Chapter 2 Threat

Josh's POV

The words were out before I could force them back; it had been out of rage and fear, the fear that had stemmed from whoever that man was.

None of her admirers had stood up to me in the way that he had; not one of them had even had the nerve to look me in the eyes, until he came along.

Her eyes contorted into a scowl as she flipped her head to the side.

" You don't mean that," she said.

" I do," I confirmed with every ounce in me.

" I mean it, I will give you the experience you need, I am ready to let you know what it feels like and..."

My heart shredded into pieces at the next word she uttered, disgust roaming through them.

" I don't even like you."

" Lina," I groaned at her when she attempted to walk away.

" Lina," I drawled, my voice reverberating across the field.

"You said you wanted to know what it felt like to be in a relationship. I am ready to help you, as long as you don't go out with Darren."

Her hands clenched her back before she spun around, eyes gazing into mine.

" And why would you? You don't like me, you have someone you love who definitely isn't me."

I gulped in my spittle, my heart slammed as I tried to stuff it in. This overwhelming feeling that had suddenly sprouted to tell her that she was the one. That there was no one else.

" I have a proposition to make," I offered.

" Which is?"

"You help me make the girl that I want jealous, and I will help you make yours jealous as well.

" I know you like someone, I can tell by how you act, and if he does find out that you don't care about him anymore, he will surely come to his senses."

She bit into her lips, smearing the gloss she had on as she chewed on it.

" And if I don't want to do this? You know this isn't right, my brother would have your head if he finds out that you ever did this with me,"

Damn him, I was going to be damned before I let anyone take her away from me. I had to do everything, every fucking thing to make sure no one else got to have her.

I had to keep her by my side like I had always done.

" Let me worry about him," I said, edging closer, my hands wrapped around hers, as I implored.

She shook her head, wriggling her hands off as she said to me.

" I am not interested in fake dating with you. I can't risk it, and besides, I am not interested in you."

She spun around on her heels, sprinting away as fast as she could.

My hands patted my chest as I gasped for air.

It was a first for me; no one had ever rejected me, no one but the very same girl I had come to find myself loving.

********************

"Easy, man, what exactly has gotten into you?" Max had a handout for me.

I wiped the sweat that smeared my face off before gawking at him. " Don't tell me that you want to run away; we haven't even started."

He accepted the towel that was handed over to him as he ran it over his face.

" You look sick, are you sure you are fine? You look like a girl rejected you"

" You know that isn't true, I get all the girls I want," except for her. My wolf let out a chuckle at me.

I grunted, ordering it shut.

" What exactly was it with Emily?" He held out a punch at me, aiming directly at my face while we circled the boxing ring.

" You know how much you have always wanted her. She is hot, pretty, intelligent, her father is the beta, and you aren't risking anything."

I shook my head at him before driving a fist into his stomach.

" You will lose out in sparring to me. Is this how you want to be alpha?"

He roared before diving into my arms, shoved me down, and pummeled me directly into my arms as I had a hand blocking my face.

"Now, who is the champion?" He roared as I forced myself up, a hand on one knee while I gulped down the bottle of water pushed on the boxing ring.

" Is something wrong? Your face has been etched with worry?"

" Is it so obvious?"

" I can tell," he wriggled his hands over my face.

" That it is a girl's issue, who is she? I mean, this is a first; you always get all the girls you want, so who exactly is giving you a tough time? Is it the one you mentioned that you loved? Why don't I know about her?"

" Because you would have my head," I answered absentmindedly, his brows etched into a furrow at my word.

" What do you mean? Why would I have your head? I would never hurt you unless..." his orbs pierced into mine as he let out a cackle.

" That isn't true, it wouldn't be Lina, you see her as your sister, and we both know she is out of bounds."

I gave a slight jab at his arms.

" You know she is just a sister to me, your sister is an ugly duckling that would never be like a woman to me," I lied.

He burst out laughing before he poked me.

"You almost had me right there and...?"

The rest of his words faded when I heard my phone dinging before sliding out of the boxing ring as I read through its content.

'Can we see? I am at the diner close to school, and I will be waiting'

I threw a punch in the air before twirling around to see Max gazing at me.

I placed my shirt hurriedly before yelling out as I dashed out. " I have to go, I will get back to you soon".

" Be careful, look out..."

I gave a thumbs up to him while I tried to avoid bumping into the door. The drive down to the restaurant took forever while I tried to navigate my way to the diner.

My hands held the door firmly when I saw her. She had her hair out, which fell down to her waist, while she donned a bright peach gown, one that complemented her skin.

I swallowed when I noticed how out of place I looked, compared to her elegant self.

Bridging the distance between us, my finger tapped her shoulder gently while she turned around, eyes fixated on me.

"I...I...had to be here", she fiddled with her hands, while her words came out incoherent.

" Is something wrong? I mean, your message sounded urgent, and I was sparring with your brother, so?"

"Your proposal, is it still up? I would like to take you on your offer if it still is".

My hands went into the pockets of my shorts while I urged her to go ahead.

"Why do you want it? You said you weren't interested?" I questioned, while trying to hide how giddy I was feeling.

She shrugged, gazing at the pavement.

"I thought about it, and helping you get who you love doesn't sound like a bad deal. Also, I need experience before getting into the dating pool. I heard it is a bit messy, and you seem to be the perfect tutor for that".

Tutor? Really? Why would she even say that?

"I have terms", I blurted out, once I had had in mind for a while.

"Which are?"

"You wouldn't go on dates with anyone else when you are with me. We are exclusive, and also, your brother wouldn't know. Two months, two months, and we are done."

"One?"

" Two Lina, I insist."

Her gaze drifted, as she murmured, her words pissing me off in an instant.

"Two months then, that is how long I have to make him fall in love with me".