Tasting
Chapter 392

392–A Miserable Alpha King

Cain:

Months Ago: When she arrived in my studio out of nowhere, I was shocked. I had to cover myself up before I could stop myself from yanking her against the chair and kiss her all over her body. My eyes couldn’t stop fixating on her, filled with so many unspoken urges.

‘Why hasn’t she left already?‘ This pretending to be unaffected was getting me nowhere. My body was stiff, trying to hold back the inevitable. I was fighting the transition, but it could happen at any moment. And things took a worse turn when she suddenly started talking about her body, offering it to me.

Her body was my temple.

I would never disrespect it. Even when I was furious with her for lying to me and cheating, I couldn’t bring myself to disrespect her like that. She was asking me to use her, and I felt so disgusted with myself. I didn’t like this reputation of mine.

Using her? What did she think I was?

‘Someone cursed with lust,‘ my wolf replied sadly.

Is that really how she saw me? Why else would she lower her self–esteem and offer herself to me like that? I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts.

‘She’s offering because she wants to stay here with me,‘ I thought, heartbroken that she felt the need to cheat on me. Why? Even when she’d hurt me in the past, it didn’t sting as much as watching her leave now. I hoped that by the time I came out of my studio, she would have already gone.

“I’m sick and tired of replaceing you in every corner of my home, watching me. I don’t want your attention. Do you have any idea what any other girl would’ve done if I’d left her like this after sleeping with her and dating her friend? She would’ve been furious and chosen her self–respect! But you… you surprise me. You don’t even love yourself. Grow a spine, Nora!”

I said all the right things to push her away. If she didn’t leave my goddamn studio right now, I was going to lose control.

I closed my eyes as soon as she was out of sight.

“Ughh!” Blood dripped from my nostrils, and that’s when I realized we didn’t have much time left.

I remember when she first arrived, we would still transition and roam around the mansion. Our dad would tell her not to come downstairs because we were angry and making a mess. But in reality, we were just practicing living in this mansion for the rest of the year.

However, we had to stop because her scent lingered everywhere in the house. After transitioning, even when it wasn’t the torture months, we’d go straight to her room. Even if my brothers her mates, I could tell sent they have found a weird fascination with her. And then my mind went to Ryker and I closed my eyes shut. The betrayal from Nora and Ryker still ached my soul and heart.

That’s when we decided to stop our routine. I mean, we didn’t have to continue. I’m not sure about the others, but I was finally feeling happy. I smiled a lot more and had a reason to leave my studio. Every time I spotted her, I felt a surge of excitement.

Even before I felt the mate bond with her, I always found her intriguing- more than anything else in the world. That’s why, even when I knew I might get caught, I kept her painting with me. I burned Natalya’s painting just to throw others off, but I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of Nora’s. How could I? She was the best thing I had ever painted.

And then my eyes landed on the woman from my dreams. I don’t know who she was, but the unsettling part was that she made me feel the same excitement I felt for Nora, and that troubled me. I didn’t want to think about anyone else, so I needed this woman out of my mind.

As for Natalya, just thinking about her made a grimace form on my face, and I almost gagged.

Why would someone willingly stick around, knowing they weren’t welcome?

‘Just wait until this is over. I’ll teach her some manners she’ll never forget. That’s what she’ll get for messing with Nora and thinking she could beat her,’ I thought to myself. I knew this time was hard on Nora, and it was hard on me too.

I never believed in Natalya’s innocence, not even for a second. I knew Nora was innocent, but I had to let Natalya play her games.

If only Nora had listened to us and avoided Natalya altogether. I dreaded these days. If I had exposed Natalya and then had to go into hiding during the torture months, Natalya and the others would take out their anger on Nora, leaving her alone and helpless. I was doing everything I could to make Nora survive the next few months before I returned.