Filed To Story: Chasing the Rejected Luna's Heart (Clara & Liam) Book PDF Free
Things had gone from icy between me and Cole to downright glacial over the past week, but so far, he hadn’t made any more cryptic threats. Evidently, the weirdness was enough that Sam had noticed since she had asked me what was up between me and her brother the other day. I had merely shrugged and said I didn’t know.
It wasn’t a complete lie. At first, I did think his primary reason for being a jerk was jealousy, but after what he had told me, now I wasn’t so sure. Jealousy was definitely a part of it, but what if he was right? What if there was more to Marcus than he was letting on?
I was probably playing right into Cole’s hands, but I had found one excuse or another to dodge lessons at the gym. I missed it, though. Not just Marcus, but Tiffany and the others I’d gotten to know over time as well. Eventually, I’d run out of excuses and it wasn’t like I didn’t want to go back.
I didn’t know what to do, what to think, or how to act. I didn’t like that I couldn’t trust Marcus, but how could I?
Cole’s words flashed back to me. I wanted so badly to think he was lying, and maybe he was, but if he wasn’t…well, it wouldn’t be the first time a man in my life had let me down.
I knew what I had to do. I needed to talk to Marcus and at least get his side of the story. I owed him that.
I was out back taking out the trash since we’d had a rare momentary lull on a Friday night. It was just me on shift tonight, even though Sam was trying to find someone else to help out on our busier nights.
After hurling the last garbage bag into the bin, I turned around to head back inside. That was when I felt it–that inexplicable feeling that was a mix of adrenaline and foreboding.
I glanced to my left when I heard a car door slam, and two men stepped into view in front of me. That was when my heart seemed to stop. A third walked out of where he had been leaning against a black SUV in the mostly full lot we shared with the other buildings on the street.
The night air was clear and crisp enough I should have been able to smell them if they were human, but just like before, none of them had a scent.
Vampires.
My fight-or-flight instincts kicked into full gear, and this time, I actually had some fight to offer. I kept my hand behind my jacket to shield the fact that I was reaching for Marcus’s knife.”Are you really going to run, little wolf?” The one who spoke was the one in the middle. He was all hard edges with crimson eyes and a steely mouth. His hair was dark, heavy, and a bit longer than the others’. He was the heart of the group, the leader. I didn’t know how I knew that, but I did. I had seen him before, but I didn’t know his name. He was almost certainly one of the vampires who had jumped me in the alley, but so much from that night was a blur that I couldn’t say for sure.”Not this time,” he said in answer to his own question. His voice was full of barely restrained anger as he made a small nod to the one on his right. “You’re the reason Adam is dead, and this time, your noble knight isn’t around to save you.”
The one at his right side stepped forward. He was a blond, scowly guy who was probably my age. Or, at least, he looked like he was. They’d surrounded me before I knew it. They must’ve thought I wouldn’t be able to take three of them on at once. I was more than prepared to prove them wrong.
I wasn’t going to let them, or anyone else, ever think I was powerless again.”I’m not running,” I said steadily, despite the panicky fluttering in my chest. “I’m not afraid of you.””You’re not afraid of us?” the new vampire to the leader’s right asked, raising an eyebrow. The way he looked at me, like he was sizing me up for something, made my stomach turn, especially since he was about a foot taller than me and at least fifty pounds heavier. “That’s good, because all we want to do is have a talk.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the third–a tall, muscular vampire with bleached white hair like he had just stepped out of some cheesy early ’80s soap opera–creeping toward me. He obviously didn’t think I’d notice him, and for now, I just stepped back from the others, deciding to let him think that.”I can take care of myself,” I bit back. “Now, what the hell do you want?”
The leader of the group spoke. “You think Alexander saved you, but he didn’t. He just put a target on your head.””So, what, you’re going to use me for ransom?” I scoffed, hoping I could keep them talking long enough that someone else would come along and distract them, giving me the chance to run. Fighting them wasn’t my first choice, even if it was an option now.”Ransom?” He chuckled. “That’s cute. We’re a little far beyond that, girlie.”
My heart was beating so loudly I was certain they could all hear it. Before I could respond, the one who’d been creeping up on me reached for me, and I knew it was my chance to catch him off-guard instead. I kicked out, my foot making contact with his ribs, and he grunted in surprise. I took off as fast as I could, ducking past the other two and heading straight for the parking lot.
I heard them pursuing me, but they weren’t attempting to be quiet at all. I, on the other hand, darted through cars freely, dodging between them, using them as cover.
I rounded another van only to collide with the leader, but I acted more out of impulse than intent and brought the blade up under the left side of his ribs. He gasped and shoved me back, holding his side as blood began to spread through his shirt.”So the pup has claws,” he growled before lunging at me.
I darted away, heading for a nearby alley, but the guy with the bleached hair grabbed me from behind, tackling me to the ground. I quickly turned my position on him, swinging my leg around so he was flat on his back. I brought my boot down hard on his chest and used him as a springboard to run in the other direction.
Behind me, the leader was shouting something I couldn’t understand. I dodged between cars again and darted into another alley. Just when I thought I’d gotten away from them, he appeared out of thin air right in front of me.