~Nyla~
I couldn't erase the sight of him with Zoey, how perfect they looked next to each other. They were both strong and beautiful creatures, probably really horny for each other. There was a weird fullness in my throat that wouldn't dissolve despite the gushing tears.
He snubbed me on purpose! Tears burned in my eyes while dry leaves crushed under my shoes as I walked back the way we drove by. An icy wind stung my face and whipped my hair, providing some respite to my burning skin.
He's an arrogant, insensitive world-class jerk! Just because women are drawn to him like moths to a flame, he thinks it's okay to---
His phone call interrupted my thoughts. As if I was ever going to answer him again. I hated myself for catching so many feelings. He called me a couple of times and then asked Rachel to call me. I switched my phone to silent mode and continued walking.
The loud ocean waves were inviting me to just forget him and go home. I would have totally given in to the temptation and disappeared for good if not for Ari.
Even if my baby was half siren, she cannot shift into one until she was old enough. Only full moon nights and the seawater would allow her to shift if she had any of my genes. My home was far, far away and it would be impossible to swim safely without drowning her unintentionally. I wanted to laugh, cry, and scream all at once.
There was only one other way, and that was to buy enough milk for Ari and catch a flight to Wyatt's place and then cover the short distance to home. But what if I take her home and she wasn't one of us? My people will kill her then---
"What the fuck, Nyla!" Luke pulled over and stepped out of his car in a temper as if I was the one acting all handsy and grabby with Zoey.
I threw my uncomfortable shoes at him and ran barefooted. The last thing I wanted was to feel weak under the gaze of those beautiful, soul-sucking green eyes or that deep voice that sparks some unwanted desires I can't afford right now.
He caught up with me in a few seconds and picked me up.
"Seriously? Do you think you can outrun me? What were you thinking when you left the club alone?"
His nearness made it difficult for me to breathe properly when I was fighting back tears and my body was shaking with rage. His grip on my waist tightened when I tried to push him away. I desperately needed to put some distance between us. I wanted to lunge for his throat, but strong feelings were bursting through my veins, urging me to kiss him hard instead.
I never felt this weak and helpless. All my emotions were coming out unrestrained, probably because I would have to leave him soon.
"Nyla, please... Please stop crying. I rather see you arguing with me and wanting to punch me in the face."
"Let me take up on the offer." I tried to free my arms to punch him for real.
"I'm sorry to have hurt you. It's not what you---"
"Yes, it hurt. It hurt damn freaking much! You two had sex, didn't you? Many times I can say."
His silence crushed my heart.
"H-how could y-you?" I burst into tears again.
"It was months before I met you. Rex and I were sure we didn't deserve a second chance mate. Mates are usually considered a blessing, and there was no way I was going to get blessed twice. Zoey didn't have any strings attached and Rex was attracted to her pure white wolf. It is over for good."
"And Tiana? Is she the pack slut you were talking about?"
"No. She's Finn's sister... well, I may have slept with her a few times."
May have it seems. So there were more besides Zoey and Tiana.
"Who did you fuck in your study room? The ones you were talking about---"
I don't know what was so funny to chuckle about being a manwhore. "No one after I found you."
"You told me you---"
"I lied. I thought it was obvious. You were kissing me back, and I had half a mind to mark you that day. I wanted you to stay away from me."
"I was obviously an idiot to ever want to kiss you back. You---"
Cupping the back of my neck, he pulled me in for a kiss. I slammed my fists against his chest in a desperate attempt to make him stop. He got more persistent and caged me against the car, jamming his body tightly against mine while devouring my mouth in a series of kisses.
A low groan left his mouth when I stopped struggling and grabbed onto his hair. He broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against mine.
"I'd never ever want to hurt you, Nyla. But I have to do certain things to not raise suspicion. I can't refuse to dance with Zoey when someone is watching me. I was with her for a few months and almost everyone in the pack knows that."
I moved my face away from his to be able to think clearly. "Well, how long are we going to go on like this? I'm tired of living like some dirty secret of yours, at your mercy, waiting for you to come to visit me once a month."
I was definitely not thinking clearly. This was not what I wanted to talk to him about. He took my hand in his and kissed my palm twice. My already fogged-up brain got even more confused at the sensation.
"I hate that this is the only way to keep you safe. You don't know how much my dad hated Leah. I have no proof against him except that he sent me away for a few days on some pack business that Finn could have easily handled. My mom might have gotten killed accidentally when he set the trap to get rid of Leah. I don't want him to harm you in any way. I can't harm him either when I don't know if he's really guilty."
I could feel sadness wash through him when he mentioned Leah's death. He looked helpless, but that didn't mean I should keep getting hurt every day.
"You should let me go. If you really want to keep me safe, set me free." His body turned stiff and tense.
"That's out of the question. Rex isn't the only one who's crazy about you."
"You won't feel this way if you reject me."
"Damn it, Nyla! Don't bring that up again. I don't want to reject you." He buried his face against my hair and placed little kisses.
I freed myself from his hug and went around the car to grab my shoes. Not sure if I would ever admit this to him, but I wanted more from him. I was going crazy! Blame the withdrawal phase. I wanted him to mark me and keep me close or leave me for good.
"Let's go back. I need to see Ari." I blocked him out until we reached his place. There was nothing left to talk about if he couldn't give me what I wanted.
"Guess I'll see you next month then," I said bitterly and ran indoors. There will be no next month.
I rang for Ren to bring Ari back and get me a lot of ice and some Epsom salt. Filling the bathtub with cold water and putting in the stuff Ren gave me, I fell asleep in the tub. I woke up in the morning feeling tired and dizzy, and she was knocking on my door already.
"Please send Ari to the wet nurse. I'm out of milk she pumped for her. I don't have the energy to take care of her today." I told Ren while reaching out for the cup of coffee on the tray.
She was asking me about my health, but I couldn't hear her. There was a strange ringing in my ears and my vision got blurred. The ceramic mug fell out of my hand.
"I'll lay down for a bit."
Guess the tap water didn't help. It stopped the red patch on my skin from spreading, but that was only until I was in the tub. My head was throbbing in pain when I heard Luke's voice.
Not sure when I fell on the floor. Maybe I laid on the floor, to begin with. He picked me up in his arms and placed me on the bed.
"What's the matter with you? Why is your skin becoming all scaly?"
"Blood..."
"Blood?" He checked for signs of bleeding and wondered what I meant. "I'll call both the mage and pack doctor, okay?"
"I need blood."
"Fresh blood? You mean... to drink?"
Damn, Ryder! This was the worst way to tell him who I was.
My eyes kept wandering back to the extremely tempting vein in his neck. I wanted it.
Kissing me on the forehead, he begged me to tell him what was wrong with me. I grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him flush against me. A low growl left his mouth when I pushed him into the bed and climbed over him.
My mouth was on his neck before I could stop myself, and I buried my teeth into his skin, feeling him shiver for a second while letting out a low hiss.