Brenna
“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Magenta raised an eyebrow.
“He expects me to be the Pack Luna and Queen in name only without any real power.” I shrugged. “I want more. My mother ruled beside my father and that’s what I intend to do.”
“Well, take care that you don’t chase him away.” She rose to her feet. “He won’t wait long.” She walked out, her long skirts billowing out behind her.
“A word of warning, Miss.” Mason’s voice was suddenly at my ear. “I wouldn’t keep him waiting long. The Blood Moon is swiftly approaching.” He walked out into the hallway, too.
Since no one was there that I knew, I motioned for a waiter to come forward.
“Yes, My Queen?”
“Could you box this up for me, please?” I handed him my plate. “I couldn’t eat another bite.” In reality, my stomach was in knots. I hated this just as much as Adan and it took every bit of my willpower to stick to my guns.
A broad smile spread across his face. “I’ll be right back with your food.”
“Thank you.” After he hurried away, I looked around the room, and all eyes were on me. I tried to avoid eye contact, but it appeared that no one liked that I was keeping Adan waiting. I rose to my feet as the waiter hurried out of the back room.
“Here you go, My Queen!” He handed me a microwavable container.
“Thank you.” I hurried out the door before anyone could say anything else to me. I stepped into the elevator, and the door opened on my floor a moment later. In my condo, I stashed my leftovers in the refrigerator when the adjoining door suddenly flew open, slamming hard against the wall.
“What in the world?”
Adan walked straight toward me, his eyes flaring a brilliant blue. He pinned me against the wall in the matter of a second. “Do not underestimate me. As I’ve said many times before, I’m not some lovesick schoolboy whose emotions you can trifle with.”
He slammed his lips to mine, but I bit his lip so hard that it drew blood.
“Don’t you ever do that to me again!” I donned my fighting stance, tasting his blood on my lips. “You want to play like that? Well, bring it on! But I will not be treated like a common whore!”
“I can have you any time I wish.” He smirked, licking the blood off his lip.
“Think again!” I motioned him forward, ready to fight. But he laughed as he headed into his condo, slamming the door behind him.
I was so mad I was shaking, so I took a shower to calm myself down. When I came out, wearing a robe and drying my hair, I heard voices coming from Adan’s room. I listened closely, and a woman was giggling.
Unbridled rage filled my body as I barged through the door. Adan was sitting up, leaning back on the sofa without a shirt on, and a woman was sitting on his lap, laughing as she kissed his neck and chest, and gong lower. She was wearing a teddy, and he was looking down at her bulging breasts.
“Get. Out!” I screamed, pointing toward the door.
Adan laughed, placing his arms behind his head. “What’s the matter then, Brenna? You want to take her place?”
I ignored him, speaking only to the woman. “I said, get out before I kick your ass into next week!”
“You can try.” She stood, placing her hand on her hip, clearly a dare.
“Don’t tempt me.” I took a step closer, my fists clenched at my sides. “I said, get out! This is your last warning, and then I’m throwing you out!”
She looked over at Adan, and he nodded. She brushed back strands of her long blonde hair, slipped a coat over her teddy, and walked out.
“Don’t you ever do that to me again!” I yelled, pointing straight at him. “You’re making plays for me, and then you bring another woman into your suite? You’re lucky I don’t kick your ass!”
He laughed.
Unable to take any more, I marched toward him and swung my fist at him, but he caught it, holding both of my wrists, his lips curling into a sexy grin that I tried to ignore.
“I told you I won’t wait too long.” Adan looked me over, hunger filling his eyes. “You can’t have it both ways, Princess. If you don’t want me, there are plenty of other women who do.”
I stormed back into my condo and slammed the door closed so hard I nearly ripped it off the hinges. I was going to kill him, if he didn’t kill me first.
***
I woke early the following day, unable to sleep. I had tossed and turned all night, envisioning that woman in his arms. Hard telling what would have happened if I hadn’t stormed in. Obviously, he was going to stop her. I had no idea who she was, but the next time I saw her, I would rip her blonde hair out by the roots.
Needing to blow off some steam, I took a shower, packed my workout gear in my small backpack, and headed downstairs to the practice ring for Warrior Training, held every morning until noon. If I didn’t blow off some steam soon, I was going to blow.
Silence fell over the field when I walked outside and headed toward the practice ring. Ignoring them, I set down my backpack and slipped into my fingerless MMA fighting gloves. Then I took off my sweatshirt, revealing a tight, half shirt and pants, ready for a workout.
“Everyone, gather around!” a man with blond, wavy hair that flowed over his shoulders announced. I stood with the others. To the right, Adan was fuming, but I didn’t care.
Good. Let him fume.
“For those of you who may not know me, my name is Chester James. Today, we’ll pair off according to skill level. The advanced fighters will be expected to help train those less developed. Alpha Adan will train the advanced warriors, Zila will train the intermediate—”
“I’ll take the young warriors.” I held up my hand.
A low, guttural growl erupted from Adan’s direction, but I ignored him. Chester’s head snapped up in his direction, and then he looked back at me and nodded. “So be it. The young warriors will go with Luna Brenna....” Chester continued giving orders, dividing people up according to their skill levels. When he was finished, he announced, “Okay, go to your groups!”
“Over here!” I held my hand up, walking backward to attract their attention.
Several young warriors ran over, eager to train.
A brunette woman with olive skin walked over and held out her hand. “Hi! I’m Mira. Mira Cook. I’m the one who usually works with the young warriors, but there’s no reason why we both can’t work with them.”
I shook her hand, smiling. “I completely agree. Why don’t you show me what you usually do, and I’ll chime in?”
I didn’t want my presence here to encroach upon what had already been set in place.
Mira nodded. “Sounds good.”
It felt great to be treated like everyone else. Everything would be great, if it wasn’t for the daggers that Adan was staring through me from across the field.