Chapter 16 Elena Killian whisked me out of the building before a real scene could be caused . Our car was still parked out front , and he ushered me into the back seat , then slammed the door behind him as he climbed in after me . " What is your problem , really ? " he ground out once we were alone , dark eyes flashing with anger . " Do you feel neglected or something ? Is that why you're selling off the jewelry I gave you and flirting with other men ? " " Flirting ? " I laughed out loud . " Jaxon and I weren't flirting . " " Is that so ? " Killian folded his arms across his chest . " I don't know about you , Elena , but when a man says that he wants to steal a woman away from her husband , that's typically considered to be flirting . " I pressed my lips together . Was Killian seriously jealous ? After making me feel like the wife he never wanted for years ? " I have no control over what someone else says or does , " I replied after a moment . " Perhaps not , but you don't have to engage in conversation with men like Jaxon Adler . " " Jaxon Adler is your biggest rival amongst all the Alphas , " I said , careful not to reveal what I knew from my previous life or what I was planning in this one . "He's been a thorn in your side in Council meetings for years . You know he's probably going to try to run against you as Council Leader . " My words seemed to strike a chord , because Killian's face darkened . I went on , " I was trying to help you by playing nice . Isn't that what you want ? A helpful little Luna who only does anything for your sake ? " Killian's eyes narrowed . " I don't believe you . " He leaned closer . " I think you're trying to get my attention . " I tried to lean back , but I had nowhere to go but the edge of my seat . Killian just leaned even closer , his cologne clouding the rest of my senses . The scent of him was intoxicating now just as it was the other night , and I felt my wolf begin to stir , excited by our mate's proximity . " Well , you've succeeded , " Killian murmured . He reached up to touch my face , and it took all my willpower not to lean into his palm . " If you want me so badly , then you can have me . Without having to resort to flirting with other men . " Suddenly , he was moving closer as if to kiss me . His hand moved to the back of my neck , angling my head for better access , lips parting . For a moment , I almost let him do it , just as I had last night and the night before and far too many times before that . It would be easy and familiar to fall back into our old rhythms , to let him soothe me with his body and the sparks that always flew between us whenever we made love . The driver wasn't in the car with us just now we could do it right here , right now . And … I wanted to . On a deep and primal level , of course I wanted my mate to make love to me , to comfort me with sweet nothings and tender kisses and the kind of intimacy no one else could provide . But more than that sense of want was a hatred so deep it burned straight through whatever love I once had for him . I had lost that love when he had killed me and my baby. When he had let Natalie kill Maeve . When they had taken everything from me , including my own life . Before my wolf could take control , I pulled back and slapped Killian so hard across the face it sent his head snapping to the side . Even in the car , it seemed to echo through the cramped space like a bomb had gone off . Killian reeled back , his fingers flying to the side of his face where a red , angry handprint was already starting to form . His dark eyes seemed to turn entirely black , like a black hole swallowing a galaxy . But I wasn't afraid of him anymore . And I wasn't done . P