Dirty Desires

Chapter 2

I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. Carter had been cheating on my sister all this time? What is wrong with him? She's perfect in every way; the best girlfriend any guy could ask for. How could he betray her like this?

I couldn't just stand by and watch, like Clara's so-called friends were doing. We weren't super close, but she's still my sister, and I refuse to let some loser hurt her in front of a crowd of students.

I push past Amy and march toward them. No one else seems to notice me, but when have they ever? I've always been nearly invisible, and while I usually liked that about my life, today was different. Today, I was stepping into the spotlight to defend my sister.

"How could you do this?" I hear Clara scream as I get closer.

He doesn't respond; he gives her nothing—no explanations.

"How many were there?" she demands. "Did you sleep with the whole school? How many, Carter? I thought you loved me! I stupidly trusted every word that came out of your vile mouth. You're a disgusting piece of work, and I hope you suffer just like you're making me suffer today."

"You knew what I was from the beginning," he finally replies. "I never tried to hide it. I'm a free man. I don't need to tie myself down since I do not have a mate and never will have one. I want to live my life. Settle down? Not with you, or anyone else."

If I hadn’t mentioned it before, let me say it now: Carter's family has been cursed for generations. They are the only ones among us who haven't been blessed with mates. It might sound wild, considering mates are what set werewolves apart from everyone else. I don’t know the full story, but it’s clear they’re under some kind of curse. This means they can date freely without worrying about upsetting their mates since those mates simply don’t exist.

It doesn't mean that he has to be an ass to my sister because of it. His excuse was dumb, and so far I did not hear a single apology from his filthy mouth.

She's crying more than ever now, and I hate seeing Clara like this. She's always been one to compose herself, afraid of ruining her reputation. She must be in a lot of emotional distress to willingly do this out in the open for everyone to see.

I couldn't let her damage her reputation further; she would regret it by tomorrow.

I walk over to them and stand directly in front of Carter. His eyes slowly move from my sister to me. It's the first time that we've ever looked into each other's eyes. I'm startled a little at first from seeing him this close. It's unfair that someone with such a dirty character is given such a pretty face. Maybe that's why his character is so poor: because of his looks, he thinks that he's better than everyone else. He thinks that he can treat my sister or anyone for that matter in whatever way he wishes. He does this because he knows it is only a matter of time before another woman throws herself his way.

Carter has come over to our house multiple times before, but he's always stayed locked up in my sister's room. He has never stayed over for dinner with my parents, and we have never said a word to each other before. I never thought that I would be in this position one day. Everyone had their phones out, and they were recording every second of our first-ever exchange. I don't let that stop me.

By the look on his face, he recognizes me. At least he knows I'm Clara's younger sister. It would be a shame if he didn't even know this small detail about her life.

I narrow my eyes and punch him straight in his lips before he can see it coming. There are shocked gasps around us, including from my sister. No one expected a bookworm like me to do something like that. I punched the most popular guy in our school under the scrutiny of many, for crying out loud. Where did I find the courage to do something like that?

Carter doesn't even wince from the punch. Instead, he rubs his thumb finger over his bleeding lower lip.

"That's for my sister, you dumb jerk!" I shout. He quirks a brow at me, and I feel like punching him for a second time. But, I decide not to give him that satisfaction as I grab Clara's hand and pull her away from the field with me.

"Who does he think he is?" I ask her. "He has no right treating you that way. You've been nothing but good to him and deserve so much better; you CAN do better than him. There are so many men that will willingly jump to give you anything that you want. Yet that asshole had you and chose to cheat on you with a bunch of nobodies. I want to go back and punch him again. Maybe even knee him in his crotch!"

Clara is quiet as we head over to our car. I don't think she's hearing a word I'm saying to her. She's in too much shock to understand anything that's happening around her.

"And what kind of friends do you even have?" I demand. "They just stood there and watched while that jerk had nothing good to say to you. They're not worthy of your kind heart. None of them are.”

She continues to be silent throughout our drive back home. We usually never go home together; Carter is the one who drops her off. She still doesn't say anything as we pull up to the house and she storms out of the vehicle.

As I step over the threshold into the dimly lit living room, I can hardly process the scene before me. My sister collapses onto the floor, her body wracked with sobs, the sound echoing painfully off the walls. This is the most vulnerable I've ever seen her; her face, usually so radiant, is now streaked with tears and shadows of despair. It hits me hard—she must have truly loved him.

I scan the defeated expression on her face, realization crashing over me like a wave. How could I have been so utterly blind to his betrayal? Everyone around us seemed to sense the truth, the whispers of infidelity dancing just beneath the surface. They've known all along, everyone, including Clara’s friends. They all knew and no one even thought to tell her.