I was trying my hardest not to lose my shit.
"Anita, your claws aren't accessories," I gritted out, adjusting her stance with a flick to her wrist. "Use them like you mean it."
She blinked up at me, confused—again. "Like… this?"
I barely stopped myself from sighing. For the sixth time today, I nodded, even though her form was a mess. "Sure. Let's go with that."
I was already pissed off.
Trying to teach Anita was like trying to explain quantum physics to a goldfish. She kept swaying her hips more than throwing a punch, batting her lashes like it was some sort of mating ritual.
"Stop posing and punch," I snapped, blocking her weak jab effortlessly.
"But you said to use my hips!" she whined.
"For balance, not seduction." I sighed, stepping back. "You know what, just—watch the others for a second."
I turned away, annoyed, wiping sweat from my brow, and that's when I saw them.
Across the field, near the edge of the training grounds I spotted Levi and… Olivia.
Something in me instantly sharpened. My eyes locked on them, and the rest of the world faded.
Olivia stood in nothing but her red lace lingerie.
My heart slammed into my chest.
I watched her pull down her pants slowly, confidently, her golden hair catching the sunlight, her bare back straight and proud. My throat went dry.
She was stripping in front of him.
And Levi? The bastard couldn't tear his eyes off her. His expression was raw—hungry. His wolf was barely contained.
I felt mine rise, growling inside, jealous rage licking through my veins. I knew I shouldn't be jealous. Levi was also her mate and I hated her, so why was I this jealous?
Then… she unclasped her bra.
I took a step forward unconsciously, like my body betrayed me. My jaw clenched so tightly I thought it might snap.
She dropped the bra to the grass.
Her breasts bounced slightly, perfect, full, beautiful—and Levi was drinking her in like she was made for him.
I wanted to look away. I should've looked away. But I couldn't.
She slid off her panties next, and I nearly growled out loud. The red lace joined the rest of her clothes on the grass, and she stood there naked and fucking sexy.
She shifted then, fur exploding where skin had been, her brown wolf sleek and fierce. Levi followed suit, his wolf form strong and massive. They charged each other like it was second nature, colliding mid-air.
I gritted my teeth. My fists clenched at my sides.
They were… playing. Training. Fighting.
But it looked like foreplay.
They were touching too much. Too close. Too familiar. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novｅlfire.net
Then—fuck me—Olivia shifted back. Human. Naked.
And Levi—he shifted too. Hovered over her like he owned her. Like he was claiming her. His body caged hers, his hips flush against hers.
I saw the way she arched beneath him.
I saw the way his hand pressed into the earth beside her head.
My entire chest burned with jealousy, anger, and possession.
She didn't push him away.
Her legs shifted wider beneath him.
I stormed forward before I even knew what I was doing.
"Levi?" My voice cracked across the field like thunder.
Levi looked back, his expression a twisted mix of anger and frustration. Olivia shoved him off, scrambling for her clothes. Her cheeks were red. Her body—my goddess, I shouldn't have seen it like that, not .
"What the actual fuck?" I muttered, blinking like I was hallucinating.
Olivia didn't look at me.
And Levi? That smug bastard just flopped back on the grass was nothing.
My wolf roared inside me, jealous. I looked at Levi and realized he was fucking hard.
I turned around, fists shaking, storming off before I did something I'd regret.
I wasn't supposed to want her. Not .
And seeing her under him like that?
That broke something in me.
I left the training ground, ignoring the calls of Anita, and made my way to the mansion. I reached my room and slammed the door. I made my way toward the minibar stand in my room and took out a bottle of whiskey.
I didn't even bother with a glass.
I twisted the cap off the whiskey bottle and drank straight from it, the burn doing nothing to dull the fury clawing at my chest. My hands were trembling, not from fear. My jaw—locked so tight I could hear it creak. I could still see them. Her flushed cheeks. Her legs around him. The way she arched for him like he was the only one who mattered. Like I wasn't right here, dying every time she smiled at someone else.
The door slammed open behind me.
Only two persons had the balls to walk into my room without knocking.
"Get the hell out, Levi," I growled, voice low and shaking.
He didn't answer right away. I heard his footsteps, heavy and unhurried, like he hadn't just been grinding into our mate in the middle of the field like a fucking animal.
"You are angry?" he asked finally.
I turned then, slowly, my vision dark around the edges. "Angry? I saw you rutting against her like a goddamn dog in heat."
Levi's jaw tightened. "It wasn't like that."
"Really?" I snapped, stalking toward him, chest heaving. "Because from where I was standing, it looked exactly like that. You were on her, Levi. She was letting you—"
I cut myself off, dragging a hand through my hair as I paced away.
"We said we hated her," I hissed. "We were supposed to hate her."
Then Levi muttered, "It's the mate bond."
I spun, eyes narrowing. "Don't feed me that bullshit."
His mouth twitched. Guilt. He looked away.
I stepped closer. "I know you, Levi. You don't move like that for a bond. You looked at her like she was yours. You touched her like she was more than just a mate. Like you wanted her."
"I do want her," he said finally, voice rough. "We all do. You're just too stubborn to admit it."
He staggered back but didn't retaliate.
"She broke me," I spat. "She tore me apart, Levi."
"And you think she didn't hurt me too?" he shouted, finally snapping.
He was breathing hard, fists clenched. "But she is our mate. We are mated to her. She bears our mark. And whatever else she's done, whatever she is—we're still hers. Whether we fucking like it or not."
Because I hated that he was right.
But I also hated him for saying it.
Levi exhaled, softer now. "You don't hate her either."
"I do," I whispered. "I have to."
He gave me a look that said he wasn't buying it.
Because the truth was twisting in my chest.
I hated that I couldn't.
And I hated even more that Levi wasn't fighting it anymore.
He turned toward the door, hand on the knob. "You can stay angry, Louis. Pretend you don't feel it. But one day, you'll stop lying to yourself."
And with that, he left.
I stood there in the silence, bottle dangling in my hand, heart in my throat.
I wasn't just jealous.
Terrified of wanting her too.