Fighting Obsession

ZANE'S POV

"Zane..." 

Skylar moaned as she wrapped her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist as I thrust into her. Her nails dug into my back as she trembled underneath me, reaching orgasm.

"Fuck!" She sighed and then smiled, clearly satisfied. 

At least one of us was still enjoying this, I thought and then pulled out, already feeling the disappointment settle in. 

Without a word, I pulled away and got out of bed before picking up my towel. I could feel Skylar's eyes on me as I headed to the bathroom, but I didn't turn to look at her. I shut the door immediately I got in and turned the shower on, washing up. 

Sex with her had been bad lately—not just bad, but completely unsatisfying. It wasn't like how it used to be and I knew exactly why. 

It was because of her. 

Claire Tara Fucking Hunter. 

Ever since she showed up, everything had changed. Starting with how Skylar and I fucked….it used to be satisfying and enjoyable but now felt unpleasant. My wolf, Wolfe, has also become restless ever since she came around, poisoned by thoughts of her, ruining any chance of losing myself in the moment. 

I turned the shower off, running a hand through my hair. 

When I stepped back into the room, Skylar was still sprawled on the bed with a lazy smile on her lips. Normally, that would've been enough to pull me back in for another round. But now? I just wanted to sleep. 

"I missed that," she purred, stretching like a satisfied cat. "It felt so good." 

For her. Good for her. 

I didn't respond. Instead, I grabbed a pair of shorts, pulled them on, and sat in my reading chair, reaching for my MacBook. I had assignments to do—something to keep me busy, something to keep me from thinking about her.

I was just trying to focus when Skylar's voice reached my ears. 

"Why don't you talk to me anymore?" She sighed from behind me. 

I paused, my fingers hovering over my keyboard as I felt irritation suddenly curling in my chest. We already had this conversation before, yet she always found a way to ask the same questions in different ways. 

I even told her we needed to break up, but she begged and cried her eyes out, asking me not to leave her. She swore she'd hurt herself if I dumped her. 

And now what? She expected me to pretend? To kiss her like I used to when I no longer felt the same way?

I exhaled, but said nothing and resumed typing. I heard the bed shift under her weight and I figured she was either sitting up or finally getting her ass up.

"Are you seriously not even going to say anything?" she asked again and I could hear the frustration creeping into her voice. "What did I do wrong?" 

"Skylar—" I groaned.

"No, seriously, Zane." The mattress creaked as she stood. "You've changed. You don't look at me anymore. You don't treat me the same. You didn't even kiss me while we were having sex. And now, you look repulsed. What's going on? What happened to the old you?" 

Dead. 

I could tell her the truth. That the old Zane was gone. That the second Claire walked into my life, she stuck a knife into the version of me that was sane, logical, and careful. 

I turned to face Skylar. She stood there, naked, arms wrapped around herself, her body trembling as she fought back tears. 

Shit, even her body no longer turned me on. 

"I've told you," I said in a flat voice. "If you still want this relationship to continue, you need to stop nagging me." 

She nodded, as if she was tired of hearing that. "I'm just trying to understand—" 

"That's still nagging!" I snapped but my voice came out harsher than I hoped, making her flinch, her eyes instantly clouding over with tears. 

I exhaled and closed my eyes, rubbing my forehead. 

"I'm sorry," I muttered. I knew I overreacted. In all the years I'd known Skylar, I never snapped at her like that. And even though I only started dating her because her father was Beta of the pack, I had always been gentle with her. 

Until now.

Damn it! Claire was messing with my head. Everything—my temper, my frustration, my recklessness was worse since she showed up. My wolf wouldn't shut up about her, making everything ten times harder. 

And the worst part? She had no clue what she was doing to me. 

She just walked around school like she wasn't driving me insane. In her short skirts that showed her smooth thighs, tight clothes that clung to her curves and that damn curious look in her eyes like she was searching for something. Or avoiding someone. 

That someone being me. 

"Do you still love me?" 

Skylar's voice snapped me out of my thoughts and the question sent another wave of irritation through me. 

Why couldn't she just drop it? She had everything she wanted from me—popularity, money, protection, even good cock. Why was she still pushing? 

"Have I ever told you I love you?" I asked her and this time, I expected an answer.

She swallowed and met my gaze. "But you used to show it." 

I simply nodded. "Skylar, if you want to hurt yourself, ask me that question again. But if you want to be smart and keep things the way they are, this conversation is over." 

Her lips trembled, like they always did when she was trying not to cry. 

"I already told you," I continued. "If you want this relationship to work, do what I said. Stay away from Claire. Stop nagging me. Is that clear?" 

Her shoulders fell but she nodded. "Yes." 

"Good girl." I leaned back in my chair. "Now wash up and go to bed."

Skylar nodded again then and disappeared into the bathroom, wiping her tears. I sighed, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms as I watched her go. 

Why was everything turning into a mess since Claire showed up? It never used to be like this and I loved my life the way it used to be. I had no problem being with other girls before, but now? Now, it felt like something was burning me from the inside out each time I touched Skylar. 

I inhaled deeply, different scents filling my nose—including hers. Wolfe stirred instantly inside me, clawing and restless. 

"Tara, our mate." He growled in my head.

"Shut up." I muttered. He liked to call her Tara after I found out her full name, he thought it was a sexy name and now, he was trying to push that inside my head. 

Stupid wolf. 

I exhaled. But why her, moon goddess?

Why would she pull this cruel trick on me? Of all people, why did I have to be fated to Victor Hunter's daughter? The man who destroyed my family before I got a chance to meet them. The man who shaped my life even before I was born. 

I swore a long time ago that if I ever crossed paths with him or any of the freaks he called offsprings, I'd make them pay for what he did to my father. For what he did to me. 

Until she showed up as my mate. 

Hurting Claire meant hurting my wolf. The second she was in pain, Wolfe would lose it, fighting to take control. It was turning into an obsession, watching her even when I didn't want to. 

Just like at that damn party. 

The moment Lorien touched her, dancing with her and slipping his arm around her waist, I nearly lost my mind. 

And then he had done that thing… 

It took everything in me not to snap his bones. But that wasn't even the real problem. The real problem was that I got possessive. I protected Claire. 

So how the hell was I supposed to make her suffer when it meant I'd suffer too?

Feeling overwhelmed by my own thoughts, I got up and left the room. I didn't know where I was going, I just knew I needed to get out. 

My feet moved on their own, and before I knew it, I was near her room. I was just about to walk past when I heard her voice. 

Was she… talking to herself? Or still crying? I knew she cried after her fight with Skylar even though she nearly yanked her entire hair out. If I hadn't intervened, Skylar would have been real hurt…..even though she started the fight.

Yes, I knew she attacked Claire. That was the only logical reason to be in her room. But of course, I had to take Skylar's side, only warning her after.

I stepped closer, trying to make out what Claire was doing inside her room.

"Mate!" Wolfe growled.

"No," I snapped back. "I rejected her, remember?" 

"She's still our mate!" 

"I said no!" I barked before realizing I was still standing in front of her door. Shit. I turned on my heel and walked away, hoping she didn't hear me. 

Crazy wolf. One day, he was going to embarrass me or worse, make me do something insane. Like kissing Claire. 

That would be bad. 

Right? 

Then why didn't the thought of it disgust me? Why didn't it piss me off? I shook my head, trying to shake off the thought. "Get it together, Zane," I muttered to myself.

Her father destroyed my family. 

I rejected her, that was step one in crushing her. The next step? That would be to make her regret coming here. Make her regret ever being born to a Hunter family. 

"We need to protect her!" Wolfe growled. 

"Shut up," I snapped at him, pushing him back. But how long was I going to continue like this?