False Confidence

One Bed

Azriel Huang

"We have two rooms left." The receptionist reported, not looking up from her computer. Her red lipstick complimented the red of her nails, which clacked against the keyboard she was typing away on.

"That should be fine, we'll take both." Ajax replied, his hands bracing against the edge of the front desk. It was a polished dark wood, complimenting the trim of the room. The motel was definitely not luxury but it was certainly charming to a degree. With detailed wallpaper and beautiful paintings that decked the walls. The air smelled like sandalwood and flowers.

"I must warn you that each room only has one bed, will that be an issue?" The woman inquired, pausing her work on the computer. I froze, glancing towards Ajax and Wren who traded looks.

"We don't really have a choice." Wren mumbled to himself before confirming with the receptionist. I sighed heavily, though this wouldn't effect me much. I'd probably get my own room and the pair of cousins could share.

"Thanks." Wren said simply before taking the couple of cards the woman handed him. He passed one to Ajax and slipped the remaining one into his pocket. The motel wasn't that big, so it didn't take very long for us to step out of the lobby and find the rooms. The hot Californian air was cooled by the night, a chilly gust of wind greeting us as we exited the warm lobby. The rooms were side by side when we had found them, painted by moonlight and the yellow cast of the lights plastered into the walls between each room door.

"Az, your with me." Wren announced, grabbing the card from his pants. My face went hot with irritation, fully expecting to not have to share a room with anyone, let alone with that son of a bitch.

"Like hell I'd willingly spend more than 5 minutes in a room with you..Why can't you two share?" I hissed vehemently, gesturing towards Wren and Ajax. Ajax shrugged but Wren only sighed through his nose as if I were a needy toddler who couldn't stop asking a billion "stupid" questions.

"One of us needs to watch you. From my experience, you'll fuck anyone over and I won't be letting that happen when I'm watching you." Wren elaborated coldly, his brows dipping.

"Yeah, I'll be sure to run away with my car, phone and shit ton of money." I scoffed harshly, pointing out my lack of said items. I had lost my phone while escaping the collapsing temple and just about everything else. Wren scowled, looking immensely fed up with my mouth.

"Us being the ones to deliver you is vital, who knows what someone like you would do to get home on your own." Wren laughed humorlessly, stepping towards me while Ajax just helplessly observed, looking like he wanted to intervene. "I know it's so hard for you— having to endure my presence for the sake of our packs, but try to cooperate." Wren growled into my ear, quietly enough for only me to hear. I winced at his words, the statement sounding eerily similar to what I had said to Quinn months ago. Even though a wave of regret washed over me, I fought the scarily strong urge to claw his face off. I chose to ignore how the grate of his smooth but purring voice elicited an unknown satisfaction in me. It left me wanting more.

Wren pulled away, his storm eyes flecking from my own down to my lips. I just hoped he couldn't pick up the scent of my emotions or the slight quiver of my lips. Pride in my reaction wafted from him in overbearing waves, my ego bruising with the superiority that swam in his eyes. Nope, definitely wanted to claw his face off.

Wren smirked evilly, turning around to open the door behind him.

"What about I room with Ajax?" I proposed, smiling ear to ear as I eyed the fair-haired male. Ajax blanched, slowly shaking his head as his gaze darted between the now-tense Wren and myself. Wren's broad back seemed to twitch as he turned his head towards me, his body still facing the door. I could only see the slight outline of his sharp jawline, cheekbones, and a whisper of his thick eyelashes.