When he raised his eyes, the corners were crimson, like embers under fierce flames, scorching and intense. The glint in his eyes seemed to hold the madness and resentment of a wolf's nature fully unleashed.
"Sold yourself to Travis, and I'm not allowed to touch you now?"
His voice was pleasant, crisp and husky, full of magnetism, but his words were harsh.
The word "sold" degraded her dignity to the dirt, and his speech carried the oppressive sense of superiority inherent to an Alpha, making Luana feel tiny and insignificant before him.
She had once sold herself to him, thinking that by not spending a cent of his money, she could change his perception of her.
Yet, in his eyes, she remained a "call girl" to be bartered at will.
Luana felt as if her heart was pricked by needles, aching densely, but a smile rippled across her pale face.
"Mr. Moriarty," she coiled her hands around his neck, her smile brimming, "He paid me. Naturally, he wouldn't allow you to touch me. Isn't that the rule you taught me? Have you forgotten?"
Cline's expression darkened, "What did you say?"
Luana tilted her chin up, whispering into his ear, "I said, I lied to you just now. Mr. Elan and I slept. We did it three times last night and twice today. Now, I am his woman. Please refrain from any further indecency, Mr. Moriarty."
Cline's tall and straight figure stiffened abruptly. His previously gloomy, bloodthirsty eyes turned as cold as ice in a frozen pond, seemingly capable of freezing one on the spot.
As an Alpha, the powerful and icy aura surrounding him grew even more intense, as if the air around them had solidified, exuding a chilling presence.
He stared at her, and after a while, he swiftly pulled out his hand, grabbed a handful of wet wipes, and started to frantically clean his fingers with them.
The action was filled with urgency and disgust, as if he had just touched something extremely filthy.
Behind this disdain was the Alpha's desire for control and exclusivity, not allowing any scent that did not meet his approval to cling to him.
Seeing his reaction, Luana couldn't help but sneer, "Mr. Elan has already told you that he has slept with me, yet you insist on checking. Why bother?"
Her eyes smiled, and her lips curled up, showing no signs of anger or embarrassment, but rather an air of cheesy.
At that moment, she seemed to be deliberately using this attitude to provoke Cline.
Unbeknownst to her, in Cline's eyes, this behavior was seen as a challenge to his Alpha dignity.
Her nonchalant attitude and repeated provocations finally enraged the usually composed Cline.
He discarded the shredded wipes, fiercely grasped her chin, and applied considerable strength, causing her delicate, fair chin to turn blue instantly.
As an Alpha, Cline's strength in his anger unconsciously carried the power of the wolf tribe, much greater than that of an ordinary human.
Luana's face turned pale with pain, but Cline, disregarding her expression, leaned closer to her face.
"Didn't I tell you what I have used? No one else is allowed to touch it!" His eyes were filled with murderous intent, and his grip on her chin intensified as if he wanted to detach her jaw entirely.
His words were laced with the ferocity and dominance of an Alpha, brooking no argument.
At this moment, he was like an enraged wolf king, defending his territory and possessions.
It was the first time Luana had seen Cline so furious, and she was momentarily stunned.
She hadn't intended to provoke him. It was his repeated humiliations that forced her to fight back.
She hadn't expected Cline to be so angry and wondered if he cared for her.
Luana endured the pain, looked up, and mustered the courage to ask, "You care so much about whether others have been with me. Could it be that you've fallen for me?"
Having been with him for five years, she had never seen him lose control like this, and a glimmer of hope rose in her heart.
Thinking of this, a spark of hope ignited in her usually dim eyes.
She stared at him intently, seeking even a trace of affection in his gaze.
However, she saw nothing but disgust and disdain.
"Aren't you clear what I really care about?" Cline retorted, and the light in Luana's eyes instantly faded.
She knew it well, but her heart was unwilling to accept it.
Loving someone for a long time, one always hoped for some return, even just a little.
Cline was different from ordinary people. He had a mental cleanliness complex. People with this condition found it hard to accept that what they had used was touched by others in a short period.
His anger was merely due to psychological discomfort. In the habits of the wolf pack, an Alpha has an extremely strong desire to monopolize what they consider theirs.
Once contaminated by others, the aversion became more intense, which also intensified his current anger.
Luana curled her lips. "It seems I was being overly sentimental. But..."