Page 37 of Claimed by the Pack

She rifled through her closet, laying out a few outfits and then she ruffled my head and went into the bathroom and closed the door.

I heard the shower come on and I went over to the bed to see what she'd chosen to wear.

They were all three dresses…

One of them was black and looked kind of slinky. I imagined her in it, got a little too excited and then took the hem of the dress in my teeth and bit down, hard.

Once my teeth were through it, I pulled, unraveling the hem. Proud of myself, I did the same to the red dress next to it. I still had the hem of the tan one between my teeth when Cheyenne stepped back into the room, now wrapped in a towel and looking good enough to eat. I stared at her for several long seconds before I realized she was frowning at me.

“What did you do?”She looked like she was torn between being angry and sad, like she might cry...and suddenly I felt bad. I let go of her dress and dipped my head down. I went over to her and for the first time since we “met,” she pushed me away.

“No! I'm mad at you! I'm so angry. Why would you do this?”

She went over and looked at the dresses.

A small, slow tear ran out of her eye and down her cheek. My chest hurt and I wished I could say I was sorry.

I tried to rub against her leg again, and again, she pushed me away.

“Go away!” she scolded. “I'm upset with you.” I went over and curled up on the floor in front of the window, ashamed of myself...and scared of the way I was feeling.

She was going to be Ridge's mate soon, and then what? I'd have to live on the compound, seeing her and smelling her and knowing Ridge was touching her, every single day.

What have I done to myself.

I wanted her, worse than I've ever wanted anything in my life.

Chase

I was workingsecurity on the compound again and just about to make a pass on the front gate when I saw Ridge.

He was clean shaven, his hair was styled with some kind of actual product that smelled like coconuts and he had on what looked like a new shirt and jeans. I knew before I asked, but I had to know for sure.

“Where are you off to?”

He raised an eyebrow and said, “Do you really want to know?”

“You going to see Cheyenne?” I had heard a rumor on the compound, that Chelsea and the other alphas had given him their blessing to see her. I hoped it was just that, a rumor. I know I suck as a best friend. I should want him to be happy, and I do...just not with Cheyenne.

“Yes.”

“Ridge...” he put up his palm and stopped me. I was interrupted the last time I tried to tell him how I felt too. He knew. He had to. He just didn't want me to say it out loud. “I want her, Ridge,” I blurted out. He looked wounded, like I slapped him in the face.

“Well, you can't have her.”

“Really? Aren't you supposed to be doing this the human way? If that's the case, then Cheyenne can date whoever she wants. I might ask her out myself.”

He narrowed his eyes at me and said, “You wouldn't dare.”

“I had a great time with her at coffee the other night. I think she likes me.”

“She's just a nice person. Leave her alone, Chase.”

“Let me ask you this. This isn't even about me...directly. But what is your little buddy Grayson doing? Why is he still pretending to be her pet?”

“I don't know. I haven't had a chance to talk to him. You know Gray. He has a big heart. Maybe he is just worried about how upset she'll be if he “runs away”.

“Hmm, yeah, I'm sure that's it,” I said, sarcastically. I rolled my eyes then and said, “Ridge, he wants her too.”

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