His Silent Temptation

Chapter 18 - Always Watching

S e l e n e

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I was an intruder. Everything was picture-perfect until I showed up. Traitor’s daughter. w***e. Malore’s taunts filled my mind. The damages he left on my body could never be erased. It’d follow me. Haunt me. For the rest of my life, I’d have to suffer the consequences of what he did to me.

My actions must’ve offended them. Chester pressed his lips together in a grim manner, Nicolas scrutinized me like an experiment, and Jasper was simply confused and contained.

The tension was thick. Killian grew rigid as a rock beside me. He grabbed my waist, whether in reassurance or rage. He pulled me to his side, closer to him, until almost half of my body was behind him. I had ruined the moment.

“I told you, clown,” Jasper suddenly said to Chester, breaking the ice. “Women are repulsed by you.”

Chester wryly glanced at his brother. “Yet, I still get more women than you. What does that say about your nature?”

Instead of responding, Jasper flashed Chester the middle finger. In return, Chester pounced, grabbing Jasper into a headlock, but the latter started swinging the book in his hand like a weapon.

“You have no reason to fear my brothers,” Killian muttered, glancing at me. I realized how stupid and foolish I must’ve looked, like a child hiding behind their big protector. I swallowed hard and stared at the floor.

Killian squeezed my hips and turned to face me, bringing me closer. My heart skipped against my rib cage. He completely blocked my view of the fighting siblings. Subconsciously, I rested my palm on his upper arm. A single glance at Killian was enough for people to collapse in fear. Not because of his elegant movements or his tight muscles that screamed power, but because of the self-assurance simmering from his presence. He was as dangerous as death could be.

Yet, instead of being completely unnerved by this man, I grabbed onto him to steady myself. I didn’t mean to flinch, honestly, but I couldn’t help it. Any foreign touch repulsed me.

“You’re family now,” Killian suddenly said to me, his black iris meeting mine.

At his words, I flushed. It was completely unexpected. I couldn’t imagine being family with Thornov men who founded the most terrifying pack the continent had seen.

I was told the Thornov brothers were as ruthless as their names implied, despite the looks that rivaled the very flowers that grew thorns. I swallowed hard, Killian’s grip on my hips beginning to tingle. I suddenly craved to step closer to the warmth that rolled off his body.

‘I’m sorry,’ I signed with my hand.

Killian frowned as he regarded me through thick lashes. “Don’t be.”

Had I disappointed him?

Killian squeezed my waist, causing me to jump in freight. I stared up at him, my breath caught in my throat. He was handsome beyond words. His emotions were often hard to read, but this one, I had seen before. Heat. My chest tightened at the tension, every inch of him radiating power and intimidation. He was the kind of man that’d rip through you and not even blink.

“I don’t want sushi!” Jasper hissed from the couch, causing me to stiffen again.

I looked to see the siblings had settled onto the plush cushions. Jasper and Chester bickered over what they should order for dinner. Nicolas couldn’t care less. He was heavily engrossed on the news that filled the living room with chatter.

Suddenly, Killian lowered his head to me, not caring that his brothers were just a short distance away. The playfulness in the air seemed to melt away the minute I met his intense eyes. His gaze burned through me, hot and feverish like the lick of a flame. I shakingly exhaled, forcing myself to nod at his words. Nervousness filled my stomach, but instantly went away when Killian rubbed his thumb on my waist. Was he trying to comfort me?

“What do you want for dinner?” Killian asked me, like it was the most obvious question.

I turned to see that everyone was watching me now, minus Nicolas. Chester regarded me with hesitation and Jasper slowly lowered the remote control he was about to fling at his brother.

‘Anything,’ I signed to Killian, wondering if anyone in the house even understood me.

“Mediterranean then,” Killian decided in my steed. “You could use the nutrients.”

Nicolas snorted at the word, finally tearing his eyes away from the screen to look at us. When my gaze met his frigid ones, I averted my attention. In the corner of my eyes, I saw him turn back to the TV with disinterest whereas Jasper was already going through a pile of menus on the table.

“I’m looking at it first,” Chester hissed. “I’m older!”

“By a minute,” Jasper muttered. “Why don’t you act your age, clown?”

“Why don’t you start showing some respect, brat?” Chester retorted, going through the menu.

Right on cue, Killian took me to the couch. I dug my heels into the floor, not wanting anything to do with the three men. Whether it was because he was a werewolf, or just because he was the most ruthless Alpha alive, Killian wasn’t fazed by my full weight dragging on the marble flooring. Instead, he plopped me down on the center of the couch, with him to my right and Jasper to my left.

“I’ll get the usual,” Jasper finally said, tired of bickering.

“Same for me,” Nicolas muttered without tearing his attention away from the screen.

I did the same, turning to look at what could be so interesting. The second I saw it, my throat tightened. It was my father. I felt the air leave my lungs, my head beginning to buzz, and my ears ringing. They were going to bring up his betrayal again. Oh god, they—

Killian turned the channel to a boxing match. I exhaled, just as his hand came down on my thigh. I jumped, turning to him in shock. His expression was darker than night. He was furious. But not at me. Instead of responding, he rubbed his thumb on my leg, almost like a bad habit.

Goosebumps spread at his action. Heat bloomed in the spot where my leg brushed against his. I didn’t realize it before, but there was a small tattoo on his middle finger. The lines were thin and precise, revealing roman numbers.

“I’ll handle it,” Nicolas said, rising to his feet just as Jasper phoned the restaurant.

“No,” Killian interrupted in an eerily collected voice. “I’ll deal with it.”

Nicolas pressed his lips together, glanced at me for a moment, and then sat back down.

Killian slid his hand up my thigh until it was just inches away from where I wanted him to touch. I was shocked by my own thoughts, hoping no one realized it. Just the idea of him touching me slammed through me, a sliver of restless energy filling my stomach. Then, I hurriedly looked away, wondering what was getting into me.

Killian’s grip tightened. “What do you want to eat, Selene?” he muttered, but each word came out in a low warning as if restraining his rage.

I picked up the discarded menu and randomly pointed at something that sounded appetizing. Killian nodded his head and turned to Jasper. I tried to drown out everything around me, but it was impossible.

I saw the flicker of arousal in Killian’s eyes that was at even grounds as his anger. Suddenly, I was pulled to his side, his mouth brushing upon my ears. My heart pounded in my chest and I turned to see the twins occupied by the food ordering and Nicolas speedily typing away on his phone.

“Whoever did this,” Killian coaxed. “I’ll make sure you get to bathe in their blood if you wish.”

I froze.

My god. Killian was insane.

I pulled away to see the madness in his sharp features. But there was none. Killian was as composed as a man can ever be. He was eerily still, watching me. At the sight of my paling skin, amusement filled his pupils. He brushed his lips to my ears, pecking my skin. Immediately, warmth soaked between my thighs, a strange pulse beginning to awaken from within. I needed more…

Killian pulled away with his arm around me and head tipped against the couch, staring up at the ceiling. I knew he was watching me through the corner of his eyes. He always was. And for the remainder of the night, his attention never left my side.