Chosen By My Mate's Father-in-law
Chapter 48: Off-balance

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Off-balance

“Let me go,” I snarled, but still tried to keep my voice low, not wanting to attract attention. “Now.”

“No,” Elliot growled and kept a tight grip on my upper arm. His dark eyes bored into mine, trying to intimidate me.

He was squeezing his fingers into my skin so hard that I wanted to flinch, but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.

“Stop acting like you aren’t jealous when you see me with Isabella,” Elliot whispered, his thumb tracing my skin. “Quit pretending like it doesn’t kill you when you see me hug her or when you see me kiss her. Don’t act like your wolf wasn’t going crazy inside your head when I told Isabella that I couldn’t wait to marry her.” He leaned toward me and put his lips right next to my ear. “Even now, I know it’s driving you crazy with jealousy just to hear her name on my lips. It’s obvious that you still have feelings for me. Stop pretending like you can’t feel the mating bond between us!”

I jerked my head away and shuddered from revulsion. But there was also a small amount of pleasure in having him close to me. My wolf still wanted him. She was an animal and could sense her mate was near. I hated that even a small part of me still wanted him. It made me feel weak.

Adrenaline pumped through me as my heart raced. I wanted to scream. I wanted to punch him and wipe that smirk off his face. But I didn’t want to cause a scene since I knew Isabella and Michelle could overhear us.

“You’re delusional,” I muttered under my breath and glared at him. “The only thing I feel for you is disgust. You’re a pig who needs a lesson on how to treat women.”

Elliot’s eyes darkened.

“I saw jealousy in those blue eyes of yours when you looked at us.” He put his hand under my chin and tilted it up until I met his gaze. “Don’t deny it. You can’t lie to me, Jasmine. I’m your mate.”

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance.

“Like I said, you’re delusional. Maybe you should see a professional because you’re seeing things.” He scowled at that comment. “And you need to stop with the PDA around the house. If Michelle fails her weapons test, it will be all your fault.”

He barked out a cruel laugh. “It’s just us here now. You can quit pretending that you actually care about that spoiled brat. Everyone knows you took this job just to get into Gareth’s pants. Or to put it more accurately, his wallet.”

Anger flooded through me, and his words made me grit my teeth. Using a self-defense move, I pushed his shoulder, throwing him off-balance, and twisted out of his hold. When I managed to get his hand off me, I took a giant step away from him, my back almost hitting the cement of the patio’s staircase.

Elliot strode forward, and that was when I realized my mistake.

He had me trapped against the wall of cement. But I couldn’t be scared. Elliot would be able to sense my fear from a mile away.

“That’s rich coming from you.” I laughed in his face. “You’re the one using Isabella to get into the Laken family.”

His eyes narrowed into slits.

“You’re stretching the truth.”

I crossed my arms. “Really? Because the only liar in this conversation is you. You’re manipulative and deceitful.” That word made me remember what happened at school earlier today. “Everyone at my school knows about my dysgraphia. Do I have you to thank for making my learning disability public knowledge?” I asked sarcastically.

“No, of course not. I had nothing to do with that,” Elliot said with conviction.

The corners of his mouth lifted for a fraction of a second, but then the smirk left his face. There was also a flicker of glee in his eyes that he tried to mask. But I knew him too well. These subtle clues made me realize I was right.

Elliot had a hand in the trouble I faced at school today. It was only the first part of his plan to ruin my life until I met his demands.

“Why are you wasting your time with school anyway?” Elliot pressed. “Your professors are so stupid that they didn’t even know that you had a learning disability and didn’t give you the right tools to help you. On that note, you don’t even have to go to college. I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life, baby. All you have to do is move into the house I bought for us.”

He wrapped his arms around me, pressing his body against mine. Elliot moved me until I was pinned against the wall. One hand snaked around my waist, and the other captured both of my wrists.

A quiet gasp escaped me. How could he be so bold? Anyone could walk out and see us in this compromising position. A servant, Isabella, or Michelle. Even worse, this was Gareth’s house. Wasn’t Elliot intimidated by the Lycan King? When did he become so arrogant?

Did he believe that he could talk his way out of anything with her because Isabella was just so in love with him?

I tried to escape from his tight grasp, but he wedged one of his knees between my legs, stopping me.

Damn it.

I hated the feeling of being trapped. Especially by him.

I couldn’t give up, though.

I tried to push him away, but it was pointless. My wolf wouldn’t allow me to use my full strength. His familiar scent enticed my wolf, alluring her, demanding that I nuzzle closer to my mate.

He grinned.

Bastard.

Elliot’s black hair tickled my skin as he swooped his head down to my neck. He pressed his hard body against me as he breathed in my scent and then groaned like he missed my smell. He kissed the side of my neck and flicked his tongue against my skin.

A shudder of disgust rolled through me, and nausea crept up my throat. But my wolf reacted the complete opposite way. She was jumping for joy, demanding more from her mate.

Elliot put his lips to my ear.

“I know that you want more, baby. When we were a couple and like this,” he tightened his arms around me, “you would have buckled from desire. Why do you want to escape so badly when you know how good I can make you feel?” His fingers trailed down my back.

Right before I could try to stomp his foot in another attempt to escape, the atmosphere changed around us.

I heard the sound of the sliding door opening, and the hairs on my arm stood up.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized that a new domineering presence had joined us.