Animal Instinct

by Noelle N

  To my surprise, Jed sidled up, the hem of his jacket brushing against me. Leaning against the counter, he grabbed the plate from its place in the cupboard and handed it to me, long tanned fingers curling around the edges of the plate that made it look small in his grasp. He eased back the moment I took the plate from him, like our close proximity unnerved him to no end.

  "Thank you," I said softly, placing the plate down on the table. He nodded and began to search through the mess, pulling open cupboards and drawers in search for anything that remained behind. When he accidentally caught his hand on a glass shard on the counter, I gasped and stepped forward. "Careful! You shouldn't be going around without gloves on."

  He fell a step back when I reached out for him, his eyes sharp and intent on me. Slowly, carefully, like I was some sort of predator that could hurt him, he held up his hands. I thought he was giving me the general sign for surrender at first when I realised that he was showing me his hands.

  Showing me the cut across his palm. The fresh line of blood that streaked across skin. The way the line steadily sealed back up until all that was left was just blood. No scar, no wound.

  "Lucky," I mumbled, staring with fixed fascination at his hand for a second or two, before meeting his gaze and smiling. "I think I have some gloves though. Just – " Turning around, I opened one of the drawers and fished out a set of rubber gloves, before pulling out another set for myself. "Here you go." I held it out to him and he took it, watching me pull the gloves on before doing the same himself. "Figures. They take everything from me and leave the damn gloves behind."

  I'd meant to be light-hearted about it. But the more I searched, the more difficult it was to stay upbeat. Everything important was gone. My laptop. My savings. All my documents. Some things, like my television or books, had been wrecked. I was quickly beginning to realise this wasn't something as simple as ransacking.

  It was more like destroying with a purpose.

  "Well – " I exhaled at last, when I finally managed to put together what was left. A few clothes. Two books. A few other things here and there. All of it combined fitted perfectly in a box and that was it. All that was left. " – I guess that's that."

  Jed was leaning against the doorway of my bedroom, watching me settle down wearily on my couch. He had been silent throughout, searching for my things equally as desperately as I had. His sympathy, while silent, was heart-warming, to say the least.

  "You know, when I first came out here, everyone was just worried about me," I said quietly, reaching for a ripped cushion and tracing my fingers across the split seams. "My grandmother had just passed away and I was so – alone, I guess. I had a couple of relatives back from my hometown and they offered to take me in, but I wanted to start somewhere fresh. Find a new home. Meet new people. Make new friends."

  I looked up and met Jed's gaze. The expression on his face was unguarded, but I couldn't for the life of me tell what he was thinking. He was listening, however, like every word I said was worth hearing, perhaps worth remembering.

  Dragging a deep breath, I shook my head. "I guess it's all gone now. I just don't know what's next, you know? I don't know where to go from here."

  I sighed, the sound echoing in the soft silence. Jed slowly pushed himself off the doorframe and headed over, holding out something to me. When I craned my neck to get a closer look, I stilled, surprise sweeping through me.

  I was on my feet in a second, reaching over to take the photograph from him. "Where did you get that?" My eyes were wide as I looked down at the picture. It was a picture taken ages ago, of my grandmother and myself at a carnival. It was her favourite, because she was able to go places back then. "I stashed this at the back of my closet with the rest of my old things," I whispered, looking up at Jed. "Is that where you found it?"

  Staring at me intently, he slowly nodded.

  Blinking back the tears that suddenly sprung to my eyes, I clutched the photograph to my chest and smiled. It wasn't much but somehow, it still meant the world to me. "Thank you."

  He nodded again. And I took a step closer as he held my gaze, the silence between us shifting to something with a little static. It was different but a good kind of different, the kind that made my heart quicken for no apparent reason. But just as I was about to say something else, a loud knocking sounded through the front door.

  "Alpha?" Adrian's voice was muffled but panicked. "This is code-red. Spike's spotted some of Bianca's henchmen making their way up. We have to get out of here now."

  05

  BELLE

  When Jed's eyes met mine, the expression in them was dark and absolutely indecipherable. It was like Adrian's words had pulled a trigger from within him, and he was completely different now. Shoulders squared, posture stiff, jaw clenched – it was amazing what body movements could convey and suddenly, I was almost scared of him.

  Without another word, he strode over to the door and flipped the latch shut. Then he dragged several pieces of furniture over – the couch, several chairs, the broken television – and propped them all against the door.

  When he was done, he looked at me and I swallowed. I knew exactly what he was thinking without him having to say it. "Fire escape?"

  He nodded, his jaw set in a way that was almost frightening because of the sheer determination on his face. After stuffing the photograph into the box and picking it up in my arms, I followed him into the kitchen and he didn't waste a moment in undoing the latch on the window panel that led out to the fire escape. He took the box from me and held the window open. Climbing out onto the fire escape made me nervous – the sheer height alone was dizzying, but I pressed my lips tightly together and hurried down the stairs, with Jed following close behind.

  But the ground floor was a danger zone all on its own, and the moment we stepped off the last of the stairs, Jed manoeuvred me towards the nearest dark alcove. He did it in an almost odd manner, not quite touching me, simply turning so his back was to me and backing me into the corner, before setting the box down on the ground. His hands were braced on either side of the wall in a way that spoke volumes – whoever wanted to get to me would have to go through him first. His eyes were sharp as he scanned our surroundings, and when I peeked over his shoulder, I realised what it was that he'd seen.

  Bianca was striding past with another guy, but she kept one hand tucked oddly in the pocket of her jacket. And when she lifted that hand to run her fingers through her hair, I didn't miss the gleam of metal that was strapped to her waist in a shape of a revolver.

  Instinctively, my hand darted out to latch tightly onto the fabric of Jed's jacket. He stilled at the movement, then turned to face me, with movements so stealthy and quiet that I didn't hear a thing. Keeping one arm braced against the wall and his gaze locked on mine, he reached up to press a finger to his lips.

  It wasn't until I felt the warmth radiating from his body that I realised we were far closer than I'd originally imagined. His stance had effectively caged me in but oddly enough, made me feel safe. Safe but dizzy with anticipation all at once, and I found myself holding my breath, hardly wanting this moment to end.

  Jed seemed to realise it only seconds after I did. His eyes flickered down to my lips, briefly, and it was enough to spike up the temperature between us as the green in his irises slid back, only to be replaced by a darker shade that was pure intensity. Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I registered that Bianca and her henchman had left and we were safe now. But that hardly mattered now. The air was charged and my heart raced – not just because of the dangerous situation we were in, but because of how close he was to me. So close that I could see the freckles dotting his cheeks, feel the whisper of his breath on my lips when he exhaled and hear the faint ruffling of his jacket when he shifted even closer to me.

  I couldn't for the life of me comprehend what it was. Plain physical attraction was not supposed to make you feel so…gravitated. Like you had been lost in space for a long, long time and there he was, a magnetic pull that anch
ored you down, dragged you back in, and –

  But the moment was lost when Jed suddenly blinked. And when he opened his eyes again, the black in his irises seemed to fade until he was staring at me with that familiar green shade I was so acquainted with. He seemed to register the distance we were in, and he quickly took a step back, angling his head to see if it was safe out there.

  It was. I smiled faintly when he looked back at me, trying to calm the stuttering of my heart and the way just being near him threw me completely off balance. "All clear?"

  He nodded. We left the alcove behind and made our way to Jed's car – which was parked along the next street. This surprised me, because I'd originally expected both cars to be parked along the driveway of my apartment, but clearly, either Spike or Lance had moved it earlier. Good thinking on their part too, or we wouldn't have had a quick way to escape.

  "What about the others?" I asked, when Jed held open the door of his car for me. When he shook his head, I bit my lip anxiously. "They'll be safe, right? Do you think they'll need help?"

  He shook his head again, and this time, I could've sworn I saw a faint flicker of amusement flash in his eyes. I sighed, threw one last glance over my shoulder in hopes that I could see them and was disappointed when I couldn't.

  Hopefully, Jed knew what he was doing.

  Crossing my fingers and hoping for the best, I got into the car. Jed shut the door behind me, went around, and climbed into the driver's seat, depositing the box in the back. Within minutes, we'd left my home behind and I couldn't shake the sinking feeling that I'd never see it again. The magnitude of that situation was staggering, and it only settled in after the fear of Bianca finding us earlier was over.

  I sniffled, brushing the back of my hand across my eyes and feeling the tears stain my skin. "Don't mind me," I told Jed when he looked over at me. I smiled wryly and shook my head. "I'm just – I don't even know why I'm crying. That place had a leaky faucet and the door was creaky and the neighbours upstairs were really loud – like, I don't even want to know what they were doing up there." I laughed dryly, and sniffled again. Jed quickly reached for the box of tissues on the dashboard and handed it to me. "Thanks. I think it's just the abstract concept of a home – the place sucked, but I worked hard to get it and now it's all just gone, you know?"

  He didn't say anything, of course, but when I looked over, I noticed that his hands were gripped tightly on the steering wheel. He looked furious, his eyes blazing as he stared out at the road ahead, and that didn't even begin to cover it.

  "Don't be mad," I said lightly, smiling at him when he glanced over at me again. "It's not worth it. Anyway, now that I'm all cried out, I guess there's nothing left to do but move forward. Maybe once this whole thing's over and I'm safe, I can find a new home someplace else."

  It was almost noticeable how the temperature in the car dipped way down. Not in the most literal sense, but the atmosphere between us suddenly seemed frigid, and when I studied him, I realised that maybe I hadn't had the best choice of words. The expression on Jed's face was impassive as usual, but now his fingers were clenched so tightly around the steering wheel that his knuckles were almost white.

  "Something I said?" I tried delicately at last, but there was no response from him. No nod or shake of the head, and I didn't know how to decipher him anymore. "Cheer up," I said, lighter this time, a tiny smile playing on my lips. I desperately wanted to loosen the grip he had on the steering wheel, but I kept my hands firmly folded on my lap. "Handsome guy like you shouldn't be looking so fierce all the time or you're going to scare us girls away."

  That did it. His gaze flickered to mine immediately and he looked almost apprehensive, his grip faltering on the steering wheel.

  "Just kidding." I shook my head and laughed, my smile widening as the metaphorical storm clouds blanketing his face seem to clear, and his eyes were bright once again.

  * * *

  It was amazing what a good night's sleep could do to you. And if I felt scared and lost about the future just the previous afternoon, I was more than ready now. The world never stopped spinning for anyone, and it was either play keep up or be left behind.

  So I headed downstairs early that morning, my fingers itching to pick up a knife or a chopping board and just cook. Cooking wasn't just therapeutic, the older I got, the more passionate about it I became. I adored making messes in the kitchen, and Jed had an impressive kitchen that he didn't seem to use at all.

  Jed was in his usual place when I stepped into the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a mug in one hand and a phone in the other, dressed in his typical morning-attire – a different pair of sweatpants, black hoodie zipped open, no shirt beneath. It made me flustered a little, but then I figured that if he wanted to walk around in his house looking like some sort of model out of a fashion catalogue, then who was I to complain?

  Right?

  Pushing that thought aside, I headed past him, making a beeline for the refrigerator. "Hey," I greeted over my shoulder and smiled brightly, "had breakfast yet?"

  He looked almost startled by my question, but then shook his head.

  "How do you feel about French toast?"

  He hesitated, then nodded once. I began taking eggs out of the fridge, turning around when I was done, only to pause in surprise when I saw that he was setting down a laptop on the kitchen table, along with a cell phone. He pushed it across the table towards me and my eyes widened.

  "For me?" I quickly set the eggs down near the sink and placed a hand on the laptop to stop him. "You really shouldn't."

  But the pressure from his hand was there, unrelenting, like he was trying to press me into accepting it without saying anything.

  After a few seconds, I eased up. "Okay, fine, but if you insist on giving these to me then I insist on paying you back. I mean it," I added firmly, when his eyes began to narrow. "I can't pay you back immediately, but I will once I get a job. Waitressing, probably," I mused, with a shrug. "There's not much I can do except for waitressing and cooking."

  Smiling, I pulled out the nearest chair and settled down in it, leaning over to get a better look at the laptop. Jed remained standing there, hovering but not quite, his arms braced on the back of another chair as he watched me trace my fingers across the pristine surface, before flipping it open.

  "This is amazing," I remarked quietly, running a finger across the keyboard and hearing the keys shift under the pressure. "I've never had a new one before. Mostly used ones," I explained, meeting Jed's gaze and realising that he was already looking at me, his eyes bright and curious like he was fascinated by my words. "I had more important things to pay like my rent and electricity bills and such. Buying a new laptop or a new phone was hardly at the top of my to-do list. So thank you a million times over." My smile widened and I shut the laptop, passing a quick hand over the smooth surface before slipping the phone into the pocket of my shorts. "Now sit. Because I'm making breakfast."

  I'd meant it jokingly, but to my surprise, Jed eased back a chair and sat at the table. I quickly familiarised myself with the kitchen, gathering the ingredients. Eggs. Bread. Sugar. Cinnamon. Vanilla. Even though it was clear that Jed didn't cook often, his kitchen was pretty well stocked and I just about fell in love with it.

  In between whipping up a fresh batch of toast, I'd occasionally glance over at him. Sometimes, he'd be texting and sipping from his mug of coffee, other times, he'd be watching me and I'd smile brightly at him before turning back to the stove. It was incredibly domestic – all of this; but comfortable, in a way I never imagined to feel so quickly with him.

  When I was done, I placed the pile of French toast and maple syrup on the table between us. Jed was hesitant at first, watching me unsurely as he waited for me to make the first move. But the moment I placed a slice on his plate, he began to eat like he hadn't seen food in ages.

  "Good." I smiled when he reached for a second slice, and I pushed the maple syrup closer to him. "I like a man who can eat. Actually, the
best thing about being a chef is when people enjoy what you cook. It's one of the best feelings in the world – being appreciated for what you're good at."

  Breakfast passed in a pleasant manner, and I was intrigued to find that while Jed didn't speak, I was never uncomfortable with his silence. Instead, the silence felt more intimate than anything, and I was suddenly reminded of something I'd meant to ask him earlier.

  "So this is random," I started sometime later, when we were clearing the plates from the table. "But do you have directions to the nearest library?" He stared at me and I shrugged. "I just like to read. And my books kind of got destroyed when Bianca and her goons raided my old apartment."

  He paused, then set the remaining plates down in the sink before jerking his head in a gesture for me to step out of the kitchen. Unsurely, I headed out, acutely aware that he was following behind me closely, the warmth from his body like sunlight on my skin.

  "But I need to wash – "

  He stopped me from heading back in, placing a palm flat against the frame of the doorway to prevent me from stepping through.

  I looked at him in amusement. "Oh. I cook, you clean. Is that how it works now?" He looked faintly embarrassed but nodded all the same and I smiled. "Okay. Lead the way then."

  He surprised me when he headed further down the hallway instead of towards the front door. After several turns along the way, he stopped in front of a room with large brass doors, before placing a firm hand down on the handle and pushing the door open.

  What greeted me was a sight that I hadn't expected in a million years. The room was dusty and dark, but it was full of shelves stocked full with books. I stepped in first and Jed followed closely behind, sidling past me to hit the switch for the ceiling lights. Instantly, the room was enveloped in a warm glow and my eyes rapidly adjusted to the other smaller details in the room – the long couch against the wall, full-length windows that were covered with heavy drapes and several reading lamps positioned around the room.