Calling off the contract
Her mind was in disarray. She thought she had the picture-perfect setting to fit into the werewolf life. Dressed up in all manner of glamour and eloquence, she had a bright smile that was now dull on her face thanks to the vile Werewolf lady.
She could have managed to keep up with the contract if not for the Werewolf lady which made her feel out of place, yet again.
Was she kidding? Xander as he claimed was obviously trying to use her for his reasons, using the fact that she killed his mate as an excuse.
Despicable! She spat inwardly.
“—So much for turning my back to the enemies, I would rather die out there in the real world than by the hands of a mythical creature with a lover’s grudge,” she thought to herself, holding her dress by the hips.
Shortly after telling Xander she was cutting off the contract, she walked out of the room.
She exited the midst of the gathering, and Xander followed her from behind.
“Catherine, hold on a second,” Xander called out a little bit aggressively, his voice sounded like he was painfully restraining himself from going overboard, he didn't want to offend her.
He could not relate to what was going on in her head, it seemed he was the fearless Alpha always calling the shots and she was an ordinary human with every reason to fear, but her stubbornness intrigued him.
Catherine should know better than trying to cut off the contract. They were just at the beginning stage, neighbouring packs hadn't paid their homage to her as the Luna.
The awkward stares and ill-looking eyes as well as the threat were too much to handle. For a woman who had never been threatened before, her mind was slowly deterring.
She stormed into a small waiting room. She was about to shut the door when Xander stopped her with a hand against the door. She lopsided her head and asked as she stepped back to let him in,
"What do you want?!" Catherine yelled, trying not to raise her voice which would alert anyone walking by now.
"I should be asking the questions here." He fired back. "Calling off the contract is so absurd. Wait, what do you want to do? Go out there and let everyone you killed my mate? Do you think you would survive? You killed their real Luna. For a Human, you've got some nerves."
Catherine sighed in fright. Her chest could be seen heaving in despair.
“When do you think this will end? –I can’t do this anymore."She shook her head. "I can't!!"
Xander sighed, with calculated steps, he slowly walked to her side patting her back to console her.
“It would be over. But I can't guarantee how soon." She raised her head and glanced at him with her yet-to-be tear-dropping eyes, “I can’t—I just can’t. I tried but I can’t.”
He raised her chin and stared into her glimmering eyes. She was frail and looked really torn, a promise or two would reassure her, and his plans wouldn't be utterly disrupted.
"I promise you everything will be okay. You have my word, Catherine.”
She closed her eyes not longer than a few seconds and looked into his eyes with utter intent, “I have been promised many things in the past. What makes your word different?”
He gently wiped a tear with his finger right underneath her left eye, “There’s something I see in you. Since the day I saved you.” He lied smoothly.
He leaned in closer to her side, “Something special in you just makes me want to keep you safe –and by keeping you safe you can help me help you, Catherine. If it is about Faye don’t bother, I’ll see to it she never dares to lay as much as a hair on you.”
She had shed light on his sweet words and infallible promise.
“You still want to hold the contract right?” he asked with a soothing tone.
It was this or going back to the mundane and facing financial troubles. She would be alone in despair and her tangible life would come crashing down. She knew he wouldn’t let her go back on the offer. The contract was the only thing that made her valuable at the moment.
She knew this was the best over she would ever get. “I will never have to stress over student loans or ever be indebted to anyone. I won’t pull overnight shifts and the bills—oh the bills. Never again. And this was a perfect distraction from her just-concluded heartbreak.
She lowers his hand from her chin and places it on the end of the cushion.
“If I don’t back out of the contract now, I will have to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life,” she said with a mildly stern face.
His eyes had looks of uncertainty and wavering with mindless curiosity, “I’ve got you covered, just trust me,” he leaned in for a kiss but she wasn’t having it. She withdrew too late and his lips met hers. A brief moment of tenderness swells on his face, he was gladdened but she was not.
He licked the gloss on his lower lip and smiled. That struck a nerve, she was annoyed and her face reddened.
She pushed him away, stunned by his act. Her face was in a flush. An awkward silence split the air and her temper rose to the roof.
‘How dare you?!” she yelled.
Her fists were clenched tightly and were inches away from Xander’s face. She restrained herself and thought, “What hurt will it do?”
“I—I uh…” he stuttered.
“Save it,” she snapped and walked out of the small waiting room.
He sat there waiting out the consequences of his witty yet unpredictable kiss. In her absence, her scent still filled the room, he struggled to keep his sanity. This was part of his plan, how could he be moved by the scent of a human?
Nonetheless, he still held his word on warning off Faye. He could condone all her excesses for the fact it doesn't affect anything around him.
But now, Catherine was his problem and only he knows the truth and what to do about it.
Catherine went to the room down the hall on her right. “I can’t believe that guy, ugh!” she grunted. The room was reserved just for her. The bed was made by Kira obviously with over-the-top lighting and ventilation. This ambience slowly calmed her nerves but the angst still remains.
MOMENTS LATER
Xander barged into Faye’s room nearly ripping the door off its hinges. She had heard the belligerent footsteps but wasn’t expecting a loud bang. She sat up from her sleeping position, “What the hell?”
He pulled the sheets off her legs and tossed them to the ground.
“Listen to me, and listen to me well,” his eyes darkened and his chest was pounding fast, “If you dare try to play any tricks with Catherine I will make you regret it.”
She chuckled, “A little harm won’t kill her,” she said. “Maybe a broken leg or two will keep her from wandering into places she isn’t wanted,” she teased.
“Don’t play with me dammit!” he drove a blow into the wall. His fist made a large impact that made the light bulb twitch. His eyes had changed color, he was moments away from changing into his wolf form.
“Easy now Alpha, she said with a gleam of sarcasm. “I’ll back off… for now”
Xander got mad. He broke the bed stand and held the pointy end to her face,
“Swear it,” he groaned deeply with an undertone.
“I swear it,” she gulped with a grin.
She realized he was serious and that made her more infuriated with Catherine. The hatred grew by the minute. Not obvious then and there for Xander to see. He broke the pointy plank on the wall and left the room.
She sat there and muttered to herself, “Dear Catherine wouldn’t know what hit her when I come for her.”