Chapter 27

Phoenix


I had deliberately chosen this restaurant to overwrite their memories, intending to replace them with new ones. The only man I want her to think of is me. And the thought that I'm somewhat in competition with that son of a bitch is enough to send me into a fit of rage.

When he arrives, marching over to the table like he's got a death-wish, a surge of protectiveness rises within me. I remain seated, but poised to rip his fucking throat out if he so much as touches a hair on my pretty little wolf's head.

"What are you doing here with him?" he spits, glaring down at her. She stares back at him wide-eyed, her mouth opening and closing like she doesn't know what to say.

"W-What are you even doing here? How did you know where I was?" she says, her voice low, even though the entire restaurant is watching the confrontation.

He grits his teeth. "That doesn't matter. Answer my fucking question."

I can feel it rolling off of him- the anger of jealousy of knowing the girl he wants is interested in another man. That's how I've felt since he came back into her life.

An unfriendly smile twitches on my lips. "Don't speak to her like that," I say with a calm menacing tone.

"I wasn't talking to you," he hisses.

I tilt my head. "No, but I was talking to you."

"Phoenix, it's okay. I can handle it," she whispers, her eyes pleading, instantly calming the raging beast rising inside me. Dammit. How does she have that effect on me?

My muscles relax and I take a sit of the cheap wine; this was the best they could offer. This restaurant isn't exactly my taste, but I knew it was her favorite, so I didn't want to push for something fancier. Perhaps I would've reconsidered it if I knew this asshole was tracking her.

I don't appreciate the way he's looking at her, like she's the biggest whore on the planet. I wasn't aware that she belonged to him.

She stands up and faces him. "Zack, I didn't mean to-"

"You didn't mean to do what exactly? Ignore me? Or go out with some guy who's scent is always all over you?" he sneers.

I notice the slight pink tinge of her cheeks. "Well, he's my stepbrother, so of course we're going to interact with each other. I wasn't aware that I wasn't allowed to interact with other guys, especially my own brother," she retorts.

Interesting. So she can call me her brother when it's convenient for her.

I can't even be upset with her, no matter if I tried to.

"Really? Because it looks like you're on a fucking date," the piece of shit growls.

She rolls her eyes. "Or dinner with my brother." She sighs when he doesn't respond, just continues staring at her like someone shit in his corn flakes. "I'm sorry, okay? When you texted me, I was busy unpacking. Totally forgot, and then Phoenix asked me to dinner."

His face crumples like a used tissue. "What? When did you move?"

Her eyes narrow. "Yesterday. I told you about it awhile ago." She throws her hands up, her voice calm despite the underlying rage. "How dare you even have the audacity to be upset with me when you've barely spoken to me in weeks. I'm not some toy you can pick up and throw away whenever you want. You've been busy, and so the fuck have I."

I smirk against my glass. I bet he feels like a dumbass coming here starting all this public commotion for nothing.

His eyebrows furrow. "W-Why didn't you ask for help?" he asks, dropping his voice to a low murmur.

"Why? You can tell me you're busy like you do every time I try to have a conversation with you?" she hisses.

He scoffs. "Who helped you? Your brother?" He sneers the word "brother" like he doesn't believe it, but I hate to tell him, it's the truth. I'm just her brother who's secretly in love with her and he's in an unknowing tug-of-war battle with me over her heart.

Suddenly, his radio crackles with a call to duty.

"Fuck," he grits out. "I have to go, but we will have to talk about this later, Selly."

With that, he shoots me a menacing look and takes off.

Selene sits back down, her expression twisted with guilt and her cheeks flaming. "I'm so sorry, Phoenix. That was fucking embarrassing, he's been acting a little weird lately," she murmurs.

I shake your head. "Why do you feel embarrassed? You didn't storm in here and act like a fool."

She bites her lip, sighing. "I know, but still. Our night is ruined now."

Chuckling softly, a take another measured sip of my glass. "Quite the contrary. I'm enjoying just being in your presence," I tell her honestly."

She blushes. "Really?"

"I would never lie to you, which is why I want to go back to Makayla. There's a possibly there's a connection between Makayla and my uncle. Do you know anything that might be helpful regarding Diana?"

"I don't know much about her, she died a few years ago," she confesses, taking a bite of her taco. She licks some juice from the corner of her lips and my cock twitches. "Makayla told me she was an Alpha's daughter, her mother never specified who's. He was an abusive piece of shit, so when Diana got older, she ran off. She told Makayla that when she got pregnant, she no longer felt safe, so she had to leave. Makayla just returned to this pack three years ago to go to college."

Wow. It sounds like everyone with Alphas as fathers have insanely similar stories. Abusive, controlling shitty fathers=rebellious teenagers. Who would have known?

After we finish eating, I pay, and we make our way outside. Surprisingly, my brave little wolf walks over to my bike, glancing back at me impatiently.

I raise an eyebrow. "What? You don't really want to ride, do you?" I ask, smirking.

She smiles smugly. "Actually, I want to drive. Do you trust me to take us somewhere?"

"You know how to ride?" I ask, genuinely surprised.

I know that cop didn't teach her that. It seems a little too non-boring for him.

"Yep. My father taught me. So, are you just going to stand there or are you going to be my backpack?"

I smirk. "Don't push it, little wolf."

She gets on and puts on the helmet, and I climb on the back, wrapping my arms around her waist. There's only one helmet, but I'd rather her wear it than me. If I end up dying-I should say, if she ends up killing me, I'll die happy knowing we had this perfect night together.