Free Web NovelChapter 36: Chapter 36 First Love
Sylvia’s POV
As my mother delivered her final judgment on the gifts, the air in the room grew thick with tension. Selene’s face was a portrait of pure venom, while Hugo looked like he’d just swallowed something rancid. The elegant gathering that had started with such promise was now dissolving into uncomfortable silence and forced pleasantries.
Caesar’s hand remained possessively at my waist, his thumb tracing small circles against the fabric of my dress. Each touch sent electric currents racing through my body, awakening my wolf who had been dormant for too long. She paced restlessly beneath my skin, responding to his proximity in ways that made my breath catch.
"I think we’ve had enough excitement for one evening," my mother announced, her Alpha authority unmistakable as she rose from her seat. The dismissal was clear – the party was over.
As guests began filing out, Caesar leaned in close, his warm breath caressing my ear. "Ready to leave this battlefield behind?" he whispered, his lips brushing against my skin just enough to make me shiver.
"More than ready," I managed to reply, my voice betraying more desire than I intended.
His eyes darkened at my response, something primal flashing in their depths. "Good girl," he murmured, the simple praise affecting me more than it should have.
The drive home was charged with unspoken tension. Caesar drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting possessively on my thigh. Each time we stopped at a traffic light, his fingers would inch higher, drawing lazy patterns on my skin. By the time we pulled into the driveway, my body was humming with anticipation, my wolf practically howling for his touch.
The moment we stepped through the door, something shifted in Caesar. The careful control he’d maintained all evening seemed to crack. His eyes, usually cool and calculating, now burned with raw hunger as they raked over my body.
"You were magnificent tonight," he growled, backing me slowly against the wall. "Every wolf in that room wanted you. But they know who you belong to now, don’t they?"
A part of me should’ve pushed back—Alpha blood didn’t bend to possessiveness. But instead, a deeper part, the part ruled by instinct and longing, shivered with approval. Three years of suppressing my true nature had left me starved for this kind of recognition, this primal claiming.
"I don’t belong to anyone," I challenged, even as my body betrayed me by leaning into his touch.
A dangerous smile curved his lips. "We’ll see about that."
His mouth crashed down on mine, demanding and consuming. This wasn’t the controlled, patient Caesar from public – this was the predator beneath the suit, the Alpha wolf claiming what he considered his. His tongue swept into my mouth, tasting and exploring as his hands gripped my hips hard enough to leave marks.
I moaned against his lips, my fingers threading through his hair to pull him closer. My wolf, so long denied, reveled in the contact, urging me to submit to this claiming.
When he finally pulled back, both of us were breathing heavily. His eyes had taken on that amber glow that betrayed his wolf’s presence just beneath the surface.
"Tonight," he said, his voice deeper, rougher, "I’m going to hear you scream my name."
"I’m exhausted," I lied, pushing weakly against his chest. "I need to sleep."
Caesar’s laugh was dark and knowing. In one fluid movement, he swept me into his arms, carrying me toward the bedroom as if I weighed nothing.
"Too bad," he murmured, his lips tracing a burning path down my neck. "I’ve waited long enough."
I gasped as he laid me on the bed, immediately positioning himself between my thighs. His powerful body caged mine as he pinned my wrists above my head with one strong hand. With the other, he tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his intense gaze.
"Still tired?" he asked, his lips curving into a wicked smile as he ground his hips against mine, making me feel exactly how much he wanted me.
My exhaustion had evaporated like morning mist, replaced by a burning need that threatened to consume me. I struggled halfheartedly against his hold, my body already betraying me with its response.
"I should shower first," I managed to say, my voice embarrassingly breathless.
Caesar paused, his jaw tightening as he visibly wrestled with his desire. "Fine," he growled after a moment. "Don’t keep me waiting."
He released me reluctantly and strode toward the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water filled the apartment.
As I sat up on the bed, trying to calm my racing heart, my eyes landed on Caesar’s phone on the nightstand. The screen was illuminated, showing what appeared to be a notes app.
I shouldn’t look. It wasn’t right. But something drew my gaze to the heading visible on the screen: [FIRST LOVE]
* Likes her coffee black*
* Mint toothpaste, always*
* Hates roses, prefers wildflowers*
*Wears silver rings, never gold*
* Spicy food — the hotter the better*
My heart stuttered painfully in my chest. Without thinking, I leaned closer, catching glimpses of the list beneath:
*She loves spicy food.*
*She prefers mint toothpaste.*
A cold wave of realization washed over me, drowning the warm desire that had been building all evening. Caesar had someone else – someone he cataloged and remembered in such intimate detail. Someone he apparently still thought about enough to keep notes on.
The similarities were eerie. I loved spicy food too. I always bought mint toothpaste.
Was that why he’d pursued me so relentlessly? Was I just a replacement, a body to fill the void left by someone else?
The bathroom door opened, releasing a cloud of steam as Caesar emerged with just a towel wrapped low around his hips. Water droplets clung to his sculpted chest, trailing down toward the V of his abdomen. Any other time, the sight would have made my mouth water. Now, it just made my heart ache. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
His eyes immediately fell on the illuminated phone screen. Something flickered across his face – alarm? guilt? – before he smoothly walked over and turned the phone face-down.
"Something wrong?" he asked, his voice casual despite the intensity in his eyes.
I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I studied his face, searching for signs that I was just a replacement, a stand-in for someone he couldn’t have.
Caesar moved closer, cupping my chin and brushing his thumb across my bottom lip. "Shall we continue where we left off?" he murmured, his voice deep with promise.
I pulled back slightly, the discovery of that note like ice in my veins. How could he act so normal when he was harboring feelings for someone else?
"I’m not in the mood anymore," I said, my voice sharp as broken glass, brittle even to my own ears.
I turned my back on Caesar, not caring about his reaction. The moment my body shifted away from him, I squeezed my eyes shut, trying desperately to calm the storm raging inside me. Despite my attempt to appear asleep, my ears remained alert, listening for any movement behind me.
Click.
The main light went out, leaving only the warm glow of the wall sconce. The mattress dipped beside me as Caesar settled in, taking care to gently pull the covers over my shoulders. The tenderness of the gesture only twisted the knife deeper.
I knew he thought I was upset about the dinner party—about my mother’s obvious preference for Selene. And yes, that hurt. But it wasn’t what kept me wide awake, staring at the wall as if it might provide answers.
Those notes. [FIRST LOVE].
The words burned in my mind, a constant reminder that I wasn’t his first choice. I was a replacement—a stand-in for someone else. The similarities in our preferences weren’t coincidences; they were criteria. Checkboxes on a list of requirements for his perfect substitute.
Sleep evaded me all night. My thoughts spiraled between anger, hurt, and a crushing sense of betrayal. By the time morning light filtered through the curtains, my eyes felt gritty and my heart heavy. I stayed in bed until well past nine, listening for signs of Caesar’s presence in the apartment.
When silence finally reigned, I dragged myself out of bed. After washing my face and brushing my teeth—with mint toothpaste, I noted bitterly—I ventured into the living room to find it empty. On the counter sat a plate of still-warm sandwiches. A silent apology in bread and cheese. He must have left only moments ago.
I sat down and ate mechanically, barely tasting the food. My wolf paced anxiously beneath my skin, confused by my conflicting emotions. She had responded so strongly to Caesar last night, recognizing something in him that I was still struggling to understand.
After loading my dishes into the dishwasher, I settled on the couch with my laptop, determined to distract myself with work. I had barely opened the first document when my phone buzzed.
"The weather’s too gorgeous to waste indoors," Morgana insisted when I answered. "Come shopping with me."
After some persuasion, I agreed. Maybe getting out would clear my head.
Thirty minutes later, I arrived at our meeting spot—a trendy café downtown. I’d dressed casually in a loose brown sweater that slipped off one shoulder and tight-fitting jeans. My wolf enjoyed the appreciative glances thrown my way as I waited for Morgana.
A particularly bold man approached my table, his smile confident as he leaned toward me.
"Excuse me, but I couldn’t help noticing—"
I lifted my hand, letting the wedding ring catch the light. His smile faltered, but as he turned away, I caught him doing a double-take, his eyes narrowing as if trying to place me. He pulled out his phone discreetly, angling it in my direction before walking away.
Strange.
Morgana burst into the café moments later, all energy and smiles. "Let’s get these to go," she said, nodding at our coffees. "I want to hit the shops before the crowds get bad."
As we strolled down the busy street, coffee in hand, she bumped my shoulder playfully. "So, what are you looking to buy today?"
I raised an eyebrow. "I thought this was your shopping trip? You’re the one who dragged me out of my warm apartment, remember?"
"Oh! Let’s go in here," she said suddenly, tugging me toward an upscale men’s boutique. The gleam in her eyes was suspicious. "You should pick out a tie for Caesar. They say giving a man a tie means you want to bind him to you forever."
I frowned at the sentiment. If a man truly loved you, he’d stay without being bound. And if he didn’t, no tie—or chain, for that matter—would keep him. The memory of those notes flashed through my mind again, and my chest tightened painfully.
I’d escaped one man who couldn’t love me for who I really was, only to find myself married to another who saw me as a replacement for his lost love. The irony wasn’t lost on me.
"Sylvia," Morgana whispered urgently, pulling me from my thoughts. "Does that guy look suspicious to you? He keeps watching us."
I followed her gaze to a man partially hidden behind a rack of suits. He was indeed staring in our direction, phone in hand.
What was he doing here?
