Sebastian
To say I was enraged would express the least of what I experienced. I fucking want to kill him at that moment when he let out those words but once again, I kept my calm.
"Cutting straight to the chase I see," I hummed, puffing out the smoke into the air, seeing visual in the white of them of how many ways I could snatch the life out of this man, "How come you are in love with her all of a sudden, I ask?"
"It's not sudden, Alpha," The fact that he was trying to act respectful was ironic, "I have liked her since the first day."
"Ah, the first day, huh? You know, I don't hold grudges for feelings, but actions speak volumes. So, Aaron, what's the price tag for your attempt to persuade my partner to run away with you, despite her clear explanation of our situation? I care about actions, just as much as ever," I flashed him a smile, "Do you choose to be stripped of the position of my beta and returned to the very pack you once belonged to, now turned rogues with a vendetta against you? Or will you have the integrity to acknowledge your mistake and step back from the path you're treading? It's totally up to you but I am afraid we are short of time so you have to decide quick."
"Why do you mean that they have turned rogues?"
It was interesting that out of everything I'd said, he chose to ask me that question and get to that point only.
"You don't remember? Well, that's interesting. I didn't think that you'd forget about the dear pack you once robbed. Unfortunately, after your banishment, they couldn't make up for the loss and ended in rogues with their lands taken away due to debt and now, penniless. By the way, I assume that night the rogues Vincent brought to deal with you were actually your packmates. There are still a few members left who aren't dead and I am sure they'd be more than happy to kill you."
"So, you are trying to threaten me?" He let out a bitter chuckle, "You think I'd give up on her just to save my own skin? Never, it's never gonna happen."
"Give up on her? Don't even start with that shit, Aaron. She is not yours so don't pretend as if you own her."
"At least, I am trying to win her heart, unlike you, who left her shattered."
I saw through his manipulations, his guilt-tripping tactics, trying to weaken my resolve.
But, too bad! I already knew his game.
"Still she did not choose you. What a pity!"
Bewilderment crossed his face at my response as he clearly saw his attempt fail.
"I know what you are trying to do, Aaron. Remember one thing, I was the one who brought you to this place, this height of success and it won't take me more than a second to reduce you to the same, weak, pathetic, poor and pitiful werewolf who had no other choice than betraying his pack to live," I stood up from the chair, grabbing my gun and loading it, "That time, when I chose you, I'd seen a glimpse of myself in you— You wanted power and I gave you that but, if you are going to land those eyes of your on my Athena...don't fucking underestimate me, buddy. I am not going to think twice before snatching the life out of you, it only takes one trigger to end it all."
"My loyalty is still the same, I never even looked at Athena when she was with you. I kept my emotions at bay because it was my duty but now, she is not with you nor do you own her in any way. So, I am not going to step back and do whatever it takes to make her mine."
My jaw ticked, and I found it hard to control the growing rage and refrain from shooting him dead.
"Nobody owns her and nobody can own her. She is not an object so you better watch your mouth the next time you speak about my mate."
Just one trigger and I could end it all.
Just one.
"The one who owns her heart owns her." There was a flicker of arrogance in his eyes.
"And certainly it's not you and it'll never be you."
"You can't be so sure about it."
"Oh hell, I can because it's not you who's connected to her soul. It's me. We are bound to be together and trust me, right now you are looking like nothing but just a desperate fellow trying to win a woman's heart who's never going to be his. She is not up for grabs so keep your dear delusions in check," My finger inched towards the trigger, "And my advice would be to stay away from my mate and stop manipulating her. I can see what you are trying to do, Aaron. I am not naive or a sixteen-year-old with no knowledge of others' intentions. I know how to protect the one I love and I'd not mind taking a few more lives. So don't be one of them."
"I can't understand what you even want from her. She wants to stay away from you, when she needed you, you abandoned her. Despite living under the same roof as you, she was alone and suffering. And now that she is finally living her own life, you are trying to destroy it all over again?"
"Come on, don't try to play that game on me. It's not gonna work. I know what I am doing and I also know that I am doing better than before. And tell me something, what place do you hold in her life that gives you the right to stand here in front of me and ask me for an explanation? Listen to me very carefully— Stay away from her. When it comes to her I have got no mercy, so get the fuck out of here before I change my mind and actually kill you."
A few more seconds. Only a few more seconds was what it'd take me to kill me.
"I love Athena and I won't let go of her." He declared,
The audacity of this motherfucking bastard!
"It's your obsession, it's not love and you know what? Right now, I can see the same want in your eyes that you had for power, years ago when I had brought you from that place and made you my beta. You don't love her. You just want her and—"
"And yet you are afraid that she might choose me instead of you, no? You fear that my desire will make her overlook your love for her and that's why you are trying to make me back off." This hit some nerves.
"She is never going to choose you. No matter how much you give it your all, you'll never have that place in her life that I have. Besides, you have proved your nature by betraying me and trying to manipulate her behind my back, she must be already doubting your intentions."
"Yet she won't be doubting mine more than yours. A man who left no bounds to disrespect her, abuse her and put her through the worst."
"Enough. You are asking for it." With a snap, I pressed the gun against the middle of his forehead, "Say one more word and invite your death."
There was no fear or hesitation in his orbs. His intentions were far deeper than I'd assumed.
"Do it or else you might not be able to face the defeat tomorrow."
"What?"
"I am sure, your memory is not that weak to forget that tomorrow Athena will either choose you or me."
It drew upon me, harsh and frantic, more likely a tsunami.
"She will never choose you." I did not know why the words I said hesitated on the tip of my tongue before they finally made it out.
"And what if she does?"
"Then she is yours."
A small smile curved at the corner of his lips, "See you tomorrow, Alpha."
With that, he turned around and walked out of the room.
I found myself sitting back on the chair, setting the gun on the table and heaving out a sigh.
Will she choose him?
"No, she will never." I shook my head, trying to gather my calm but it didn't take long enough to prove that I won't be able to do it.
Fuck this.
With steely determination, I stood up and set off to find Athena, my heart set on proving my commitment to her and winning her love, knowing that the battle for her heart was just beginning and the one I had considered my friend was now the real enemy.