Chapter 42

Shemika was preening in front of the mirror, her gaze flicking to Caturix as he prepared for the day. She hadn’t detected the scent of another woman on him when he came back, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. He could have taken a shower.

She’d tried her best to ignore the hours he’d been missing, but his excuse was barely believable. He’d gone for a walk? Really?

She was aware that he didn’t harbor feelings for her. He’d made that abundantly clear. But he’d also made it clear that their arrangement was exclusive. At least on her part, which wasn’t exactly fair. If she was expected to be faithful to him, he should reciprocate.

Jealousy was eating her up. She’d never felt this way about any other man. She’d always been emotionally detached, ready to move on to the next man who showed her a bit of attention. But things were different with Caturix. He was…not to be shared.

This was a new experience for her, but she knew they weren’t secretly destined to be together. However, according to Selene—the temple priestess and divine conduit of Mother Luna—it was entirely possible for both parties to be oblivious of their pairing. That is, if one of them had some sort of issue with the link between human and wolf.

Selene had contemplated this possibility long before Colette was even a consideration. But Colette’s existence had only confirmed Selene’s theory. Sorin had known Colette was his destined mate from the moment he laid eyes on her. Colette, on the other hand, hadn’t felt any mated sentiment until after the link between her and her wolf had been established.

But that wasn’t the case with Caturix, as much as Shemika had hoped. It wasn’t Caturix who was possessive and longing, it was Shemika. Yet, it was also Shemika who didn’t currently have a secure link with her wolf. So, it should’ve been Caturix who was longing and Shemika who was oblivious.

“So, where to this morning?” Caturix finally asked, coming up behind her. “Since you decided against breakfast in bed.” He brushed aside the curls hiding her neck, planting a soft kiss on her delicate skin.

Once again, her thoughts drifted to him marking her. What was her issue? He wasn’t going to, so why was her mind so fixated on fantasizing about it?

“We can find a café nearby before we go shopping,” she suggested, forcing cheerfulness into her voice.

He nodded in agreement and turned away, giving her a chance to swallow the lump in her throat. She took a slow, steady breath before turning to face him again, offering him another bright smile.

“I’m ready to go,” she said, attempting to move past him.

He grabbed her upper arm, stopping her. “Are you okay?” he asked cautiously.

“Uh huh,” she lied, trying to avoid looking at his face. His beautiful face. “I just didn’t sleep well last night.”

He gave her a skeptical look but didn’t push the subject.

Which was good, considering the truth was teetering on the edge of her tongue. She wanted to tell him so badly. A small part of her brain was trying to convince her that it would be okay, that he’d feel the same way about her, but the majority of her brain knew the truth.

Shemika was falling in love with him, just her. They weren’t on the same page at all. They were in entirely different books and his was at the bottom of the ocean, unreachable to her.

She followed him out of the hotel and couldn’t help but notice the considerable distance he kept between them. Last night, he’d kept his arm securely around her waist as he’d escorted her around. It really was the beginning of the end with him.

~Maybe~… No, she shouldn’t even consider it. Well…maybe. She was incredibly jealous of any woman who gave Caturix a passing glance, maybe she just needed to stir up his own possessiveness. There were plenty of men around. Plenty of opportunities to flirt her way to a declaration of…some sort of feelings.

She’d always dreamed of visiting the human city her whole life, but surprisingly, she wasn’t all that excited this morning. She was too busy fantasizing about provoking Caturix. Tonight, they were going to a nightclub to dance, something she’d dreamed of for a long time.

Shemika continued daydreaming as they ate breakfast in silence. She daydreamed about flirting with human men. Caturix would get more and more uncomfortable but wouldn’t do anything until some random human man touched her, then he’d step in and make sure the human man knew she was his.

Shemika let out a dreamy sigh at the thought, earning her a raised eyebrow from Caturix.

“Did you need something, Mika?” he asked calmly.

“Nope,” she chirped back, turning her attention away from him to check out the men.

Human men were significantly smaller than lycan men, but that didn’t mean they didn’t have potential. She noticed several men who seemed interested in her, and unfortunately…several women who gazed at Caturix longingly.

She tensed with irritation. Already she was falling behind Caturix. He didn’t even seem to notice anyone around him, including her.

Shemika gave a flirty wave to a man who was staring particularly hard at her.

The man blushed and turned away.

Strange reaction, certainly, but no matter.

“What was that for?” Caturix suddenly asked, looking over the top of his newspaper.

While he asked, he didn’t seem very jealous. Just curious.

“He was staring first, I was just acknowledging him,” she replied casually, flicking a curl behind her shoulder.

Caturix shrugged, unconcerned, and turned his attention back to the news. Why was he even interested in human news? She was a beautiful woman sitting in front of him, he should’ve been drooling over her. All the men around them noticed her allure.

She gritted her teeth and slumped back in her seat, crossing her arms over her ample bosom. She was a prize to be won, for sure, but Caturix didn’t care.

~Though~… Shemika sat up straight all of a sudden. All she did was wave flirtatiously and yet he’d shown obvious interest in her motives. Though it wasn’t yet a possessive action, nor an outright claim. It was a step in the right direction.

She just needed to push harder. But a café during breakfast wasn’t the time or place. Perhaps tonight, in a nightclub full of lustful, drunk men, she’d push him enough.

Shemika felt a wicked grin spread slowly across her face, but it took all her willpower not to rub her hands together like a villain. Clearly her plans had changed.

She didn’t want an association with Caturix. She wanted a relationship, dammit. She was falling deeply in love with the brute and she always got what she wanted.

She had a bunch of wonderful qualities besides her beautiful face and perfect body. She was funny and quick-witted. She had just enough childhood trauma to result in a wonderful personality and character. Oh, and not to mention, incredibly humble.

Anyone would be lucky to be with her. Dancescu wanted to be her mate, Marius, Nikandr, Lyosha, and at least two dozen other men. She could’ve gone to any lycan man, asked to be marked by him, and he would’ve accepted enthusiastically.

Shemika stirred her coffee before blowing on it softly. She brought it to her lips for a sip, watching Caturix over the rim. She was going to win him, for sure.

He’d made it known that he had no plans to mark her or officially make her his mate, but there were other ways to go about a relationship. Humans often had relationships based primarily on loyalty and titles. They could do that. She’d settle for being Caturix’s ‘girlfriend’. It was more than any other woman had earned from him.

~Girlfriend~. Shemika grinned wickedly once more, earning another raised eyebrow from Caturix, but he didn’t care enough to ask why she was smiling like a Cheshire cat.

Good, he wouldn’t suspect anything tonight.