to leave myself

Cahill

Immediately Mathilda sees me looking, her eyes widen in shock and she abruptly wraps herself with a towel in order to shield her body away from my gaze. But it's already too late. I've had my fill even though it wasn't my intention. Who would've thought she has such a great body?

As she walks to the balcony, there's this look on her face like she'd rather be anywhere than here. And she has her cheeks flushed in something that resembles embarrassment that I can tell she feels very insecure about her body.

Her mate, that Brandon guy is someone who's had sex with her to his full because she doesn't look like a virgin to me. With that kind of body.

And I don't know why having thoughts about that makes my blood boil.

There's this urge to smash things up when I picture her in bed with her mate, having rough marathon sex. But I do my best to restrain myself from it, wondering why I'm even thinking about Matilda and her mate together, why it's even exasperating.

She might not be as innocent as she looks. No doubt the Brewer family is full of pretense, and I don't want to think about the eldest Brewer sibling who's fucked up my life.

Letting my gaze remain on Mathilda, I raise a fisted hand to my mouth and bite into it.

I've been too agitated these few days to take a good look at her, and now that I have, I can see that she's not bad looking at all. Quite pretty if I may add. Red hair, heart-shaped lips with the shade of a faded-red lip gloss, although I can tell she's not wearing one. Because she's bitten down on her lip and ran her tongue over it, but it still appeared the same.

"Cahill?" James' voice from the tab in front of me, averts me from my thoughts. And I realize I was FaceTiming with him before I saw Mathilda. To think I forgot about him for a minute.

"Is that.." 

"Yes, that's her. My wife,"

"You've got to be shitting me. She's drop-dead gorgeous!" James confesses, taking his legs off the table with his face forming into all seriousness.

"Definitely not your type because you like them busty and tall. But she's 10. And a little too young to be married, if I may say." He adds, while I just purse my lips and return my gaze to Mathilda who's seated on the balcony chair. 

"I'd like to speak with her and don't you deny me of it. She's my sister-in-law so I have every right to,"

"Fine, have it your way," I clench my jaw after saying this. Because he has no idea I've been through hell and back. Doesn't know what has occurred these few days.

Rising up to my feet, I head to the balcony to meet Mathilda. At this point, I'm wondering what I should do in order to make James not bombard her with questions. Knowing him, I'll bet he hasn't heard about what happened on the wedding day because he could've brought it up.

I am two feet away from Matilda when I see that Xavier guy in the garden. He's watering some flowers and then pauses to wave at Mathilda with a smile. Something that I want to punch off his face.

Off all the timing in the world, he's out here watering fucking flowers? Is this an excuse to come see Mathilda?

Thank fuck she has a towel wrapped around her body. But on the contrary, I have no idea if he's been here and had seen Mathilda in her bikini.

Mathilda wets her bottom lip with the tip of her tongue, then awkwardly waves at him and I feel my nostrils flare in jealousy.

I might not have feelings for her, but I don't want anyone getting close to her. Especially that French guy. He's not to be trusted. The long stares, the winks. He's definitely up to no good and the moment he dares to cause any mess, I'll end him. I don't fucking care if the werewolves here are of a different tribe because I won't hesitate in spilling blood if needed.

 You know, for someone who's bitter about having Mathilda Brewer as a wife, you act overly jealous and possessive. A mocking voice in my head taunts me, and I grind my teeth.

"Well, hello," James says heartily in a sing-song voice, the moment I put the tab on the table in front of Mathilda.

Mathilda looks at him with uncertainty, before raising her hazel eyes to meet mine, flabbergasted.

"I understand your confusion. We haven't met before," he adopts a smile. "Although I still feel like shit for not showing up at the wedding." His eyes are filled with an intensity that I have never seen before as he looks at Mathilda. And I can see his lips curving up into a smirk like it normally does when he finds a girl attractive.

Right at this moment, jealousy embeds and flows. 

"Sorry, who are you?" Mathilda questions after clearing her throat. Her voice is soft and soothing to the ears, and for a moment I wonder how it'd sound when she moans.

Dammit! I shouldn't have thought about that. 

"My name is James. The half-brother of Cahill," he introduces himself with his gaze on her getting even more heated.

And Mathilda blinks with her eyes widening in their sockets. She had no idea I have a half-brother.

"It's true. My mom gave birth to him when I was five," I explain.

"I'll bet you're shocked because your husband is related to someone with magazine cover-worthy looks. I do get this a lot. Being the more good-looking brother," James straightens the collar of his black jacket and then winks at Mathilda who snorts.

While I shoot him a death glare.

Wait, does this mean he's interested in her? The way his eyes darken makes it obvious that he's having some nasty thoughts about my wife. Being the pervert that he is.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, James. You can call me Mathilda," Mathilda says, with her face glowing. I haven't seen her smile like this before.

"Why didn't you tell me our Luna is this beautiful?" James directs this question at me.

"I don't want to talk about it," I dismiss then turn to Mathilda, "and you, stop smiling at him. You're only leading him on to flirt with you."

While James scoffs and lets his lips curve up into an amused smirk.

An immediate feeling of satisfaction runs through me when the smile drops off Mathilda's face and she glances up at me, with a naive expression.

"I believe there'd be a more proper introduction when we meet," James tells Mathilda, gaze clouding with lust.

"Fuck it, don't stare at her like that." I ground out gritting my teeth.

"What?" Mathilda and James chorus, shifting their gazes to me, and I get even more jealous.

Fuck! I slam my fist against the table in front of Mathilda. Causing Mathilda to flinch and James to stare at me, puzzled.

"What's wrong?" James asks, staring at me and then Mathilda.

"Just shut up…shit, I'm hanging up right now." Letting out an explosive breath, I grab hold of the tab and walk away from Mathilda because I can't seem to understand myself anymore. Ever since I had a look at her body, I can't fucking think straight.

And James blinks before squeezing his face into a frown.

"Hold the fuck on, I have something to tell you,"

"And what the fuck can that be?" I am taking in deep breaths to calm my insides.

"What's up with you and this sudden temper? I've always known you to be bipolar but not to this extent. Don't tell me you're jealous I find Matilda attractive?" He sniffs then rubs his hand over his nose, "after all you were helplessly in love with her elder sister before she ditched you on the wedding day," he blurts out.

"How did you know?" I am a bit surprised at this because he didn't mention it.

"News spread like wildfire, brother. You married Matilda because you couldn't bear the shame of having your supposed bride run away. Who knows if she didn't just run away because she wanted to be with her lover. She might have done that because of that flighty Luna Ritual. So forgive me if I find her younger sister beautiful and alluring because she is,"

On hearing this, I clench my jaw.

"What do you want to tell me?" I insist authoritatively, leaving no room for further discussion about the Brewer sisters.

And James the bastard pauses while looking at me. More like he's contemplating on telling me. Something which makes me even more eager because when he keeps his shitty face like this, he's about to break bad news.

"You look like you'd tear off someone's limbs," Amusement twinkles in his eyes when he lets these words out, then he throws a swift glance at Simone, before returning his eyes to me.

"Just fucking speak already!" I yell because he's deliberately getting the fuck on my nerves.

"Fine, slow down with the screams. Shit, I can see your veins bulging out already like you want to get on killer-Alpha mode." James throws me a lopsided grin, something I want to wipe off his face with a punch.

"Chill, you've always been the one with the temper. I am trying to ease your anger before I spill, okay?" James raises his hands up in defense, not before popping some Cheerios into his god-damned mouth. 

Sometimes I wonder what I'd have done to him if he weren't my half-brother. Because no one frustrates me as much as he does.

And right now, I am letting out a ragged breath to keep myself from exploding.

"James?" I call out quietly.

"Cahill?" He replies innocently then cock a brow.

"If you don't f*cking shut up, and start speaking this minute, I'm going to kill you," I warn sternly, blazing in fury.

On hearing this, James throws his head backward and lets out a harsh back of malevolent laughter. "Should I shut up and start speaking? Really?" He folds his arms across his chest then uplifts a brow at me, looking more like our late mother, that for a moment my anger subsides.

"Concerning the killing aspect, I've heard that a lot. Maybe you should try doing it one day," his gaze appears serious for a moment before he shakes it off.

"That's it, I'm hanging up."

"Wait, fine. I'll let it out." He holds up a hand, thinning his lips. "There's been a rumor that Ares Quaid isn't dead,"

"What?" My exclamation comes out low with my eyes narrowed. And then it's my turn to blink in confusion, "but I killed him."

"I'm not sure. We need to figure out if he's truly dead. Because if he isn't, then you're fucked." James breathes out, looking chagrined.

"Shit!"