Chapter Seven

Sullen She shut the door and pressed her back against it. She’d felt eyes crawling all over her the entire day. Even at the firm. Someone was watching her. Or … she was completely paranoid because she felt the alpha’s stares over her shoulder. Locking the door—as if it would stop an alpha from getting to his mate—she walked toward the kitchen and tossed her purse onto the island. The box of donuts still sat there from that morning. She fought the childish urge to stick her tongue out at them and tossed them into the trash. Duke had just got home, and now he was gone for another week? His job as an insurance rep had started off well with the salary, but now it was weighing on her nerves. She pulled the blinds on all of her windows and went to take a shower. She had a big day at work tomorrow, and she had lunch planned with her friend Marissa. Nothing sounded better than a shower, binge-watching her favorite shows while eating her chili dog. It didn’t matter that her wolf was on alert because she swore she smelled the alpha. Her wolf was just as paranoid as she was, but her wolf wanted to run toward the smell, and Sullen wanted to run away. Something told her running wouldn’t make a difference. What did her mother’s boyfriend say his name was? Roan? It didn’t matter. If she had anything to do with it, that name wouldn’t fall from her lips at all. In fact, even if he did try to bring her back... she refused to say it. Nope, not happening. **** Marissa held up her six-month-old baby in Sullen’s face. “I need to pee. Please hold her for just a second.” Sullen loved babies, but not for a long period of time. They started to cry, and she lost all hope in her motherhood abilities while trying to calm them. “Okay,” she said sheepishly. Marissa left her bouncing the chubby baby on her knee, while Sullen glanced around the restaurant. She’d felt the same set of stares on her all day. Even in her office at work. The feeling only intensified when she walked downtown to the restaurant to meet Marissa. He had to be following her … “Whew,” Marissa said, grabbing her baby back. “I feel ten pounds lighter. So,” she said, pushing her blonde bangs from her blue eyes. “how are things? I haven’t heard from you in weeks. What are you hiding?” Everything. Since Marissa was human, Sullen couldn’t indulge in real gossip with her. “You ignored my phone calls all last weekend—” “I told you on messenger that I lost my phone. It’s on my list to get another one today.” Along with ditching the alpha hunting her. Marissa nodded and took a sip of her water. “How’s Duke?” “Gone,” Sullen said, stabbing her appetizer. “Again.” Marissa frowned. “The money is good but the alone time bites, huh?” “You hit the nail on the head,” she mumbled. “How about you? How’s the writing career coming along?” Marisa beamed. “Good. I’m doing better on the charts and making enough to cover the bills, so Seth doesn’t mind me switching careers anymore.” “I’m glad,” she said. “I know you love it.” Marisa’s gaze moved toward the picture-frame window of the restaurant and she squinted her gaze. “What is it?” Sullen asked. “Some guy...” Sullen whipped around, seeing the silhouette of someone in the alleyway across from them. “What a creep,” she mumbled. She didn’t smell his scent but felt as if she caught a whiff every now and again. Being in the city it was harder to detect smells from far distances. “What do you expect?” Marisa replied. “There are bound to be some weirdos in a town this big.” Sullen finished eating and found her way back to work unbothered. **** It wasn’t until she got home and kicked off her shoes that she noticed it. His smell. There was no hiding it. It was woodsy, deep, and filled her veins with need. Follow it, her wolf encouraged her. “No,” she mumbled, locking the door and easing into her apartment. His scent grew stronger the closer she got to her room. Had he touched her things? It seemed so. His scent lingered over her bed, and on her pillow. She swore she saw his imprint against her covers. “You’re going crazy,” she mumbled. You’re not, her wolf snapped. You know you smell him. Sullen’s gaze moved to the middle of her bed, and she stopped. Her cell phone sat there in mock humor, staring up at her with an invisible smile. He’d been there, alright. On her bed. In her house. “Come on out!” she shouted, turning a circle to find him. “Don’t be a coward! Come on out and face me like a man!” Don’t taunt him, her wolf whispered. He may give you what you’re asking for. Sullen wanted him to come out and face her. Part of her wanted to look into the eyes of the alpha that thought he would bully her into becoming his fairy-tale luna and moving in with him. Not happening. Part of her—more of her wolf’s idea—wanted to see what he looked like. For curiosity's sake only. “You scared, Alpha?” she asked, looking out her window. “You scared to come to face me like a man?” He’s not here. You look ridiculous, her wolf said. Sighing, Sullen rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands. He was taunting her, leaving his scent where she could smell it. On her bed of all places. He could rub his scent wherever he wanted, but he’d never be on that bed with her. If she needed to tell him to his face that she wasn’t going with him, for him to get it, then so be it. She’d play this game. Find him when he wasn’t expecting it, and then end it right then. If he wanted a rejection, she’d give him one. You better not, her wolf said. Sullen swallowed her nerves and walked to the kitchen. A low thump hit the outside of the apartment door, and she raced over, swinging it open. “Coward!” she shouted to the empty hallway. Apartment 6A opened its door across from her. “Is everything okay, Sullen?” Mrs. Ruth asked. Sullen cringed. “Everything is fine, Mrs. Ruth. I just thought I heard someone.” “Well,” she said, picking up a cat lingering at her feet, “Socks was having a tantrum at the door today, and I think I saw a man going into your apartment.” Not that it was news. “Yeah? Was it Duke?” “Nope,” she said, shaking her head. A smile pulled at the corners of her wrinkled face. “This man was … very handsome. Didn’t stay long, but left with a smile on his face. I won’t tell Duke if you’re exploring your options, sweet girl. I did the same thing when I was your age.” She didn’t need to know that. “Next time call the cops, Mrs. Ruth.” She winked at her, not believing a word she said. “Will do, Sullen. Will do.”