Chapter 3

I pushed the door to his office open and slammed it hard, my eyes fixed on him as I waited for a reaction, but the bastard was too calm and way collected to react.

Kane’s gaze lazily left the piles of books that were sitting on his desk, and he glared at me. “There is no need to put a door when you blatantly refuse to use it.”

He was referring to my habit of just entering inside without waiting for his response.

We have been over this; a lot of words have been exchanged, maybe fist too, but I was not about to change. In my defense, a knock was more than enough to alert him of my presence.

And if he was the ‘great’ alpha he claims to be, he should have already perceived my scent a long time ago.

The fucker keeps forgetting we are equals.

Anyway, I came for something important, and that was the only reason I let his comment slide.

“I am leaving the pack.”

“About time, you have overstayed your visit.” I could swear I heard him say it under his breath, but his facial muscles barely moved. “Is Toby going with you?” I froze at his question and looked at him with wide eyes. “Wait, you haven’t asked?” Kane pressed on, but my mouth refused to work.

How could I start explaining to him that I was afraid to ask my mate to go with me because I knew the answer?

I already know it wasn’t going to be favorable to me, so why ask?

But with great pain, I replied with a. “No.” He was going to say something, but I beat him to it. “I will ask him later.”

“Hmmm.” Kane stroked his jaw, acting like he was thinking about it, and he shrugged his shoulders. “Do you have to go?”

I released the breath I was holding slowly. I have pondered about this particular question for weeks, and there was no other answer. “Yes, I have to take my rightful place. There is nothing for me here.”

“I understand, but what will you do if Toby doesn’t want to go? You know he has an allegiance to the pack.”

I swallowed the lump that was stuck in my throat. Kane sure knows how to pull the bandage where it hurts the most. “I know, but I am still going back.” It took everything in me to say those words, even though I wish it would never be a reality.

“I can’t hold you back; you have endured more than I thought you would, and I know it is because of my friend. It is sad that your story is ending this way, but we don’t have to be enemies.”

I whipped up my head to look at him, to be sure if those words just came out of his mouth. “What are you trying to say?”

“I would like to propose an allegiance.” Kane declared, rising up to his full height, and if it were others, they would have been cowering under him but not me. I straightened up and walked towards him even as he stretched out his hands. “To the future alpha of the Woodlock pack.”

I stared at his outstretched arms; maybe glaring should be the right words, but I like the positive word. It was the first time someone was acknowledging my position, and a small smile played on my lips. “To the future alpha of the Woodlock pack.” I took his hand, shaking it firmly. Alright, I may have tightened my hold on him a little trying to see him in pain.

But the cocky bastard's smile only widened as if he knew what I was trying to do, and when I noticed it wasn’t getting to him, I withdrew my hand.

“Is there anything you may need?” He suddenly asked, and my eyes narrowed slightly. “In the spirit of our alliance, of course.” He continued like he hadn’t dropped a bombshell on me.

Kane and I were always at loggerhead, and we have made it a point to always avoid each other even though it bothers the partners. It was understandable that I was confused about his offer.

“I don’t think so.” I replied, and I turned on my heels to head for the door, but I remembered something, and I turned back. “On a second thought...”

I came out of the door, and this time I gently closed the door, the smile refusing to leave my lips.

I may not like Kane, but he had just offered me an alliance, and I would be crazy not to accept it. With that confidence, I straightened my shoulder and began to march towards my room, but his scent was stopping me before I could go further.

The smell of pine trees and bergamot was overwhelming, his scent clouding my senses and making me weak on the knees. But I pushed through and managed to look at him.

“Toby.” I began, but I only needed to take one look at his face, at how he went pale as if the blood had drained from him, and I knew he had misunderstood me. “No, I was just...” I tried to explain myself, but it was just a jumble of words; nothing suitable was coming out to justify my actions, and I decided to just let it be.

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Maddie.” Toby said with a sad smile, trying to lessen my guilt, and I nodded.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, and I was almost slapping my mouth for the question. It wasn’t my intention to sound like a jealous mate.

“I have a meeting with Kane.” He replied like it was the most obvious thing, and I nodded my head.

“Yes, of course. See ya.” His arms brushed me as he passed, and I was beginning to think it was done purposefully, but that didn’t stop the flood of pleasure that filled me, so fierce that I staggered.

And his hands flew up and held my waist, holding me firmly. “Are you alright?” Toby asked me, staring into my eyes so intently that for a second I lost every motor skill I had, and I flopped on his body. “Maddie?”

His words broke my reverie, and I allowed myself one more second to bask in his presence, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath so his scent could fill my nose.

It was only when I was satisfied that I pulled away and nodded my head. “Yes.” I whispered in a raspy voice, and I cleared my throat before I could speak again. “I am fine, thank you.”

I didn’t wait for any more words before I was dashing to my room.

It was frustrating that in the months I have been here, Toby and I have never gone past kissing, and it was particularly frustrating because Toby was the ‘good guy’.

He didn’t want to do anything that would make me feel comfortable. He made no effort to push me, and I was too proud to ask him to take this further.

I have been content with what he was offering, but now my boundaries are chipping at the edges; they are beginning to wear out, and it is only a matter of time before I crumble.

I managed to make it to my bed, but not before I grabbed his hoodie that I had stolen just a few weeks ago.

Toby was too oblivious, and he rarely noticed that every two weeks or more, I would make my pick of his favorite hoodie—always unwashed—that had his scent saturated in it.

And once the scent was gone, I would return it back and pick another.

Those hoodies have been my comforts for when the storm gets too tough and I can’t help myself. It was a curse that we have very high libido, and since my mate was too busy being the goody two shoes, I had to help myself.

This time, I pulled the hoodie over my face, enveloping myself in his scent. I closed my eyes, taking in deep breath and letting his scent sink into my pores.

Only this time, his voice was replaying in my head, and I could still picture the way his lips moved as he called my name.

“Maddie.”

A moan escaped my lips as I caressed myself, wishing it were his hands—those strong, big hands that had a lot of veins running through them, making me want to trace every single one with my tongue.

And I wondered if he was veiny down there.

Another moan.

This time, my hands found their way to my folds, already slick with my arousal, and I touched myself, wishing it were his hands.

It wasn’t so difficult to let my imagination run wild, as his scent was enough to make it look real, and I writhed on the bed, moaning his name and begging him to take me.

I continued, increasing the pace as my fingers rubbed at the little nub, faster and faster, his body moving above me as he whispered dirty things in my ears.

And I come undone while screaming his name.