Dear Ex-Mate, I Want You Back

Episode 5

Ariana

Panic filled my mind as I watched in the blink of an eye as Kian moved to clutch Lucas by the throat. My heart pounded in my ears as my eyes widened.

“KIAN, STOP IT.” I let out a panicked scream as I hastily walked towards them. Lucas's feet dangled in the air as Kian raised him higher, his hands clawing at Kian's arm in an attempt to pull it away from his neck.

“Kian, please don't hurt him. You don't want to do anything that would cause damage. You know that,” I cried, tears welling up in my eyes.

Lucas’s pale skin was beginning to redden.

“Let him go, please,” I said softly, looking into his eyes and letting him see reason as my eyes were teary.

One look at the tears on my face, and Kian dropped him, his jaw clenched as he glared at a gasping Lucas. He looked like he wanted to say something, but I slowly shook my head, a plea in my eyes begging him to drop it, at least for now.

Not when a human was in the room. Not when said human was my boyfriend. He couldn't know I was a werewolf. Ever.

With a look that said, "We will talk about this later," Alpha Kian stomped out the door, leaving a heaving Lucas, who still hadn't regained his breath, sprawled on the floor, color slowly seeping back into his face.

“Who the f**k was that?” he asked after he regained his composure. He was now on his feet, loosening the blue tie around his neck.

I looked away. “He's just someone I know. You don't have to worry about him.” He couldn't see the lie in my eyes as I went back to my desk.

“Why does this someone you know want to kill me, Ariana? I've never met him before.” He took slow steps forward. “You sure he's just someone you know and not a lover?” he accused.

“Are you accusing me of cheating?” I didn't raise my voice even as my blood boiled, trying as much as possible to make sure my eyes didn't change their color. Damn Kian for making me feel this agitated. “There's nothing like that between us, and there would be nothing like that in the future.” My eyes hardened. “I told you, he just happened to be someone I know.”

“I'm sorry if it seems I'm accusing you, babe, but what other reason would it be that a man like that would just attack me for no reason at all?” He pinched his nose. “Hell, I'm sure he doesn't even know my name. So, tell me, why?”

My eyes softened at the edges. “He's a lunatic, that's why. He probably has something wrong with his brain. I'm sorry, okay? I promise that it won't happen again.” I sat on my chair. “So, please, just drop it, okay?”

He let out a sigh at my round eyes and what I thought was a cute face. “Alright. But come here, let me get a hug. I thought I was going to die or something; I could really use one of your bone-crushing hugs.” He opened his arms wide.

A small smile appeared on my face, and I stood up, moving to him and walking into his open arms, burying my face in his chest and sniffing his smell that brought comfort in me, a strong contrast to what Kian's own scent did to me.

****

“You must be Ariana.” A familiar voice spoke from behind me, and I paused while opening the door to my car.

I was in the parking lot, drained from the day's activities and literally daydreaming about soaking myself in my bathtub.

The woman I turned to see had thick, curly red hair that was so long it was almost to her waist. Her dark eyes held disdain as she let her gaze give my body a once-over. Even with a scowl slowly etched on her face, you couldn't deny that she was a beautiful woman.

“Who's asking?” I tilted my head to the side. How did she know me?

“I'm Seraphina, Alpha Kian's lover.”

Something in my stomach churned at that sentence, but I ignored it. It was odd that she was his lover because I couldn't smell shifter blood in her. She wasn't human either. What was she?

I raised my chin. “How did you know I was here?” I decided to focus on that instead.

She huffed. “I can find anybody. You're not special.”

I "c****d a brow. “Okayyy.”

“I'm here to tell you to stay away from him. He's mine. I don't care about whatever thing you think you have between the two of you; stay the f**k away from him,” she sneered.

I gritted my teeth. “Maybe you should tell your lover to take your advice and instead stay away from me. I have nothing to do with him.”

My response seemed to provoke her because she hissed, taking a step forward. “I'm telling you this because I care about him. You and Alpha Kian together are only going to cause yourselves more pain. And you don't want that, do you?” The scowl on her face seemed to deepen.

“Get the hell away from my face,” I seethed. “Let me make it clear one last time: I don't want anything to do with Alpha Kian. He hurt me once; I won't give him another chance to try to hurt me again.”

It was her turn to tilt her head, and for a second, I thought I saw satisfaction flash in her eyes before she moved backward. “Good. That's good. Keep doing what you're doing and everything else would fall into place.”

II couldn't help the confused look that came on my face. “What?”

She turned her back to me, not bothering to answer, cackling as she walked, a jump in her steps.

“Surely the woman is mad,” I muttered under my breath.

And before I could blink, right in front of me, the woman vanished into thin air.