Kael.
Something about seeing Leilani so aloof. So unapproachable and closed off made me feel things that I could never bring myself to divulge.
My wolf thrashed violently within me as I watched her leave like the elegant woman she's made herself to become with Alpha Frostclaw hanging onto her like she was his moon and star… and the entire freaking universe put together.
And you know what's worse? She wouldn't even look at me!
I gritted my teeth.
"What's wrong, Babe? You look like you're about to punch something." Chalice's sweet voice called out to me, and it wasn't until that moment that I remembered she was standing right beside me.
Her bright smile instantly thawed my icy heart a little bit and I nodded at her once before turning away. "Let's go."
But she didn't move an inch. She didn't even seem like she had heard me. I watched her quietly, noticing the way she still looked in Leilani's direction even though the latter had walked out of the restaurant at this point, and was now getting into a black shiny Audi as we speak.
She snorted. "No wonder she doesn't want to have anything to do with us."
"Huh?"
"I mean; look… It's obvious that Alpha Frostclaw spoils her rotten. It's why she's going around with that stupid new lastname 'Sinclair' just so that she wouldn't be linked to us in any way whatsoever."
At Chalice's words, I turned to look at the car now driving out of the parking lot, and for some reason, that made my rage soar.
I muttered; "Let's go."
It was only then that Chalice decided to follow me. She leaned close as we both walked out of the restaurant, and as we walked, I couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable I felt with having her arms looped around mine.
For some strange reasons, her pristine smile pushed at all the wrong buttons, and when she pressed even closer to kiss a spot on my neck, I nearly lost it.
Suddenly, she was not the woman I wanted anymore.
She wasn't the one I wanted touching me.
Holding me.
Goddess, I must be going mad.
"I still think it's my fault that Leilani left." Chalice said suddenly, as soon as I began to drive.
I frowned. "No. It wasn't you."
"I think it was me. If you all didn't dote on me and made her feel left out, she would never have left. She would never have cut ties with us, and she definitely wouldn't be going around telling everyone she's a Sinclair and insisting on not being a part of our family." She cried softly, lowering her head as she fiddled with her fingers.
My heart constricted in my chest when I saw her in this state. So pitiful. So lost. Ever caring about a sister that doesn't give a flying fuck about her.
Some of the earlier confusion I felt morphed into rage. I snapped; "Leilani is selfish. And it's not your fault we all had to protect you from her. She was a viper and evil."
"But Kael…"
"Don't 'but Kael' me!" I snapped exasperatedly, causing her to clamp her lips together. "Leilani was bad. I think she still is. She murdered your grandmother in cold blood and everything that happened afterwards was all what she deserved. That's not your fault. It's hers."
"What if she had killed Grandma Aurora by mistake…?" Chalice, ever naive, asked again with a small voice and I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes before looking away from her.
"It was premeditated. That's why she felt no guilt."
The rest of the drive to her suite was a quiet one, and by the time we arrived, Chalice was already dozing off with her head lolling to the side of the car seat, causing most of her silky auburn hair to fall over face.
From this vantage, I couldn't help but be blown away by her effortless beauty. By her clear skin. Her grace. Her innocence… by the now dried tears staining the corners of her face.
I shook my head. "What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I have someone as beautiful and precious as Chalice but cannot help thinking about that ingrate? That upgraded lowlife?"
'Because she's our mate.' My wolf responded and I rolled my eyes again before turning off the mind link between us.
Now was not the time I wanted to be reminded of our unfortunate ties with Leilani.
I shouldn't even be thinking about her… but about Chalice.
I gritted my teeth in frustration as I shut off the car's engine, hopped out and went around it to open Chalice's door.
But she was still not waking up. She looked tired.
This thought is the reason I gently carried her into my arms and headed for the hotel lobby. However, I had just collected the key to her room and was about to carry her into the elevator when a middle aged man walked up to us, his brows furrowing as he took in Chalice's face.
"Isn't that Candy?" He asked in confusion. Then tilting his head to the side, he gasped. "It really is her!"
But I wasn't having any of that. I wasn't even in a good mood as it is. I frowned at him. "Huh?"
"Your mistress…" he sneered, "…she looks like someone I know. Someone that owes me a great deal."
At the mention of the word 'owe', I finally lost it. I snarled; "Get lost!"
The man immediately did as told and scurried away from me in fear. But even after he left and I got into the elevator, I couldn't help but feel restless. I wondered why he would be so bold as to accuse Chalice so recklessly.
Deep in thought, I finally arrived at her suite, and after unlocking it, I pushed the door open, went in and carefully dropped her into the bed.
I also took my time taking off her shoes and every other accessory that could make sleeping a tad bit uncomfortable for her, but I was just about to leave when her hand suddenly shot out to grab mine. She murmured;
"Please stay."
But I didn't want to.
I didn't even want to be around her when I still haven't figured out these strange feelings I was developing for Leilani.
I kissed her knuckles softly, murmuring; "I cannot. I have somewhere I need to be."
But Chalice didn't budge. She sat up. "Please Kael. Just this once… stay."
She then went ahead to pull me into the bed and as soon as my ass hit the soft surface, she rose to sit on my lap, straddling me. I froze.
"Chalice…"
"Please just stay…" she murmured again, sounding more pitiful than a few seconds ago, but I still couldn't shrug off how strangely it felt having her sitting on me, nor the fact that she was now grinding against me so slowly… so seductively.
I groaned. "Go to sleep."
"But I don't want to sleep," she whispered softly. "I want you… I want you to touch me. To hold me."
As she spoke, she peppered kisses down my neck and shoulders whilst desperately taking out my shirt's buttons one after the other until my chest was left bare and her fingers were trailing all over my skin.
Her hand felt warm to the touch… sweet even.
But it wasn't the hands I wanted.
She wasn't who I wanted.
Hades, what's happening to me?
"You know you can pretend to enjoy it?" Her sultry voice suddenly drifted into my ears and I leaned back, hoping to shrug her out of whatever trance she was in or to talk some sense into her.
However, nothing prepared me for what she did next. She quickly unfastened my belt, undid my zippers and then ungraciously pulled out my cock from my pants.
My eyes bulged out of my sockets. "Chalice!"
"Shhhh!" She responded impatiently. "Just close your eyes."
I do not know why but as soon as she spoke, I immediately did as I was instructed. I closed my eyes and waited, for a second then another.
Until the mop of hair in front of me wasn't auburn anymore but silvery blonde.
Until I was staring straight into Leilani's purple eyes.
Until I could even hear her voice.
Fuckfuck. Fuck!