Too Late to Chase Me, Beta Nathan

“To you!” I shrieked, but Nathan only raised an eyebrow and quickly pulled me into his embrace, laughing.

“Joke time is over, babe. Come here,” he whispered.

But my video call is still ongoing with my brother, and when Nathan kissed me forcefully on the lips, I accidentally clicked the hung-up button.

He caressed my hair. “Why are you breaking up with me? Have we not shared enough nights, hmm?”

I stomped my foot when I pushed him and escaped from his hold. “IT’S SHANNON!”

Nathan only slipped his hand into his pockets. “What about her?”

“You—” Never mind, he’s going to deny it anyway. “Where were you after Shannon's welcome party?”

“I was at my friend’s house. You know, at Michael’s.”

I almost snorted and laughed at his answer but I just schooled a neutral face. “Michael’s?”

He nodded.

But I knew where he'd gone to: the red lipstick stain on his white shirt collar says it all.

“Babe, Morganne...” His warm breath tickled against my neck. But our once sweet intimacy to one another that used to made my heart race now only made me feel...uncomfortable.

My body suddenly ached and I didn’t know where the pain really came from, whether it’s from the burn on my arm or being too tired to keep up with Nathan’s lies. The pain was so sharp that it brought tears to my eyes again.

I rarely cry in front of Nathan, and now that I do...

Nathan panicked as soon as he saw my tears. It seemed like he had completely forgotten what had happened at Shannon’s welcome party. I almost did too, but the memory of him rushing after her reminded me how the piping hot soup came to burn half of my arm.

I remained silent, unsure whether I should tell him and shatter his mask of feigned affection or just quietly scratch its pain and itchiness. “You’ve been with Shannon, haven’t you?”

But he completely ignored my question and chuckled, more like to himself. “Look at you—you’re already old now but still afraid of just a little pain. You’re always crying—” He paused when he lifted up the sleeve of my sweater. He cursed at the sight of it. “Oh, Morganne...what would you do without me?”

He left my side and immediately rushed to get first aid.

Silence made me more uncomfortable knowing that he cheated on me but still kind of cared about me. “But Nathan, I don’t want you anymore. I don’t want this fake love anymore!”

“Stop uttering words you don't know the meaning of, Morganne.” He said nothing about my confession and only cleaned the burn in my arms and helped me climb to bed to sleep.

***

That night, I couldn’t sleep well. I woke up covered in sweat just as dawn was breaking.

He saw my struggles and Nathan pulled me out of bed. “Let’s go to the pack’s hospital, you’re not looking well.” He touched my forehead. “And you also seemed to have a fever.”

I shook my head. “I’ll call my brother first—”

“Fuck your brother!” He snatched my phone and it landed on the pillow. “Can’t you see you’re in pain right now?” Concern twinkled in his eyes. I heaved a deep sigh as he said, “I’ll drive you to the pack’s hospital right now.”

I grumbled, trying to push him away. But he just clicked his tongue and leaned in to kiss me. All of a sudden, my sleepiness vanished. I almost slapped him, but I thankfully managed to hold myself back from my palm landing on his cheeks.

“It was just a quick kiss, babe.” I rolled my eyes at him. He poked my shoulder playfully. “Are you awake now, my Sleeping Beauty?”

I turned away, wiping my mouth in disgust. “I’m hungry, Nathan.”

“Then let’s go to the pack’s hospital. I’ll buy you a sandwich on the way there.”

***

Arriving at the White Woods Pack’s hospital, we unexpectedly ran into Shannon.

And as expected, my Beta Nathan who had been gentle just moments before he saw her, instantly gasped. Forgetting I was beside him, he rushed over to Shannon, “What happened, Shan?”

The bitch who left him and was now back in his life smiled at him, looking past him toward me as if I was barely there.

Nathan even forgot that I’m hungry and his promise to buy me a sandwich is as good as a lie.

“It’s just a sprained ankle,” she sweetly replied.

“I see. My little sister here had quite of a burn on her arm so I brought her in for a check-up too.”

“You mean your fiancee?” Shannon scoffed, her face bright with a smirk.

She walked away from us before Nathan could say more.

Seeing her walking away with difficulty, my fiance didn’t think twice about scooping her up in his arms. He left me there standing, and I was forced to lean on the wall to refrain my body from collapsing to the floor.

“Let me help you,” he offered. Nathan turned to where I am. “Morganne, wait here for me.”

I blinked. And just like yesterday at Shannon’s welcome party, I was left all by myself again.