CHAPTER 5
978 Words
CAEL'S POV
I should’ve left the second his eyes closed.
But I didn’t.
I stayed, like a fool with a death wish. Like a moth inching closer to a bonfire, not because I liked the warmth, but because I needed to feel something burn.
When I opened my eyes the next morning, the scent of sweat, musk and him filled my nostrils. For a split second, I felt a surge of relief when his hand wrapped around me but the instant I remembered the mark on his back, my heart jumped in my chest. I clenched my fists slowly as I teased a low breath.
“Stupid girl.”
I berated myself in a low tone. He was sleeping peacefully with strips of sunlight from the window planes flashing over his face. His hair spilled over his back, nearly blocking the spider tattoo inked onto his back but I could see it.
It was visible. Painfully visible.
I balled my hands into fists as I drew in a heavy breath— one that reeled of him. Of the passion and lastly, of the events that shouldn't have happened last night. A private dance was supposed to be all I came to do but instead, I'd let myself get dragged into his inferno of desires. I slid out of his hold slowly.
Rolling off the bed made me fall face flat on the marbled floors. I immediately sprung up to my feet as I trailed around the room and grabbed all of my things. He couldn't find me here. No. My scent masking skills weren't meant to last too long.
If he stirred awake any second from now, he'd catch my scent and besides having someone as dangerous as him catch my smell and know we're mates would be the end of me.
The joke he made about me being his mate was a strategic tease but now that I've felt the bond, I had to leave. If he catches a whiff of my scent now that it was unmasked, he would feel the bond.
I paced around the room groggily with my vision still hazy from last night. My head panged with a headache but I ignored it. I had to find my shoes. Scrunching my brows, I searched for it with a swift gaze. I caught the sight of one and stalked towards it. I made sure my steps were as light as feathers and that they wouldn't catch his attention.
Once I got close enough, I bent over and picked it up. Gripping it tightly, I searched the room for the other pair with my eyes. When I finally found it, my breath hitched in my throat. It was at his side of the bed. Walking so close to him could make him stir awake. I couldn't allow that.
With a thumping heart, I turned towards the door. I didn't spare him a second chance before running out of the room. The long hallways outside greeted me as I sprinted into it. Some escorts who were also coming out of their clients’ rooms paused to stare at me. I didn’t blame them. If they found out they were the mate of the mysterious rogue Alpha King, they'd also run like me, maybe even faster.
When I got back to the central wing of the club, I met Gavin's gaze. His eyes sparkled with animosity as he flashed me a look that yelled, ‘stay right there!”
I shrugged and raced towards the exit, pushing through the herds of drunk wolves shuffling out. I squeezed my way out and once I felt the sting of the morning sun in my eyes, I sprinted into the streets like a loose madman. No one aside from my roommate knew I was a stripper. It was my biggest secret.
The level of bullying and backlash I was already facing would double, triple or even quadruple. The thought of that was scary. My wolf stirred uneasily in my skin. I made sure my mask was still on, he didn't get a sight of what I really looked like.
That was another plus.
I was sure Mr Bucker would help me receive the sum he offered. I didn't have to worry about that. The only thing I could worry about was how to make sure I escaped him. Totally.
Luckily for me, the street leading towards my apartment was clear. Not even a single soul was in sight. I raced towards my apartment and when I got to the door, I knocked on it until the door snapped open to the sight of Nina in anime pajamas.
Her eyes gleamed with worry. “Where have you been, Cael?”
“It's a long story. I'm glad I was able to get out safe and sound.”
I strolled towards the bathroom to take my bath but before I could step in, Nina’s voice sliced through the silence. “Speaking of which, a letter came in for you this morning regarding your student loan application.”
I swerved back almost immediately. “What did they say?” My voice croaked out impatiently. I had worked myself up with the application all week and I couldn't wait to find out what the result would be.
My heart ticked in my chest as I dug my nails into my palms. Biting hard into my lower lip, I held my breath. Nina's pizza greased finders tugged the white envelope open. If not for the fact that I was too anxious to open it, I would've done it myself.
She brought out the slip and as her eyes scanned the letters on it, I felt fear build up in my chest. I expected his brows to do a happy jump but instead, they slumped downwards.
“Unfortunately, Cae. It was rejected.”
My jaw dropped. Rejected?
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