Chapter 16 Sydney

Chapter 16 Sydney

 

 

Once again, I was escorted to the Alpha like a prisoner. Only, this time, I wasn’t taken to the pack’s compound, which gave me a bit of relief because I didn’t want to deal with an entire pack of angry, suspicious wolves. Instead, I was brought to Cole’s offices.

With men on either side of me, I was marched to the elevator. Damian stayed back at Adam’s compound to keep watch while Alex and the other guy took me to Cole. In the elevator, I blew out a long, tired breath.

“You okay?” Alex asked.

My response wasn’t immediate since I didn’t expect concern from any of the men of the Moon Guardians pack. They all seemed hell-bent on believing me guilty of conspiring against them. As I gazed at Alex, he seemed to be genuinely concerned, so I replied, “Considering that I’ve been taken prisoner again and I’m being led to an Alpha who despises me, no, I’m not okay.”

Alex frowned. “You’re hardly a prisoner. If you were, you’d be cuffed and thrown into a cell on the compound.”

“You guys have your own prison?”

“We have a self-sufficient community. Of course, we have—”

“Ehem.” The other guy, who hadn’t uttered a word since I saw him in the parking lot outside Adam’s address, sent Alex a warning glance.

“Oh, come on.” Alex rolled his eyes. “I’m not divulging top-secret werewolf information.”

Despite my irritated mood, I sniggered.

“No need to indulge the enemy,” the man said.

“Finally, he speaks,” I mused. “And I’m not your enemy.” I felt like I’d repeated that for the hundredth time since I met them. Studying the other man with curiosity, I said, “I know Damian, Alex, and I remember Stephan. What’s your name?”

He just glowered at me before facing forward.

“His name is Nic, short for Dominic,” Alex volunteered.

Dominic’s jaw clenched, and he gave Alex another lethal glare. I folded my lips to hide my amusement. When we reached the twenty-first floor, the doors slid open, and my amusement vanished, and my bravado slipped.

“Alex?”

He glanced at me.

“Am I going to walk out of here alive?”

His eyebrows pulled together. “Of course, we’re not those kinds of wolves—”

“Shut up, Alex,” Dominic warned. He gave me a fierce scowl that rivaled Damian’s. “You’re a threat, Sydney. The Alpha’s mate or not, you will be dealt with.”

I swallowed hard, following them out of the elevator on shaky legs. By the time we reached Cole’s office, I’d steeled myself for whatever was to come. Standing outside the closed door, I glanced at Alex sadly, wishing I could speak with him alone. He seemed the type who would freely answer my questions, unlike the others who were so tight-lipped about everything. He gave me a sympathetic look before knocking.

“Bring her in.”

Cole’s voice made me pull in a deep breath. So, he knew I was being brought in. Why couldn’t I hate the man? He’d put me through so much, yet I still got butterflies in my stomach when I heard his voice. Annoyed with myself, I scowled, and that was how Cole saw me when the door swung open.

He sat behind his desk, looking very much like the boss of his empire. Our eyes locked, and I kept my sour expression in place. Cole raised an eyebrow during our heated staring contest. I wasn’t sure if he was amused or annoyed.

Alex gestured for me to enter the office, and I reluctantly stepped inside.

When Alex turned away, panic set in, but I tamped it down. “Wait. You’re not staying?” I didn’t spare Dominic a glance. He could leave for all I cared because he clearly didn’t like me. But Alex had been decent all along, and I’d feel more comfortable if he stayed.

“No, I’m going back to join Damian—”

“Jesus, Alex, stop telling her every goddamn thing,” Dominic snapped. “She’s a hunter, for Christ’s sake.”

“I’m not a hunter,” I said, although I was sure my words meant nothing.

Alex rolled his eyes at Dominic. “Sorry, Syd, I’m not staying.”

“Syd?” Cole studied Alex through a narrowed gaze. “You’re on a nickname basis?”

Alex blew out his breath and muttered, “Shit. Not at all. I don’t know why I called her that…”

My gaze swung from him to Cole, whose demeanor had gotten colder. Focusing on Alex, I said, “I’d rather you stay, please.” Maybe if the Alpha sentenced me to death, he’d plead my case. “Don’t leave me.”Alone with the Alpha, I silently added.

I could practically feel the tension mount to something ominous. Alex and Dominic went stock still beside me. I don’t even think they breathed. Confused, I glanced at each man. Dominic’s expression was controlled, but he watched Cole carefully. Alex’s eyes had widened a fraction, and he took a couple of steps away from me.

When I looked back at Cole, I understood the sudden shift in the room. His eyes were fixed on Alex, but they weren’t glowing the yellow I’d seen before. They were a lethal red, which I found fascinating. I gasped, fearing he’d attack Alex. But why?

“It’s not what you think, Alpha,” Alex said, glancing at me and then back at Cole with wariness.

“What?” I asked.

“We’re leaving,” Dominic said, grasping Alex’s arm to tug him away.

Perplexed, I watched the two disappear over my shoulder. When I turned back around, I was hit with a furious blue stare. Cole had gotten up from around his desk.

“What just happened?” I asked, momentarily forgetting that I might be facing punishment for absolutely nothing.

“You like Alex.” It wasn’t a question. There was something menacing underlining the statement.

“Well, yeah.”

He inhaled, and his jaw clenched.

“Because he’s a hell of a lot nicer to me than the rest of you,” I explained. Eying him suspiciously, I asked, “Wait, are you jealous?” There was no way!

His gaze slid away from mine, and I almost gagged in shock. Holy hell, he was jealous.

“I just feel like Alex is the only one who doesn’t despise me,” I said. “Him and Violet.”

Cole met my gaze again. It looked like he wanted to say something but refrained. Tired of stewing in the awkward silence, I murmured, “I’m not interested in Alex like that, although if I was, I don’t understand why you’d care.”

He pulled in a breath, gave me an annoyed look, and said, “Have a seat.”

Folding my arms over my chest, I eyed the sofa he nodded to with suspicion. “No way. I’m not going to make it easier for you to…”

“To what?”

Angling my chin upward, I held his gaze. “I know Damian called you and told you where he found me. You must have jumped to the same conclusion he did. I was caught consorting with the enemy, so I must be the bad guy. I’m in league with hunters and your rival pack. I was brought here for you to “deal” with me. This isn’t a tête-à-tête between friends. I’d rather stand right here by the door.” In case I had to flee his wrath.

Cole quirked an eyebrow. “If I wanted to hurt you, you wouldn’t be here in my office.”

That was what I’d assumed when I was carried here. Still, I wasn’t about to let my guard down. “So, why am I here?”

“To talk. You’re going to tell me why you were going to see Adam Blackwell.”

I snorted inwardly at the demand. The sheer arrogance. “None of your business.”

“I want to hear your explanation.” He leaned against the desk and folded his arms over his chest. “I’m trying to be fair, as I’d be with any member of my pack.”

“I’m not part of your pack.” Being rejected still stung. “I don’t owe you any explanation.”

“Would you rather stand before the elders and the rest of the pack to be tried? Because I guarantee they won’t be as accommodating as I’ve been.”

That sounded like the worst possible option. “You’ve been accommodating, have you? Telling me to get lost after I came to you for help was veryaccommodatingof you.”

Cole exhaled slowly as if gathering his patience. “I admit I didn’t handle things like I typically do.”

“And how is that?”

“With a level head.”

I stared at him, arms still folded in defiance.

“Your appearance threw me off kilter for a while.”

His confession had my arms falling to my sides. What was happening here? I was accustomed to him snarling at me and telling me to go away.

“Sit, Sydney.”

The steel-like authority of his tone made me want to listen to him. But he’d given me such a hard time I wanted to return the favor. “You don’t get to order me around.”

He made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a grunt. “Do you want us to talk or not?”

I huffed. “Do you always get what you want?”

There was the slightest twitch of his lips. “Generally.”

Rolling my eyes, I walked to the sofa and sat.

“Would you like something to drink?”

Lifting an eyebrow, I surveyed the room, taking note of the minibar, refrigerator, and coffee machine. “No. Since when are you such a gracious host to me?”

“Since I realized that I might have been unfair to you, not taking the time to hear you out.”

“So, suddenly, you’re sure I’m not working with hunters?”

“I’m still not certain, but from what I’ve heard and seen, you haven’t been in contact with anyone since you’ve been here.”

“How do you…” I gasped. “You’ve been having me watched!” The paranoia of constantly feeling as if I was being followed made sense now.

“You’re quick on the uptake. I like that.”

I tried not to let his small compliment warm me. “So, who did you give the task of stalking me?”

“Sometimes me or Damian, but mostly Alex.”

Clenching my teeth to hold back my irritation, I shrugged. “I have nothing to hide. I’ve been telling you the truth all along.”

“You’ve been cozying up to Adam.”

“That sounds an awful lot like an accusation, and I don’t like it.” I glowered at him. “And making polite conversation with someone isn’t “cozying up.” Since Cole was finally giving me a fair chance to talk, I might as well tell him everything. “I entertained the idea of Adam helping me with my hunter problem. When you mentioned he was an Alpha, I thought that maybe he’d be strong enough or have the resources to protect me from them. You refused to help, so I sought another solution.” I shrugged. “Self-preservation kicked in. I don’t stand a chance against hunters— or anyone, for that matter—on my own.”

He studied me intently as if trying to read me, and I hoped he saw my sincerity this time.

“If running to your rival for help after you refused is such a great sin, then by all means,” I spread my arms wide, “eliminate me. Killing me might be the kindest thing you can do for me at this point,” I grumbled.

Cole’s eyes widened a fraction, and I think I saw guilt flicker in his eyes. But he said nothing. Of course, he still didn’t believe I told him the truth. Frustrated, I jumped to my feet.

“You know what? I’m so tired of this. Either kill me or leave me the hell alone, Cole. I need to focus on a plan of escape if that hunter finds me. I don’t have time to constantly defend myself to you. I’m going to need that dagger Damian took from me, by the way. I have no idea how to use it, but at least I’ll have something to try defending myself with.”

When Cole continued to stare at me without a word, I snorted. “Clearly, you still think I’m lying.”

He tilted his head to one side and calmly stated, “You’re free to go.”

I froze. “What’s the catch?”

“Stay away from Adam Blackwell.”

“You know what? I think I’m going to stay away from werewolves altogether. Happy?”

He lifted one shoulder in response.

“So, that’s it?” I asked. “You’re just going to let me leave?”

He nodded. “I’m giving you a lift.”

My eyes narrowed to slits. I knew his generous offer was a ruse to continue monitoring me because he was still suspicious. Thoroughly irritated, I quipped, “Well, it’s the least you can do, considering you had me kidnapped.”

His lips lifted slightly into a sardonic grin. “After you, Sydney.” He gestured to the door.