20 minutes ago -
Cayden had just finished downing another large shot of Maker's Mark, his second most preferred method of coping, and was now making his way to his bedroom, hoping to pass out. His feelings were a whirlwind of rage, remorse, anxiety, uncertainty, lust, hatred, and confusion; he was experiencing inner turmoil that not even work or alcohol could calm him. How was he able to be so heartless and inhumane? Why does everything he should hate to have to be wrapped in something so beautiful and sweet? His behaviour and thoughts during the past few days had been extremely upsetting, and his mind was a complete and utter mess as a direct reflection of this. He desired to sleep close to Selena, to touch her and feel the warmth of her skin, to give her another opportunity to use his body, and to observe the way his cum glistened on her tummy.
The unexpected burst of wind brought in two fresh aromas besides a few conversations. His wolf howled in annoyance at him. It turned out that his mate was seeing another man. Cayden flung open the door of the room on the upper floor, where Max and Selena were sitting. His wolf attempted to escape and claim her as his own. As he examined her thoroughly, the beast within him stirred, resulting in stretching and a growling sound coming from its gut. His logical thinking understood that it was nothing important. They merely had a conversation, but his beast would not settle down. Her frightened eyes made him want her even more. He had to take her straight away!
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"What were you doing with Selena?" Once Cayden had returned after yet another failed attempt at not fucking Selena. He caught up with Max in his office.
"No, it's not what you're thinking. We were just talking. Don't tell me you were envious!" As he sat down on the couch, Max couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"Talking about what?"
"You, of course? Why are you acting in this manner, Cayden?"
"What am I doing?" Cayden raised an eyebrow.
"Hurting yourself."
Cayden maintained eye contact with his friend for an extended period.
"I haven't the foggiest idea what you're talking about. I understood she needed to get out, so I agreed to let her move out. I come to see her hanging about the mansions with you."
"Well, she was frustrated because she was the target of some bullying...." Cayden jumped up from his seat and seized Max, trembling with wrath as he did so. Max could not finish the sentence.
"Who bullied her?"
Max smiled ever so little as he rapidly got over his first shock at the unexpected action.
"She is safe, I made sure of that, and although some people don't like her, they won't hurt her because nobody can defy you."
Cayden became calm and slowly let go of his hold. He averted his gaze and then returned to the chair he had been sitting in.
"I assigned you a job. Did you do it?"
"What Job, Exactly?" Max wore a frown.
"I requested you learn everything there is to know about Selena."
"Oh, that!" she exclaimed. Max raked his hand through his unkempt hair as he muttered to himself. "When you walked in here, I was in the middle of trying to figure out exactly that," she said.
Cayden gave an eye roll.
"I know who she is." They became attentive when they heard the woman's voice.
"Of course! you know everything," Max said sarcastically.
She then shifted her attention to Cayden after giving him a scornful glance.
"You may recall that occasionally I performed the duties of a handmaiden for that horrible Luna Fiona," Natasha remarked with abhorrence.
Cayden nodded.
"I also met her spoiled brats, and they were just as awful as their mother. Selena is the fourth brat."
"Are you sure?" Max stumbled over his words.
"Why would I lie about it?" Natasha twirled her hair.
"Those girls were horrible, just like their mother. Cayden you must not be lenient on her. You see what's been going on, right? She didn't even make it through the first day working in the kitchen!"
"That is because your minions picked on her," Max interrupted.
"She ran away! She was never harassed by anyone." Natasha struck back.
"Oh, shut up, both of you." Cayden scratched his temple as he spoke while showing signs of irritation. He was suffering from a headache because of drinking. It is difficult to get a werewolf intoxicated because alcohol does not affect them unless it is ingested in massive quantities; yet, Cayden had probably consumed a barrel's worth of booze in the last few days.
"Get out!" He spoke in a low voice. After they had left, he remained hidden away in his office for a considerable amount of time.
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Cayden stripped down to his underwear and stood shirtless in front of the bed while he poured himself a generous amount of the scotch and brought the glass to his mouth. He watched her form of her while she slept on the bed. Tonight, all he wanted was to put the past behind him. But no matter how hard he tried, his mind kept going back to the dreary memories and the terrible things that he had witnessed in his little lifespan. He then made his way over to the bed and lay down next to her. Put, he desired to sleep next to her.
A gigantic shadow walked into the room and began moving toward him. Cayden's body stiffened up involuntarily, and his tremors were getting dangerously close to becoming convulsions.
Then he felt her, Selena's warm palm resting on his forehead, then gradually moving to his cheek as she continued to touch him. Even though the soothing touch was a falsehood, it consoled him.
"Be quiet, be quiet...you were screaming in your sleep. Probably a nightmare." It was a hushed voice.
Cayden had become completely awake at this point and was staring at her while he blinked.
"Your eyes, they are in so much pain." She whispered.
He didn't say anything because he wasn't sure if he was dreaming or if this was happening. He was so inebriated that he could not comprehend. It was the first time that he had looked at her, not as Hawk's daughter but as a person in her own right. She was beautiful. Pristine and fragile, like a flower.
Selena raised a shaky hand and stared at a scar. The tattoos disguised his scars and could only be seen when the person looking at them was paying careful attention. She carefully followed the outline of a scar on his shoulder.
"Where does the scar end?" Observing that, it continued past his neck and vanished behind him toward his back.
"Very far." He stated it plainly.
"It must have hurt badly."
"Yes, it did."
"Do they still hurt?" She inquired.
"Sometimes."
"You have scars in this area as well." She said, while putting her hand on his chest.
He looked away.
"Will they ever go away?"
"No," he said simply.
"That's a shame."
The agony, all of it, came flooding back to him. He planned on doing the same thing to Hawk and his family. But Selena would die under such abuse.
"I wish I could go back in time and change what happened." She stated.
"Don't we all wish we could change the past?" He replied as he gently stroked her face with the palm of his hand.
"I am sorry."
He snapped, "I don't want you to pity me."
"I can't help it." She said," your eyes look so sad."
It took him a very long time before he could bring himself to look at her.
"I hate you, Selena."
Her lips quirked into a slight smile in response. "I am aware of that, My Alpha."
Selena detested her father very much. This was something that he inflicted upon her, upon Cayden.
She reached out and put her hand on his chest. An insignificant action that didn't make any sense either. Not everything had to make perfect sense.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"I am OK." He was losing his temper.
She assured him, "I will help you," and her tone was forceful.
He blinked. "Help me?" The contact of her touch to his flesh caused a trembling to begin. "I know what happened to you. Max told me."
"I will help you seek revenge, Cayden." She whispered.