Rejecting Love

CHAPTER EIGHT:

Caiden POV

Walking toward the front door I pause and take a deep breath. Closing my eyes I inhale and exhale a few times to clear my head, unsuccessfully trying to shake the image of Lucinda walking away. A piercing pain stabs my heart each time she turns her back, declining the pack.

Reaching for the front door handle, my stomach twists in knots and the hair on the back on my neck stands up. My senses kick into high gear and my head swivels around searching for any sign of danger. Stepping into the pack house, an uneasiness wash over me and my hands begin to shake. I look around and see a handful of pack members sitting idle in the living room. Their eyes wide with dilated pupils.

"Caiden," a young voice says, cutting through the awkward tension that's hanging in the air. My eyes narrow as I hear loud noises erupt from upstairs. Sniffing the air, my heart plummets into my stomach. I smell the faint sweetness of mint and honey.

Looking down at my hands they start to shake uncontrollably. Before I close my eyes, I see Sam walk in and stand behind me. Clinching my fists I take a deep breath, wrestling with control of my inner wolf.

"Dylan's gone mad!" The young voice whispers to Sam, "He stormed in with a crazed look in his eyes. He's been smashing things in his room ever since!"

In a heartbeat I fly up the stairs and find myself in front of Dylan's room. Pounding once with my fist projected enough power to send the door flying off the hinges. A low growl escapes me as the scene unfolds.

Sabrina's lying on Dylan's bed, half naked. Dylan jumps to the middle of the room as I growl again.

"Sabrina. Leave." I command. I don't take my eyes off Dylan, though from the corner of my eye I see her look to him without moving.

"Now!" My voice vibrates across the room, lace with my Alpha dominance. I see her flinch and she instantly grabs her clothes and exits the room, closing the door behind her.

Dylan and I stand a few feet apart. His body is rigid as a wash board and his fists are clenched into tight balls, mimicking my own. The scowl on his face only fuels my anger.

"You're pathetic," I spit through clenched teeth.

"How so?" He asks with a raised brow.

"You walk out on Lucinda," he flinches at the sound of her name, "and you run to Sabrina!" I spit. "She won't fulfill the needs your wolf wants..."

"You don't know what you're talking about." Dylan interrupts, his shoulders rolling back to expose his chest as he speaks.

"Oh, I know exactly what's going on between you and Lucinda." As her name rolls off my tongue, an ache pounds in my chest.

I feel a warm liquid run down my palms. Damn. I didn't realize my nails were that long. Stealing a glance at them I realize they're not. I hear a low growl erupt from across the room, and I frantically try to retract my claws.

"It's an old childhood crush, nothing more." Dylan mutters as his eyes narrow.

"I've seen the way you look at her...the way you watch her as she crosses the room." A throbbing pain erupts from my jaw as I stumble to the floor. Dylan caught me off guard, an act not many people are capable of. Slowly standing I square my shoulders, turning to face him.

"She's your mate." I spit a mouthful of blood on the floor. This time I'm ready when his fist comes swinging. My arm meets his in the air, successfully blocking the punch. I raise my own and land a solid hit to his gut, he stumbles backward before finding his footing.