Chapter 26
ALEXANDER
By the time I left the gym, the sun was already high in the sky, pouring in through the glass panels of the corridor.
My muscles ached pleasantly from the morning’s training, sweat still clinging faintly to my skin despite the towel I’d used earlier. I needed to get upstairs, shower, change, and head to
the office.
When I reached my door, I noticed it wasn’t locked. That was odd…I distinctly remembered locking it before leaving earlier. My first thought was that one of the cleaners had come through while I was gone and simply forgotten to lock it afterward. It happened sometimes, and though it was careless, I didn’t feel alarmed.
I stepped inside, tossing my gym bag onto the couch, and headed straight for my closet. But then I froze.
There it was the sound of water running.
I tilted my head toward the bathroom, my brow furrowing. Someone was in there.
“Who’s in there?” I called out, my voice low but sharp.
No answer.
A small flare of irritation sparked in my chest. Perhaps the cleaners had accidentally left the tap on. Wasteful and sloppy. I’d have to call the head of staff in and make sure it never happened again.
“I swear, I’m going to call someone out for this carelessness,” I muttered as I walked toward the door, already preparing a lecture in my head.
I pushed the bathroom door open.
And there she was.
Bella.
Standing in my shower…naked.
Her head turned lazily at the sound of the door, her expression annoyingly calm, as though she’d been expecting me. My shock collided with a burst of anger so quickly it made my jaw tighten.
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“What,” I bit out, “is the meaning of this p> +25 Points She didn’t flinch at my tone. Instead, she casually reached for the shower handle and twisted it off, water dripping down her bare skin as though she was in some cheap, staged scene meant to get a reaction. “Hand me the towel,” she said, like it was the most natural thing in the world. I grabbed the towel from the rack, tossed it to her, harder than necessary, and turned on my heel. I needed to put space between us. My temper was already straining against its leash. In the bedroom, I planted myself in front of the dresser, back straight, arms crossed, waiting for her to step out. I didn’t have time for this, but I wasn’t letting it slide either. When she emerged, loosely wrapped in the towel, I didn’t bother softening my tone. “Explain. Now. Why are you in my room, in my shower, when I wasn’t here? You have your own room, Bella. If, for some reason, yours wasn’t available, you could have used Irene’s. But mine?” My voice was cold steel. “Absolutely not p> Her lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. “You’re overreacting,” she purred. “It’s not like I haven’t showered in your room before p> I narrowed my eyes. “That was years ago. Don’t act like it’s normal for me to walk in on you naked now. Get dressed and leave p> “It’s nothing you haven’t seen before, Alex,” she said, stepping toward me, her voice dripping with the kind of false confidence that used to work on men who didn’t know better. “Don’t pretend like you don’t miss all… this.” Her fingers ghosted over her collarbone as if to draw my attention downward. I didn’t even blink. The air between us chilled. “I said,” I told her, my voice low and sharp, “get dressed. And leave p> For a split second, something flickered in her eyes…hurt, or maybe disbelief, but it was quickly replaced by a smirk that didn’t quite reach her gaze. “This is because of that thing I met at breakfast, isn’t it?” she said, tilting her head, her voice mocking. “The one who called herself Faye.” She laughed. “Luna my foot,” she added. Something inside me snapped. In two strides I was in front of her, and the towel in her hand was suddenly of no importance 2/3 Chapter 76 +25 Points/ to me. My wolf surged forward with a flash of possessive rage, and I felt my hands curl into fists before I caught myself. Every instinct screamed to shut her up, to make her regret even speaking Faye’s name that way. 1 I stopped myself an inch from losing control. My breathing was sharp, my chest rising and falling…I could hear it ring in my ears. “Watch your mouth,” I warned, my voice dangerously low. “When it comes to Faye, you will speak with respect. She is my mate. By that alone, she is your Luna, and you will treat her accordingly p> Bella’s eyes widened, just slightly. “Mate? You mean to tell me you almost laid a hand on me because of someone you just met p> “That ‘someone,” I said, my tone like frost cutting into bone, “is my mate, and any disrespect towards her is an insult to me. Don’t test me, Bella p> Her lips pressed into a thin line. For once, she didn’t have a comeback ready. I stepped back, putting space between us again, and turned away. Her scent clung to the room, clashing with the scent of my own space. It was suffocating. “Get out,” I said, my voice final. She lingered a moment too long, as if still hoping I’d change my mind. But when I didn’t even glance at her, she finally moved, the soft pad of her footsteps retreating toward the door. When it clicked shut behind her, I exhaled slowly, unclenching my fists. My pulse was still running hot, but I wasn’t about to let her or anyone else drag me into a situation I couldn’t control. Adrian stirred inside of me, clearly not happy with how I let Bella off the hook easily. “How dare her p> I took a deep breath to calm him. Comments Get Bonus (Ad) > Vote 696