A Wolf's Tear

eight - a lighter shade

It was the morning after she read her brother’s letter that Selena awoke to a loud and persistent banging on her door. Her first instinct was to groan and crumple her brother’s shirt while she glared at the creme white ceiling, silently cursing whoever that wolf was behind the door.

When the knocking didn’t stop, she heaved herself and took charge after she gently laid her mother’s ring on the bedside table. She threw her gaze to the window, dawning her reflection with knitted brows. For the first time in her life, Selena concluded that she truly looked a lot like shit. After she cried herself to sleep, her anger subsided and left only sadness.

Sad that she wasn’t leaving pack Morris anytime soon.

Sad that Nathaniel was going to continue treating her like she wasn’t anything.

And sad that she might never see Talon ever again.

Sighing, she turns on her heels and opens the door. Much to her dismay, Jacob stood behind the door with a smirk plastered across his face.

Her expression turned dark.

“Good morning, Lena.” Jacob pushed through the door. “I’m going to let myself in if you don’t mind.”

“I do mind.” She grimaced.

After what his brother had done to her, Selena was not too keen on trusting the younger and much more energetic version of her mate.

Though her eyes were still sore from crying, it didn’t stop her from ogling at how he was primly dressed. He wore a white button-up shirt, midnight-blue trousers held up by suspenders and a pair of black leather shoes.

He simply looked too proper.

“What are you doing here?” She snapped.

“Nice to see you too,” he chuckles. “Uh…it’s a Saturday.”

“Did you just realize that now or?” Selena widened her gaze as her temper started to slip.

“Okay, okay, Saturdays is when Nathaniel goes around town to collect taxes, pay wages, recruit wolves, settle disputes, and other dealings related to the pack. He asked me to come with him but he’s so boring and strict. I don’t want to come alone. I was thinking you would come and suffer with me.”

Selena almost rolled her eyes at the mention of Nathaniel’s name. There was no way she was going near him and let him see what she had done to her. He had already taken her freedom and heart, she wasn’t too thrilled to lose her dignity and pride either.

“I would like to come but I really need to get back to sleeping.” She pushed him out and slammed the door to his face.

Jacob was fast enough to wedge the tip of his shoe between the door and its frame, making Selena grimace with discontent.

“Lena, I don’t think you should be alone.” He bore a serious look, lips pressed together in a thin line.

Her brows rise in concern. “Why, what’s wrong?”

“Well, you were just rejected, and…”

Before he could say anything, her heart crumpled. Selena saw the sadness in his eyes, the same sadness that Nathaniel wore last night. Filled with regret and ruefulness. She saw him in a lighter shade of gray light. Perhaps Nathaniel was concerned?

‘No!’ That was simply impossible. Nathaniel couldn’t be concerned with a rat’s ass.

She shook her head and cleared her thoughts of that man and returned her attention to Jacob who was still looking at her.