Resisting Him

Chapter Twenty Three

I tried to stiff my own giggles with the position I was trying not to squirm out of.  We could only find one towel when we got out, so after a little fighting, we decided a little compromise; sharing it.  Sounds brilliant?  Funny; it wasn’t.

                We stood in the crowd of people while Blake was thanking everyone for coming and inviting people in later for drinks.  We had dried off quite a bit, but Ryan was still in the towel with me.  He spooned me from behind, rested his chin on my shoulder while his father spoke.  I knew some people were looking and either adoring our affection or envying it.  I got shot daggers by some of the teenage girl population.  Bitch please; mine.

                Suddenly, Ryan let go of one of the towel ends he was holding while his ends were wrapped around my waist, and slipped away.  I watched his head as he kindly parted through people and stepped up to his father’s side; they were both so tall and resembled each other deeply.  Both strong symbols of power.

                Blake finished, and Ryan whispered something in his ear.

                “I’d like to make an announcement.”  Ryan said very proudly.  “I know there have been some rumors going around…and I’d like to clear them up.  I’ve chosen my mate—“

                “Oh, honey!”

                What the hell?  Some bleach-blonde bimbo ran up to him and tried to hug him, but he stood their awkwardly.  She’s the one who threatened me twice…I still haven’t learned her name.

                Seeing any one touch Ryan made my blood boil.  An unintentional growl came from my throat.  People looked at me stunned; I can’t growl!  I can’t!  How did that happen??

                Ryan smirked at me, and gave the girl a warning look.  She peeled off of him and tried to drop some shirt down and expose some breast when he looked back at me.  Slut.

                “Lauren, will you accept being my mate?”

                Awws whispered from the crowd, and was loud enough to mutter the slut’s “WHAT?!”  I nodded and he gestured me into a hug.  I grinned into his shirt.

                Some skinny nails dug into my skin and ripped me from his grip.  I turned, furious at the girl, and in a deadly tone, said “Don’t you even touch me with your gnarled claws again.”

                “Who do you think you are?!  Do you think you can take my man away from me?!  We’ve been planning our wedding since my birth!  You can’t just strut in here and take everything!  You don’t deserve it!  You mean nothing to this pack!  You’re a weak, pathetic, whore!”

                God, did I want to hit her.  I wanted to hit her so bad.  I would have if her words didn’t hurt me more.  She said this in front of the entire pack!  Who else agreed?  Who else would step up and protest?

                “CARMEN.”  Ryan shouted.  He was shaking with anger.  But I didn’t bother to calm him.  I walked out of the room; shamed.  Ryan was sad to see me leave, but started to tell Carmen—who I guess was the slut—how inappropriate that was and bla bla.

                I walked out into the cold, empty pool deck.  I dropped the towel and walked into the deep end of the pool.  The water was cold, but it made me feel numb.  Ryan gave me a quick swim lesson before and it came so naturally.  I swam over to the metal latter and held onto the bottom.  I watched the bubbles come out of my mouth and float to the top.  The light made the pool bottom look mysterious.  If I was crying, I couldn’t tell.