Isabella
During my adventures with Dane, we get a phone call from my father about rogue werewolves. It's apparently dangerous around our street, and Dane agreed to let me stay with him after some groaning.
I'm smiling in my seat, trying to hide how happy I am. Even if Dane has rejected me, I'm still hopeful we can finish the mating ritual. It would heal our severed bond.
I briefly glance in Dane's direction. The frown deepens on Dane's face, and I choke a laugh. He is grumpy, but he is genuinely kind. It's a rare trait for werewolves to be gentle.
Most werewolves I know are arrogant, but not Dane.
"There will be some rules if you wish to stay with me," Dane says. "And you need to follow them, or I will throw you out."
I swallow thickly. "Okay."
Dane sucks air into his lungs as if thinking about what cards he will lay out on the table.
We are driving down an unfamiliar street, and once his car is neatly parked beside an apartment, he turns to look at me. His eyes are strict and uncompromising as if he doesn't trust me one bit.
"You're sleeping in my bed. I will take the couch, and if you need the shower, you will head straight to my bedroom after you're done. Be loud, so I know where you are at all times, and in the morning, you're prohibited from waltzing around naked. Are we clear?"
My lips curl into an amused smile. I want to mess with Dane a little and see how he will react. "Is that all?"
The tiny vein in his forehead appears close to rapturing when I wink at him. Dane clearly isn't amused.
"Don't steal peaks of me in the early morning when I'm putting my clothes on. You will end up regretting it."
I blurt out the question inside my head without thinking. "Why would I regret it?"
A ghost of a smile touches Dane's lips, and I blush. I'm not used to this slightly flirtatious side of him. It both excites and frightens me. He is playing hard to get with me yet reeling me like a fish.
"Because you wouldn't end up getting any."
"Ouch," I wince at his burn. "Straight in the heart, man. You're so savage, Dane. Think about my feelings, okay?"
He breathes a laugh. "You can handle it. You're the weirdest chick that I have ever met."
I pout at him. "That doesn't mean I don't have any feelings. I can still get heartbroken, Dane."
He flashes me a quick smile before opening the car door. I do the same and smash the car door close behind me.
Dane's apartment building isn't anything special, yet I'm curious. I wonder how Dane has decorated his home? I bet he keeps things neat and clean without anything too special.
I can't see him being a collector of anything. I can imagine Dane being extremely tidy and clean, though. He is probably one of those people who gets mad if I accidentally leave a glass on the coffee table.
"I'm excited to see your home," I say while following Dane. He is comically taller than me. "I bet you keep things tidy and in order, and then everything is white and neat. There probably isn't any weird furniture, and you only enter your home to sleep."
Dane's lips curl, but he doesn't say anything. He remains calm while I'm bubbly next to him. We run up a couple of stairs, and my curiosity only grows and grows.
After what feels like an eternity, those large hands turn around the key to his apartment. But Dane doesn't open the door right away. He glances down at me with a tiny smirk.
"Welcome to my home."
Dane steps aside to reveal...
A lot of green plants and a clean home that smells of herbs, and is that a goddamn cat?
I narrow my eyes, staring at the fluffy thing inside his home. It's white with a black face and blue angelic eyes. It meows at Dane and rubs against his leg before lifting its head to judge me.
"She doesn't like strangers, so don't worry if she—"
Dane gasps in shock when his fluffy cat strides over to me and purrs loudly while making love to my legs. I close the door before crouching down to pet the beautiful feline.
"She is gorgeous," I smile at the cat. "What is her name?"
"Celina."
"Celina? What a beautiful name," I'm beaming at the cat that stands by me. It's looking at me expectantly. I laugh in delight. "Do you want to be picked up, Celina?"
Dane scoffs. "She doesn't like that either."
I pick up the cat, and Dane rolls his eyes when he realizes Celina is perfectly fine in my arms. She is even purring and looking like the happiest feline in the entire world.
I peer up at Dane. "Do you have any other pets?"
"A couple of goldfish," Dane replies. "That would explain that sound you're hearing right now. It's coming from my aquarium."
I beam up at him. "You're filled with surprises."
"You too," Dane remarks. "Celina has never taken a liking to anyone I've brought home. I don't know whether or not that is good. My cat might be a good person feeler, or she likes crazies."
I follow him into the living room. "It's definitely a little bit of both. I will admit to being crazy, but I'm also a good person."
"You are."
"So why did you reject me then?"
Dane sighs. "We already talked about this, Isabella. I won't bring it up again. Get ready for bed, and shower if you must. But don't show yourself naked in the doorway or something else stupid."
"I would never do that." I totally would, and Dane knows it. He can probably read that I'm a terrible liar on my face. I have the worst poker face in this city.
"You would," Dane says without breaking a smile. "You're the type of woman that doesn't play fair, and in other cases, it would be good. But you should stay away from me. I'm dangerous."
I sigh. "Do you at least want to watch some Netflix?"
"No."
"Not even if I say please?" I give him my infamous puppy dog eyes while Celina meows at her owner. She is definitely on my side.
"Go and shower already," Dane rakes his fingers through his hair, frustrated by this situation. "I can't believe you got my own damn cat rooting for you."
I laugh. "Celina knows what is good for you."
Dane meets my eyes. "But clearly not what is good for you. Which would be to ignore the mate-bond, reject me and move on."
I frown at Dane and put down Celina. A shower might rinse away the rising heat spreading over my skin. "That's not your decision to make."