Tit for Tat

Drake's POV:

I knew she was playing me. Leila—she was fire and smoke, always slipping just out of reach, leaving me grasping at shadows. Her eyes held secrets, her smiles carried promises she never intended to keep. But there was something else too—a game she played that I couldn't ignore. She knew I was suspicious of her, that I could sense the darkness she kept buried beneath her guarded exterior. And now, I could see it—she was testing me, trying to see how far I would go for her.

It was infuriating, watching her flirt with Marcus, of all people. A boy who couldn't protect her if his life depended on it. His jokes were shallow, and yet, she laughed. Not the polite kind of laugh you give out of courtesy, but real, genuine laughter, the kind that came from her chest. I could feel the rage simmering inside me, growing hotter with every soft touch, every playful smile she gave him.

 I clenched my fists, trying to stay in control, but the beast inside me was restless. My wolf growled, pacing, eager to tear through the façade, to claim her in front of everyone. I knew she was doing this on purpose—pushing me, testing my boundaries, trying to see if I'd snap.

 And damn it, it was working.

 When she leaned in closer to him, letting her fingers graze his arm, something in me broke. I moved before I even had time to think, crossing the training yard in seconds. By the time I reached them, I didn't care if I was overreacting. The possessiveness surged through me like wildfire, and I couldn't stop myself.

With a low growl, I shoved Marcus aside, my eyes never leaving Leila. "That's enough," I growled, the warning clear in my voice. Marcus backed off immediately, understanding that he was no match for me—not when I was like this. Not when my wolf was on the verge of tearing into him.

I stepped between them, blocking him from her view entirely. My body was rigid, every muscle coiled tight, ready to snap at the slightest provocation. I could feel her eyes on me, challenging, testing, and I hated how much it thrilled me.

 Her raised eyebrow and innocent tone only fueled the fire. "What's the matter, Drake?" she asked, as if she didn't already know.

 "You know exactly what the matter is," I growled, my voice rough with the jealousy that burned through me.

 She smiled, slow and deliberate, like she was enjoying this too much. Her head tilted to the side, those damned lips curving into something wicked. "Do I?"

 The way she looked at me—it made my blood heat, made my wolf howl to claim her right then and there. I took another step closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating off her skin, close enough that I could catch the scent of her, intoxicating and maddening all at once.

 "Don't play games with me, Leila," I warned, my voice low and dangerous. "You're mine. And I don't share."

Her eyes flickered, something sharp and calculating dancing in those dark depths. For a moment, I wondered if she would push back, test me even further. But instead, she just stood there, staring up at me, the challenge still simmering in her gaze but no words falling from her lips.

 I should've felt victorious, should've felt like I'd won. But all I could think about was how this wasn't over. She was still hiding something—still keeping a part of herself locked away from me. I could feel it, just beneath the surface, and it gnawed at me that she didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth. But at the same time, I couldn't shake the feeling that I might not like what I found if I dug too deep.

 Still, one thing was clear—she wanted me to fight for her. To prove that I was strong enough, crazy enough, possessive enough to keep her. And I would. I'd fight anyone, destroy anything that came between us, if that's what it took. She was mine, and I'd burn the world down before I let anyone else touch her.

 But this game she was playing—it wouldn't go unanswered. She wanted to push me? Fine. But she needed to remember that I could push back just as hard.

 I leaned in, my lips brushing her ear as I whispered, "I hope you're ready, Leila. Because this game of yours—it's only just beginning."

 She shivered, and for a moment, I saw it—something other than that confident smile, something deeper. Fear? Maybe. Or maybe just excitement.

 Either way, I wasn't letting her go. Not now. Not ever.

 Tonight, everything would change. Leila had been toying with me for days, pushing my limits, teasing me with that fire in her eyes. She thought she could play games with my heart, with my instincts as her mate, but what she didn't realize was that I could play just as hard. And tonight, I'd show her exactly who she belonged to. I'd make her feel the same fire that had been burning through me ever since she entered my life—the same torment she inflicted on me.

 We hadn't done anything sexual yet, despite the fact that every time she was near, my body ached for her. I'd taken countless cold showers, pacing like a caged animal just to keep my control. I wanted her to trust me, to feel safe before we mated and I marked her as mine for good. But today, after the stunt she pulled with Marcus, I couldn't let it slide. She needed to understand who her man was—who her mate was. And if she wanted to play with fire, then I was more than willing to let her burn.

 Tonight, I'd punish her in the sweetest way. I'd seduce her, push her to the brink, but I wouldn't let her have what she so clearly wanted. No, I'd leave her high and dry, just like she had been doing to me with her teasing smiles and subtle provocations. She needed to taste her own medicine—feel the frustration, the desire, the craving that I'd been battling every single day.

 Tit for tat. It was only fair.

 As the evening wore on, I found her alone in one of the smaller rooms near the pack house. She was reading, pretending not to notice me as I walked in, though I could see the way her body tensed when I entered. Good. She knew I was here, knew I wasn't in the mood for games.

 I didn't say anything at first, just moved toward her, letting the tension between us build. She glanced up, her eyes meeting mine, a flicker of curiosity—and maybe something else—crossing her face. I could see the uncertainty in her gaze, and it only fueled me more. She was wondering what I would do, how far I would push her. She wasn't sure if she should run or stay. But running wouldn't save her—not tonight.

 I stopped in front of her, looking down as she remained seated. "You've been playing games with me, Leila," I said, my voice low, controlled. "Testing me. Seeing how far I'd go for you."

 Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't deny it. She knew what she'd been doing.

 I crouched down so we were at eye level, my hands resting on the armrests of her chair, caging her in. I leaned in closer, so close that I could feel her breath catch, could see the flush rising in her cheeks. Her scent filled my senses, intoxicating, and it took everything in me not to just take her right then and there. But no, that wasn't the plan. Not tonight.

 "You want to see how jealous I can be?" I whispered, my lips brushing against her ear. "I'll show you. But first, let me show you something else."

 I pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, my fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. She shivered under my touch, her gaze locked on mine, and I could feel her resolve weakening. Slowly, deliberately, I leaned in and kissed her—soft at first, a tease, just like she had been doing to me. But then I deepened the kiss, letting her feel the hunger that had been gnawing at me for so long. She responded instantly, her body pressing closer to mine, her hands gripping my shirt as if she couldn't get enough.

 Good. Let her feel it.

 I broke the kiss, leaving her breathless, her lips parted as if waiting for more. But I didn't give it to her. Instead, I stood, pulling her up with me. My hands slid down her sides, grazing her hips before I stepped back, putting just enough distance between us to drive her crazy. Her eyes were dark with need, her breathing shallow as she stared at me in confusion and frustration.

 "Drake," she whispered, her voice a mix of desire and frustration.

 I smirked, folding my arms across my chest. "Not yet, sweetheart. You think you can play with me? You think you can toy with my feelings and expect me to just take it?" I moved closer, my lips brushing against her ear again as I whispered, "Not tonight."

 I let my hands trail down her body again, teasing her with my touch, but never giving her what she wanted. She gasped, her body arching into me, but I pulled away again, watching as the frustration built in her eyes.

 "Drake," she said again, this time more insistent.

 I shook my head, taking a step back. "You're not in control here, Leila. I am. And tonight, I'm going to make sure you understand that."

 She reached for me again, but I caught her wrists, pinning them above her head as I pressed her back against the wall. "This is what you wanted, isn't it?" I asked, my voice low and dangerous. "To make me crazy for you? To test me?"

 She nodded, her breath coming in short, quick bursts.

 I leaned in, my lips brushing hers again, but just before she could deepen the kiss, I pulled back, leaving her wanting more. "Too bad, sweetheart," I whispered. "You're going to have to wait."

 Her eyes widened in disbelief, and I could see the frustration boiling over inside her. But I didn't give in. I simply smiled, releasing her wrists and stepping back.

 "Tit for tat," I said softly, my voice laced with amusement. "Now you know how it feels."

 Without another word, I turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, frustrated and wanting. It was her turn to suffer, to feel the ache I'd been feeling for so long.

And I had a feeling this was only the beginning of our little game.