"Do you like him?"

"Shit," I cursed and dropped the curling iron on the table. I burnt my neck. That hurt. But it should go away within a couple of minutes. I made sure it wasn't anything major only to freeze in front of the mirror. Fuck. It looks like a hickey. I hate hickeys. They're a reminder of my nights with boys, they're hard to hide, they sometimes hurt. I guess...I've never been proud to have a hickey because I was never serious with one person. Why am I thinking of William? Stop.

I groaned and went to bed after with a book in my hands and the light slightly dimmed. My hunger roared in my belly but I couldn't care twice. My book was more interesting and there's a possibility of seeing Zaire. Yesterday was great. Sort of. After I pushed away Zaire because those two seconds of lust I had for him went away, I was confused. I'll admit that he tried to be sexual with me again twice after that and that's where I got out of the pool and left. He didn't chase after me, thankfully. Three minutes later, someone knocked on my door and I don't attend to it. One minute after that, I received a message from the king himself.

Open your door, please.

I threw the book at the end of the bed after glancing at the page number. Before opening the door I used my open hair to hide the burn on the side of my neck. Knowing William, he will overreact. "What," I snapped upon throwing open the door. William looked stressed. He walked in and shut the door behind him without my consent but I couldn't care. What's wrong with him? "Where were you yesterday?" He asked, looking around the room. Shit, Do I tell him the truth? "Where were you yesterday?" I copied him. My arms folded across my chest and I tried to push away the worried thoughts I had for him.

"I had breakfast with my family and imagine my surprise when Bradley says he hasn't seen you all day," William immediately says. "Bradey," I corrected even though it was hopeless at this point. "And I was with another friend," I blurted out casually and accidentally pushed the hair off my shoulder. It's something slightly dramatic I do at random times, I wasn't thinking this time.

"A hickey."

"What? No," I blurted out and tried to cover it again with my hair. William stepped forward with a clenched jaw and pushed the hair off again. The tingles that spread from his touch felt overwhelming. "That's a hickey," he whispered softly while he ran his fingers over the bruised skin. "No, I burnt myself. Don't you see my hair is curlier?" I defended. "Yeah, and you look fucking hot. But it's possible you did that to make your story more believable," he assumed while glaring at the mark on my neck. "William you stupid idiot! It's not a hickey! Why the fuck would I get a hickey?" I snapped.

"I don't know! But it flipping looks like one!" He shouted and paced around the bedroom with his fingers running through his hair. I don't want to see him like this. "Well, it's not. So relax. I already told you what happened. The curling iron is on the table," I say softly and pointed to the curling iron on the table. William stopped and looked at me, his eyes staring deep into mine. "Who were you with yesterday, Everest? Was it that cook boy? Do you like him?" William assumed.

"Who I like is none of your business. Are you forgetting that you're my mate?" I questioned. His eyes softened slightly and he took a step in my direction again. "No...I'm just scared...so you were with him yesterday, weren't you? D-Did he give you that hickey?" William stuttered. The strings of my heart tugged at the soft and shattered tone of his voice. "For the last time, Will, It's a burn. Look, it's already fading away. And yes, Zaire and I hung out yesterday but it wasn't anything major," I assured him.

He nods his head and finally stopped. "Where did you go then?" He wondered. "The mermaid pool in the cave thing," I say. He's the king. He has to know where that is. Something shifted in his eyes and he looked away for a split second. "Oh...I haven't been there in a while. Only a few know about that place," William mumbled. How do I respond to that?

"Yeah..." I dragged off.

"So does this mean that you'll let me eat with you?" William changed the topic with excitement. He's lucky I'm hungry tonight. "Yeah...sure whatever. I'm not that hungry anyway," I lied and he rolls his eyes. "Mhm, well I ordered one of the chefs to bring us our food," He revealed. Usually, we go get the leftover boxes from the kitchen. "That's a good yet lazy decision. What's for dinner?" I questioned.

"You," he smirked and my cheeks instantly tinted red. "You're so cute," he laughed at touched the tip of my nose. "I think it's Chinese food," he finally answered. Right then, someone knocked on the door and William insisted on opening it. The door open and I froze upon seeing Zaire. Oh shit. This isn't gonna end well. "You," William growled and I bolted to him and quickly pulled him back before anything happens. "I thought he would be your company," Zaire says towards me and rolls his eyes.

"Shut it, Mutt. You did your job now leave," William snapped and grabbed the boxes from him and placed them on the table. He tried shutting the door in his face when I stopped him. "William!" I hissed. "Thank you for the food, Zaire. I'll see you tomorrow," I said. Zaire raised one of his eyebrows suggestively. He's completely different from the guy I swam with yesterday. "I can't believe you choose him over me. I know the popularity isn't what you're after, Everest. She's too good for you," Zaire says the last part to William.

"Yeah but she's still mine so get over it. Leave," William demanded. "Stop! I'm not an object. You both are acting like children, thank you for delivering the food once again Zaire. Who I spend my time with is none of your business, I'll see you tomorrow. Goodbye," I finally say before shutting the door. "Thank Goddess," William huffed and grabbed his box of food angrily from the table. "Who does he think he is? I think you should tell him we're mates. He needs to back off. He clearly wants you," he grumbled.

"Whatever, Will. It doesn't bother me, you need to calm down," I sighed and sat down next to him with my food. "Mhm, okay," he brushed off. "I rather you spend time with Bradey," William softly says after seconds of silence. "And I rather spend my time with you but we all can't get what we want," I blurted out without thinking twice. Shit. Why did I say that?

"I know...I know how you feel. I'll try to find more time," he mumbled, not taking his eyes off the food. "How was breakfast with your parents? The pack was buzzing yesterday and today," I changed the topic. He nods his head and looked me in the eye. The words that slipped from his lips were lies. Are his parents what got him so distraught?

"Oh, it went well," William lied.