Un.Requited (Claimed Series) Read online

  The boy laughed uneasily, almost if her presence set him off. “Many werewolves live in packs, Hayden. Each pack has an Alpha, the one in charge of the rest. Cole Slayter is a notorious Alpha and my brother was honored enough to get in his pack and—” Gregory was rambling and he cut himself off after realizing it. With a shake of his head, he continued. “Cole isn’t known for his lenience with humans or rogue werewolves. Especially newborns, or recently-turned werewolves, that were bitten by a rogue.”

  Hayden frowned deeply. She was trying to make sense of it, trying to piece together what he wasn’t saying. “Tracer, that man just now, he’s a rogue werewolf,” she stated more than asked.

  Gregory nodded. “Tracer is a member of Nicolas’ pack, the man who has an interest in… claiming you. Nicolas happens to be the Alpha of the majority of the rogues. He sends out his pack to turn as many humans as he can in order to build up his ‘army’. Naturally, he’s the enemy of Cole and the other Alphas.” He gave a smile that looked more like a grimace. “Lucky you, you get the undivided attention of two notorious Alphas.”

  They lapsed into silence. The foundation of everything was that she was a werewolf, Tracer was a werewolf, and Gregory’s brother was a werewolf. It was like whiplash, trying to grasp all this.

  Whatever relief Hayden might have felt at getting an answer to her unexplainable condition was now gone. A heavy burden seemed to weigh on her shoulders, rivaling the feeling of ominous gloom.

  “In short, you’re basically saying that Cole is the good Alpha and Nicolas is the bad Alpha.” She understood that much, but she was missing something vital. As she thought back to Gregory’s explanations, she suddenly froze, her dread growing. “But you said that Cole doesn’t tolerate newborn werewolves who were bitten by a rogue. I was bitten by a rogue.” Amber eyes narrowed into slits as Greg shifted uncomfortably. “Cole doesn’t want to claim me,” she accused sharply. “I bet he doesn’t even want to protect me.”

  The boy all but giggled hysterically, twisting around on the swing and peering at the clouds. The action seemed rather childish in Hayden’s eyes.

  “You were right in labeling Cole as the ‘good’ Alpha. Unfortunately, he makes things complicated. Once he found out you were a newborn, and most likely bitten by a rogue, Cole ordered me to kill you.” He mumbled something under his breath about stealth and the impossible task of getting away with murder.

  Hayden’s teeth snapped together in a growl and her stomach tightened in fury. “Then why did you tell Tracer I was under Cole’s protection, when in reality, he just wanted to kill me?” It must have come out harsher than she wanted, for Gregory crossed himself. Hayden scoffed at the senseless act. Nonetheless, it seemed to tame her anger. “Why would Cole and the other Alphas want to kill newborns that were bitten by rogues?”

  The boy snorted, sounding strangely like a wild boar. “He and the other Alphas try to eliminate as many rogues as possible to prevent them from Siring newborns. You see, Sires have a certain power over the werewolf they turn. You might have felt submissive with Tracer as he tried to order you around.”

  He occupied himself with tracing circles in the sand with toe of his shoe. “Because of this obedient control they have over you, you are an easy tool the rogues can use for their pack. Cole wanted to eliminate the threat before it came to play.” He looked bashfully at Hayden. “Meaning, he wanted to kill you before you could contribute to Nicolas’ growing numbers.”

  Staring at her buried feet in the sandbox, Hayden struggled to understand Cole’s viewpoint. From his prospective, she would just be another enemy to him, one that followed her Sire’s orders without question.

  On the other hand, he didn’t even know her. He hadn’t even extended a helping hand. There were ways around killing instantly, ways that might seem too troublesome and time-consuming for a notorious Alpha like Cole.

  “Thank you,” Hayden whispered, “for disobeying Cole and saving me.”

  Even in the dusk, his reddening cheeks were noticeable. His mouth twisted into a smile and he kicked the sand under his feet. “I couldn’t kill you, not when I knew how well you resisted attacking the students today. I know you were confused over what was happening to you, yet you still controlled yourself.” He glanced shyly at Hayden from the corner of his eye. “It was worth it, even if I get skewered from Cole and my brother.”

  Hayden remained silent, wondering if Gregory had a plan in mind. Nicolas wanted to claim her because she was a female and because she would contribute mindlessly to his pack. Cole just wanted her dead. Neither option sounded remotely appealing.

  “I’ll try to talk with my brother. Maybe he can convince Cole to find you a pack to live with.” He faltered when he saw the obvious rejection on Hayden’s face. “You didn’t think you could live in New York forever, did you? You wouldn’t be able to control yourself around all the humans. And the full moon…” Gregory broke off, glancing at the crescent moon. “Your first moon will be painful. You’ll need an Alpha there to guide you through the transformation.”

  She refused to think more on it, not when she had a sinking suspicion that Cole would have no tolerance for a newborn like her. He wouldn’t feel compelled to put her with a pack, and in the meantime, Hayden could stay here and practice her self-control. Her family’s safety was all that mattered anyway.

  Flashing Gregory a look, Hayden offered a bitter grin. “Just like the legend, huh? We only turn into wolves during the full moon.”

  Fortunately, werewolves weren’t like the half-transformed men in legends. Tracer had appeared like a normal wolf, only a fraction larger and far more majestic.

  “Actually,” Gregory started, “after the first full moon you can transform whenever you want, as long as you have control over your wolf. But it’s always mandatory to morph on the full moon.” He suddenly perked up. “Do you want to know more about werewolves? Blake has kept me updated. Did you know that you’re immortal now, young forever? And you can heal faster and your speed—”

  “I think that’s good enough for tonight, Gregory,” Hayden rasped as she felt a wave of dizziness.

  Giving a sheepish shrug, he stood up, eyeing her tentatively. It must have taken a lot of courage to reach out and offer his hand to Hayden. “If you can’t take my hand, you can’t trust yourself around your family, Hayden.”

  In response to his challenge, she flattened her scarf across her nose and grabbed his hand. She tried not to think of him as prey, but as a friendly classmate who had saved her life. Though, almost instantly, she felt her fingers tighten without permission. His hand was so feeble in her grasp. It would be so easy to take it and—

  “Hayden,” Gregory warned. “You’re hurting me.”

  She dropped his hand, disgusted at what she had become. Without his help, Hayden stood from the swing, feeling oddly despondent. “Will I always be like this?” Hayden asked uncertainly as she put a respectable distance between herself and the boy.

  Gregory glanced in Hayden’s direction as they walked out of the park. “It’s hard to say. My brother, even after ten years, still finds it difficult to control himself. On the other hand, there are other werewolves who find it relatively easy to be around us.”

  They lapsed into silence for a good remainder of the way home. While it was a relief to discover the answers to her current problems, it also brought with it a weighty worry and a lingering melancholy.

  The things that once made her human were no longer present. Instead, her enhanced senses and strong desire to attack only set her apart from everyone. It made her feel extremely alone. Not to mention how her family would react if they found out she was an animal. Hayden didn’t feel like the same person she used to be. She felt confined and entirely at the mercy of this thing inside her. They wouldn’t understand that. They would reassure her that she was the same daughter they knew, the same daughter they loved.

  “You said we were immortal,” she said as soon as they stopped in front of her apartment. “But can thing
s kill us? There has to be something we’re vulnerable to, like silver.” The poisonous metal-like smell coming from Gregory’s gun was silver, something that had set her on edge even when she hadn’t known what it was.

  He came to a stop near the stairs, studying Hayden hesitantly. “Silver can kill werewolves, yes, among other things.” Sighing, he took off his stocking cap and ran a hand through his untidy hair. “Listen Hayden, hang in there. I’m calling Blake as soon as I get home.” He surveyed her carefully. “Don’t do something stupid. I’ll see you at school.”

  After stressing his expectance of seeing her tomorrow, Gregory began walking away. Hayden watched him leave, only entering the apartment building until she could no longer see him. It was remarkable how her life could change with just one bite. Not just change, but also turn entirely upside down. She felt disorientated, unsettled. It didn’t help matters that she was a threat to her family’s safety as well.

  By the time she entered her apartment, Hayden’s mother was up from her chair, a worried expression creasing her face. “Hayden, is everything alright?” Rebecca had a voice that could immediately soothe away fears and concerns.

  Tonight, her voice only heightened Hayden’s guilt and doubt. Whenever she looked at her mother, she always felt as if she were looking into the future.

  Rebecca was aging beautifully, just as Hayden imagined she would look someday. They had the same honey-blonde hair, yet whereas her mother’s hair was tamed and cut short, Hayden struggled with her long, unmanageable waves. They also used to share the same eyes. Now, sharp amber had replaced Hayden’s original soft brown.

  “I’m fine.” Again, Hayden tugged her scarf closer.

  Her mother’s approaching and smothering proximity was beginning to drown Hayden in uncontrollable lust. Automatically, her eyes lowered and stared at her mother’s exposed neck. Her gums began to itch and she had to swallow the excessive amount of saliva in her mouth.

  After realizing her body’s reaction, Hayden closed her eyes. After all the years of her mother’s nurture and love, one bite from a stranger could make Hayden see her as food, as prey. It was disgusting. She was disgusting.

  “Hayden,” Rebecca started, “you haven’t been the same since you came back from Montana.” Pausing, she exhaled uncertainly. “Did something happen between you and your aunt? Did you find a boyfriend there?”

  “No, Mom,” Hayden said sharply. “I haven’t been feeling very well. That’s all.” It was odd, these conflicting emotions. She wanted to take advantage of her mother’s protection and tell her everything, but that would also put her family in danger.

  Hayden’s stepbrother suddenly exited his bedroom to her immediate right and he began laughing. “Why are you wearing that scarf around your face?”

  “Anthony,” Hayden’s stepfather warned harshly.

  The blond-haired cretin threw his hands in the air. “She was wearing it all day at school, dad. She looked like an idiot. What are you hiding under there? A hickey?”

  Unable to handle three humans in such a small room, Hayden brushed past her mother and headed to her room without another word.

  “Hayden!”

  “I’m going to bed,” Hayden informed coolly from over her shoulder.

  Before they could try to convince her to stay behind, she shut the door and locked it behind her. Without wasting another minute, she hastily tore the scarf off and balled it into her fists. She had the intense desire to shred it to pieces, but she knew it would be counterproductive. It was the only barrier she had between the humans and her teeth. No matter how flimsy that barrier was, it was still effective.

  Whirling around, Hayden stared at the mirror. Across her neck sat an ugly scar, a vivid reminder of what she was. She looked horribly wild, untamed, her eyes too bright and focused, like an animal.

  Swallowing the tears and contorting her expression into one of resignation, Hayden collapsed on her bed. She began replaying the events of tonight, wondering if her family was in more danger from Tracer or from her.

  2. Chapter Two

  Standing motionlessly on the sidewalk, Hayden stared tentatively at her school. Her fingernails, which had grown overnight, pierced her backpack strap in unease.

  A part of her wanted to call in sick and protect the house from any attempt Tracer might make at breaking inside. Fortunately, everyone in her family was at work or school, giving Hayden a small bit of hope that everything would be all right for a few hours.

  Unfortunately, school wasn’t where she wanted to be right now. She didn’t think she would be able to handle the humans’ proximity as well as she had yesterday. The very thought of having to suffocate herself with a scarf again was unpleasant, and she didn’t want to give her stepbrother anymore ammo for his crude insults.

  Flashing the school one last dour look, Hayden made her mind up and confidently walked away.

  “No, no! Hayden!”

  There wasn’t any reason to turn around and search out the owner of the loud footsteps. She knew it was Gregory Martin following her, bumping past the students in his way just to get at her.

  Hayden buried her face in the collar of her jacket, ignoring him as he shouted after her a second time. The scarf from yesterday hung loosely between her fingers, ready in case she needed it as a last resort.

  “Please, Hayden, don’t leave.”

  The hand came out of nowhere, grabbing hold of her elbow. Flinching from the physical contact, Hayden couldn’t stop the animalistic growl that purred threateningly through her chest. Yanking her arm back, she set her sights on Gregory. The human reeled backward, his face pale and his stance defensive. The hand that had grabbed her elbow was now up in the air, a gesture of fierce surrender.

  As soon as Hayden realized what she was doing, her hatred cooled. She turned away from him, ashamed. “You see why I can’t go to school? I can’t be in a school full of humans.”

  A few students rushing on the sidewalk overheard Hayden’s statement and looked at her peculiarly. She paid them no heed as she watched Gregory shift awkwardly from the corner of her eye.

  “Why don’t we get something to eat? I know you must be hungry for some meat.”

  The suggestion sounded odd to her. Something to eat? Now? It wasn’t common practice to invite a potential enemy to lunch. Strangely enough, the mention of meat did seem to lessen the persistent hunger pains she had been experiencing.

  Cautiously, Hayden inclined her head in agreement, following Gregory at a much slower pace. She looked suspiciously at his curled hands and his pockets. “This wouldn’t be your way of luring me into a trap just to kill me, would it?” she asked dryly.

  Throwing a shaky grin over his shoulder, Gregory reddened at her stare. He averted his eyes quickly. “No,” he denied softly. “I don’t think I could hold that gun again if I tried. I called Blake last night,” he announced abruptly before turning back forward.

  He must have been too scared to walk behind or beside her. It was understandable, but it wasn’t smart to turn his back on her either. Hayden couldn’t help but to follow his exposed throat with her eyes as he looked both ways before crossing the street.

  “You talked with your brother?” She cleared her throat, breaking her concentration from the boy in front of her. “What did he say?”

  “Let’s wait until we get some food in you,” he muttered in response.

  Pressing her lips together, Hayden followed him across the street. Her mother always claimed that the way through a man’s heart was through his stomach. Apparently, the same held true for female werewolves.

  Gregory led Hayden to a small sub shop down the road from school. She had been there countless of times before, mainly after school with her friends. If she imagined hard enough, she could even see herself sitting near the window, so untroubled, with not a care in the world. Funny how fast it changed, and even more so with the realization that it may never happen again.

  “Looking into the past doesn’t do you any good,” Gregory
murmured gently, as if he could somehow understand what Hayden was feeling. His chocolate-colored eyes took special interest in tracing over her faraway expression.

  Even if he could sound understanding, it would be impossible for him to fathom what it was like to become an animal. He wouldn’t know what it was like to withdraw from physical contact or distance himself from loved ones. Numbly, Hayden met his inquiring stare.

  “What future can I possibly look forward to?” she countered bitterly, pushing past him and entering the restaurant.

  In attempt to stifle her growing depression, Hayden did the only thing that would settle her. She ordered the largest meat sub they had, minus the toppings. Naturally, the employee behind the glass counter gave Hayden a peculiar stare as she began constructing the sub. Hayden turned a blind eye to the woman’s intrusive glances, finding it easier to ignore the human when there was food in front of her.

  After they received their sandwiches, they scouted a small table near the windows and sat down. Outside, the clouds were becoming heavier and the scent of approaching rain rushed into the restaurant as soon as a customer exited the doors.

  “I’m not a fan of ham.” Gregory made a face as he tossed a few slices of meat at her.

  Torn, Hayden wondered if she should feel insulted that he treated her like a dog, or guilty that she needed to give him something in return. “Would you like my bread?”

  Before he could answer, she tossed him the foot-long bread. Overlooking Gregory’s distaste, Hayden inhaled her meat with as much dignity as she could muster. Her teeth tore through the tender chicken with ease and she was pleasantly surprised to notice the painful tension in her stomach began to lessen.

  Across the table, Gregory froze, blinking at her in unease. “Perhaps…” he trailed off nervously and licked his lips. “Maybe we should have waited to eat after I told you what Blake said.”

  “It’s obviously bad news,” Hayden muttered airily as she picked listlessly at the ham. His nervousness bothered her. “I’m not going to attack you, Greg. You saved me last night. The least I can do is refrain from biting off your head.”