostel, and I'll pay you again," I said.

"You're quite the fearless one," he said, sounding more sarcastic than sincere.

That didn't feel like a compliment at all. It felt like a cleverly disguised jab, confirming his view of me, which was the opposite of how I saw myself.

"Fine, I'll take you back to the dorm, but you better make it worth my while. And just so you know, I don't need your money." He said.

He flashed that infuriating smirk again. As he walked away, I was left behind, yelling like an idiot, trying to figure out what he wanted from me.

I trailed him to a black BMW I look at church earlier. This time, though, he was alone, and no one else was around to play chauffeur.

He told me to hop in. I had to go along with no other options or cash to get home. But instead of taking me straight to the hostel, he pulled over on the side of the road.

"Why are we stopping here?" I asked him as he turned off the engine. "What's going on?"

"I'll be back in London in twenty-four hours," he said out of the blue.

I shook my head, my forehead wrinkled in confusion. "I'm sorry, but I just don't get it what you mean it." I said to him with my confuse.

After I said that, he turned to look at me. Her stunning eyes locked onto mine, silent at first. Then, he leaned in closer, burying his face in the curve of my neck, taking in my scent like he was trying to memorize it.

I was ready to push him away, but he quickly grabbed my shoulder and said, "You're my Mate. It wouldn't be true if you didn't feel something when we first met, right?"