Chapter 14 Cole

Chapter 14 Cole

 

 

I took a moment to glance at Sydney, whose wide eyes were fixed on me. Then I went back to glowering at Adam Blackwell, the Alpha of a rival pack. His group was a bunch of rebellious misfits who threatened the survival of the entire supernatural world. I didn’t know the man well, but if the werewolves he led were so revolting and reckless, I could only imagine the kind of person he was.

His pack arrived in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago, and I didn’t like it. Adam and his pack were nothing but trouble, a threat to the secret existence of all of us. I wanted him and his people gone before all hell broke loose in the city.

Finding him in such proximity to my mate—rejected though she was—irked me. As Adam and I snarled at each other, the tension surrounding us expanded and crackled.

“This isn’t your business, Grayson.”

“It is when you’re sniffing around my territory.”

Adam quirked an eyebrow. “Are you talking about the city or the girl?”

“Hey!” Sydney gave Adam an indignant glare. “I’m not property,” she grumbled.

Of course, I couldn’t answer Adam right away because I had to take a moment to get hold of my jealousy and shove it back down. The thing was, no matter how much I tried not to, a part of me still considered Sydney mine. However, I couldn’t admit that aloud.

“New Orleans can do without you and your pack,” I said. “I’ve heard about your various adventures.” Like the complaint I got from one of my allies who led a pack in Shreveport.

Adam and his rogue pack had passed through the city and wreaked havoc, leaving a trail of both human and werewolf bodies and tons of evidence of our existence. I already had a possible infiltration of hunters to worry about. I didn’t need a rogue pack causing more trouble.

Finally, I said, “There’s only room for one Alpha here.”

Adam smirked. “I think this city is big enough for more than one.”

His alluding to sticking around long-term was alarming. He and his pack would draw hunters’ attention like a magnet to steel. I didn’t need the added stress of a rival pack so close, especially one that operated with absolutely no scruples.

When the silence dragged on with Adam and me glowering at each other, Sydney spoke. “You know what, this sounds like pack business or whatever…absolutely nothing to do with me. I’m going to go.”

“Not so fast,” Adam said just as she took a step. His menacing tone made her stop in her tracks. I could feel her growing anxiety.

It was what led me to the back alley of the diner. I’d been having my men keep a close eye on Sydney, reporting her movements back to me. Today, I had to take on the task myself. When I arrived, her fear beat at me, pulled me to her, and that’s how I found her in the presence of another Alpha.

“We’re not done,” Adam said. “You haven’t answered my question.”

“She has nothing to say to you. Get away from her,” I growled.

His eyes narrowed to slits. “Why do you care? It isn’t like she’s one of your people.”

Sydney blew out a breath and ducked her head. My wolf still held on to our mate’s bond, so I felt her hurt after Adam’s statement.

“Doesn’t matter,” I said. “You can leave voluntarily or involuntarily. It makes no difference to me.” I took a purposeful step toward him, canines bared. There was no one else around, so I wasn’t worried about wolfing out to take down my rival.

Adam snorted. “No need to get your knickers in a twist, Grayson. I meant the girl no harm.” He glanced at Sydney. “I’ll see you around. We have a few things to discuss.”

Sydney’s eyebrows furrowed.

Adam sauntered off without a backward glance—the pompous ass.

Silence lingered between Sydney and me for a while. She shuffled her feet. “Well, that was intense. I can tell from your interaction that you two aren’t friends.”

“Far from it,” I bit out, still struggling with jealousy over Adam being so close to Sydney.

“Thanks for the rescue, I guess,” she murmured and moved to walk past me.

I snagged her arm in a gentle hold and felt her tense. “Care to tell me what you and Adam have to talk about?”

“Why do you care?” She still stared at our point of contact.

I dropped my hand and took a step back. “You should stay away from him. He’s bad news.”

“Same question: why do you care?”

She held my gaze, challenge gleaming in the emerald orbs. One thing I admired about her was her nerves of steel. She had walked into a camp of werewolves after I warned her to stay away. I threatened her, and she walked right back into my office. Despite my rejection and the pain, I knew she suffered, she hadn’t withered away, nor had she run out of town. She stood her ground.

Pride that I couldn’t show flooded me. My little half-human mate had my respect. If there weren’t the possibility that she was my mortal enemy, I’d probably throw caution to the wind and claim her.

“Lost your tongue, Cole? Or did you come here just to warm me away from handsome strangers?”

I scoffed. “Handsome?” Was she checking out other guys? That pissed me off more than it should.

“You rejected me. I’m free to immerse myself fully into the dating pool.”

My teeth clamped together so hard it was a wonder they didn’t shatter. The thought of her dating, especially a man like Adam, made me feel murderous.

Sydney had her hands on her hips and was glowering at me so hard I’d likely melt at any second. Her bold sass was…arousing. The temptation to press my lips to her pouty ones was almost overwhelming. Taking another step away from her, I said, “Date who you like, but I’d advise you to stay away from the Alpha of a pack who wouldn’t think twice about chewing up a sweet little half-human and spitting her out without remorse.”

Her eyes widened.

If she was scared, good. At least she’d stay away from Adam.

“You didn’t have to tell me he’s bad news,” she said. “I figured that out on my own. I’m not stupid. So, what are you doing here?”

I couldn’t admit that I was watching her. “I should ask you that. What are you still doing in my city?”

Her derisive snort bounced off the brick walls surrounding the alley. “You don’t own the entire city, Cole. Get over yourself.”

My lips twitched, but I managed to hold back my smile. I studied her intently, wondering why her attitude amused me. Maybe it was because no one else dared to speak to me that way, and it was refreshing. And perhaps I was relieved that I hadn’t completely crushed her spirit. I thought I had the last time we spoke. She had walked out of my office looking so defeated I felt guilty for weeks.

“No, I don’t, but I like to keep it safe from threats like Adam and you.”

Sydney looked skyward and sighed heavily. “For the last time, I’m not a threat.” Spreading her arms wide, she said, “Look at me. Do I look like someone who could do any harm to a pack of werewolves? I run and scream when I see a spider, for Christ’s sake.”

I wanted to smile at that visual but refrained. I needed to get away from her fast. She was reeling me in without even realizing it. Clearing my throat, I said, “Maybe you didn’t come to do the work yourself. Your people could be using you to get to get to us.”

“Violet told me why the pack won’t accept me.”

“Violet talks too much,” I said.

“I didn’t know my father was a hunter, I swear. I never even heard about the man growing up. My aunt only ever spoke about my mother. I have nothing to do with hunters. Maybe there’s a way I can prove myself to you. That’s why I’ve stuck around. I can show all of you I’m no threat. I only came here to connect with my mother’s pack and hopefully get help.”

The desperation in her voice was almost my undoing. But that damn logic I’d always had to work with allowed me not to give in. “What about the hunter’s dagger?”

“How do you even know it’s that?”

“The blade is made of pure silver, and the hunter’s symbol is on the handle.”

“I didn’t know that.”

I stared at her, wishing I could see through her, see that she wasn’t lying. But I couldn’t. “You had the weapon on your person.”

“Because I stole it from the man who threatened me with it.” Sydney covered the distance between us. She placed a hand on my arm that made me cringe, only because having her this close wreaked havoc on my body. The need to have her hit me so hard I almost lost my breath.

“Please, Cole, I’m begging you to listen to me. To help me. I never beg for anything, and I never admit to being afraid. But I am. The hunters are after me. I’m not working with them. You can’t hold my father’s sins against me.”

“No, it probably isn’t fair to do that,” I said.

Hope flickered in her eyes.

“But I won’t risk my entire pack being betrayed by the spawn of a hunter. I don’t believe a word you say, Sydney.”

The hope in her eyes vanished, replaced by hurt. She dropped her hand. The spot on my arm she’d touched felt cold. I felt cold to my core. But I knew that was one of the side effects of prolonging the distance between mates after discovering each other. The sweater Sydney wore in the warm weather told me she experienced it worse than I did. Guilt pricked my heart, but I had to uphold my loyalty to my pack.

“Then there’s no point wasting my time here,” she said. Hiking her handbag up on her shoulder, she turned and walked away. I watched her until she disappeared around the corner, fighting the urge to run after her.