Chapter 2
Melanie’s POV
My eyes lock on him as I watch through the window. He gets out of his car and walks into the diner with his best friend Ameer on one side and his arm around one of the pack sluts, Kaylee, on the other. It just proves that he’ll stick his dick in anything, but he’s Alpha material, right?
As they walk past, the smell of cinnamon and vanilla smacks me in the face. It’s overwhelming but sweet and mouthwatering. I didn’t know they made perfume that smells like French toast. No wonder all the unmated males are always all over Kaylee; she reminds the poor bastards of food.
They take a seat across the room from us. I swear he’s stalking me or something —this is the second time I’ve seen him, and the morning isn’t even over yet.
I can feel the heat of his stare on me, but I keep my gaze fixed in front of me.
“Hey, Bliss, I think I’m going to leave,” I mumble.
She finally breaks away from Patrick. I can only wonder how she went so long without coming up for air. Her face crumbles like a used tissue. “No, Mel, please stay! I promise not to kiss Pat in front of you if it makes you uncomfortable-”
It certainly does, but that’s not what I’m worrying about.
I shake my head. “I’m not talking about you,” I whisper, not caring if he’ll overhear with his wolf senses or not. “The asshole is here.”
She sneaks a glance and grimaces. “Shit, and he’s with Kaylee. When did they start dating?”
“What’s wrong with Kaylee?” Patrick asks, way too loudly.
We both shush him. “Babe, just drink your coffee,” Bliss suggests, sliding the cup his way.
“How could my dad choose that over me?” I ask in frustration. Yes, he’s a good fighter. Yes, he’s intelligent and has good leadership skills. Yes, he’s gorgeous, with perfect features that could dazzle any girl. He’s at least 6’2”, with deep chocolate skin, green eyes that have you feeling like you are floating on a cloud when you gaze into them, and short, curly brown hair that you could pull-
Wait, what am I talking about again? Oh yeah…how much I hate him. He’s a smug, arrogant asshole who doesn’t deserve to be Alpha.
“I told you your dad is just a dick,” Bliss says, pulling me back to reality. “Remember how he acted after you got your wolf?”
I internally cringe at the memory. The day I got my wolf when I turned sixteen, my eyes changed from brown to violet. Dad despised how they made me stand out. He was already ashamed of me, so to him, I had no business bringing more attention to him or myself. Nobody knew why it happened, but I guess the Moon Goddess was like, “How can I make her father hate her more?”
I sigh, burying my face in my arms on the table. “It’s going to be so humiliating when he announces him as Alpha,” I mumble, my words muffled by my folded arms.
“I know, but we’ll get through this together,” Bliss says soothingly.
I peer back up at her with a bleak expression. “And then what, Bliss? Find my mate, become a housewife, and live happily ever after?” My voice is louder than intended, causing everyone in the building, including Jaxon and his crew, to look my way.
Bliss’s eyes widen in shock. “Mel-”
“Just fuck my life,” I snarl, “I need some fresh air.”
I get up and storm out of the diner. Leaning against the cool brick wall, I take a deep breath to calm my wolf before we end up destroying something or someone. Preferably, Jaxon.
“I see you’re still in a bad mood,” a familiar, hated voice drawls, dripping with arrogance.
The smell of cinnamon and vanilla overwhelms my senses again. I guess he is the one walking around smelling like a slutty breakfast.
Disgusting.
Jaxon leans against the wall beside me, the heat from his body radiating like a furnace. Some sick impulse inside me wants to lean against him, just to see how it feels, but there’s no way in hell I’m allowing that to happen.
“Maybe if you would stop stalking me, I wouldn’t be,” I snap, turning my back to him.
He lets out a low snort. “Please. I just keep running into you by accident.”
“Well, you won’t have to worry about that soon,” I mutter, kicking a pebble across the pavement. If I won’t be appreciated in this pack, I’ll find another pack that will.
“And why is that?” he asks, a hint of curiosity creeping into his voice.
I meet his eyes, but the intensity is too much, so I look away. “Why do you care? You’ll be Alpha soon, and you can continue fucking all the pack sluts your heart desires. That’s if you even have a heart,” I growl bitterly.
His eyes darken, and before I know it, I’m pinned against the wall, his arms caging me in. Our faces are only inches apart, way too close for comfort. The heat of his sweet, inviting breath fans against my face, and I shudder involuntarily. “Is that so? You sound jealous, baby girl,” he purrs. his hand trailing along my arm. The single touch is electric, and I hate the way it sends tingles throughout my body.
“Jaxon, get the fuck away from me!” I shove against his chest with all the strength I can muster, but he doesn’t budge. Instead, he moves even closer, his hot breath against my neck.
“You’re always so mean, Mel. It’s like you’re just begging for someone to fuck that little attitude out of you.” His voice is so deep and velvety in my ear that it sends waves of heat coursing through me. I pray that he doesn’t smell my arousal because if it were literally anyone else, I would let him have his way with me. But he’s Jaxon Miller, and I hate his guts.
“I’d rather die!” I hiss, pushing on his chest again. He reluctantly sighs and drops his arms, allowing me to storm past him and back into the diner.
Bliss looks at me with growing concern, but I shake my head. I have no idea what just happened out there, but I don’t plan on telling anyone else about it. I’ll just take that shit to the grave.
A few moments later, Jaxon strolls back into the diner to rejoin his table, his expression deadpan.
I use my wolf senses, pretending to listen to Bliss and Patrick, but my focus is entirely on Jaxon’s table.
“What was that about?” Ameer asks Jaxon.
“Nothing. She’s just stressed about the final we have in the Alpha Academy and needed some assurance,” Jaxon mutters, not even bothering to lower his voice. It’s like he’s just trying to embarrass me, to make me look inferior to him. And it makes me hate him even more.
“Aww, poor girly. All that stress can’t be good for her,” Kaylee chimes in, feigning sympathy. I’m assuming she’s practicing acting like she actually gives a fuck about anyone but herself, so when she takes over as Luna, nobody sees her for the fraud she is.
I glare at Jaxon from across the room, but he just shoots me a cocky grin in return.
Through mind-link, I say, “Asshole.” When his grin widens, I huff and turn my attention back to Bliss and Patrick. Even when I look away, I can still feel the searing heat of his intense gaze. It’s like a spotlight that won’t shut off, and it makes my skin crawl. The sooner we get out of here, the better.