SHANTI'S P.O.V
Elias was starting to become predictable and untamed. His hands were wrapped around Zola's waist. But not in a way that would be considered friendly. You could smell the arousal swirling in the air. It made my stomach turn in knots.
"What's going on here?" The disbelief and shock could be heard in my voice as each word left my mouth.
Zola's face was flushed with a tint of scarlet. She wasn't expecting this, let alone to get caught.
"Shanti. It's not what you think." She replied, gathering her robe tightly around her body.
"What exactly do you think I am thinking little miss innocence?"
"Don't speak to her that way." Elias demanded, breaking my heart a little in the process.
I bit my lip as my eyes shifted to look at Elias instead.
"Go on, please try to explain this one to me."
I knew I sounded bitter, but I was hurting to the core. Seeing how gentle and loving he was with her, pained me. He was never like that with anyone else. He was always so cold and distant. I desired to have a fraction of the attention he was showing her for myself. Why couldn't he love me the way he clearly loved her?
"I don't have to explain myself to a single person. I am the Alpha. And just so we are clear, I am not your boyfriend. Consider yourself a friendly fuck."
Zola gasped, before hopping off the counter. Her face was the image of someone who was horrified, but this behavior was nothing new to me.
"How dare you speak to someone like that. Your mother would be ashamed." Zola whispered in disappointment before speeding passed me. The brisk wind of her walking slightly moved my hair as she stormed by.
"Zo! Zo wait! That came out wrong, that came out..." He stopped yelling when he realized that she didn't care what he had to say. His eyes then connected with mine next, anger visible. "This... This is your fault."
"My fault? How about your fault? You string me along, having me accompany you on business trips. What was I? Some arm candy with status? I thought that you wanted-"
"I never told you that I wanted more." He said hatefully while interrupting me.
"But you led me to believe that I... That we could be more."
He took a deep breath in before looking back at me.
"I told you before we ever got involved that I could never love someone. I told you that I would never date to marry. I was clear on what this was between us." He said, his hand moving back and forth between us.
"But you need a Luna and I thought-"
"That I'd choose you because you came with me to a few events. I told you that I needed you so that the Elders wouldn't bother me. Come on Shanti, you conjured up the idea that we were more than what we were. You and I both know we will never be compatible."
I expected his words to cut to the core. But instead they set fuel on the fire that I felt burning inside.
"We'll see about that." I spat out before aggressively walking away.
What he didn't know was, I was up for a challenge. And the thing about me was that I am overly competitive. I have never lost when it came to a challenge.
I had to make a quick pit-stop before returning to my room. However, when I opened the door, the last thing I expected to see was Zola sitting on my bed, touching a framed photo on my nightstand.
"That was the first time he asked me out."
My words must've startled her because she jumped, knocking over the picture in the process. She hadn't heard me come in. Another disadvantage to being a human. She was vulnerable and oblivious to her surroundings.
"Crap. I'm so klutzy. I'm sorry."
She looked absolutely terrified.
"I'm not going to hurt you, so you can calm your racing heart."
Her throat bobbed while she swallowed the saliva pooling in her mouth.
"What are you doing here?" I asked when she didn't respond.
"I need to apologize. I wouldn't have been able to rest until you knew that. What happened downstairs never should've happened."
"And what exactly happened that wasn't supposed to?"
Her tongue traced the outline of her lips while her heart was still beating frantically in her chest.
"Are you afraid of me, Zola?" I asked as I inched closer.
"No..."
Lies. She was stepping backward as I was moving forward. A sign that she was indeed terrified.
"Your racing heart suggests otherwise." I was only pointing out the obvious.
"I lied..."
"Obviously."
I then walked over to my dresser, tossing something into it before pulling out my silky nightgown. I reached behind and unzipped the dress I was wearing. I let it drop to the floor and stepped out of it which left me standing in only a bra and some panties.
"What... What are you doing?" She asked in a panicked tone.
"I don't know about you but I am going to go shower. It's been a day."
She wasn't sure where to look, so she looked at the ground. Submissive. That must be what draws him in so easily. Her submissive and innocent nature. An Alpha's favorite combo.
"You talk, I shower. My time is precious." I then said as I unsnapped my bra, letting my breast bounce free.
Her heart rate picked up once again, making me laugh out loud before I turned around and proceeded to walk to the bathroom.
"Well, I don't have all night. Say what you have to say and go." I hollered out while turning the shower to the setting I liked most.
"I came downstairs to get food because I hadn't been to the store."
"And Elias was coincidentally there?"
"Not at first. He showed up when I was getting the food."
"And I'm supposed to believe you. Why exactly?"
"Because it would be pointless to come here and lie."
"Point taken. Continue."
"He moved me out of the way, so he could get a drink. That's all."
"His hands suggested more than a simple act like moving you out of the way, Zola. I'm not blind."
"Nothing happened."
"Define nothing." I said as I turned the water off.
"He told me that he wouldn't touch me until I begged."
Begged? So, he is giving her the thought to initiate a move.
"But I promise, I will never cross that boundary. I know you two are kind of a thing."
Kind of? Seriously?
"Is that all?" I asked, pulling the shower curtain open, completely exposing my nudity. I was pretty comfortable in my skin. Confident one might call it.
"Do you mind?"
"You grew up in a wolf pack. Nudity shouldn't bother you."
"Well, it does."
Her eyes were diverted back at the ground.
"Listen. I appreciate you stopping by for reassurance. But the thing is, with you here, he will never give me the chance I deserve."
Her eyes moved side to side while processing my words.
"He can never be with a human, not unless he gives up the empire his mother built for him. Would you seriously stay and jeopardize that? Or even worse, become his mistress?"
I must've hit a trigger because her eyes shot back up to meet mine.
"I would never be someone's side piece."
"Then I suggest you take what dignity you have left and go. You can never give him what I can."
I knew my words were hurting her by the look on her face, but I was just being honest.
"You should leave. You wouldn't want the entire kingdom to know you were promiscuous towards the king. It would start a scandal. You know as well as I do that he needs a strong she-wolf with a good bloodline to be at his side. Just face the truth before it's too late. It'll be easier if you realize that it can never be you that he picks."
Tears were pooling in the corners of her eyes. I knew it was rude but I had to get out my underlining unspoken threat.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get dressed. If you can't tell by my nipples, I'm cold."
Once she was gone, I let out a sigh. Maybe this triangle was going to be harder to break than I originally had thought. Which meant I had a big problem on my hands. I needed to get her to leave, but how am I going to get her to go was the pressing question.