14.4: Stupid Cupid

Levi's POV

We ran towards our borders and within seconds he picked up a couple of rogues. He quickly turned his anger on them and hunted them down. I didn’t even try to hold him back. Hell, I couldn't even if I wanted to. In his blood-lusted state, there was nothing I could do to control him. He tore through them like a savage animal, but once he was done, he’d finally calmed down enough for me to take over and shifted back.

We were quiet for a moment.

Usually, when my wolf went on a rampage like this one, I would give him hell after. I hated him for being the monster he was, but---

Not tonight…

Tonight this was on me just as much as him. I hadn't even tried to fight him but had relished the release of his outrage. Because no matter what, I'd felt every bit as angry, frustrated, and scared as he was. I didn't understand it. And part of me feared that more than anything...

I waited until my breathing had normalized, before shifting back to my wolf form. I alerted the border patrol to come to clean up my mess, and then turned to walk back home. I walked slowly, not really wanting to get home anymore. My mind was left wondering where Dina spent the night. If Mick had claimed her. And---

These thoughts tortured me all night. It wasn't until just after dawn that I finally reached my house. The smell of burned pancakes told me that Dina was making breakfast.

I cursed under my breath.

I didn’t want to face her yet…

But no bad day had ever asked anyone if they were ready for it, so I just had to suck it up. I shifted and walked in, not bothering to be discrete about my presence. My wolf was pissed and my alpha aura was all over the place. Menacing and---

“Good morning, Alp---!” Dina’s usual greeting met me in the kitchen and her bright smiling face turned to meet me. But she stopped mid-sentence, gaping at me as she was slowly taking me in. All of me! And I inwardly cursed when I realized what she was gawking at. I forgot all about being naked after you shift…

And then I grinned.

Now that’s a face that could make a man feel good!

Her eyes traveled several times over my body, stopping at some particular areas of interest. Her mouth opened and closed as if she was fighting to form coherent words. Her face was practically glowing red while she tried to blink away her embarrassment.

“Shit! You’re naked!” she shrieked when she finally found her voice, and spun around, knocking a chair over in the process. I smirked. Looks like I won that bet, I reminded my wolf. But he was busy gloating over the fact that Michael didn’t have a body like this. I mentally rolled my eyes at my wolf. That still didn’t change the fact that she was dating my brother.

VERY officially, too.

And my bad mood was back. Was she going to move out now? My wolf definitely didn’t like the idea of that and, if I was being honest, neither did I. I guess it was just another reminder that everyone we loved would eventually leave us…

Wait--- love?!

Was I in love with Dina?

No! I quickly shook off the idea and, without a word, I headed upstairs for a quick shower and a change of clothes. This was probably just some weird possessiveness; a new trait I developed shortly after I became alpha.

And alphas hate losing things.

Even their maids…

When I reentered the kitchen, Dina covered her eyes and only peeked through her fingers at me. A gesture I would have found cute and funny if I wasn't in the mood to kill someone right now. When she saw I was fully dressed, she let out a sigh of relief and gave me one of her showstopper smiles. That quickly fell, when she noticed my dark mood.

“Rough night?” she asked with a frown and I think there was even some genuine care in her voice. I guess she could tell I hadn’t slept.

Hell, I felt tired.

And very much alone…

“Something like that,” I growled back, not bothering to hide the fact. I was in a bad mood and I didn't feel like covering up the fact.

“Perhaps this can cheer you up,” Dina continued with a grin, her gentle voice sounded like soothing music to my ears. “No burned pancakes! In your face!”

Of course, she was in a good mood.

She had Mick!

And I was going to be alone again...

“You know,” I mumbled and glanced up at her sexy behind. “Not burning pancakes isn’t that huge of an achievement.” I knew I was being a dick to her this morning. But just this once, I was entitled to it. And I’d take any or all punishment she’d deemed worthy after, but right now---

But to my surprise, she just threw her head back and laughed.

“When you can burn microwaved food,” she winked at me over her shoulder. “It is!”

She didn’t even flinch!

My wolf looked at her in astonishment, just before a wolfish grin spread across his muzzle. And just like that, my anger evaporated, and a grin spread across my face.

What was with this girl?

“I guess I forgot to ask if you cooked before hiring you,” I grinned and dug in.

Oh, what the fuck.

As long as she was here, her sexy behind was MINE!

“Not even if my life depended upon it,” she laughed and masterly flipped a pancake over. “Hmm, I’m really getting good.” She smirked and did a little happy dance; swaying her ass side to side. Seeing it shot a hot pang of desire through me. Goddess, what I would give to hold her and have that ass grind against my groin...

I blinked, realizing what I had just been thinking.

Did it make me a pervert?

Yes!

Did it make it any less true?

No!

I sighed. I really needed to get laid if I was going to continue living with her. Especially if she was now dating Mick. The temptation might prove too great for me...

“How’s school?” I asked. Not because I was particularly interested, but because I needed to stop thinking about her, me, and sex. Besides, I liked hearing the sound of her voice.

“Good,” she smiled at me over her shoulder. And if experience told me anything, she was going to tell me something for so long, that the pancakes got burnt.

“I have this project to finish at the end of next week," she began - forgetting all about the pancake. "We’re supposed to make an eco-friendly 2-story family house that will blend into the landscape. So, I’ve made this wooden cabin that disappears into the forest, that’s 40% self-sufficient with its own water supply and has solar panels that power up to---”

She stopped to eye me for a second. I got worried. Had I said or done something that had offended her? But the shy smile appearing on her lips, quickly eased me and my wolf.

“I’m boring you, aren’t I?” she asked, her cheeks turning slightly red. Was she embarrassed by her own enthusiasm? As much as I loved to see her rosy cheeks, I wish she could have more confidence in herself.

“No,” I answered honestly. "But the pancake is burning." She frowned in confusion and, as on cue, the pancake started to sizzle. She muttered a curse and tried to save it. I grinned and took another bite while I watched her try and salvage the food. She might never become a master chef, but she was strong and talented. She should own up to that. What she said mattered! She just needed to believe that…

“You know,” I found myself saying and looked into her beautiful emerald eyes. “You’re really talented; you shouldn’t be embarrassed by that.”

She smiled and blushed, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Thanks, Alpha,” she said and managed to save herself a stack of breakfast. OK, not my very best, but hey! At least she knew I believed in her.

We ate in a comfortable silence – for about two minutes. Then Dina decided to ask about the treaties. I hated explaining that shit but somehow found myself explaining it to her anyway. She grinned at my rather melancholic description and quickly turned the conversation around, making even me believe that treaties were the most interesting thing in the world.

I laughed and for right now allowed myself to forget that she didn’t belong to me.