Un.Requited (Claimed Series) Page 8

  “Oh?” Cole grinned mischievously. “And what do you propose? If I remember correctly, you don’t have any unmated females in your pack, Adolf. And you, Eric. Will you try to convince me you need a female to keep balance to all the packs?”

  Falco sighed listlessly before standing gracefully from his stool. He began to advance closer to Hayden, his blue eyes sharp and evaluating. “No Cole,” the man denied as he came to a stop next to her. He ignored Blake and Cole as they shifted warningly. “We wouldn’t want a female in our pack who is tainted by Nicolas’ rogues.”

  Cole bared his teeth, the hands on Hayden’s chair curling. “You’ve taken in newborns that were Sired by rogues before. What could possibly make Hayden any different?”

  Eric, the blond-haired Alpha, sat down a few chairs away. He assessed the trio of defensive werewolves and shook his head. “Are you trying to fool us, Cole?” he asked. There was true disappointment in his tone, absolutely no scorn present on his face.

  Adolf threw his head back in exasperation while laughing mockingly. “Of course he’s trying to fool us! He’s young and foolish if he thinks we would be so ignorant.”

  “Why don’t you take off her scarf, Cole?” Falco grinned, suddenly crouching down on his haunches a few inches away from Hayden. His blue eyes taunted her and the smile on his face was far from pleasant. “What are you hiding underneath it, pup?”

  Her back stiffened as she felt a rush of adrenaline race through her veins. Something was telling her to be on guard, and just as quickly as the thought came, Falco lunged. Out of instinct and a sense of defense, Hayden met his attack with her nails. He was able to get her scarf loose before her strike sent him off course. Her claws ripped through the skin on his cheek, effectively warning him away.

  With his head averted to the side, Falco exhaled before turning back around, snarling in her face. His glare was animalistic and she knew he would attack again. But before he had the chance, Cole reached forward, intercepting Falco roughly around the collar.

  Yanking the other Alpha by the collar, Cole thrust his face close to Falco. “Never lay a hand on her again, ever.” It looked as if Cole would bite the other man’s face off with the way his teeth were exposed. Even his arm muscles were flexing, appearing larger than normal.

  Adolf tsked disapprovingly, forcing his way between the two snarling men. “Careful, Cole. We didn’t intend to start a fight. We were only insulted that you think you could hide Nicolas’ mating mark.”

  Blake reached over Hayden’s frozen form and placed a hand on Cole’s shoulder, effectively snapping the Alpha out of his rage. The black-haired Alpha growled lowly, pushing Falco away from him. As Falco regained his footing, Hayden noticed the scratches across his cheek were already beginning to heal. It seemed so unreal to her.

  Cole prowled closer to Hayden’s chair, keeping his eyes zeroed in on Falco’s form. “It makes me curious, Falco. Just who are your contacts? How did you know about the mark?” he asked sinisterly.

  Falco grinned in response, not at all affected by Cole’s suspicions. “Word travels fast. Does it really matter who I found out from, Cole? This bitch is carrying Nicolas’ mark. She is not allowed to stay in this community, in our community.”

  Clenching her jaw against the insult, Hayden unraveled the scarf around her neck. As the flimsy accessory dropped from her throat and on to the floor, she felt a strange calm wash over her as their eyes sought the mark on her skin.

  They treated her like some feral animal. Why humor them by keeping the scarf around her throat? Keeping it on would show them that she felt ashamed of herself, and that wasn’t true. She didn’t take the mark on her throat seriously, and they shouldn’t either. It didn’t define her.

  She lifted her chin, challenging any of them who met her gaze.

  Across from the commotion, the blond Alpha, Eric, leaned his chin on his open palm, regarding Hayden. There was no prejudice in his stare, only open curiosity. “I think I like you,” he said quietly, but loud enough to stop the chaos. “It’s obvious that she didn’t consent to Nicolas’ claiming.”

  Adolf tossed his hand in annoyance. “It isn’t a matter of consent or no consent. What matters is that we can’t house a piece of Nicolas’ property in our town.”

  Piece of property?

  Hayden made a move to stand up, enraged at the offensive degradation. Blake was quick to crouch down next to her, laying a restraining hand around her arm. He hovered near her, both as protection and as a warning to keep her temper in check.

  Cole paced in front of Hayden’s chair, keeping his face clear of any expression. “Hayden is in my pack, and as such, she’ll be staying in this town. If you have a problem with it, you can simply relocate your own pack.”

  “There is always an alternative,” Adolf all but purred. “It’s simple, really. Just kill her. Deny Nicolas of his mate and make our community hazard-free.”

  That snapped Cole out of his cool indifference. The Alpha’s muscles expanded again and his fisted nails began to lengthen. A deep growl resonated through his chest, a clear response to Adolf’s suggestion.

  Quite frankly, Hayden was taken aback at Cole’s fervent defense of her. Apparently, when Cole made up his mind to accept a member in his pack, he defended them with all his might. He had said that his pack was his family; Hayden just hadn’t believed he would treat her as such for quite some time. Whatever his reasons, she was extremely grateful of his protection.

  “I think you’re all overreacting,” Eric interrupted, standing up. “You’re afraid Hayden’s presence will attract Nicolas and his rogues to our town, Adolf. But Nicolas is already interested in our territory. Throwing Hayden out of Albertville will make no difference whatsoever.”

  Even after knowing about the mark on her throat, the blond Alpha was sticking up for her. Hayden hadn’t known him for very long, even a shorter time than she knew Cole, but she had to respect him. He seemed to be the only one who didn’t look down at Cole for his age, and he didn’t immediately cast her away because of her supposed mate.

  “My father is correct.” The messy-haired beta stepped forward, a crooked grin on his boyish features. His eyes danced across Hayden before looking imploringly at Adolf and Falco. “I say we keep out of Cole’s business. It’s his pack, his risk.”

  Adolf looked aghast at the alternative voice. Falco, on the other hand, looked almost bored as he sat down on a stool. His silent beta appeared just as excited to be there as his Alpha. Lounging against the nearby bar, the unnamed beta eyed the alcohol with serious consideration.

  “If that’s all?” Cole placed a hand on Hayden’s shoulder, a cue to leave.

  She stood up quickly, almost knocking her chair down in her haste to leave.

  “We’ll be keeping an eye on both of you,” Adolf threatened as the three turned their backs. “Any sign of trouble and we’ll run you out of town.”

  “I’d like to see you try,” Blake muttered spitefully, slamming the door shut after him.

  Hayden allowed only a second to pass before grinning tightly. “What a happy bunch,” she commented sarcastically.

  “Be respectful,” Cole was quick to warn, yet Hayden saw the tension leave his mouth.

  “They aren’t exactly respectful of anyone but themselves,” she challenged darkly.

  Cole gave her a disproving stare while Blake tried to withhold his grin. Hayden blinked ingenuously up at Cole and the Alpha shook his head, continuing down the sidewalk.

  She remained silent as they walked back home. She had a hunch that Blake and Cole wanted to converse, but her presence was putting a stopper on that. Despite trying to look at things positively, she still felt unwelcomed. She was a mere intruder on the lives of the pack and the lives of the resident werewolves. Even when she was a creature like those around her, she was still somehow different—too different to feel like she belonged.

  5. Chapter Five

  Addie had been more than happy to show Hayden her new room. She took great
care in explaining the benefits to her new bedroom, including her own bathroom and a good view of the sunset. She also made sure to slip in the fact that Hayden’s new room used to be Cole’s old bedroom before he became Alpha.

  Three hours later, and not a wink of sleep accomplished, all Hayden could do was smell him and his scent of frost and earth. Her bloodshot eyes stared unseeingly at the clock, watching as the bright numbers turned to 1:50.

  She could try to convince herself that she wasn’t able to fall asleep because the other Alphas in this town wanted her dead, but she knew she would be fooling herself. Something else was keeping her awake, making her want to get up and pace back and forth.

  Her sleeplessness could also be contributed to the fact that someone was downstairs. They were quiet enough, but she could still sense them. Now that she had acute senses, the prospect of getting peace and quiet seemed virtually impossible.

  “Shoot me,” Hayden moaned at the clock.

  A wolf in the distance suddenly cried and she tensed. Rolling around, she stared at the open window. The moon was bright in the sky, cruelly reminding her of the upcoming transformation. It was approaching quickly and she feared she wouldn’t be ready no matter when it came.

  After coming home from The Lounge, Addie had invited Hayden to watch a movie with the pack. Cole had opted out and Hayden had followed suit. She had felt homesick and too uncomfortable staying with the pack, especially when half of the members distrusted her presence. Briefly, she wondered how long it would take her to adapt. More importantly, she wondered if it was even possible to adapt and accept what she was.

  Throwing her sheets aside, Hayden tiptoed quietly outside her room, hoping she didn’t wake anyone. The only others sleeping on the top floor were Addie and Devan, and Hayden definitely didn’t want to wake the latter. Fortunately, her eyes had improved since the bite and she could easily see where she was going through the night-lit halls.

  As she descended the winding staircase, she could already identify the man who stood in the living room. It was as if she had a sixth sense when it came to him.

  She wondered if she could sense his restlessness because he was her Alpha now, but then again, Blake’s snoring sounded a few feet away, clearly untroubled with Cole’s wakefulness. She supposed the others were just as conditioned to the fact that Cole was up during the night

  Stopping on the last step, Hayden leaned her body against the railing, gazing at the man opposite of her. Her attention automatically dropped to his shirtless torso, more curious than lustful, though she did appreciate the sight.

  All of his muscles were large and well defined, but they weren’t exaggerated in a body-builder kind of way. His skin was bronzed, an indication he spent a lot of time outside. Surprisingly, instead of having flawless skin, there were scars across his back. There weren’t many, but they were noticeable enough. The scars themselves were silvery in color, a clue that silver, a werewolf’s weakness, might have been the cause.

  He was bracing his forearms against the window, his grave reflection easily seen thanks to the moon’s bright rays. “You should be asleep,” he murmured, his voice hoarse as he remained looking forward. His untidy black hair created a halo around his face, appearing as if he had run his hands through it countless of times in distress.

  “I couldn’t sleep.” She looked down at the pajama shorts Addie had borrowed her. Since she was taller than Cole’s grandmother was, they were shorter than she would have liked. “I could…” Hayden paused, trying to come up with a more eloquent way of saying she ‘felt’ him. With the lack of sleep, Hayden went for it anyway. “I felt you down here, your agitation.”

  His back muscles tensed, but his face remained stone as he gazed out the window.

  “It must be because you’re my Alpha, right?” Hayden deduced, raising her eyebrows expectantly. Maybe if she hinted hard enough, he would realize that he was keeping her up as well. She was tired.

  Cole inclined his head in response, not bothering with a verbal answer.

  Gathering what little energy she had left, Hayden stepped off the stairs and padded her way over to him. Instead of feeling threatened at his brooding figure, something encouraged Hayden closer. She wouldn’t resist it, especially if it meant she could get to sleep sooner.

  Besides, if Cole needed consoling, Hayden supposed she could push aside her unfamiliarity with him and lend a hand. After last night’s events, at The Lounge, her perception of Cole had changed drastically. The Alpha may be cold, and outwardly uncaring, but he was fiercely protective of his pack. Hayden had to admire that trait; she had to respect him for it.

  Stopping at the window, Hayden peered out at the backyard, thinking it was more of a forest than anything else. There was a blanket of endless trees, stretching as far as the eye could see. Above, the moon hung crookedly, casting bright shadows across the treetops and staining them silver.

  Cole’s eyes sought Hayden’s through the reflection, his expression appearing almost melancholic. “You should sleep, Hayden, it’s been a long day for you.”

  “Is that your way of getting rid of me?” Hayden joked lightly, turning away from the scenery and up at him. In the silver wash of the moon, his features looked sharp and masculine. No matter how long she looked, she couldn’t see a single flaw.

  “Never,” Cole denied seriously.

  Pushing off from the window, the Alpha leaned his shoulder against the glass pane and looked down at her. His eyes slowly descended to her exposed legs and his mouth thinned.

  Hayden frowned, not liking the penetrating gaze. She crossed her arms protectively over her chest, raising an eyebrow when he looked back up at her face.

  “You need clothes,” he announced suddenly with a sigh. “I apologize, I wasn’t thinking.” His weary expression made him look older than he was. “You’re my first pup, forgive my slips.”

  The apology was completely unexpected. “It’s not a big deal,” she argued, feeling guilty that he needed to purchase her clothes. She wasn’t used to being dependent on others.

  Hayden observed him, noticing his mood hadn’t lightened after her subtle reassurance. He was too hard on himself, but it didn’t come to a surprise to her. Everyone in this town seemed to doubt his ability to be a successful Alpha. According to them, he was too inexperienced, too young.

  “What are you thinking?” he inquired, his eyes lingering across her face.

  Hayden frowned. There could be many possibilities why Cole couldn’t sleep, so her sudden presence in his pack might not have even been on his radar. Still, she needed to address it.

  “It must have been hard for you to take me into your pack. You must have risked a lot to—”

  “I have,” he admitted, cutting her off abruptly.

  She blinked, taken aback at his admittance. Although she wanted to storm away and wallow in loathing, her feet remained planted and her chin remained lifted. She had never been more insulted, but if that was what he felt, she couldn’t do much to change his mind, simply because it was true.

  As if sensing her vulnerability, Cole covered her shoulder with a warm hand and tugged her closer. A miniscule smile ghosted across his lips as he leaned nearer, ignoring Hayden’s stiff and rigid body. His breath tickled the skin beneath her ear, yet he somehow, he kept his distance.

  “Both you and I have risked a great deal by having you in my pack, Hayden. Some things, you wouldn’t even begin to understand…” he rasped, sounding expressive. His hand tightened on her shoulder. “Despite the risks involved, I don’t regret taking you in. I want you here with me, in my pack. Don’t ever forget that. We just need to work hard to get past the obstacles.”

  Hayden didn’t know what kind of risks she was taking by becoming a member of his pack. Nonetheless, she remained silent, knowing he was trying to take the sting out of his earlier words.

  The hand from her shoulder danced lightly across her neck before cupping her chin. Slowly, surely, he turned her face up further to meet his eyes. De
spite her firm resolve, Hayden shivered at his contact, the path of his fingers producing lingering shock-like sensations.

  “I will not always protect you when you face the discrimination of the other werewolves. You must promise me that you will be strong in the face of their prejudice.” A lopsided grin appeared on his face, as if something amused him greatly. “You have a very strong-willed wolf, Hayden. Don’t let anything or anyone push you down.” With one last searching look, Cole released her chin and began walking away.

  Hayden furrowed her brows, staring at the spot where his eyes once were. Apparently, he didn’t think the werewolves’ discrimination had blown over quite yet.

  “Will you be going to bed?” she suddenly demanded, turning to look at his nude back.

  Cole looked over his shoulder, his muscles flexing at the action. “Why?”

  Pivoting her body around, Hayden placed her hands on her hips. The whole reason behind getting out of bed was to convince Cole to go back to sleep. “Because I need some sleep. And I won’t get any if you’re up, pacing.” She grimaced. “And you haven’t seen me sleep deprived yet. It’s not something you should willingly provoke.”

  The Alpha offered a crooked grin, revealing his strong, white teeth. “Thank you for the warning. I’ll keep that in mind, Hayden.” His dark gaze treated her figure with one last sweep before he prowled toward his bedroom on the main level.

  Watching him go, Hayden had a feeling she wasn’t anywhere close to understanding him yet. A part of her believed she would never fully comprehend him, and then she wondered why she even wanted to know everything about him.

  _______________

  “These look good,” Fergus murmured in appreciation. He held up a pair of woman’s jeans to his waist, intending to show them in their best light. Waggling his eyebrows suggestively, he turned this way and that as he peered into the mirror. “What do you say, Hayden?”