Love Bites

SCARLET

By the time I pulled into my driveway, I was a wreck. My eyes were red and puffy from crying, my nose was running, and I looked like I hadn’t slept in days.

I was a mess, plain and simple.

With a heavy sigh, I climbed out of my car and unlocked the front door. The house was eerily quiet.

“Mom?” I called out.

No response.

Where could they be? They knew I was coming home, didn’t they?

I walked through the empty house, feeling like I was in some sort of dream.

Is this real?

Just as I was about to head upstairs, the doorbell rang. Could it be Mom? Did she forget her keys?

I rushed to the door, a big smile plastered on my face.

But it wasn’t Mom. It was a guard, his stern face making my smile disappear.

“Miss, I’m here to escort you back to the palace once you’ve packed your things.”

“What? Who says? I’m staying here!” I shook my head, not believing what I was hearing.

“I’m sorry, miss, but the king has ordered you to return once you’re packed.” The guard’s face remained impassive.

“Well, he can fuck off,” I muttered under my breath.

“Excuse me, miss?” the guard asked.

“Fine. I’ll pack. You wait here.” I stormed upstairs, cursing under my breath.

The nerve of him! Sending a guard to fetch me. As if I’d willingly go back to that hellhole. He must think I’m an idiot.

In my fury, I dialed Aria’s number. She picked up on the first ring.

“I’m not going back with the guard. Tell your cousin to fuck off!” I shouted before she could even say hello.

“Why don’t you tell him yourself?” came Dylan’s deep voice.

Shit. Where was Aria? I bet this jerk thought I’d be scared of him.

“Fine. Take your guard and fuck off. Leave me alone!” I yelled.

“You’re testing my patience,” he growled.

“Well, you deserve it,” I shot back.

“You will come back with that guard, or he will drag you back.” Dylan’s voice was menacing.

“Drag me back? I’m not your prisoner. You made it clear you don’t want a mate. I’m making your life easier.” My voice was rising.

A low growl sent a chill down my spine.

“You are my mate, and you will come back.” Dylan wasn’t taking no for an answer.

Smirking, I retorted, “I’m not coming back, and I doubt you want your guard touching me to bring me back. I saw the way he looked at me. Unless you come yourself, I’m not leaving my house.”

I hung up before he could respond, a satisfied smile on my face. No mate wanted another man touching their mate.

Sure, I might have made up the part about the guard, but I did what I had to do.

Dylan’s guard wouldn’t be dragging me back, and I could stay home.

I flopped onto my bed and sighed. My life had been turned upside down in twenty-four hours, and I had no idea what to do.

Dylan was my mate, but his actions yesterday didn’t exactly scream “I want a mate.” Yet today, he was insisting I come back and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

What was his deal?

Now I had a bigger problem. Should I stay or should I go?

I could go stay with my aunt. Maybe some time away would do me good. This whole situation was messing with my head, and my wolf wasn’t helping.

She was constantly whining, wanting to go back to Dylan.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear the front door open. I didn’t hear the heavy footsteps, but I did hear my bedroom door slam open.

I jumped up and rubbed my eyes. Was that…?

“You haven’t packed a single thing.” Dylan’s voice filled the room.

Holy shit. He was really here!

“What…why…I…” I stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

His eyes twinkled with amusement for a moment before returning to their usual stoic expression.

I think that was his favorite look.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I finally managed to ask.

Dylan looked at me like I was crazy. “You said you’d only come back to the palace if I came to get you. Plus, I didn’t want that guard touching you.”

Oh, fuck. I had said that. Damn it, I should have just left it at the guard looking at me. Cursing under my breath, I tried to think of an excuse, but came up empty.

“Either you start packing, or I will.” Dylan’s patience was wearing thin.

There was no way I was letting him touch my stuff. I quickly got up and grabbed a suitcase.

I tried to sneak my bras and underwear in between my clothes. I didn’t want him seeing them.

“I thought you didn’t want a mate. So why are you so insistent on me coming back?” I asked.

Dylan didn’t answer. He just looked at me expectantly.

Muttering under my breath, I stuffed clothes and other items into the suitcase. As soon as I finished one, Dylan took it from me and carried it downstairs.

By the time I packed the fourth and final suitcase, my room looked bare, and I had to fight back tears. It was silly, really. I was close to home, and I wasn’t going to a strange place.

But a part of me knew that my time at home was over.

Another chapter of my life was closing.

“I need to call my parents. I haven’t seen them all day,” I said. Dylan nodded and picked up the last suitcase.

With a sigh, I dialed my mom’s number.

“Scarlet, hello?” Mom’s voice came through the phone.

“Oh, Mom, where are you?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Honey, I’m out. On purpose. I knew you’d be back, but I knew if I saw you, I wouldn’t be able to let you go,” Mom sniffled.

“I needed you.” A tear slipped down my cheek.

“Sweetheart, I’m really sorry. I know you’d have preferred to stay home, away from your mate. I was on my way to fetch you this morning, but your dad stopped me,” she confessed.

“Dad? Why?” I couldn’t hide my surprise.

“He said he saw something in the king’s eyes. Something that made him believe his little girl would be safe and happy.

It’s not going to be a walk in the park for you, but it’ll be worth it in the end. That’s a promise,” Mom assured me.

“I don’t want to go.” I felt like a kid on the first day of school.

“Listen to me. I didn’t raise a weak werewolf. I raised a strong one who won’t let anyone push her around.

You march into that palace and make sure your mate knows how you expect to be treated. Don’t let him push you around, but something tells me he won’t.” Mom’s pep talk came to an end.

“Okay, Mom. I will.” I tried to sound courageous, even though I was anything but.

“I love you, sweetheart, so much. Your dad does too. Remember, you can come back anytime you want.” Mom sighed.

We said our goodbyes and I wiped away the tears that had fallen. Taking a deep breath, I left my room and headed downstairs. Dylan was waiting outside, and Mom’s words echoed in my mind.

I wonder what Dad saw in his eyes?

There was no time to dwell on it because Dylan snapped me out of my thoughts.

“You ready?”

I just nodded and we walked to the car. He waited until I was settled before starting the engine and pulling away.

Quietly, I watched as my house grew smaller and smaller in the distance. Again, a few tears slipped down my cheeks. I didn’t think Dylan noticed, but he surprised me when he caught a tear with his thumb.

The electric shocks filled my body with warmth. I turned to him as he held my tear on his thumb.

“You’re not a prisoner. You’re free to go home, free to go out, but all I ask is that you stay at the palace. I need you there.”

His face might have been emotionless, but I didn’t miss the desperation in his voice.

Dylan was hiding something, and I was determined to find out what it was.