Taken (Sinful Series - book 1)
Chapter 31 - One of us (Beta Man)

Landon

“What the fuck is your problem?” Landon glared as he opened the door only to be greeted by a deep growl.

Landon raised his eyebrow in a challenge. Karim struggled keeping a lid on his emotions, his wolf fighting him for control at Landon’s disrespectful greeting. Landon could handle Karim, so his eyes immediately went passed him to the two wolves on either side of Lazulli, sizing them up. They looked like they could pull their weight, and Landon reluctantly noted that even if they were not trained together, any commotion would likely wake up Violet. The last thing he needed was her witnessing his aggression against her fated.

“What are you doing here?”

Landon always suspected Karim was not the sharpest crayon but this was insulting. It wasn’t like Landon had gotten the chance to shower or to put on all of his clothes other than the boxers before answering the door. If those were not obvious enough, the rich scent of arousal clung heavy in the air, telling the story of last night and this morning.

Landon decided Karim was one of the truly unfortunate werewolves who had allergies, rendering his nose useless. But that was not an excuse for his poor eye-sight. Landon scratched the back of his head, his muscles coiling. His gesture could be mistaken as casual, but all the wolves knew it was a sign of dominance. It showed, his confidence he could take them on. He was not intimidated by their lot.

Karim’s muscles flexed in response, his nostrils angrily flaring. Landon noticed the exact moment Karim caught Violet’s sweet scent emitting from the pores of Landon’s skin. There was only one way to mix their scent so completely. Landon knew the awkwardness and pain which came with realizing your Fated was intimate with someone else. Even if the bond was broken, the pang was still there. He had been in Karim’s shoes once too many times so absenting from putting salt in his wound was an easy decision.

“Violet?”

“Sleeping,” Landon replied, keeping his eyes on the other two wolves, who quickly looked away.

“I need to talk with her,” Karim stated, his wolf coming through in his eyes.

“She needs her sleep. Come back around noon,” Landon responded, attempting to close the door only for Karim’s leg to shoot out wedging the door open.

“Forgive me if I don’t take the word of someone who knows her less than two minutes,” Karim snickered.

“We are not waking her up,” Landon repeated slowly. His stand was clear that he would not allow it and it was final. Karim had the choice of how civil this conversation would end.

“Fine, I’ll wait,” Karim shrugged, attempting to barge in her apartment.

“Outside,” Landon’s chest blocked Karim’s intrusion.

“No way, Twinsome,” Karim stepped further into Landon’s bare chest. It was a cheap intimidation tactic that did not work. Landon held his position, allowing Karim’s shoulder to brush against his skin.

“You’re not my type. Don’t make me toss you out, Pooch,” Landon referred to the contact as perceived intimacy and Karim jumped back away from him so fast that Landon was convinced his body heat had scorched Karim.

“I’d like to see you try, Fixer.” Karim replied.

Violet

She was just about to nudge Landon to check the door, when she realized she was alone in her bed. She sighed taking a sniff of the sheets, wondering when he would come back. Violet did not expect anyone this early and had no doubts whoever was at the door had the wrong address. Her fingers gripped the sheets, wondering why Landon was not coming back.

Violet decided to check up on him and sat on the bed, pulling the closest garment she could reach, which happened to be Landon’s dress shirt. She stood up on wobbly legs, walking over to the door, before she heard Karim’s voice. The voice was imprinted in her mind and she cringed at the timing of his appearance.

“I need to talk with her,” Karim boomed.

“Too bad,” Violet’s wolf appreciated the irony as Violet glanced through the semi closed door. Landon’s back was in view and she took a moment to admire his well defined backside.

“She needs her sleep. Come back around noon.”

How Landon managed to keep his temper was surprising. She could see his muscles flexing, dominance emitting from his pores, which also intensified their combined scent. Violet’s cheeks colored at the realization Karim would soon realize what they had done, if he hadn’t done so by now. Not that she was ashamed of Landon in any way, shape or form. No. It was just awkwardness of having her past meet her present.

“Forgive me if I don’t take the word of someone who knows her less than two minutes,” Karim’s voice carried over, his foot stopping her door with a dull thud.

“We are not waking her up,” Landon’s voice carried finality to his statement.

“Fine, I’ll wait,” Karim attempted to push in her apartment, only for Landon to sneer through his teeth.

“Outside.” Landon commanded.

“No way, Twinsome,” Karim rammed his way through the door.

There were few things that managed to rattle her. The sudden urge to scalp Karim for the insult was one of them. Violet knew there was a deeper darker side of her which had no problem accepting a mark from another. That side now screamed for her to defend what was hers.

Landon.

“You’re not my type,” Landon paused making the contact between them carry more intimacy than Karim was comfortable with, then casually added, “Don’t make me toss you out, Pooch.”

Violet smiled. She loved Landon’s sarcasm. Karim certainly did not appreciate the remark.

“I’d like to see you try, Fixer.” Karim sneered. S

he didn’t miss how the word Fixer was thrown as an insult.

Before they had the chance to break something in her apartment, she tugged the shirt’s front ends around her body then held the two parts closed with a hand with the full intention of walking out.

“I am not hiding her from you,” Landon calmly explained. “I just want her to get her sleep. Whatever it is you want to discuss with her, you’d fare better if she is not craving getting back to bed.”

“With you,” Karim gritted.

The thought that Karim was jealous after he rejected her, confirmed what Jacob had told her months ago. Rejection screwed up both Fated parties, regardless of who issued it. It just took more time. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“You rejected her,” Landon reminded him.

“You and I both know it is not as simple,” Karim responded.

“I’m sorry,” Landon offered his understanding. “But she is with me now.”

How could she not love this man? Here he was being sentitive and compassionate, but yet stood firm in his believes.

“No, you are not sorry. You are boasting with her scent over you. You should be proud, a one-night stand is all you’re ever going to get.” Karim fumed.

“Come back at noon, or don’t even bother,” Landon told him.

“She is not a silly conquest to me.” Karim growled.

“You’ve got it wrong again,” Landon shook his head. “She had made a conquest of me.”

Landon never ceased to amaze her. Here he was delicately admitting she had won his affection with the same words Karim used to belittle him. Landon’s confession masterfully insinuated Karim spoke out of experience, and hinted Landon’s relationship with her was much different.

And it was.

“And you are ready to accept to live under her slipper?” Karim shot referencing her dominant nature.

“Skin hadn’t gotten over the Mark,” her wolf shot, just as Landon shrugged, answering.

“I don’t discriminate against her slipper or skirt.”

Violet face palmed.

“Did you just go there?” Karim asked her question.

“You know me well enough not to ask me that. I call it as it is,” Landon responded.

“And you are proud of yourself.”

“Proud, honored and blessed to be with her. The only question is what are you really doing here, man? You have a mate.”

“That you just banged,” Karim shot.

“I haven’t even met your mate, Alyssa,” Landon clarified. Karim’s immediately growled the reference. “Alyssa is your mate, so why are you here?” Landon continued, undisturbed by the unnerving silence. “As for what Violet and I do, I don’t kiss and tell. Especially to ugly asses like you.”

Violet covered her mouth with her palm as she wasn’t certain if she would start to laugh. Landon sure had a way with words.

“Your mug doesn’t look any better since I broke your face,” Karim snapped.

“Would you give it a rest? You landed one punch ten years ago and you’re still bragging about it.” Landon’s sarcasm ventured into dark humor.

“You’ll always be second,” Karim again tried to rattle him.

“Exactly. I’m the Beta’ man,” Landon chuckled at his own joke, making Violet’s lip tug into a grin. He was her goofball.

“Ha-ha. Very funny, Landon. Wait till I tell Aidan about it,” Karim responded.

Whether it was meant to be a threat or a joke, Violet remained uncertain as Landon’s reaction was so neutral.

“Off you go then,” Landon replied.

“This isn’t over,” Karim’s voice carried through the closing door.

Landon

Landon stared at the locked door for couple of seconds. The familiarity of this situation was unnerving. Only now he was the other man. Landon clenched his teeth, shaking his head in an attempt to ease the dreadful feeling in the pit of his stomach. As that didn’t work, he decided to distract himself with breakfast. His focus was now the eggs, bacon, sausage and toast.

He felt her small hands encircle his waist, her cheek pressing against his back. Violet didn’t need words to show her support. She must have overheard the conversation.

“How much did you hear?” Landon asked her, breaking the hold of her clasped hands by pecking her right hand, as he turned around and hugged her.

“Enough to know you have a lot of patience. I wouldn’t have been able to handle him so gently,” Violet honestly replied.

“I’ve been in his shoes, V. I know how it feels to see your love with someone else. I know you don’t think that you mean that much to him but you do. You’ll always do. You’re special,” Landon loved seeing her hair untamed. It reminded him just how much he loved lacing his hands through it.

“Whenever I see him, I feel the urge to scream at him or hurt him. But then that would mean that I am wasting my energy on him, and that’s the last thing I want to do. He’s irrelevant for my life now, and that’s indeed punishment enough.” Violet shrugged.

Landon felt satisfaction hearing that but he was no fool. Karim was back for her and it would take more than indifference to make him go back north.

“I don’t know what happened to inspire him to come here, but he wouldn’t be here if he didn’t want you back.” Landon voiced his concern.

“You’re a good guy, Landon. Just remember I want you, not him.” Violet replied running her fingers over his skin.

It helped hearing her say it, through he honestly didn’t think that it would be as easily done.

“Are you hungry?” Landon decided changing the topic was his safest bet.

“I am always hungry for you,” Violet wiggled her eye brows at him, making him laugh.

“I meant real food,” Landon corrected her.

“Fine, but you’ll have to put on some clothes otherwise I won’t be held responsible for my actions,” Violet teased him.

Landon’s fingers slowly tugged the dress shirt off her shoulders, admiring her body before sliding his hands through the shirt’s sleeves.

“Reconsidering?” Landon jested.

“Stop teasing me,” Violet mockingly whined before stealing a kiss. “I need some clothes or breakfast will be charred for all I’d care.”

Landon smiled at her playfulness and watched her leave for the bedroom.

He was just about to resume preparing breakfast when there was a loud thud at the door. Landon sighed and answered it. Landon half expected to see Karim at the doorstep. He was always stubborn so it wouldn’t really come as a surprise if he had reconsidered against waiting till noon. Landon wouldn’t have put it passed him to stay with ear pressed to the door until he head Violet’s voice. That was why when he saw Wayne he raised his eye brow at him. The were-bear was not one to do house calls, nor did he even make it to the list of the likely intruders, but here they were. Landon awkwardly nodded his head in a greeting, stepping away from the door and opening it. Wayne did not waste any time and moved into the small apartment.

“Give me a buck,” Wayne demanded as soon as he stepped over the threshold.

Landon rolled his eyes at Wayne before closing the door. The attorney in Wayne wanted to make the conversation privileged. It was his way of letting Landon of the importance of the sensitive information he was about to disclose. Wayne expectantly looked at the little tray where Violet kept her keys abd petty change. Landon sighed. It was much easier giving into the demand than trying to convince a stubborn bear of something. He dug into the tray and tossed a quarter at Wayne.

“Cheap fuck. This is plain old insulting. I will have you know I went to…”

“Be happy I didn’t go for the dime,” Landon interrupted with a shrug. “Now, what brings your delightful company here?”

“I hate to interrupt, but since you didn’t answer Jacob’s calls, he sent me here.” Wayne’s voice thundered and Landon cringed. The only good thing about the obnoxious volume of the bear was that Violet knew they had company so she wouldn’t walk out without proper clothing.

“Where is Violet?”

“Changing. What happened?”

“Jacob got wind there is an arrest warrant in the pipeline with Violet’s name on it,” Wayne told him.

“What charge?”

“Solicitation,” Wayne replied. Landon would have laughed, had it not been for Wayne’s serious face. “Pack Order raided Velvet in time to get last night’s footage and restoring deleted files.”

“Shit,” Landon swore finally seeing the connection.

Landon vividly remembered every darn second of Violet’s lap dance. The tape would only prove Landon had broken Velvet’s rules. He wasn’t booted, but given preferential treatment. Landon booked the room for an hour for a lap dance that probably took five minutes. Violet was still on the clock and on his dime, when they slept together. Pack Order could easily pursue prostitution charges. Even if they managed to prove a prior relationship, Violet’s reputation would be tarnished. Landon couldn’t do that to her.

Landon’s fought the urge to break something, while his mind quickly went through the events, searching for a way to prevent what would inevitably happen.

“That fuckin’ pighead,” Landon exclaimed.

Wayne’s full attention got diverted to Violet who entered the room.

“Karim is in bed with Pack Order.”

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