Chapter Nineteen

Sullen Sullen sank into the bathtub and toyed with the idea of staying there forever. The claw-foot tub was large, and the array of bubble baths were nice. It felt like a mini-vacation, almost. Other than her mother trying to force a midwife position onto her. It’d been her mother’s dream for her for some unknown reason. On the other hand, the tour with Roan hadn’t gone as bad as she thought. It’d been a long time since she ran for the heck of it, and it put her wolf in a good mood. Roan had been kind. Not pushy like she’d thought he would be. She knew alpha’s wolves were aggressive, and fighting them off was hard. So it told her that he was trying, and she appreciated it. Not that she thought it would make a difference. She wasn’t made for pack life, and she didn't plan on staying longer than her promised month. Slipping out of the bathtub, she dried her hair with a fluffy white towel, and slipped into a large t-shirt that Roan left for her. The underwear he sat out were still in the package, so she assumed he had someone go get her some. She slipped into the clothes, her wolf spinning circles at the smell of him on her t-shirt. Closing her eyes, she walked out into the room and stopped cold at Roan putting out a tray of snacks. He glanced up, and she watched his irises dance at the sight of her. She nervously tugged at the edge of his t-shirt. He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry about the t-shirt. Natalie informed me that she sleeps in the nude, so I didn’t have another choice. I’ll have one of my shewolves go grab you some pajamas tomorrow. I want you to be comfortable.” Sullen nodded. “Thank you.” He gestured toward the snacks. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving after that swim, since my dinner was cut short.” Sullen smirked. “Sorry, not sorry.” Roan gestured toward the tray of meats and cheeses. She crawled onto the bed and grabbed her a handful of goodness. Roan pulled over his desk chair. “Can I ask you a question?” “Sure,” she said, popping a piece of cheese into her mouth. It looked like they were stuck in this room together, so why not avoid an awkward silence. “Why didn’t you just reject me?” Sullen stopped chewing, her eyes lowering to the food in front of her. She had thought about that for a while, and she’d blamed it all on her wolf. She was right. Her wolf wanted Roan’s wolf. But Sullen was in charge of her life, not her wolf. “I know how a rejection can hurt a wolf, Roan. I don’t want you to go feral. It’s not your fault that you found me in the midst of me making my life my own. It’s not your fault that I hate pack life, and the idea of being stuck here. So,” she said with a shrug, “I’m going to prove to you that we’re not meant to be. So when it comes down to a rejection that it won’t hurt your wolf as badly.” Roan’s icy blue stare glared into hers. “What if you enjoy my company?” he asked. She swallowed the food in her mouth. It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about that, too. She shrugged. “I’m winging this, Roan.” “You don’t think that you’ll like me,” he said with a smile. Leaning back in his chair, he popped a cracker into his mouth. “You may not,” he said. “But I’m going to do the best I can to make sure that you do.” Sullen shifted on the bed. “You can try. I mean, it’s not like my wolf doesn’t remind me of how she’s physically attracted to you.” “Your wolf, huh?” he asked. Sullen narrowed her gaze. “My wolf, yeah.” Roan slid his tongue over his teeth and then grinned. “Not you?” Sullen’s face grew red, and she nervously shoved another piece of cheese inward to keep from having to reply. Roan chuckled. “Well, you don’t have to answer, little fox. I’m hypersensitive to your needs, your wants, and I’m slowly learning things about you. The way your pulse quickens when I’m near. The way you try not to look at me. I know you think I’m sexy.” Sullen scoffed. “You’re really full of yourself, aren’t you?” Roan smiled, and it sent flutters into her stomach. “Sometimes. And if you’re wondering, I think you’re gorgeous.” Sullen glanced up at him. “I wasn't wondering, and that's your wolf talking.” He chuckled. “Nah, it’s not. Everything about you—even your resistance—calls to me, Sullen. You could cut off all your hair, die it poop green, and I’d still adore you.” Sullen tried to remember the last time Duke told her how pretty she was, or if he had ever said those types of things. She dismissed it, and continued to eat, ignoring her wolf’s commentary about every single thing she liked about him. “Stop staring at me,” she hissed. Roan put his palms up in surrender. “I’ll finish eating, and keep my eyes to myself.” Sullen looked up. “What are we doing tomorrow?” “I have an alpha meeting, and some things to get caught up with.” “What am I supposed to do?” she asked. Roan leisurely took a bite of his food. “You could go help your mother with her wedding.” “I’d rather eat razor blades,” she hissed. Roan chuckled. “I’d like to introduce you to the other alphas in our parish.” Sullen sighed. Oddly enough it sounded more interesting than helping her mother with her wedding. “I’ll be there.” Roan searched her eyes. “You really don’t want our parents to get married?” “To be honest, I think it’ll be good for my mother. It’s too soon, but it’ll give me a break from her nagging about being a midwife.” “Got it. You know,” he said, standing up to go to the bathroom. “There is a position as midwife opened if you’re interested.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Funny. Please find somewhere else to be before I toss this tray at your head.” She listened to him laughing on the other side of the bathroom door, and warmth slid over her skin. She bit the corner of her lip. Maybe she shouldn’t have signed that agreement. An entire month with him might be harder than she realized.