05. A Clash

JOE

Her thick thighs… her plush lips… the way her eyes were dilated as I stroked her.…

Alerix was back. I was not expecting that and Alec didn't inform me either. When I asked him, he said he didn't know. Not like I deserved to know. I have done nothing but ignore her and I was unusually mad about it.

She was different now. Her curves were now accentuated and she looked like a woman. My woman. No, I shook my head. I fucked that up when I got carried away by Lestiana.

I didn't know she had left until months later. I know it was bad on my part but I had told her before she fell for me. I tried to save her heart from falling in love with a cold-hearted person like me. When Les left, she took my heart along and there was nothing else I could give her.

I did not know why I was feeling strange at Alerix bringing a man to the pack house. I tried not to talk to Alec about it. I felt fishy about the guy. He was…

“Joe?” I blinked as Alec called my attention. Just as I opened my mouth to respond, heels clicked against the floor and I was once again distracted by the overwhelming scent of Alerix. She appeared smiling with the man who seemed to be enjoying her attention. I clenched my fist underneath the table, my stony heart hammering against my chest. I could hear the pounding in my ear drums.

Since when did Alerix start affecting me this way?

Her laugh rang out again and we locked gaze briefly before the man pulled the chair out for her as she took her seat opposite me. She muttered a thank you to him while he winked at her.

My jaw hardened at their display of love. So she was seeing him now. That realization did something to my chest but ignored it. If she wanted to be with him, so be it.

She greeted Alec and Elris who replied happily while I tuned them all out as I ate in silence. The man said something and she slapped his shoulder while he grinned. I gulped hard, trying to contain my... Anger? Jealousy?

I shook my head. I was being delirious. I never liked Alerix. She was Alec’s sister and I did not want to violate our friendship. Not to add the fact that I was his Beta. When I could not take her soft giggles and his whispered words, I slammed the spoon against my plate, and they all flinched, looking up at me. I looked up at the man as he arched a brow daringly. I narrowed my eyes slightly. Was he threatening me?

“Any problem, Joe?” Alec’s voice brought my attention to him. I kicked the chair back and rose to my feet.

“I would like to go and train the guys now,” I told him before glancing at Alerix who did not even pay me a bit of attention. A stab of pain tugged at my cold heart and I found myself clenching my rust tighter, my knuckles almost turning white. The man said something and it was the last thing I could withstand, I bit down the hiss and walked away before Alec would say anything.

“But you have not eaten your food —” Elristeya’s voice was the last I heard before slamming the door shut. I marched to the bathroom, opened the tap, and poured the water over my face. Why was I behaving like this?

Fuck! I pinched the bridge of my nose as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Over the years, I have stayed off anything relationship or love in general. I didn't want to feel the pain I had felt in the past. I had given up in fact. I have lost the ability to love someone wholly.

I could not explain why I was acting like this with Alerix around.

Maybe I needed to spar the steam off. I went to the training grounds and yelled, “Gather!”

The warriors came together and they were all shirtless. I pulled off my shirt and pointed to one of our strongest warriors. Alec was the only one who sparred with him and I think he might be just what I needed. A beating that would send whatever it was I was feeling for Alerix out.

He marched to the center, not saying anything as he stationed himself in a stance.

“Don’t hold back.” I gritted out. His brows arched a bit before he gave me a curt nod.

On the count of three, we both charged at each other. As expected, he tackled me to the ground and I rolled over him. He tried to launch a blow at my rib but I dodged him. I pushed him off me and he slowly rose to his feet, anger simmering beneath his gaze. He was the warrior that had always been since Alec’s father's reign. This man, Rein, was the security that this pack needed. Was it the computer hack or the fighting ability, he possessed it.

“Don’t blame me.” He hissed as he moved in two strides and he carried me before jamming me into the floor. I let out a pained groan as he landed a punch on my cheeks. A crack sounded and spat out the blood. Just as he moved to drop another, I held his hand and rolled him over with all the strength I possessed. I let the anger I felt earlier roll through my veins as I hit him repeatedly with my fist.

Her gasp rang out through the grounds and I paused mid-air, seeing her standing before me, looking as shocked as ever. I blinked, distracted and dislocated.

Something passed in her orbs before the guy dragged her away and Rein used that chance to push me off, he twisted my arm to the back and I winced out, unlocking my special blow. I jammed my elbow into his rib and while he was distracted, I punched him and he dropped, limp, and passed out.

Cheers and yells echoed in the grounds as I dragged myself up, my eyes still on the distracting figure that was standing just outside the ring.

“What about a spar with you?” I didn't know what made me ask that as I pointed to the guy beside Alerix. Her man.

I waited for his response as he shared a glance with her. She looked conflicted like she was scared that I would kill him or something.

Why didn't she look at me like that?