Page 27 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

As if emerging from the dark recesses of my being, ghastly claws of envy rear their ugly presence and wrap their clutchesover my heart. Anger, disappointment, jealousy… all the shadow facets that are too shameful to feel come crashing into me like poison creeping up my throat.

I'm fuming even after Dante turns to his friend. When Dakota touches my arm, she gasps.

“Jeez, Cass…” she whispers, touching different spots on my arm. “... You're burning up.”

That heat flashes past my eyes in red, hot flickers of the poisonous envy of the way Emily, the stunning redhead, skims manicured fingers over Cyrus's arm. The act is diabolical, filling my being with rising heat.

Groaning, I turn to my friend, who appears stunned when she catches the look in my eye.

“I think we should go,” I grate under my breath. “I don't wan—”

“Hi, Cassie…” Emily's nauseatingly sweet voice is like a toothache in my ear, forcing me to turn around slowly as I swish her presence in my mouth, wanting to spit it out.

“Hi, Emily,” I greet back with a sickening sweetness that's so forced that I almost choke.

“It's lovely to have you back in Mysthaven. It's so sad what happened to your mom.” She clicks her tongue, but the sympathy doesn't reach her eyes.

I know it's as forced as my smile.

The rest of our conversation is only for the sake of formalities, and I only reply because I don't want to cause an unwanted scene. I have to control myself, keeping my breathing steady while I'm fuming internally. Grinding my teeth, I plaster a polite smile on my face and pretend as if watching her flirt with Cyrus isn't gnawing at my consciousness.

“... It's a pity you were gone for so long, Cass,” Emily leers as she flicks her hair across her shoulder and glances at Cyrus. “One would argue that you're not really a member of this pack anymore.”

“The only one arguing that is you, Emily,” Dakota chimes from beside me.

I stifle the urge to laugh, noticing the way Emily rolls her eyes and shoulders as if Dakota just struck a nerve.

I'm suddenly feeling gutsy, wanting to put the she-wolf in her place for no reason other than the jealousy I refuse to accept.

“No, D. I think Emily has a valid point,” I begin with a mock agreement, compelling me to touch the redhead's arm. “I was gone for a long time. That's why I'm making up for it by joining in on border patrols.”

“What?” Emily frowns. “Border patrols are only reserved for the males in the pack.”

As if on cue, Cyrus and Jarrod appear behind her. As the Alpha comes along, brooding green eyes darkened by anti-humor, I'm spurred on to stick with what I've just decided.

I know Cyrus is not going to like this.

I grin eagerly. “It's the only way I can truly prove myself as a Moon Shine, don't you think?” I wink at Emily.

Cyrus steps forward and crosses his arms, raising a suspicious brow. “What is?”

“Oh, I'm gonna join the border patrol.”

A moment of intense silence falls around us as Cyrus glares at me suspiciously.

“You will do no such thing,Cassandra.” There he goes again, enunciating my name as if his tongue is a silkworm spinning the smoothest silk.

I can't let him get to me. Iwon'tlet him get to me.

So, I turned my attention to his Beta, Jarrod, who'd been dismally attempting to flirt with Dakota all night. Clearing my throat, I wiggle my brows suggestively at the Beta.

“Your Beta said I could join, didn't you, Jarrod?”

Jarrod chokes on the sip of his drink, his brows furrowing. “I—I did…?”

I narrow my eyes and nod swiftly toward Dakota. He finally gets the message since I'd already pointed out that I know he's only being nice to me to get to my friend.

He laughed it off earlier, but he takes it seriously when he sees me nod bluntly.

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