Chapter Three

CHARITY POV

It’s another early morning, and Alpha Elle has us trudging through the woods to meet with the Rogues. “I don’t understand why we can’t just coordinate through emails or something?”

We stop in the clearing Alpha Xander, and his Beta Fletcher gave us the coordinates to. Elle remains silent, walking in a wide circle, her attention elsewhere.

“I didn’t think you’d be such a snob,” Theo’s words slap me, making me reel from his words. My gaze meeting his before flashing away. Guilt rising in my stomach like bile as the truth abuses my conscious.

My issues may have started with their rogue status, but it quickly became about avoiding Fletcher and the visceral reaction I have to his presence. I shouldn’t be feeling this way about him when I feel the way I do for Matt. It’s wrong.

Instead of responding, I follow Elle’s lead, my attention on the forest instead. My eyes scanning through the brush, head tilting, listening for the wildlife, except it’s silent. Dead silent, not even the chirp of squirrels.

A movement to my left has my gaze snapping to focus as I search the area for the source. I notice it as I am pivoting to look elsewhere. A man’s head peaking from behind a tree in the distance. Pretending not to see him, I continue looking around the perimeter for anyone else.

My skin flushes under the heat of being watched, and I know it’s his eyes on me. Fletcher. My stomach doing somersaults, and my pulse quickening slightly. The wind shifts slightly, the bonfire and toasted marshmallow scent he carries surrounding me until I am practically drowning in it.

Arms the size of small tree trunks wrap around my neck in a chokehold, a sparks dance along my skin. I am tugged backward until my back is flush with a hard, male chest.

His warm breath fans my cheek and neck while I try to contain the shiver. “Maybe we are meeting instead because I wanted an excuse to see you again,” the Beta flirts. His voice is low enough so that only the two of us can hear. “I know you’re attracted to me. You can’t deny it.”

His gloating remarks rain over me like an icy avalanche. My wobbly knees gathering their strength, as my elbow slams backward, connecting with his gut. A satisfying grunt leaving his lips as his grip on my neck loosens.

Grabbing my opening, I pry his arm away from my neck and throw him over my shoulder. His colossal frame, hitting the ground with a thud. Standing above him, his hand in mine, I twist it awkwardly, as my boot finds his neck, applying enough pressure it’ll be hard to breathe.

“I have better sexual chemistry with a dead cat,” the words coming out clipped and final. Lies. My lame attempt at convincing myself, and him, that it’s true. From the smirk gracing his face, and the light pink flush covering my skin, neither of us believe it’s true.

“Ugh,” I groan, rolling my eyes, dropping his hand and stepping off his neck. “You disgust me.”

Sitting up, his hand clutching at his neck, coughing for breath. “I love when you talk dirty to me.” His smirk returns, sending me a little wink, before popping up to stand. “You’re a little fireball you know that?”

“I’d rather talk to a toad,” I retort, walking past him, desperately wanting to escape. I need to find somewhere is scent cannot cloud my judgement.

“It’s really unfair to compare Matt to a toad,” Theo says, picking the perfect time for unnecessary comments. The bastard really likes to push my buttons. I don’t have an older brother, but if I did I’d imagine him like the Beta.

“Matt?” Fletcher asks, chasing after me. “Who is Matt?” His body flanking mine. I avoid his question, looking for Elle instead, only to find her talking with Alpha Xander.

“I believe that’s my business,” I retort, pausing momentarily, our gazes connecting. “I don’t owe shit to someone who sees me as a personal conquest.”

His eyes flash, his pupils turning onyx as his wolf comes forward. My gaze wanders down to his plush lips, words coming out in an animalistic growl. “You’re not a game to me.”

He steps forward, his hand reaching upwards, his fingers grazing my cheek delicately as he tucks my hair behind my ear. His eyes returning to the blue-green I know him for. Coughing, I step back, glancing around, hoping no one has witnessed what’s happening. What cannot happen.

The others have their backs turned to us, but I can feel the curiosity from a mile away. I swear they’re as nosy as my mother, maybe worse.

Hurt flashes across Fletcher’s face. The emotion crosses his face for the briefest moment. My heart clenching just to see it, regardless of how short. Determination replaces the sadness, his expression hardening.

“Well, whoever this, Matt guy is,” his words no longer sounds like a ferocious growl, as he bends closer to my ear. No, they sound like a secret promise. “He better bring his A game, because I will never stop chasing what’s mine.”

Without waiting for my response, he straightens, strutting toward the rest of our group. Shell shock keeps me rooted in place, his promise exciting and terrifying. It doesn’t take long for the guilt to come knocking, and it stays with me the entire way home.

*************

Hours later, I open the door to the heated sunroom. I carry my laptop outside, setting it on the coffee table. Flicking on the twinkle lights, I wander back into the main house for the rest of my haul.

With bunny slippers happily on my feet, I carry a pink comforter, bowl of popcorn, and a drink. Snuggling into the oversized couch, I set the popcorn and drink on the end table. Turning on the screen, I open HBO to hit play on the movie already cued up.

“Perfect Day,” plays through the speakers as I settle into the couch, munching on my midnight snack. Wiggling to get comfortable, I let my favorite movie wash away the complications piling up in my life. They’re so many it’s impossible to count them using both hands, and I do not know how to handle any of them, so I’ll just ignore them for now.

A third of the way into the movie, a husky voice has me finding Matt standing in the doorway. His blue irises shining mischievously as he quotes his favorite line of the movie. “Whoever said orange is the new pink is seriously deranged.”

A giggle bubbles upward, like it always does when he quotes this movie to me. It doesn’t matter how crappy of a mood I am in, or how overbearing my mother is. All it takes is for him to quote a line, and everything seems manageable.

“Sorry to intrude,” he says, changing the subject. “I saw you from the living room, and I thought you’d want company.” He doesn’t wait for an invitation, crossing the room to join me on the couch.

Picking up my feet, he sits underneath, placing my legs on top of his lap. “Elle has kept you pretty busy this week?” He asks, but it’s his next statement that’s like an icicle to the heart. “I’ve missed you, Shortcake.”

His hand laces through mine, raising my knuckles to his lips, his eyes piercing with intensity. Everything about him has my insides thundering with desire while guilt continues to stab at me.

“Sorry,” I apologize, glancing away, terrified that he’ll see the truth if he stares too long. “Elle has been a drill sergeant about training.” It’s not exactly a lie, but it’s not the whole truth either.

“Well, tell her to cool it,” he chuckles, but something about it sounds forced. “I miss spending time with my girl.” His thumb brushes against my palm, and it’s insane how the simple act makes me want to forget my morals.

Sparks race along my arm from his touch, the sensation clouding my brain and its ability to think properly. What’s with these men turning me into a bubbling idiot? Anytime one of them is around my judgement is questionable.

“You’re the Gamma of New Moon,” I remind him, looking down to notice his fingers laced through mine. Grabbing my chin with his free hand, he tilts my head upward, so that my gaze meets his. “You must understand the responsibility.”

“You’re right, I am and I do,” he admits, his pupils darkening with a look I haven’t seen from him before. “Maybe I’m just selfish and I want more of you to myself.”

Swallowing, remorse plows into me, making me grateful that I am sitting otherwise I would fall over at his confessions. I need to tell him what’s been happening. It’s not fair to keep him the dark. “Matt, I…” the rest refuses to come out, like it’s caught in my throat.

“Shh,” he commands, his finger resting against my lips. officially silencing my protests. My mouth zips close, heart pounding against my ribcage, while I watch his every move earnestly.

Slowly he moves, so that his broad shoulders hover above mine. His scent is so fragrant from the closeness I can practically taste it. His nose brushing against mine, until his mouth presses against mine.

Every cell in overdrive, trying to understand the electric buzz coursing through my bloodstream. His hand reaches behind my neck, pulling me closer to deepen the kiss. I cannot stop the sigh, allowing him entrance.

After a few minutes of our tongues dancing together, he pulls away, kissing my nose lightly. “Scratch that. I am selfish and want you to myself.”

He whispers, like he used to do when we were children and he had a secret to tell me. “But I’ll never stop fighting for what I want and what I want is you.”

Stunned silent, he removes my legs, standing from the couch, before lowering himself to my eye level once more. “Good night, Shortcake,” he kisses me on the lips, pulling away quickly. “Dream of me, because I’ll be dreaming of you.”

Straightening, he exits the screen room while I watch on helplessly, still shell-shocked at having his lips against mine. I remain seated, in a daze, until Theo’s mindlink pops into my blissful bubble to remind me of our recon plans for the night.