Filed To Story: Chasing the Rejected Luna's Heart (Clara & Liam) Book PDF Free
Especially vampires. It’s not foolproof. You should still be careful, but I don’t like the idea of you out there unprotected.””You saying you don’t believe in my progress?” I teased.”Not at all.” He leaned in and stole a kiss, taking the breath out of my lungs. “But it never hurts to have something to back up the martial arts.””This was really thoughtful,” I murmured, looking down at the blade again to admire it before I slid it back into the holster. “Thanks.””Anytime,” Marcus said, caressing the curve of my jaw. “I’ll teach you how to use it next class.””
Ifyou show up,” I shot back, giving him another peck on the lips before I opened the car door. I got out and paused, leaning on the frame to look back in. “You be careful out there yourself. At least until I’m around to stitch you up again.””You got it, Doc,” Marcus said with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes and shut the door, realizing he was going to stay there and watch until I got in. I guess there were some guys out there who were still chivalrous. And the fact that it wasn’t dependent on what he could get from me was a bonus.
It was still early afternoon, so it wasn’t a surprise none of the customers were in yet when I walked in. Cole was standing at the bar, though. Of course he was. He couldn’t be bothered to show up to work most of the time, but it figured he would be here the one time I didn’t want to run into him.
I walked past the bar with barely a nod he usually wouldn’t even acknowledge, since he was looking at his phone.”How was your night?” Cole’s voice came out of the blue as I walked down the hall toward the storeroom.
I froze in my tracks and looked back at him over my shoulder. “I’m sorry?””Just wondering how your date went,” Cole replied in a fake casual tone, wiping down a glass. It was the first time I’d ever seen him lift a finger, and that was more unsettling than anything. “Marcus dropped you off, didn’t he?” My incredulity must have shown despite my best attempt to hide it, because he smirked and added, “You smell like him.”
My face turned red hot. What did he expect me to say? The challenge was obviously rooted in jealousy.?That or judgment, which he had in abundance.”Is that a problem?” I challenged. ?Cole rolled his eyes as if I had asked the most obvious question.
A thought came to me that Cole was testing me to see if he could get a reaction out of me. Probably looking for any excuse he could find to fire me.”That depends,” he said with a shrug, setting the glass back on the shelf.”On what?” I asked, folding my arms. I knew I had to tread carefully, but the guy was capable of getting under my skin like no one else ever had. Not even Jax, but it was a close call between the two of them.”On whether you enjoy being alive,” Cole said coolly.
I raised an eyebrow. “Is that a threat?””It’s a warning,” he said, placing his hands on the counter and leaning in. His eyes were boring holes into me, but I let it pass.”Good to know I’m still alive,” I snapped.
Cole’s eyes narrowed, and for a few moments, we remained locked in a staring contest. I’d never seen such cold eyes in my life, and yet it burned to hold eye contact with him all the same.”He’s not who you think he is,” he said carefully. It wasn’t like him to choose his words. He’d always been quick to speak his mind.
I thought of playing dumb. His opinion of me was so low, he’d probably believe it. I didn’t, though, mostly because I knew it would get out eventually.”I know he’s a hunter,” I said, keeping my voice low even though we were alone. I didn’t know where Sam was, though, or when she would be back.
The surprise registered in his eyes for an instant, and then it was gone.?”He’s going to hurt you.” Cole’s jaw clenched, and I could tell he was on the verge of losing it.”You really expect me to believe you care?” I challenged.
Cole shoved off the counter and stepped toward me. I stood my ground, my hands curling into fists by my side. I wanted nothing more than to storm back outside and keep walking.
At the same time, I couldn’t help myself from wanting to hear what he was going to say next.”I do care,” he said, his voice hoarse. The words didn’t quite register in my brain right away. “More than you know. You think I’m jealous of your little fling?” His fangs showed as he laughed derisively, like it was the stupidest thing in the world to think someone like him would be jealous of me. “You think you’re the only pretty, na?ve little thing he’s roped in with the nice guy routine? It’s an act. I know you’re a defective wolf, but even you should be able to sniff out that much bullshit.”
Defective wolf? I grimaced, but I couldn’t really deny it.”I know why you hate him,” I said, choosing my own words carefully. “I know what happened to Tyler.”
The shock that flashed across his face soon gave way to rage. “Don’t,” he said through his teeth. “I don’t ever want to hear his name out of your mouth again, because you have no fucking idea what you’re talking about.””He went rogue, Cole,” I shot back. “You can’t seriously blame Marcus for that after all this time.””Is that what he told you?” He scoffed bitterly. “That we broke up because of Tyler?”
I hesitated. “Not in those exact words, no.””Of course,” he sneered. “He never really lies, he just gives half-truths and lets you fill in the blanks. Some things never change.”
I shook my head to clear it. There was no way I was going to take Cole’s word for anything, but even though I knew he was probably just playing mind games, there was still a seed of doubt sewn in my mind.”I have to go,” I said, turning away. I could feel the way his eyes followed me as I walked past him and when he grabbed me by the wrist, I froze again.”Look at me,” Cole ordered in a low voice. His eyes were back to normal, but I could still feel the ice coursing through his touch. Knowing better than to fight him, I turned to face him. “What do you want?””Be careful,” he said pointedly. “If he doesn’t take your life, he’ll take everything else, and by the time you figure it out, it’ll be too late.”
With that, he released me and stalked out of the bar before I had the chance. I was left staring at the door, at a complete loss for what to do.
Or think.
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