Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 59 – The Rivalry

“Love has its own dark morality when rivalry enters in.“–Thomas Hardy

Kiya – One and a Half Weeks Later

What do you call it when two people were awkward with one another?

Because that encompassed almost 100% of my interactions with Neron.

After my heat, I understood what a steak feels like on a grill. It wasn’t a fun time.

02:18

Neron had been nothing but attentive during those torturous three days. I was impressed. He kept his promises and took care of me. Even my friends were shocked when I told them. None of them had faith in Neron, so this moment might change their view on him. Known by werewolf kind, Alphas, despite their strength, were notorious for their impulsivity and animalistic instincts. They were the kings of the pack and denying them wasn’t heard of. Faced with fighting his true nature, I admire Neron’s abnormal self–restraint..

He kept me safe and secure. Deep within me, foreign happiness stirred.

It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, however, I continued to keep my distance from him since then. Unfortunately, because of the heat, I needed him at my side. I was desperate and on the brink of insanity. He was the sole person who could quell the heat that was killing me from the inside out. Without him, who knows what would have happened?

The moments we shared the past three days were intimate. We were close, almost inseparable. The Alpha kept me near him and held me when the pain became unbearable. For a human, we could have been mistaken as an affectionate couple. A couple that couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

After the madness ended, I pushed him away. I had to clarify immediately that those days meant nothing.

Neron accepted my words more gracefully than I expected as he left me in the solitude of my room. That conclusion hurt me more than I thought it would. A sliver of doubt swam through my heart, tugging at the heartstrings. I don’t love Neron, but I couldn’t say I hate him either. He proved through his actions that he could keep his word, so he became tolerable. Still not fond of his presence around me, but at least I don’t have the instinct to vomit yesterday’s lunch upon sight of him. Do I trust him?

Of course, not.

The pup trainees were on their hour–long break from training, spending time with their families, or socializing. I was grateful for Jackie and Galen stepping up in their sessions in my absence. I could always count on my friends to have my back, especially since I’ve been getting a whole slew of problems lately.

I have 99 problems, and Odessa was most of them..

She took back her rejection and it made Darien happy. Whenever I’d speak to him, there was this light in his eyes unmatched by any star in the twilight. He was sincerely happy that Odessa accepted him and was already dreaming of a future with them together: moving into their future home, having a litter of puppies, the whole nine yards. My friends and I would spot him kissing Odessa’s cheek lovingly, holding her body during pack bonfires, and more. Darien was bending over backward to make her happy. My best friend was enamored with his mate.

Chapter 59- The Rivalry

But this was where the confusion settles in.

+10

Bonus

02:14

the mate bond is strengthening, then why was Odessa incessantly pining after Neron? Since my heat ended, she amped up her game. Some I had the unfortunate

Two Hours Earlier

reports to Kwame. The manilla folders in

me, Neron. You’ve always wanted

and I are through. There’s nothing between

what it wants. Only I could

“Odess…”

take care of you, baby.”

I knew, but I had to. I wasn’t prepared for the soft porn scene in front me. Odessa sat in Neron’s lap with her fingers tangled in his black tresses, breasts sprung free from their fabric cages, and a skirt so short I could see her bare ass. It was obvious Neron liked the attention, based on his

my heart upon sight. The brunette woman looked at me with a smirk of a champion, winning the prize she hungered for. I slammed the files down in

finished.”

rang deaf in my ears. Because I was focused on the pain twisting my heartstrings. I shouldn’t feel anything, but I do. Why? I ran out of the house

the loyal, loving mate sickened me. She was playing with my best friend’s heart while pursuing another man! But why didn’t Neron stop her? Does he still love her like he originally claimed? There was no reason for me to feel hurt about this, but I

deserve

answers. It was infuriating. With a growl, I threw my towel in the hamper and walked out of my room, wanting to clear my head. Yet, Odessa was

59 – The

+10

Bonu

do you want?” I asked. “I’m not in the mood

02:11

is stay the hell away from my men.” Her men? The amount of disrespect this woman had for me was astounding. And she

laugh.

Stay out of my way and you

couple of inches, but I refused to stand down. “Now, about “your‘ men, don’t think what you’re doing escapes my eyes. You’re a sick, twisted woman for leading

winced, her eyes dulling in sadness momentarily before melting into smugness. “Darien doesn’t have a problem with it. He loves me. You can’t get in between the love

a side piece while you

before you were born, Halima.” She stepped closer to me. “No matter what the Moon Goddess says, Neron belongs to me. Don’t forget that he broke your pathetic mate bond for me. Everything he ever did was and always will be for me. You are but a mere afterthought, sloppy seconds from a shriveling bond. You’ll never mount up to me and deep down, you know

me Halima before I break your face. My name is Kiya, you

me?” She gestures to her body for emphasis, wiggling her hips. “You have no power here. I do. I may be unmarked, but Neron had proclaimed me as Luna. And, from my knowledge, he hasn’t taken it back! So, if you know what’s good for you, you’d

away the horrific memories back into the trenches of my mind. “I don’t care what you do to me. I don’t care if you’re going after Neron. I care about Darien. He is a good man, and your intrinsic selfishness makes you blind to his purity. Break his

cartoons. There was underlying evil in that sound, which did its duty of sending chills down my spine. “As if I’m going to fear the word of a weak dog. Without that muscle, you’re still a scrawny mutt. Tell me, how

poking fun at my ordeal. She’ll never understand what happened to me in that hellscape prison. No one can and no one will.

deep, warning snarl. “Heed my warnings, Odessa. If you screw up, you only have yourself to blame.” With that, I walked away from her without an

1. me.

I could make Darien see the ugly truth behind Odessa’s sweet facade. But it was my word against

Chapter 59–The Rivalry