Chapter 51
Chapter 51
JESSICA
He’s damn right.
200
I watched as Theo reaches into his jacket pocket, pulling out a crumpled pack of cigarettes. My nostrils flare as he flicks a lighter, the small flame illuminating the sharp angles of his face for a brief second before he takes a long drag.
“Still hate these?” he asks, smoke curling from his lips as he speaks.
“Still a walking health hazard?” I counter. Goddess! Why am I even here? I’m starting to remember how much I hate this guy to begin with.
He laughs, tilting his head to blow a stream of smoke directly into my face. I cough, eyes watering, but when I try to push past him, his arm blocks my escape.
“Remember that time behind the training facility?” His voice drops even lower, rumbling through my chest. “You said you loved the taste of
cigarettes on my tongue.”
Heat crawls up my neck. “I was young and stupid.”
“You were fucking wild,” he corrects. Theo’s fingers trail down my arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. “The things that came out of that pretty mouth when I had you against the wall…”
My stomach tightens with an unwelcome heat. “Stop.”
“Why? Because Grayson’s got you on a leash now?” His cigarette–holding hand comes to rest beside my head, ash falling dangerously close to my shoulder. ” I’m really amazed at your choices of lover, Jessica.” He takes another drag, eyes never leaving mine.” He’s just going to ruin you.”
“Why did I ask you for a favor again?”
Theo laugh.” Because you missed me?”
My cheeks burn, but I hold his gaze. “The favor, Theo. That’s all I’m here for.”
“Sure, baby.” He blows smoke past my cheek. “Tell yourself whatever you need to. What do you want to know?”
“I need to know what happened with the council,” I say, trying to focus.
Theo shifts closer, his breath hot against my ear. “Your puppy went ballistic, Storming in, demanding they reconsider. Quite the show.”
My heart hammers. “What did they say?”
“Say?” His laugh is whiskey–rough. “Sweetheart, Grayson practically threw a fucking table. His daddy had to drag him out.”
I swallow hard. “And the decision?”
“Unchanged.” Theo’s thumb brushes my bottom lip, his smirk widening when I don’t pull away, “Your knight in shining armor fought for you, and it didn’t mean shit.”
“They’re doing this to make an example of you, baby girl,” Theo says, his calloused fingers brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Girls like you aren’t supposed to have opinions.“,
“Fuck that,” I snap, trying to ignore how my skin tingles where he touches me. “I didn’t spend three years training just to become some
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glorified caretaker. I earned my place.”
Theo’s mouth quirks up in that infuriating smirk. His thumb traces the line of my collarbone, so lightly it could be accidental if I didn’t know better.
“Caretaker?” He laughs, deep and husky. “That’s cute. You’re sleeping with the future Alpha, sweetheart. Breeder is the right term.
My hand shoots up to slap him, but he catches my wrist, pressing it against the wall above my head. The cigarette dangles dangerously from his lips as he leans in closer.
“Don’t act so offended,” he whispers, his mouth inches from mine. “We both know that thought crosses your mind.”
“You’re disgusting,” I hiss, but my voice lacks conviction even to my own ears.
“Am I?” His free hand slides down to my hip, fingers digging into the soft flesh. “Your nipples are hard, Jess. And I bet if I slipped my hand between those pretty thighs right now…”
I clench my teeth. There’s no point putting Theo on his place tonight. I always knew he had a damn dirty mouth. “I need to get into the Alpha’s pack house. Tonight.”
Theo raises an eyebrow, his grip on my wrist loosening slightly. “With your boyfriend on a rampage? Suicide mission.”
“I need access to those files,” I insist. “Will you help me or not?”
His eyes darken as he drops the cigarette, crushing it under his boot. Then his hand is in my hair, yanking my head back to expose my throat.
“Remember what happened last time you asked for my help?” he growls against my skin. “You screwed me over. I won’t help you, but I will offer you some advice.”
His eyes drift lower, tracing the outline of my body with a gaze so hot it leaves scorch marks on my skin.
“Advice coming from you? Please. Don’t make me laugh.” I manage to say, because the last thing I need in my life is getting advice from someone like him.
Theo’s lips curl into a knowing smirk as he leans closer, his breath warm against my ear. “Use what you have, sweetheart. That pretty body of yours.”
My stomach tightens. “What are you—”
“Grayson would kill to protect you,” he whispers, his fingers trailing down my neck to my collarbone. “And I’d bet anything those files would be easier to access if you were… distracting him.”
I try to pull away, but he holds me firmly, his thumb brushing across my bottom lip.
“You know exactly what I mean,” Theo continues, voice dropping to a husky growl. “Get him on his knees for you. Have him begging. Men like him will spill every secret they have when they’re buried deep inside a woman they want.”
My face burns hot with fury and something else I refuse to acknowledge. “You’re disgusting.”
“Am I?” His hand slides lower, fingers grazing the side of my breast. “Because your heart is racing, and it’s not just from anger.”
I shove him hard, finally breaking his hold, “Touch me again and you’ll lose that hand.”
Theo just laughs, the sound dark and knowing. “Better lose my hand than lose my spot in the warrior ranking, don’t you think?
i scoff.
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“You really did good Jess.” Theo sald, seriously.” Kael is pretty strong for your age but you managed to beat him. That takedowit may Fucking Impressive. Never seen a recruit execute it so perfectly.” His voice drops lower.
The way he said it made my chest lighten. Coming from Theo, someone who barely praised anyone, it actually meant something
“Poor Grayson,” he said. “His father is breathing down his neck to choose a Luna.”
What?
That caught my attention.
Theo noticed the surprise in my eyes and he chuckled. “Wait…he didn’t tell you?”
Now, it was my turn to push him against the wall, my fingers digging into his shoulders. “Didn’t tell me what?”
His smirk grew wider, cruel almost. You really have no fucking clue what’s going on, do you?”
I shoved him harder against the wall. “Spit it out or I swear to god-”
“Your boy’s got himself in quite the predicament.” His fingers traced patterns on my arm. “Daddy dearest gave him an ultimatum–find a Luna before the next full moon or kiss his succession goodbye.”
My grip faltered. “You’re full of shit.”
“Am I though?” Theo leaned closer, his breath hot on my face. “Why do you think he’s suddenly showing interest in you after all this time? After years of barely acknowledging your existence?”
Blood rushed to my ears. “Shut up.”
“What, you thought it was your sparkling personality? Your fighting skills?” He laughed, the sound grating against my nerves. “Wake the fuck
- up. He’s desperate and running out of options.”
A tear slipped down my cheek, and I hated myself for it.
“Fuck you,” I whispered, voice breaking.
“Does it hurt?” Theo sneered, moving even closer. “The truth always does.”
I sniffed hard, trying to regain my composure, but my mind was racing, filling with doubts about Grayson that I’d tried so hard to push down.
“He’s just using you, Jess,” Theo’s voice dropped lower, almost intimate. “Tell me, what makes you think it’s just coincidence Aria’s always around? Always so fucking close to him?”
My breath caught in my throat.
“You’ve seen how they look at each other,” he pressed, circling me like a predator. “The whispers. The touches that linger just a little too
long.”
“Stop,” I choked out, but the doubt was already spreading like poison in my veins.
“They laugh at you behind your back,” Theo said, his voice dropping to a mock whisper. “Poor little Jess, so desperate for attention she can’t see what’s right in front of her face.”
I hugged myself tighter, fingernails digging into my arms.
“I think he fucks her,” Theo said casually, like he was discussing the weather. “Probably right after he’s been with you. Your scent still on his
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skin while he buries himself in her
“You’re lying,” I said, but my voice had no conviction..
“Am I?” Theo raised an eyebrow. “Deep down, you know it’s true. Why else would he keep you around? You’re convenient. Available, Avram mouth and willing body while he works out how to get what he really wants.”
My stomach lurched. Images flashed unbidden–Grayson and Aria together, tangled in sheets, her legs wrapped around him, his hands in her hair… I tried to block out his words, but they crawled under my skin, nestling in the dark corners of my mind where my insecurities Eved.
“He’ll drain you dry,” Theo continued, “take everything you have to give, because you’re a thrill he can’t wash off. Do you really think a man like him suddenly settle for a girl? You hated him and called him a man slut too.”
They were too many stories before. One that involves Grayson. The other talks about it like it’s a damn trophy to be in his bed.
I squeezed my eyes shut, but it only made me cry even more. I don’t know what to believe anymore. Grayson’s been good to me. I know he
likes me. Or does he?
Suddenly, everything about him and us feels like a dream.
Theo tried to wipe my tears but I push him away. I need answers. I need to know everything. And if getting into Grayson’s bed is the answer, then I might as well do it.
I turn my back and walked away, feeling heat rush to my face. My fingers trembled as I pulled out my phone, tears still blurring my vision. Fuck Theo and his stupid warnings. Fuck everyone who thinks they know what’s best for me.
I opened my messages to Grayson and started typing:
Need you. Now. Can’t sleep alone tonight. Sneak me into your room?
I deleted it, biting my lip. Too desperate. I tried again:
I don’t like it here. Can you sneak me in your room please?
Baby…please?
