Chapter Two: Heartbreak
1081 Words
Chapter Two: HeartbreakShe has her first serious boyfriend when she's seventeen.
His name is Sam and he comes from a fairly reputable family. His parents are both werewolves from a long line of wolves. She doesn't expect their relationship to last even though the boy is absolutely smitten with her because Sam is a werewolf. He might not look down on humans, but his family history of only marrying werewolves make is clear that marriage is not going to be on the table for them.
At any rate, he isn't at the risk of losing her to him. While the boy stinks of arousal when he's with her, she smells aloof and mostly amused.
He suspects that she agrees wot be with him because she's a little bit lonely in her new place and it's nice having a friend to spend all her free time with whenever she feels like it. He would put a stop to things if it isn't clear that she hasn't done anything with him other than innocent kisses and that he genuinely enjoys her company. The boy seems to respect her enough not to push her. Perhaps he is a little bit terrified of William too.
When she comes back a few weeks later smelling like disappointment and tears, he doesn't ask questions. He lets her lean her head against his shoulder and gently cards his fingers through her hair. He presses a kiss to her temple.
"Apparently he had been f*****g my lab partner for months," she whispers, like she's telling him a secret. "It's funny cause I was the only one who couldn't smell it."
He tightens his arm around her shoulder, heart growing heavy as she sighs. She doesn't smell too heartbroken about it, merely resigned. She has had a lifetime to get used to the fact that she's prey in a world full of predators. She's attending a medical school and is quickly proving herself to be the top of her year despite being the youngest to enter the acclaimed medical school. She's well-liked, but she's also human. There are Shifters who still think of humans as inferior. She liked Sam because he didn't treat her like she's anything less.
He wonders how difficult it is to have him disposed of without getting caught. It's more complicated because his new company frowns against personal vendettas and the boy's family is as clean as they come, but he could probably get it done with minimal fuss.
"He says he doesn't feel anything for her. It's just s*x," she shrugs like it's not a big deal, but he knows it is. She hadn't loved him, but she enjoyed his company and it would have been humiliating to find out.
"It's never just s*x," he finds himself saying.
She shrugs. It doesn't matter.
Her lack of interest when it comes to s*x cause him to be both relieved and worried. He wonders if her first experience had ruined things for her and if she's no longer interested in s*x because of it. He hopes not. It isn't as though he had been having one night stands left and right. He's had a few flings, some women whom he thought would match, but they've never worked out well for anyone.
He hasn't found anyone that he trusts enough to bring home, even. His territory is sacred and meant for just the two of them. He doesn't let anyone in and he's noticed that she doesn't bring anyone home either.
She pulls away from him and disappears into the bathroom. They have a quiet dinner that night, but he doesn't mind. It's nice, having her around again. She had been spending so much time with Sam that he finds himself missing her.
Afterwards, he bids her goodnight and watches as she drags her feet into the bedroom. She smells miserable and he wishes he could make things better for her somehow.
His answer comes much later in the night, when he's startled from his sleep at the sound of his door opening.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?" She's already hugging her pillow at his door, waiting for permission to come in.
She's too old to be sharing a bed with him, but she's also just had her heart broken. He thinks that he should be more understanding of her heartbreak. He pats the bed in silent invitation and she tiptoes in, almost hesitant.
He realizes his mistake a second later, when he sees she only has on an oversized sweater and nothing else. He wonders if she's even wearing underwear for a few seconds before deciding he's better off not knowing, keeping his gaze firmly on the pillow she's hugging close to her chest.
"Thank you," she murmurs.
The bed dips as she climbs into it, dropping her pillow next to his. He lifts his blanket, letting her slip under it.
"I love you, daddy," she whispers softly in the dark, tipping her head up to press a shy kiss to the corner of his lips before pulling back and away. She turns her back to him, smelling like temptation.
His heart skips a beat and then another. He thinks of pulling her back into his arms, deepening the kiss and getting what he wants. He imagines pinning her under him and showing her what a proper kiss should be like. She would make such lovely little noises.
He refrains. "Love you too, puppet," he responds. If his voice is deeper than usual, he hopes she doesn't notice.
It doesn't help at all when she shuffles up to him, pressing her back to his chest and shifting his arms so she's cushioning herself in his arms.
"Puppet," he growls, unable to stop himself from nuzzling his chin to her temple. She's so lovely and soft like this, leaning up against him and trusting him to just hold her without doing anything more. He's so sorely tempted. He sighs. "Your birthday's coming up in a week. Do you want to have a party?" he asks. He knows she has made few friends at the University. Perhaps letting her pursue a relationship with Sam had been a bad idea. The boy had taken up much of her time and made it difficult for her to get to know others.
She shakes her head. "No," she says for good measure. "Just you and me. Like always" She says and curls into his chest, carving a space for her in his arms.
He distracts himself with thoughts of work and pointedly does not think of how good she feels in his arms, how perfectly she fits there.
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