Chapter 91 : Jealousy Whispers 1

Xavier

He tightly grasped the small girl beside him, not only to keep her from falling out of his arms as they were running fast but also because he needed the physical closeness with her to mask the discomfort that he was experiencing - as if with the return of her beloved friend, the man she 'loved' was taking her further away from him even though she was still in front of his eyes.

For the second time today, another man dared to touch what belonged to him even though it was clear from the scent of her body that she was the mate that he desired. Although the scent of her betrothal wasn't really a true sign since she didn't get it through sexual intercourse as usual, still that scent of him enveloped her body inside and out, which was a very major and clear declaration that she was taken.

The first time with the Alpha of the Midnight Pack, Kayden Black almost made him bare his fangs, especially after hearing that the jackass had tried to claim her as his own in the past. Little did he know that there was another rival besides his asshole half-brother as an obstacle to getting her, but as it turned out, he had made the grave mistake of thinking that no one else would see Karen as an attractive woman - worse, before him. Even more horrendous is the mistake he realizes, but thankfully - apart from the scene with Rylan - he's not too late.

Just the thought of his asshole brother makes his face turn black, a more intense emotion than Kayden's presence has on Xavier, because this is the man - his younger half-brother - who even Karen admits on many occasions that he would like to be reminded of. But for every reason she rejects him, she places more value on the worthless mongrel.

Karen wanted the mutual love of mating - whereas Rylan did not.

She wants to be seen for herself, not as a... thing, an object - Rylan sees her not only as a substitute for his girlfriend, her cousin who disappeared but also as Carolina.

She craved respect and recognition for her accomplishments - Rylan gave her neither.

Although she doesn't want to give Xavier false hope, she clings to herself, resisting his wishes. In a moment like this, Xavier clearly sees her mistake - her hypocrisy. However, how could he not care for her more when he realizes that maybe he's not as bad as he thought if a kind-hearted and innocent person like Karen can also make mistakes? Was there still the slightest hope that she meant what she said before and wanted to try to make things right between them? Or has it all been wiped out after Rylan's arrival?

As for Xavier, he feels the rage to kill all his rivals - Kayden and his younger half-brother Rylan. So maybe she would just look at him again like this morning, only depending on him, only needing him. The desire, no, was much stronger than that. The need to imprint himself on her body, her very being, screaming at him like a vicious claw ripping at his guts. Apparently, his scent alone on her was not enough to keep foolish men from approaching her - or worse, touching her.

He was the Alpha of the Westwood Pack, and yet on the same day, two men dared to challenge his claim over his mate, causing the wolf in him to rage with anger and jealousy. The only way he could see without killing one of her friends was to mate her and be done with it.

Having never been in this situation or felt such a strong and overwhelming emotion, his insecurities threatened to take control of his actions and cause him to take actions that would inevitably end in him losing what he had worked so hard to keep by his side forever - Karen.

The calmness he felt was almost shattered under the pressure of the emotions he had just felt for the little woman, Xavier brought her no further than the place he had once been with her. The thought of how inappropriate it would be to take her there, considering the huge mistake he had made before, didn't enter his mind as he walked down in silence.

He was about to break the silence and sternly tell Karen that she belonged to him when Karen's words took his breath away.

"I don't love him anymore."

Xavier blinked once, then twice, still not understanding. He was so confused that he didn't have the strength to tighten his grip on her hips as she took a few steps away from him before looking up at him with an expression he had seen before - sorrow. All he could think was, would he ever look at her face like that? And he felt heavy at the answer.

Yes, of course, he would, even if he didn't know how. At least not yet. That he would hear every painful thought she had - like a dagger piercing his heart and draining his blood - he had no doubt.

Straightening his spine, Xavier tried his best to keep his face expressionless. Yet, he remained silent under her confusing and possibly tricky statement. If he talked now, it might destroy what little control he had left over himself, and his pride would not allow him to show his pain to her - to the woman who had probably just told him that she was leaving him for good. To be with Rylan.

A small, sad smile curved her lips. It hurt him to see it on her beautiful face.

"No, that's wrong, I guess. I still love him. I don't think that will ever change, but I don't feel it's the love I used to crave from him anymore. We'll never be together. I realize that now."

Did his heart stop for a moment? This last statement was all he heard. Who was Karen talking about? He had a bad feeling in the pit of his gut that it was him.

His voice cracking, he asked, "Who are you talking about, Karenina?"

It wasn't Karen. Xavier couldn't call her by her pet name, at least not now.