3. Knock me out

I pace my room nervously. I was already dressed and ready but I was nervous. It’s been so long since I dressed up or put any effort in how I look that I was afraid that I looked horrible.

Sure the girls and I go out once in a while but no matter how much Ren, Claire and Lily tried to convince me to dress up. I preferred just a simple top and jeans.

Today though I was in a long sleeved black dress. It covered my body, hiding my scars but it was still sexy. My makeup was done and my hair for once since I was found was flowing down my back in bouncy ringlets.

My phone rings, startling.

“Hello...” I call awkwardly into the phone.

“I’m here” Damn, his sexy voice has a way of undoing me.

The moment he says that. My nervousness skyrockets. I had no idea what was going on or why he invited me out. A thought crosses my mind and immediately I feel a crushing weight on my chest.

What if he wants to break off our arrangement? What if he was already tired of me and was inviting me out so he can let me know in a sort of kind way?

“Give me a minute, I’ll be down” I breathe into the phone, trying to push away my panic.

I get my purse and rush down stairs. Ready to get this night over with.

I was just getting to the door when Ren’s voice stops me. I turn to face her.

“How the hell do you just pop out from nowhere?” I ask with my hand on my chest.

She gives me a smile before answering. “I didn’t pop up from thin air, I was already here, you just didn’t see me in your rush to sneak out”

I keep my mouth shut. Compress it into a thin line in an effort to stop myself from spilling something I didn’t want her to know.

“Is that Darren I smell?” she asks, sniffing the air.

Shit! My anxiety levels reach their peak.

“No!” I scream before turning around and fleeing like the house was on fire.

I almost die in embarrassment when I hear her laugh behind me. Following me all the way out of the door.

In my haste to get away from her and her knowing laugh I bump into a very hard and solid chest.

Before I can fall, an arm reaches out and grasps my waist. His intoxicating scent engulfs me, almost drowning in its richness.

“Whoa, you okay?” he steadies me, his obsidian eyes captivating me like always.

I want to forget about the date and jump to the good stuff. To have him make me forget everything except for him. Except for how he feels inside me and on top of me. Because hot damn does he look like a fucking god in that black suit.

“Yeah” I clear my throat, hoping against hope that he doesn’t smell my arousal.

My prayer is shot to hell when he smirks. “I can smell you Mayra…and you smell fucking delicious”

I feel myself getting wet, which makes blood rush to my cheeks.

“You two know that there are empty rooms you can use. If you’re are going to fuck each other better do it in one of those. The last thing I want is for Colton to see the both of tearing each other’s clothes and doing at it like wild animals near the steps”

I gasp, hearing Ren’s smug voice behind us. We both turn to face her and find her standing near the door of the pack house. Her arms folded over her bump, eyes shining with mischief and a smug smile on her lips.

“We weren’t – It’s not what you think, he just…” I go to explain but she cuts me off.

“Oh shush…I wasn’t born yesterday May, and it’s not like you’re doing anything wrong” she says then winks at me.

“Right…I think we’ll just head out” Darren clears his throat and says. “Always nice to see you Ren”

She smiles at him and he grabs my hands. Leading me towards his car.

“Have a great time kids and remember to use protection” Ren shouts as we drive away from the pack house.

I sigh in mortification.

“Was she always like that?” I ask him, referring to Lauren.

I’ve known her for five years but she still surprises me. I’ve seen her in Luna mode, mom mode, friend mode, executioner mode but this is a side of her that I was yet to see.

Darren laughs. “You mean playful? Yeah she is like that. It comes out once in a while but she can be”

I look at him confused at first. Wondering how he knows so much about Ren but then I remember. They were once mated. Krystal is proof that they were once in love.

I don’t know their full story. All I know is that they were together for ten years before they separated and Ren got mated to Sebastian.

I want to ask him but it’s none of my business. I also can’t help some of the jealousy I feel that they were once close. Like intimately close.

He glances at me sideways when I don’t speak. The air becomes stilted for a while. I can’t help but wonder if he’s still in love with Ren.

I shake those thoughts away. Whether he was still in love with her wasn’t my business. It wasn’t like I was in love with him or wanted a life with him, right?

“We’re here” his voice cuts through my fog.

I had been so lost in thought that I had not even realized that he had parked the car and turned off the engine.

“Come on, I’m starving and I’m sure you are too” he says before getting out of the car.

Seconds later he is on my side, opening the door for me. He helps me get out and locks the car before guiding me to the restaurant with his hand on my lower back.

I love the tingles his palm leaves. For some reason, being with him just feels right.

We get in and we are shown to our table. It’s in the back. Somewhere secluded and quiet. Somewhere intimate.

We get settled and immediately a waiter comes and takes our orders. Once he leaves, Darren turns to face me. He doesn’t say anything for a while. Just stares at me in that captivating way.

“So…” I begin but I’m unable to continue so the word just hangs in the air awkwardly making him chuckle.

“Calm down Mayra…I just want to get to know you better, that’s all” he smiles.

I look at him shocked because I managed to convince myself on the way here that he wanted to end things between us.

“You want to get to know me?” my eyes were wide in skepticism.

“That’s what I said”

I stare at him, my mind running miles per minute. “But you do know me”

He sighs as if he’s dealing with a child.

“I know what gets you off Mayra. I know every curve of your sexy body. I know which spot to hit so you can scream my name and cum on my dick, but that’s just physical.”

I realize what he’s saying or rather what he has left unsaid. He wants to get to know me outside of the bedroom. What I like, what makes me tick. He wants to know who I am on the inside.

I would be lying if I said this new development didn’t leave me on edge. I could deal with him wanting to end my nightly visits to his house. But him wanting to know me actually scares the shit out of me because I have so many broken pieces. Pieces I would rather remain hidden.

Taking a deep breath I face him. About to turn him down when I feel Raya waking up.

Shit, this can’t be happening. Not now.

“What do you want to know?” I ask him in a rush.

This was the best distraction I had right now. Talking to him would keep me from focusing on the angry energy that was surrounding my wolf.

He gives me his devastating smile.

“We can start with something simple...what’s your favorite color?” he asks.

I release a small laugh at his question before answering. “I don’t have a favorite color”

“Everyone has a favorite color Mayra” he counteracts.

“Not me. I do love multiples colors but I don’t have a specific one as my best”

I can feel Raya pacing around my mind. It was distracting me.

“Then let me rephrase that, which colors do you love?”

His eyes were intense and I felt that he wanted to know. That he wasn’t just trying to make small talk.

He was actually interested in my answer.

I was about to answer him when Raya slams into my shields causing me to almost fall off my chair from the pain. I felt her hate towards me and it hurt that she feels that way.

“Mayra, are you okay?” The sound of his voice does nothing to calm me down.

“I’ll be back” I excuse myself. “I have to use the restroom”

Before he can say anything I stand up and leave. Rushing to the bathroom.

Thankfully there wasn’t anyone inside. I grip the sink as I try to push Raya back into her cage. My eyes keep flickering from blue to yellow.

“How fucking dare you Mayra! You rejected my mate and as if fucking another man wasn’t enough you’re now on a date with him? When the hell did you become such a slut. Spreading your legs for someone who isn’t your destined.” She growls while still trying to break down my shields.

“Shut up!”

Tears fill my eyes. Her words hurt more than anything I have ever endured. Her bitterness towards me shatters my heart and breaks my soul.

“Why should I? I’m just telling the truth. I don’t know why the goddess gave me such a pathetic human.

She must have hated me to pair me with the likes of you”

I try blocking her words as I leave the restroom but it’s no use. They ring in my mind over and over again.

Finding myself outside, I take a deep breath. Breathing in the fresh air. The air in my lungs gets stuck when I smell a familiar scent. Before I can place it. Raya shatters my shield just like the night before.

I fall on my knees, trying to prevent her from taking control. I feel my spine snap as it begins re-

arranging itself to that of an animal.

“Everything that has happened to me, everything we’ve lost is your fault and I promise I will make you pay until the day you take your final breath” she says bitterly.

This time I scream because the pain of a force shift is too much. I just want her to stop. To stop hurting and tormenting me.

“Mayra!” I hear his concerned voice and soon enough I see his handsome face. “What the fuck is happening?”

His hand reaches for me and Raya is about to snap it but I hold her back.

“Knock me out Darren” I grit through my clenched teeth.

“What!” he looks surprised. As he doesn’t understand what I just said.

“Knock me the fuck out or she’ll take over and neither of us wants that”

I don’t need to explain who ‘she’ is because he gets I’m referring to my wolf. He doesn’t knock me out but he presses a pressure point. I fall into oblivion with Raya screaming how she’ll make all of us pay.