Wolves of the West

Chapter Nine

"You know," he had started off again after a long pause, following the rather ominous statement. Diana wanted to bang her head on the table but that wouldn't be very mature of her (how can one guy talk so much?), so she just glared. Because glaring was obviously a lot more mature. "I don't get it."

"What?" Yes. A one-word reply. Some may call her standoffish, but the fact that she was still talking to this person and not walking away right now is a bigger deal than one might think.

"Female wolves fighting," was his reply. So he could actually be direct. The monologues were just what he liked to do. Got it. "It doesn't make sense." She bristled at the implication, but he continued to hold her gaze like he said nothing wrong.

She would have been impressed if her temper wasn't rising with every word that came out of his mouth. Not many could stand her glare. Not even Hunter, who had a couple of tricks up his sleeves. He would either call Remus in to distract her, or excuse himself, or bow his head slightly and defer to her.

But back on the topic, he didn't even make sense. Before he went around playing Command and Conquer with packs, hers was the strongest one there was. Because they had twice the number of warriors, thus twice the protection. Sex didn't matter when everyone went through the same training and had the same mentality.

It also annoyed her that he had the nerve to comment about her pack, like he hadn't just attempted a kidnapping of a pack member just weeks prior.

Her increasing temper was probably noticeable, as she noticed his eyes steadily darkening to the pitch-black of his wolf the more she glared at him.

Like some black eyes were going to stop her. She was literally born with them. And yet, she couldn't help but continue the argument, leaning closer to challenge him, hands now resting on the table. She was prepared for him to lunge at her, was more than ready to grab his throat if he did anything funny but looking at the curve of his lips at her action, attacking her was the furthest thing from his mind. She wanted to do nothing more than wipe that grin off his face with her hands. But she couldn't, not in public, so she did the next best thing. She used her words.

"Why? Because they're supposed to be in the pack house, huddled around children and praying for the safety of the males?" Her disbelief was palpable, as was her exasperation. Give her a day or two, her wounds were almost healed. Maybe then she'll wipe the floor with him and laugh at his defeat. Her answer seemed to amuse him further, for his eyes glittered with mirth.

"Exactly," He told her, and that was when she realized that Alpha Dylan didn't get sarcasm. But he wasn't even done. He continued. "Female wolves are weaker than male wolves. It's how it has always been. Always how it will be."

"Oh. And that's why the female white wolf evaded your four 'strong' male warriors?" Was her retort.

"She had help."

"Yeah." She nodded at that. "Another female. Me." She was cocky this time, and she knew it showed on her face. Hey, not many wolves could take on four other warriors and win. And then head into battle a week later and manage to take down even more wolves.

"Well," And this time it was he who leaned forward, "I beat you." She immediately backed up. Proximity was unwise. She may do something stupid like ask him out or bite him. The only thing restraining her was who he was.

He challenged her in a way few did. And speaking about things that only few did...

"Tell me," That should be easy for him, since he liked the sound of his own voice. "What was that about anyway?" He immediately knew what she was referring to. She could see it on his face. It was strange, she didn't expect Alpha Dylan to be the expressive type. He was frowning, eyebrow raised as one of his hand reached forward the grab hers, but she pulled away.

She didn't... hold hands with weird alphas with pretty eyes.

"You can't tell me you don't know. You can't tell me you don't feel this heat between us? The yearning of your wolf-" The next part was said with a drawl. "Luna". It took her a while to process his words. And when she did, she reeled back.

It made sense. She knew it did. She should have known. Should have spent more time thinking about it. Why would a notorious Alpha spare her pack when he didn't the others? Why would he lick her cheek in battle? And why would she be so... attracted to him?

Alpha Dylan just stared at her patiently, the soft smile on his face still present on his face, no traces of the feared wolf to be found. It was kind of sweet, his willingness to give her room to process. Wait, no. She snapped out of it then.

"You know, as pretty as you are, you're starting to annoy me," She started off, standing up and grabbing her back. "I would say that it was nice meeting you, but it would be a lie." And she walked off quickly.

"I've extended mercy to your pack. For you." His voice was barely above the normal volume, but she stopped at his tone. Anger. "I've let go of the glory of having a white wolf. For you." She could feel the glare at her back. "Do not make me retract it, Luna."

She could deal with this. This, she was used to. Anger, frustration, annoyance, she could handle that. But the soft looks that he gave her, the calm that he had portrayed while talking, that was unfamiliar. She could deal with the hot temperament of wolves: rogues, arguments, hell she even had to deal with her own anger most of the time. So she turned back, matching his glare with her own. "Don't call me Luna."

And with that, Diana walked away.

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So it's been a long time since the last update. Oops. 

See you in the next chapter!