ROTTEN LOVE - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

My breath hitches. "I'm not a good girl."
"Oh, I know, but you can when you want to be. You were last night when you took me all in that pretty little mouth of yours." He thumbs my bottom lip.
I want to nip at him, allow him to see how much more of a good girl I can be. But I can't.
Yesterday, I acted rashly. Now, we are at a disadvantage. We can't even leave if we wanted to. I can't give him all the cards.
His pack smells I am somewhat his. The mark is visible, which means the only reason I don't completely have his smell is because we have not laid together.
To them, our status can change. That's a benefit. They have to get use to the idea of me— to slowly like me. When they have accepted me, I will complete the process with Zain.
Through me, they will recognize the good in vampires. At least, tolerate them.
His distance is dangerous. Time to use my little spell.
I picture him releasing me. The mark on his chest activates. He scrunches his brows as his hands unwillingly release my waist.
I step back. His nostril flare but then his eyes lighten. "How does it work?" he asks. His eyes focus on his empty hands.
"I told you. If I do not want you to touch me, then you won't."
"You can control me?" His focus is on me. He fears he will loose free will.
"I can't do that. It strictly works for touch. Each time you make contact, I think yes or no. Your hands were on me, so I decided that I no longer wanted them."
"That complicates things."
"Because now you need to be given consent?" I ask amused.
"No. But I think it will be hard for you to accept that you want my touch." He leans forward and I back. "End this little charm. That way when I touch you, you can blame me all you want." He winks, straightening himself.
I puff air between my lips, pretending like what he said does not strike a nerve. "Listen, alpha, if I want to touch you..."I get closer, and run my hand along his chest. The digits vibrating when he releases a deep sound. I lead a finger down his torso. "Then, I' ll touch you."
He steps closer, but I smile sweetly and don't allow it. His face is pained.
"I take what I want when I want." I tilt toward him. My hand plays with his jean waistband.
"What do you want now?" he says with a voice so low I risk tumbling over.
"I want..." I get on my tippy toes to meet his face. My hand palms him this time. He allows me to explore him. I say into his lips. "Now, I want..." My lips do not touch him.
His hot breath mingles with mine. "Yes?"
I smirk, palm him more. "I want"— he steps in, closing his eyes— "to find my crew." I abruptly back off. His eyes fly open. I stare at him innocently and bat my eyelashes at him. "Is there something wrong, alpha?"
He clears his throat. Licks his lips. No doubt from how parched they must feel. It is fun messing with Zain.
He breathes deeply. "You are a brat. Too bad for you, it's my job to put people in their place." There's a different type of anticipation. A lodging to be put in any type of position by him.
"Looks like your job got a lot harder."
"It would seem. But those harder to break give twice the satisfaction when they finally listen." He shrugs and pockets his hands on his jeans.
"Do you want to break me?" I bite my lip.
"I want to do everything to you."
I blush this time. What a stupid move.
Everything pops to my attention. The trees. The birds overhead. The hot, clear blue sky. Anything and everything is worth noticing to distract myself. An idea came to mind.
"Your pack is competitive. My crew is no different. What about friendly competition?" I suggest.
Both groups would go at it without bodily harm and it could bring out comradery between the two groups.
"What kind of competition?"
He is considering it. There's a jolt of excitement. "Some type of relay race or skill test. It can loosen the tension and help blow off steam."
"That depends on who wins."
"Is your pack a sore loser?"
He chuckles. "I'm not worried about my crew. They won't lose."
His pack might win my witches, but they won't win the vamps. "Those are big words, especially for someone who has never actually seen how the vamps work."
"I don't need to. I trust my pack." he says confidently.
I hate that he is so certain. He steps closer and I step back. I give him an exasperated look. Stay away. He smirks.
"If my pack wins, you will remove this little spell of yours. I learned my lesson." He crosses his heart.
I raise an eyebrow in interest, "and if we win."
"What would you like?"
Nothing came to mind. There is not much he can offer that I care for. There is. But I am not voicing that either. "I'll reserve my right to use my win later. Do we have a deal?" I extend my hand.
He strokes his chin. "It's not smart to accept something without knowing the terms."
"Afraid, aren't we?"
He frowns for a millisecond and clasps our hands in a firm handshake. "You have a deal, Helena. We will work out the terms of the competition later."
I pull my hand but he squeezes tight. My eyes pinpoint his chest, a warning look. He sighs heavily before releasing my hand. "Have fun with your little trick while you can. When we win, you will have a hard time getting me off you." His eyes target my chest.
I snort and shove him on the shoulder. "You need to work on your talking skills. It's not polite to keep staring at my boobs."
"While I do find them noteworthy, your pendant keeps glistening. It is distracting." It's the second time he is infatuated with my chain.
The pendant contains the same hue. I toy with it. Turn it to the front. Back. To the left. Right. Front and back again. There is no difference from its original state.
"The sun must be reflecting from your angle." I drop my hands to the side.
He points to my chest. The pendant, I chastise myself.
"Right now. Here. You don't notice it glow?"
I move my head down. "Nope."
He nears. My muscles contract. The subtle movement raises my arm hairs. His hands go surrender mode. He hesitantly takes another step, studying me. He want to make sure I trust him.
I don't. But he won't harm me. He needs the alliance. I force myself to relax. He lines up directly in front of me. Arm extending to my necklace.
When his hand makes contact, smoke emanates. Zain retracts his hand. He curses as he shakes his hand in the air. I jump back.
Did I caused that? I want to go check.
"Did you do that?" There is reproach in his voice. The question has me a little offended.
"What? No! I am not even sure what happened."
"My whole hand burns!"
I touch my pendant. A warm temperature exudes but no inferno. It has never done that. Maddox and Marisa touch the necklace all the time.
"I don't know why." I admit.
Even though I'm not of fault, I get closer to help heal him. He retreats. Offended is one word to describe what I feel. Outraged. Abhored. Irritated. Those work too.
"I did not do anything to hurt you..." I tsks. "Not on purpose at least."
He regulates his breathing. Calmed, I step closer. I grab his big hand, avoiding eye contact.
I examine his hand. Hard skin. Some purple discoloring on the pad of his hand. Probably from fighting. Yet, no burned flesh. There's slight reddening. Maybe a little inflammation.
I bring my hand to his. Palm against palm. He relaxes into my touch. I take a peek at him. My breath hitches at the back of my throat. His eyes are a beautiful blue. Clear as the sky. My reflection visible in them.
I cleared my throat. "Done. The pain should be gone and the wound healed in an hour or...two. The contact was quick."
I release his hand hesitantly. I'm apologetic but I had no idea it was going to do that. For a while, no words were exchanged.
"Your parents hated wolves." That was a statement. Not a question.
"I would not use the word hate. They did not trust them."
"Oh, I think it is more than that" —he points to my necklace— "that felt like I went to the pit of hell. Your not gonna tell me it does that to your little friends."
No. He sounds so angry at the fact.
"Maybe it has a good judge of character." I tossel my hair back.
"Or," he prolongs the word. "Your parents were so scared of their children getting in the hands of werewolves that they gave you that to ward them off. Why would they be so cautious?"
"They worked with vamps, the best of them. It is natural not to trust werewolves." My parents image came to mind.
Their beautiful smiles. The way work bullied them to the point that they appeared older than they actually were.
Master and Misses Malfatto were spectacular too. Master never left the house without a suit. His beautiful long platinum hair slicked back to draw attention to haunting, amber eyes. Maddox's eyes.
Misses was a dark-haired beauty. Her face diamond shape with plump lips. She was exotic for their standards, but breathtaking.
Pain etches along my chest at their memory.
"Ironic, considering that they were betrayed by vamps. Not my kind."
I snarl. He is speaking the truth, but he has no point. My parents were organized. They prepared for every outcome— not the most important one. Not to be betrayed or slain in front of their kids. No preparation would be sufficient for their loss.
He continues, "It's more than caution. They wanted you two to go undetected from us. Its not only the pendant. You have no scent. Your brother doesn't either. They were hiding you both. Why?"
Maybe because we are ciphers. A perk?
"What are you are getting at? As you see, we are not hiding. We don't know if my pendant is a werewolf repellant. Perhaps, it's simply you."
Something I said struck a chord. His eyes focus on my hair, my skin, and eyes—on everything. He closes in.
"What the hell are you doing? Stay right there." I yell.
He huffs a laugh. "You burned me, remember? Who is the threat?"
"Then, stay away."
"Take it off," he counters.
"What?" I hide my necklace with my hand. "No."
"Take it off!" His tone more demanding.
"Why would I take it off after we just established it only had a reaction with you? My mother said it would protect me. Like hell I am taking it off." I furrow my brows.
"For some reason, your parents either did not want you near me or my kind. Something that affects us both if we want to continue with this alliance. I want to know why." He points at the pendant aggressively. "That necklace of yours is hiding something. Remove it."
Last night's dream is present. My mother's dying wish was to keep it on. I can't take it off.
"Forget it," I grit.
He turns his back to me. Walking away.
"So that's it." I yell after him.
He does not look at me. The distance growing between us. "I am going to find out what you and your brother are hiding."
"I had no idea. We aren't hiding anything." I follow. My strides fail to match his step.
"Perhaps, not. But this arrangement is off. You may leave with your people."
I am utterly speechless. He does not stop. It's almost as if stopping would deter his decision. I yell his name. Nothing. "All because of a stupid necklace?"
He halts. I expect to see his face. I could envision it. The firm line his lips would form. His eyes a darker shade. When he's mad, he slightly purses his lips.
He talks to me indirectly. The air his listener. "I will not have someone dangerous near my pack. Since you do not trust me enough to remove it, then I do not trust you enough to believe you are telling me the truth. So, leave. We are done."
Fuck. What am I going to do?
This alliance is all we have worked for. A proof of progress. We need this— I want it.
I want Maddox and Marisa to live peacefully. If we have werewolf supporters, then the other lines can ease off their backs. They won't have to participate in pointless feuds.
Progress starts with something different. Zain is that change.
My mother's words echo in my head. Never take those off, not for a second. Remember who truly lies in your heart.
Zain resumes walking away. "Shit." I grab my necklace and yank it off.
I instantly feel naked. My heart races. My brain pounds against my skull. Everything heightens.
I prepare myself to run after him. To show him I did good. But his head had snapped in my direction the instant my neck became bare.
Our eyes lock. There's a clammy sensation across my body. My breaths pick up. His eyes have gone midnight and his muscles contract.
I pick up every change in his stance. A breeze of air passes by, blowing my locks with it. His eyes dilate.
The voice inside my head tells me to move away. There might be a fight coming. Taking the necklace off was stupid.
Yet, I can't find the energy to move from him. It's as if I am paralyzed. He runs to me. I quiver with fright or it might be anticipation.
He grabs my face. I try to say something, but his lips stop me.
The world spins. It is nothing like before.
Whether to correspond is not a question. My lips move on their own accord. His hand travels to my backside.
Every inch of my mouth is explored. The weight of his hand branding me as his. He squeezes my ass and I melt further.
I slip my tongue in. The act compulsory. His chest rumbles in pleasure and I deal with the after shake. Our lips part.
He hugs me tight. Breathes into my hair. "It makes sense."
I snuggle into his chest. "What?"
He kisses the top of my head, then cups my face. His blue eyes drown me as he declares, "you're mine. You're my mate."