Un.Bridled (Claimed Series #2) (25 page)

There was one of two things Hayden could do. She could coddle and console him, or she could avoid mentioning a thing. Cole would prefer the latter, she knew, but somehow, it felt wrong not to reassure him that she was his ally in this.

Deciding on a third, intermediate option, Hayden reached over and placed her hand on top of his. She kept her eyes focused on her meal, but she was aware of him turning to look at her.

Just when she thought he’d pull back, she was surprised when his palm turned around and his fingers opened. His larger hand curled around hers, engulfing her fingers in a reassuring hold. 

“Thank you.”

They ate in silence with their hands clasped between them, relying on the other for silent support and continual companionship. Somehow, they both knew words could never convey the extent of their feelings. 

He led her through the woods at breakneck speed. Hayden dodged around a tree in her path and lost sight of him. Seconds later, the shadows released him, revealing him for just a moment before darkness swallowed him once more.

Hayden relied on her senses to follow him. Not the normal senses of a predator, but her own, unique senses that no one could replicate. One could not detect Cole Slayter based on sight and hearing alone. He moved too swiftly, too quietly. If someone tried following his scent, they would come up empty-handed. He changed directions too quickly. Even his scent had trouble trailing after him. 

The senses Hayden relied on were of second nature. If she tried to explain why she veered left instead of right, she would stumble and find herself further away from Cole. She knew these senses were somehow connected to him, and she learned quickly not to question them.

These senses were so strong, that if she closed her eyes, she knew her body would still move accordingly. It was if she were retracing his steps, following a path that was unseen, but painfully obvious to her senses.

Jumping from her left foot, Hayden sprung to her right, landing in a sideways lunge at the same time as Cole. He spared her a look over his shoulder, his eyes conveying his amusement.

Clearly, he was leading her around needlessly for his own enjoyment. Of course, one could argue Hayden enjoyed the run just as much as he did. It was rare she felt comfortable enough linking with Cole’s wolf. But the extent of their synchronization
did
make Hayden wary. For not being mated, their link was strong. It made her wonder how it could possibly get any stronger.

Cole sprang into the thickness of the trees again, Hayden hot on his heels. Though they were running quickly, she didn’t have to raise her voice to be heard.

“I was thinking…”

“That’s never a good thing.”

At his retort, a smile crossed Hayden’s lips but it faded swiftly. “If Nicolas is experimenting on werewolves, it could explain why the rogues were ill.”

“What rogues?” Cole asked bleakly. He maintained his quick speed, hardly out of breath and never faltering in his step.

She matched him in speed and elegance, determined not to fall behind. “The rogues who were settled outside of town, you know, the ones who were executed by the Hunters. Asher and I noticed a few of them were already dead before the Hunters arrived and the rest of them appeared sick. I—”

Cole stopped suddenly, nearly causing Hayden to collide with his back. He turned on her, a line forming between his eyebrows. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” 

Bristling with defense, Hayden stepped closer, rebuffing his coercion. “It hadn’t even crossed my mind at the time,” she said icily. “I didn’t think it was important. Besides, you never take my theories seriously when it comes to Nicolas.”

“That’s because what you suggest shouldn’t be feasible.”

“
Werewolves
shouldn’t exist, yet you’re telling me Nicolas can’t experiment with technology?” Hayden pressed her lips together when Cole turned his back on her. Before he could escape, she grabbed his arm, tugging him back forcibly. “Do you have any idea what humans are capable of nowadays?”

His eyes turned hooded with insult. “I’m not an idiot.”

“You’re acting like one,” Hayden slighted. “Devan and Joseph said traditional werewolves were stagnant because they refuse to change with the times. I think they’re right. I think Nicolas has embraced modern technology in order to come out on top.”

She released his arm and stepped back, acknowledging that prolonged physical restraint would be seen as an open challenge to Cole. She had no intentions of fighting him and consequently losing and humiliating herself.

“Humans have gone a long way with technology and medicine, probably a lot further than what the general public even knows about. They have steroids that make them stronger and they have medicines that can alter the body. I’ve even heard of them being able to manipulate a fetus and artificially determine traits and characteristics of that child. Yet, you’re telling me that Nicolas can’t create another species of werewolves?”

Cole stared at her, hardly impressed with her speech. “I never said I didn’t believe you, Hayden, only that it should be unfeasible.”

That took her aback. Her cheeks had the audacity to burn and her lips muttered a simple and faint, “
Oh
.”

“I want you to keep this between the two of us.” Cole raised his eyebrows expectantly. “Until we find physical proof of what Nicolas has planned, I don’t want to worry the pack unnecessarily.”

“I understand.”

He continued to study her, appearing more curious than judgmental. Something clearly weighed on his mind. “There is something else we need to discuss, something that we’ve put off for far too long.”

If possible, Hayden’s cheeks grew warmer. She adjusted the high collar of her jacket, giving her something to do while deliberately avoiding Cole’s scrutiny. “I agree,” she started casually. “Blake has gotten away with it for far too long.”

Cole’s jaw tightened, evidently exasperated at her attempt of dodging the subject. He took the bait anyway, albeit grumpily. “What are you talking about?”

Hayden tilted her head back and studied the canopy of the trees, wondering how far away the cabin was. If it was close enough, maybe she’d get lucky and Fergus and Blake would show up in time to interrupt the imminent conversation.

She scoffed at her absurdity. It was a bit ironic that discussions pertaining to relationships would make her such a coward. Arguments with Cole, on the other hand, never made her feel this unsure, this lost.

She would try anyway, one last time, to bring the conversation to safer grounds. “I’m talking about Blake going through my things, my underwear drawer in particular.” Hayden flashed Cole a pointed look before dodging past him and continuing north. “I thought he would get away with it without proper punishment. But if you’re willing to address it, I would be grateful. He only seems to listen to you.”

The hand that curled around her bicep was strong and unyielding. He yanked her backward, causing her to stubble on her feet. Holding her up by a mere hand, Cole forcibly brought her nearer. Hayden stilled, marveling at how close they were.

“Hayden.” He whispered her name with a level of intensity no one should have been able to accomplish. “I want to mate with you. Not now,” he soothed at her look of panic. “It would be irrational to mate before the situation with Nicolas is resolved, but I want to make my intentions clear if I haven’t already.”

His thumb slipped past her jacket and stroked her collarbone. The skin-on-skin contact sent pleasant goose bumps down her arms and set her whole body aflame. Fervently, she tried to ignore it. The last thing she wanted was to be distracted by physical contact, no matter how pleasing it felt.

“You assume I want the same thing,” she countered softly with a hint of lethality. “Maybe
I
don’t want to mate with you. Maybe I’ve come to realize how permanent that commitment would be.”

Cole’s face gave nothing away, yet he didn’t release her, and he didn’t move away. “That’s fine.” A predatory spark entered his eyes, soon joined by something akin to determination. “Then we can start over properly. I can court you, exactly what I should have done from the beginning.”

It was the last thing she expected to hear from him. “From the start, you’ve done nothing but criticize life mates and everything pertaining to it. You constantly pulled away from me and
hurt
me. You may have changed your mind, but maybe I have too. Maybe I’ve come to accept the distance you set between us.”

Cole lowered his eyes, his dark lashes brushing the thin skin beneath his eyes. “We were going too fast. I hadn’t accepted the fact—”

“You knew we were life mates as soon as you pointed that gun at me in New York,” Hayden interrupted with a fierce whisper. “But you kept me in the dark. I thought we had simple chemistry, and you only continued to reject me. Now you can’t keep your hands off me. Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?”

He grabbed her other shoulder, giving her a gentle, yet firm shake. “Forgive me for being hesitant over the very same thing that killed my parents,” he growled. “It was wrong of me to give you
mixed signals and I apologize for that. But I know what I want now and I know you feel the same way. Otherwise, I would have never broached the topic.”

“Don’t,” she growled, angry that he had the nerve to tell her how she
felt
.

His hands repositioned to the base of her neck. When Hayden automatically grabbed his forearms in resistance, the light pressure around her neckline increased.

“I know what I want,” he repeated forcibly. “What do
you
want, Hayden?”

Her struggles ceased as she considered his question. A part of her wanted to continue accusing him of his mistreatment during the early stages of their relationship. But he’d already apologized, sincerely too. Pressing it further would only be juvenile, especially when he admitted to being confused about the situation back then.

There was no denying that she was attracted to him, both physically and emotionally. She may even go so far and admit she cared for him deeply, and perhaps, with time, she could also admit to loving him. But there was more to it than that. 

Hayden looked up at him and found the words leaving her mouth before she could censor them. “I’m scared. You scare me.”

Even Cole was taken aback at her confession. His body tightened, but he gradually forced himself to relax. Unexpectedly, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Her face pressed against his broad chest, an uncomfortable but secure cushion.

“I felt the same way,” he admitted. “But I’ve had more time to accept it.” He nuzzled his cheek against her head. “It’s a frightening bond, Hayden. But in time, I hope you see it for what it truly is.”

Overwhelmed, Hayden pulled back and put distance between herself and Cole. “You asked me what I want.” Looping around a tree, she purposely kept it in front of her as she turned to face Cole. “Right now, I want to know why you changed your mind about us.”

His face was schooled, as if she hadn’t responded favorably to his declarations.

Hayden felt a pang of guilt, knowing he had tried to open up to her. But he couldn’t have expected her to fall into his arms so quickly. She needed to know why he had changed his mind. Moreover, she needed to accept their bond before submitting.

“I never changed my mind,” he informed stiffly. Catching her withering look, he elaborated. “The idea of mating with you has always intrigued me, I’ve only just learned to accept it and act on it.”

Hayden wrapped her arms around the tree and leaned into it, pressing her cheek against its’ cool bark. Now that she was physically away from Cole, she felt more in control, more capable. “Then let me rephrase myself. What made you finally accept it?”

“I should have sent you to another pack.”

She jerked at that, not expecting it in the least. “Oh?” she inquired bitterly.

“If I was serious about keeping my distance, I should have sent you to another pack when we first met. But I was too selfish. I didn’t want anyone else to have you.”

He stood where she’d abandoned him, appearing both stiff and uncomfortable. Hayden couldn’t blame him. They were both uncomfortable with expressing their feelings, even more so admitting when they were wrong.

“By having you close, I’ve gotten to know you, to admire you. I realize now it’s too late to turn back.”
In his humility, Cole stood tall and proud. “Even though we haven’t mated, I know your death would still destroy me. I’ve experienced… unquestionable fear, fear that I’d lose you prematurely when Devan abducted you, when you and Asher ran into danger with the Hunters, and just recently when you and Rachel were separated from the rest of the pack.” His eyes flashed with bitter amusement. “You’re a magnet for trouble.”

Hayden used the tree for support as his words washed over her. Still, she felt inclined to confirm the truth. “Instead of being scared away, all my near-death experiences only reinforced your decision to mate with me.” She lifted a suspicious eyebrow. “I find that unlikely.”

His white teeth flashed in the dim evening, forming a roguish grin. Even from afar, Hayden recognized it as a cover to his true emotions. “It just made me realize I never want to lose you. And I never want to lose the chance of mating with you and seeing what we could accomplish together.”

Somehow, even with the tree between them, Hayden felt as if he could see her clearly. The exposure made her vulnerable, but the words made her hopeful. During his justifications, she’d looked for discrepancies in his words or expressions.

She found none. Though he had remained proud, he had also been candid.

“Thank you.” Hayden stepped out from behind the tree and offered Cole a fleeting smile. “For telling me what I needed to hear. I don’t know what to—”

“I’m not expecting anything from you.” Cole roused from his pacifying demeanor and adopted his typical Alpha persona. With his eyes focused intently on Hayden, he growled lowly in his chest. “I only wanted you to know my reasons for pursuing you.”