Un.Requited (Claimed Series) Page 7

  Cole must have picked up her observation. “When I’m not here, I expect you to stay within the territory.” Pausing, he looked down at her. “More importantly,” he began, his dark eyes flashing. “You will need my permission to exit the property.”

  It was that domineering and dictatorial tone again and it rubbed her the wrong way. Hayden took back possession of her wrist and frowned. Something told her that Cole wouldn’t be lenient on her leaving the property. Chances were, until she gained better control over her wolf, he would confine her inside property.

  Before she could press the matter further, four figures staggered from the house. Hayden stood her ground assertively, willing herself not to hide further behind Cole. She watched the forthcoming werewolves closely, scrutinizing them and taking mental notes.

  The two tallest men looked similar and Hayden knew they were the twins, Fergus and Nathan. Both males had buzzed, blond hair and unique turquoise eyes. However, only one of the twins looked approachable. The one in question offered a slight smile when he caught sight of her. In sharp contrast, the other twin narrowed his eyes, his lips curling in disproval.

  Directly behind the twins were two women, both around the same age as the other. From what Blake explained, Addie was Cole’s grandmother, but Hayden couldn’t identify her. Both females looked to be in their middle twenties and both of them surveyed Hayden with indecision. One of the women even went so far as to look appalled at Hayden’s presence.

  Cole promptly wrapped a protective arm around Hayden’s waist, acting as a buffer. She flinched at the contact, subtly trying to move away, still uneasy around him. However, the Alpha easily disregarded her withdrawal attempts and kept her close to his chest.

  Deciding not to make a scene, Hayden chose to stay motionless in his hold and keep steady eye contact with the four figures in front of her. It was best if they saw she wouldn’t be kicked into submission so easily, even if she was the newcomer.

  “We were expecting you and Blake to return home, Cole, but not another…” one of the females trailed off tentatively.

  “You know the reason we went to New York,” Cole started with a crisp and imposing tone. “I decided to invite Hayden into 0ur pack. I’d like you all to be welcoming.” His hand cupped her lower back and nudged her toward them. “Hayden, I’d like you to meet Nathanial.”

  He motioned toward one of the twins. The blond-haired werewolf was sturdier than his brother was, yet both of them were easily the tallest figures in the group. Nathan gave Hayden a sharp nod, nothing more, nothing less. His eyes studied her coldly and untrustingly, making certain she was aware of his aversion to her sudden presence.

  “And this is Fergus.”

  The lankier twin winked at Hayden. His upper lip lifted in a crooked grin, revealing yellow teeth. She offered a thin smile in return.

  “Addie.”

  The woman with periwinkle blue eyes nodded her greeting. She had a classic look to her, a sort of old-fashioned beauty. Hayden could see a slight resemblance between her and Cole, but the main similarity ended with the black hair.

  Briefly, Hayden wondered what it was like for Cole and Addie. Seeing his grandmother in the body of a young woman for eternity must be strange for him. Then again, he’d known Addie as a young woman since childhood. Things that were strange for Hayden were normal for someone like Cole. Eternal youth was something Hayden would have to come to accept.

  “Hello, Hayden.” Addie was proper and kind as she extended a frail hand in greeting.

  Hayden shook the offered hand, pleased there was at least one member who wasn’t completely guarded around her. While Addie was noticeably puzzled at Hayden’s sudden arrival, she wasn’t hostile about her suspicions like the others.

  “And lastly, we have Devan, the female Alpha.” Cole’s tone hardened noticeably.

  The woman was shorter than Hayden was, yet she acted as if she were taller. Devan’s hazel stare was hostile and her defensive stance exuded an air of unfriendliness. Seeing the raw inhospitality spurred Hayden to act on the defensive.

  The creature inside of Hayden reared up and she found herself challenging the woman’s poor attitude. Only, Cole’s hand tightened on the small of her back, snapping her back to reality. It probably wasn’t the best idea to challenge the pack ranks the first five minutes of her arrival.

  “Why didn’t you consult the rest of us with your decision to take in another pack member?” Devan asked coldly. She tore her gaze away from Hayden and looked expectantly at Blake. Interestingly enough, she wouldn’t meet Cole’s gaze.

  Perhaps she wasn’t as dominant as she liked to think.

  “Cole doesn’t need to consult you or anyone else about his decisions for the pack. In the end, his word is final.” Blake stepped closer to Hayden, his mouth hard. “Hayden will be a part of this pack, Devan. I know it must be difficult conceiving the thought of competing with her. Don’t be so jealous.”

  Devan’s eyes flashed dangerously and she gave a low growl. Hayden frowned, already knowing they weren’t going to hit it off. Still, she wondered why Devan’s word wasn’t worth anything in this situation. As the female Alpha, wasn’t she on equal footing as Cole?

  “Well, I think it’s a wonderful idea to take in a new pack member,” Addie admitted warmly. She smiled affectionately at her grandson and Hayden. “Cole hasn’t invited a new member into the pack since becoming Alpha. It’s good for him to start growing his pack.”

  “That’s not really the point, though,” the serious twin, Nathan, spoke up. “The reason we are against her initiation into the pack is because of her Sire,” he informed crisply. “We know Tracer is dangerous and we don’t want him near our territory causing trouble. More importantly, we don’t want him controlling her. Who knows what she could do to use when we’re sleeping.”

  Hayden lifted her chin when they continued to talk about her as if she wasn’t there. She hadn’t known they were aware that Tracer was her Sire, but figured Cole must have told them about it before he left for New York. If they were this passionate against her because of Tracer, she could only imagine what their reaction would be when they found out about Nicolas’ claim.

  The hand on Hayden’s back curled and tightened as Cole shifted. His expression was hard as he planted his feet challengingly in front of Nathan.

  “There should be no reason why you are against Hayden’s presence, Nathanial, simply because you don’t have any say in the matter,” the Alpha informed lowly. He pulled Hayden closer. “She is your new pack member, treat her as such.”

  The pack backed off after the order, looking down or far away from Cole. Shaken, Hayden didn’t blame them for succumbing. The Alpha’s tone clearly stated the subject closed, and if they had any problems with it, they were to deal with it themselves.

  Addie was the first one who lifted her gaze. She took special interest in Cole’s arm around Hayden. The woman’s mouth twitched and Hayden shifted uncomfortably. Cole was only protecting her and making her feel welcome, and yet, Addie seemed generally surprised at his contact.

  She cleared her throat. “I have some delicious lamb chops cooking in the oven.” Addie’s voice was earnest and the corners of her eyes crinkled. “I’m sure you three are ravished.” In her eyes, there was deep wisdom, something only years of experience could achieve.

  Although she looked no older than her mid-twenties, Hayden could tell she was older from both her voice and her astuteness. Briefly, she wondered why Addie wasn’t the female Alpha. However, the more Hayden studied her, the more she could see how gentle Addie’s nature was. There was no hardness and aggression in her like there was in her grandson. Although, when one got past Cole’s callousness toward strangers, he did possess a sliver of gentleness.

  Cole turned suddenly, just seconds before a twig snapped cleanly behind them. Hayden whirled around, surprised to see two men seemingly appearing out of nowhere. They stood utterly motionless, their strength of their eyes the only evidence that they were living
creatures. Both men seemed to respect Cole’s territory and stood a good distance away from the yard.

  Cole’s persona morphed into the cold man Hayden remembered back in New York.

  “What is it?” he growled.

  Blake inched closer to Hayden, a solid bookend to her unprotected side. “Those are two of the four Alphas who live in town,” the beta whispered into her ear. His amber gaze watched the two men cautiously. “Most of the Alphas want to appear superior to Cole because of their age differences. Cole is just twenty-five, a mere pup in the eyes of the Alphas. They don’t think someone as young as Cole can lead efficiently. They’re constantly breathing down his neck, offering helpful advice.”

  Thankful for Blake’s explanation, Hayden could now understand their unfriendly, assessing eyes as they looked at Cole. Apparently, Hayden wasn’t the only one who experienced discrimination. For all his superiority, even Cole had to carry the burden of constant judgment.

  “But…” Blake began casually as his voice raised a few octaves. “They are more than aware of the fact that Cole could beat the shit out of them if he wanted.” The beta chuckled lowly, truly tickled at the thought.

  Smiling, Hayden wondered who the Alpha was before Cole took the position, and how long ago his predecessor stepped down. According to Addie, Hayden was the first werewolf Cole took in, and Blake just mentioned that Cole was only twenty-five.

  “We request an audience with you and your new pup.” A handsome black man with blue eyes was the first to speak up. Like Cole, he was able to command proper attention when speaking.

  “All in due time, Falco,” Cole replied, brushing him off nonchalantly. “We need to settle down before we attend pack matters.” He nudged Hayden behind him, closer to Devan.

  At the other woman’s close proximity, Hayden flinched. Clearly, Devan shared the same opinion as Hayden did, for she hissed threateningly at her. The well-known rage Hayden felt around humans curled sadistically in her chest in response to Devan’s warning. She had the uncontrollable urge to attack Devan as she had attacked the redheaded rogue back in New York.

  Easily sensing the impending attack, Cole reached behind him and hooked his fingers in the back of Hayden’s shirt. Keeping his eyes trained on the two werewolves near his territory line, Cole cleanly tugged Hayden away from Devan.

  “I’m afraid waiting is not an option,” the silver-haired Alpha warned. He gave Hayden a pointed look over Cole’s shoulder, his grey eyes contemptuous at her attempted lunge. “We will allow you an hour until we meet at The Lounge.” With one last condescending glare, he turned his heel and left.

  Hayden watched the two men retreat, feeling as if she had ruined her chances at impressing the other Alphas. With a sardonic sniff, Hayden blinked guiltily up at Cole. The Alpha peered down at her, looking anything but impressed.

  “Are you satisfied, Devan? I thought you had better control than that.” Cole regarded the female Alpha over Hayden’s head. He then unclenched Hayden’s shirt and he began walking toward the house. “We will eat before meeting the others.”

  Hayden blinked, disgusted when she suddenly felt the rush of vulnerability at Cole’s absence. Her expression hardened as she followed the rest of the pack up the yard. She was afraid that she was beginning to rely and depend on Cole. She didn’t need him to always stand and fight her battles.

  Lifting her chin, Hayden entered the house that she would learn to call her home. At least until she learned enough self-control to move back to New York.

  _______________

  To Hayden’s surprise, she found herself standing outside a quaint tavern. Cole stood before her, his face creased in concentration as he tightened the scarf clumsily around her neck. This time, Hayden wasn’t using the scarf as a barrier between humans and her teeth, but a barrier between the Alphas’ eyes and the mating mark Nicolas left behind on her neck.

  During dinner, Cole hadn’t thought it necessary to mention Hayden’s union with Nicolas. She knew, undoubtedly, that only bad things could come out of his silence on the topic. With the exception of Blake and Cole, Hayden felt most comfortable around Addie and Fergus. She didn’t want to lose their support once they learned about the mark. Both of them were extremely welcoming and had done everything in their power to make Hayden feel more at ease.

  True to Blake’s word, Addie’s cooking had been exceptionally delicious. Cole’s grandmother had also kept conversation going during dinner, asking questions about Hayden and making the transition a little bit easier. All the other members were silent, almost a brooding quiet. Something told Hayden that the silence wasn’t just about her presence, but a regular occurrence.

  “It’s a good thing you brought the scarf,” Blake muttered as he looked around the corner of the alley. “Considering Cole probably won’t clue you in, I might as well warn you about being in the company of Alphas, Hayden. Don’t speak unless spoken to, don’t make eye contact with the Alphas or the betas. They don’t take kindly to challenge, especially a newborn.”

  Hayden’s eyebrow twitched at the primeval traditions. “And when am I supposed to kneel on the ground? After I kiss their hands or before I lick their feet?” she asked dryly.

  Cole offered her an exasperated stare before turning away from his sloppy attempt at tying the scarf. Since the episode involving the two Alphas occurred, Cole had grown more distant, resembling the brooding man back in New York. He also seemed to avoid touching her unless it was necessary. It was perplexing, he was perplexing, but she wasn’t complaining. The distance would help her find her own footing.

  “Ready?” Blake raised his eyebrows at Cole, offering Hayden a tight grin.

  Walking leisurely behind the two males, Hayden approached the bar’s entrance. The Lounge smelt strongly of werewolves, the scent of human oddly absent. She wondered if werewolves were the only ones inhabiting this town, but then Hayden remembered smelling the tantalizing scent of humans as they passed the other shops. Perhaps the bar was only open to a select group of people, all who happened to be werewolves.

  Cole entered the tavern first, his shoulders rigid. Blake followed closely behind, making sure he kept Hayden within reach. Ignoring his protective hovering, Hayden studied the bar, surprised at the contemporary and elegant design.

  The layout of The Lounge was impressive. Deep stairs descended into a restaurant-like area, which was equipped with an open floor used for dancing. An expansive bar with stools, and a few plush chairs furnished the main level. There were various liquor bottles decorating the wall behind the serving bar, their vibrant colors varying across the shelf.

  The bar appeared to be empty, but her senses told her they weren’t alone. Adjusting her eyes further, she spied the werewolves gathered in the dark corner. One Alpha sat on a bar stool with another man, possibly his beta, standing at his shoulder. Another two Alphas were near the tables, appearing to have brought their second-in-command as well. All of their postures appeared relaxed, yet she noticed they carried the same tension in their torsos as Cole did.

  The silver-haired Alpha stood up. “It’s nice to see you on time, Cole,” he greeted cynically.

  His age, like every other werewolf, was unpredictable, appearing no older than thirty. Even if his hair was silver, it looked natural as it hung past his shoulders. There were no wrinkles, not even a single blemish on his skin.

  “Adolf,” Cole greeted with his voice just as spurious.

  Adolf?! The man’s name obviously set him past sixty, possibly seventy.

  “And Blake, I see you are still Cole’s beta.” The fake smile upon Adolf’s mouth faltered as he considered Blake. “A pack with such valuable resources shouldn’t be entrusted with an incapable beta. You may want to reconsider your second-in-command, Cole.”

  In response to the taunting, Blake’s fists clenched at his sides, but he remained silent.

  Hayden sneered deeply at the Alpha, irked at his patronizing tone. Stiffening, she braced herself as the man’s grey eyes skimmed over to her.
Blake had warned her not to challenge an Alpha’s stare, but she couldn’t help herself from meeting his gaze straight on. She didn’t take submission very easily, especially to men like him.

  Before Adolf had the chance to realize Hayden’s challenge, Cole stepped in front of her, cutting off a future dispute. “The issue at hand,” Cole reminded the Alpha. “I did not come here for a social gathering.”

  “Then why don’t you step aside and show us your new pack member, Cole? Who is she?” A new voice announced its presence, obviously trying to steer the conversation in a new angle.

  Peeking over Cole’s side, Hayden watched an unfamiliar man with shoulder-length blond hair step forward. His brown eyes looked kind, yet hard. At his shoulder, a younger man stood, obviously his beta.

  The younger werewolf had a similar appearance to the Alpha in front of him, and yet, he looked incredibly different from all the other men in the room. He had messy blond hair and his brown eyes sparkled with mischief. He met Hayden’s stare and a dimpled-grin crossed his mouth.

  Blinking, Hayden suddenly found herself out of Cole’s shadow.

  “This is Hayden,” Cole introduced curtly. “Hayden, you’ve already met Adolf.” He nodded to the silver-haired man. “Eric.” He motioned toward the blonde-haired man. “And Falco.”

  The black-skinned Alpha, who was sitting a distance away, assessed Hayden closely with a deep frown. He tapped the tabletop with a slow rhythmic beat, hardly appearing as outspoken or worked up as Adolf.

  Cole didn’t seem inclined to introduce the betas, especially the eager blond at Eric’s shoulder. Instead, he steered Hayden over to a chair, forcing her to sit as he loomed behind her in a shielding manner. Blake was quick to lean against the bar next to her, appearing nonchalant, yet alert.

  “As much as I enjoy the pointless introductions, we brought you here to discuss her living arrangements.” Adolf motioned toward Hayden with a flippant hand, as if she were a mere burden. “We believe you are too young and inexperienced to take on a female, especially a female like this.”