False Confidence

Drunken Mishaps

Wren Brooke

Even without the mating bond, I was fully and utterly convinced that this rage would have still existed to this degree of intensity regardless. It was that type that made everything burn, from my face all the way down to my gut. That made veins protrude and fingers twitch within its wrathful consumption. I could kill, I knew that much. What made it all the worse was that not only was there this ferocity but also a sadness that tinged the red hot anger, purple.

I had endured many things but it was a different level of emotional torture to watch your mate smile like that at another. So bright and full of joy, unrestrained—all at the attention of a male who was not me. I could not nor did I have the right to even intervene. All I could do was stand in the shade of the hallway, watching the scene unfold in slow motion, restraining myself from tearing into the human and reveling in the blood that would follow. The effort left scarlet crescents in my palm.

A firm pat on my shoulder was the only thing that had tugged me back in from the losing battle, Sasha shaking his head while retracting his reach. The touch and gesture was enough to convey his sympathies, leaving me somewhat under control as he abandoned me for the bar. I hadn't needed to tell Sasha a thing, the male seemed to know about the mating bond without any verbal indication. He had not told Azriel, and his loyalty to my mate would compel him to tell him if asked but why would Az ever guess such a thing? Not when I had omitted the information.

"You're definitely new...and hot.." A high, honeyed voice mused. The scent of a human female had found its way into my nose, doused in the chemical sweetness of perfume that was sprayed one too many times. I wrinkled my nose, stepping away from the aroma without a glance at the woman.

"No thank you."

My feet seemed to move on their own making strides towards Az. I had not a clue what I would do once I got there, and he would only be upset with me for interrupting but my legs seemingly would not cease, spurred by the pursuit of the woman. They had only stopped once the human male had made an expression of disbelief and winked with a casual clap on Az's shoulder. My stomach lurched violently at the contact, my teeth grinding yet there was also a sense of relief that had ensued. Azriel nor the guy had once taken out their phones for an exchange of numbers, Az hadn't made a single move to follow after him.

He had rejected him, I could guess from both Az and Griffin's expressions and body language as they spoke curtly afterwards.

I attempted to stamp down the hope that ignited in my chest, fighting a smirk of satisfaction. It was very likely that the reason Az had denied the guy had nothing to do with me but I couldn't help but create a scenario where I was the sole motivation for Az's actions. I had constantly worried over the fact that Azriel was not mine, and he was not obligated to be. He had every reason to reject me, especially when I had purposefully hid the existence of our bond from him when he had the right to know. Yet I could only hope, in all anxious and foolish abandon, that he would accept me. Us.

I was more than a fool.

~~~

"Shit Az, your tolerance has become god awful." I observed evenly, ignoring the warmth that crawled up my neck at the fact that he was currently slinging an arm around the nape of my neck, breath hot on my ear. I could hear every beat of his heart and soft exhale. In return, I attempted to think of everything disgusting I could conjure up in order to avoid a particularly awkward circumstance.

"Shuddup, you didn een drink." Azriel huffed loudly with no acknowledgment of the late hour or the silence in the Pack House.

"Shhh, we need to be quiet until we get to the room." I hushed gently, hoping that my meek approach would subdue his rowdy mood. I would imagine that Sasha would be particularly skilled at the task but he had left all responsibility of getting Az home to me after successfully charming one of the band girl's after her set. She appeared eager after barely two minutes of conversing, ready to leave the bar immediately.