Chapter 17
Roman took the opportunity to hand over a bottle of wine. "Alpha Knight, why don't you let Taya pour a glass of wine for you."
Roman had wanted to see me undress in front of everyone, but he quickly realized that I was his date and that he had publicly referred to me as his girlfriend. He would look like a fool if I took my clothes off in front of everyone-especially an Alpha. And that was the only thing that saved me.
Preston reacted quickly and agreed with Roman. "Let her pour you a glass of wine as punishment."
After that, he signaled me to pour wine for Griffon.
How...how was pouring him wine a punishment?
I looked up at Griffon. His face was blank, and I couldn't figure out what he was thinking... if he was thinking anything at all.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
He'd been holding a glass of wine all evening, but I'd yet to see him take a sip of it. I didn't know what kind of wine was in his glass-if it was laced with wolfsbane or not.
I mustered the courage to pick up the expensive red wine on the table, walked up to him, and bent down slightly.
I was about to pour the wine into his glass when he suddenly raised his hand to cover the rim.
Griffon stared at me and spat out, "Dirty."
My heart sank, and the pain was almost unbearable. I struggled to catch my breath as my hand trembled, still holding the wine bottle.
My body stiffened, and I gazed into his eyes. There was no trace of affection there, only disdain.
It was commonplace for shifters to think that humans-or those born to shifters but who never got their wolves-were tainted.
This was just ridiculous, though. If that's what he was thinking right now, how wasn't I dirty when he was sleeping with me for five years? No amount of cleaning myself "inside and out" was ever going to take away the fact that I wasn't a shifter. My anger began to rise, and I stood up straight, handing the wine bottle back to Roman, upset.
"Beta Starke, since Alpha Knight thinks I'm dirty, why don't you pour a glass of wine for him instead?"
***
Her voice was soft, and when she called Roman "Beta Starke," it almost made his bones go limp.
Roman was burning with desire, and hugged her waist, comforting her. "Okay, let me handle it."
He took the bottle from her hand and poured wine for Griffon. "Don't misunderstand, Alpha Knight. She's not that kind of girl; she's clean."
Griffon snorted. "Is that so?"
The mocking laughter seemed to completely deflate Taya.
Roman gave him a suspicious look.
It was weird. Why did it feel like Griffon was making Taya feel uncomfortable on purpose? Was the Alpha playing some kind of game with her because she was human?
Worried that Griffon's misunderstanding would jeopardize the project his pack was so desperately trying to get, Roman quickly explained with a smile, "Trust me, I've checked. She's clean."
Griffon's hand tightened, and it almost looked as though he would snap the wineglass stem in two.
He raised cold, narrowed eyes and looked at Roman. "And just how did you verify that?" Roman didn't notice Griffon's strange reaction and said proudly, "I've slept with her, of course."