by Ruby Brooks
“Hayley, we need to talk.”
She grimaced. There were circles under her eyes again. “Do we?”
“Yes.”
As she was rummaging around for a first aid kit, I caught her by her waist. She was wearing a cropped t-shirt with some high waisted leggings, and when I splayed my fingers across her skin, she shivered. Her stomach was a lot tighter now from all the training, and I felt the strength there. I was proud of her for taking to it well and wanting to protect herself.
“I don’t need first aid. Just some cleaning.”
“O— okay.”
“Hayley.”
“Cole.”
“Look at me,” I demanded, quietly. She turned in my arms and her hazel eyes met mine. I couldn’t hold it any longer and I kissed her. Her lips opened for mine immediately, and I growled, tightening my grip on her.
This isn’t how it was supposed to go, but I wasn’t going to stop myself.
My memories put the real thing to shame. Her lips were soft, so fucking soft, against mine. I slid my tongue inside her mouth, making her moan, and squirm against me. When her fingers slid against my bare chest, I pinned her against the bathroom door, so we were in the same position as the first time I kissed her.
I didn’t want any disruptions tonight and Hayley must have felt the same. Her kisses turned demanding, and I met her eagerness. I dared inching my fingers higher, sliding my hands over her chest. She wasn’t wearing a bra and, fuck me, I was hard as a rock. Her nipples pebbled in my hands and I tugged on them, making her moan louder.
“Cole,” she gasped, tearing herself out of my grip as much as she could. “I don’t want to be another one of your conquests.”
I slid my hands back out of her shirt and on her hips, safer ground so I could talk to her. “You will never be a conquest. What does that mean?”
“It means you sleep with any woman that walks!”
I disagreed. “Hayley… you aren’t any woman.”
Tell her. Tell her. Tell her.
Fuck. I couldn’t do it.
“No, I’m your friend. We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“If you were my friend, you would have been there tonight.” I regretted the words as soon as I had said them, but it was true. I was hurting and I knew she would reject me if I opened up to her.
“I was there,” she admitted, sheepish.
“What?”
“I filmed it. I know you don’t want your fights filmed, but Tristan kind of made me.”
My jaw dropped. “You what?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I know I distract you and look at you.” Her hands reached up to rub off some of the dried blood. “I would have gasped at every hit you took. Mia actually gagged me. For real.”
I stared at her, shell-shocked. “Was Kian there?”
“No.” Her face fell. “There was an issue with a patrol tonight. Tristan decided to send him on it so that he could prove that could lead, and so he could watch you fight in the flesh.”
“But… you were here when I left. You were crying.”
“I cry all the time,” she admitted.
“Don’t. Come and see me when you do.”
“Cole,” she sighed. “I can’t.”
“Why not? You said so yourself, we’re friends. I want to be there for you.”
“Okay.” I knew she wouldn’t come to me, and I also knew this was my only time to tell her how I felt.
“Hales… you aren’t just any woman to me, I mean that. I want more than that from you.”
She picked her fingernails, thinking. “Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?”
Close enough. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
My heart was pounding so hard I thought I was going to pass out. I seriously needed a lie down after my fight, but I needed to hear her answer. My palms were getting clammy and I tightened my grip on her hips. Her hands were still on my chest and she bit her lip.
“Cole Anderson doesn’t have girlfriends.”
“No, because he wants you.”
“How long for?”
“Since the moment I met you.”
“I mean, how long do you want me to be your girlfriend?”
“For however long it takes to make you my wife,” I shrugged but this was now her time to drop her jaw.
“You’re crazy.” She tried pulling away, but I held her closer.
“I’m being serious, Hales. Please, at least consider it.”
“Is Kian filming this for a joke?”
“What? No. Of course he isn’t,” I insisted. This was not going to the way I planned, at all.
She stared at me, conflicting emotions in her eyes. I made an absolute shit-show out of this, and I didn’t know what to say to fix it.
“Okay.”
It was my turn to be shocked. It was like a game of who can stun the other ping-pong.
“Okay,” I repeated, grinning at her. “I guess I’ll let you clean me up now.”
She bit her lip to hide her smile and stepped back to wet a cloth for me. I sat down, enjoying the way it felt to have her take care of me. I was going to warm her up to being my girlfriend before I dropped the mate-bomb on her.
“There’s a rule to this boyfriend–girlfriend thing, you know?” I said, teasing her a bit.
“I’m sure there is,” she mumbled, wiping at my face with more force than necessary.
“You have to come to me when you’re hurting.” I was serious now and caught her wrist in my hand. “Please, Hayley. I can’t listen to you crying yourself to sleep anymore.”
“You used to listen?”
“I wouldn’t go to the fight ring until you were asleep. Sometimes I wouldn’t get there until three in the morning.”
“But… what about school?”
“I managed.” I let go of her wrist, letting her continue cleaning me. My wounds had healed now thanks to my wolf, and she was testing them gently with her fingers just in case.
“Thank you,” she whispered, before clearing her throat. “Won’t Tristan be mad if he finds you slept overnight?”
“Not if we only sleep.” I also don’t give a shit what he thinks. She nodded and mumbled something about getting ready when she slipped out of the bathroom.
After I showered, I found some clean, soft shorts to slip on and I got into bed next to Hayley. I felt her nerves as though they were my own and wrapped my arms around her.
“I promise, Hayley. We are just going to sleep.”
“Okay,” she mumbled.
“Want to talk about your nan?”
“Yeah.”
We talked all night and by the time morning came around, I ignored the knock at the door and let her continue sleeping. My wolf was temporarily sated, I knew he would go crazy when he realised we still couldn’t claim her.
Soon, I promised him.
Chapter 8
Hayley
“Happy birthday!” Kian and Tristan both exclaimed when I came down for breakfast, still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Tristan was back in dad-mode, rather than alpha-mode, and I had started enjoying having him around like that. I no longer held the same reservations as I did when I first met him, and I was glad he had managed to change my mind.
“Thanks, guys,” I said, managing a smile. I wonder if they know Cole was upstairs in my room.
I surveyed the table of food in front of me. There were cakes, pastries, and all the sweet foods you could think of. My stomach growled and I decided to start with a slice of chocolate cake. I had always obsessed with food from as far back as I can remember, and I had an appetite that sometimes put the men to shame.
As we were eating, Cole made an appearance through the main door. Tristan burst out laughing, startling Kian.
“What the hell?” Kian asked me. I shrugged and tried to hide my smile.
“Why didn’t you just come down the stairs?” Tristan asked Cole, his shoulders still shaking.
“Damn. Maybe we weren’t as sneaky as we thought.�
�� Cole took the seat next to me and flashed me his perfect smile.
“You two slept together?” Kian asked, waving his fork between us.
“God, no,” I replied, my cheeks going bright red. Tristan was still laughing and I felt all kinds of awkward about this conversation.
“Christ, Hales, way to make a man feel good,” Cole slung his arm around the back of my chair and I subtly leaned into his touch. “Not in the way you are thinking, Kian, but yeah. I spent the night.”
There was a faint challenge in the air, but it was dismissed by the Steelmans.
“I’m out of here,” Tristan said, laughing the whole time. He ruffled my hair again and kissed my temple. “Happy birthday, Hayley.”
“What are we doing today?” I asked after Tristan left.
“What do you want to do?” Cole asked me, his fingers playing with the ends of my hair.
“Beach? It has been ages.”
“Sure, whatever you want.”
“I can’t come,” Kian admitted, and we both faced him in shock. “I have too much to do today.”
He genuinely looked disappointed, and I reached out across the table to squeeze his hand. Cole wasn’t as forgiving though.
“Seriously? It’s Hayley’s birthday and—” He sighed, not finishing his sentence.
And her grandmother just died.
“I don’t need any pity. I’m only eighteen, anyway. Kian, you better be there for my twenty-first.” I pointed my fork at him with my free hand, threatening to stab him with it.
He let out a pained laugh. “Sure, of course I will.”
Our friendship was drifting apart. Cole leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. I missed his warmth and tried to tell myself to pull it together. I nudged him with my foot, but he didn’t react.
“Cole,” I hissed.
“What? He hasn’t been around for ages, Hayley. I give up.”
“Neither have you,” Kian said, his voice rising. “I know you two have been sneaking out together each night. Where was my invite?”
“Kian—” I tried, but Cole talked on top of me.
“I’ve been taking Hayley to the ring so she can learn how to fight. I didn’t ask you if you wanted to come because I knew you would say no.”
“Why don’t you like it there?” I asked Kian. I kept my voice soft because these two idiots were about to kick off, and I didn’t want that.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m sorry, Hayley. I hope you have a good birthday with Cole.” He picked up a present and handed it to me. “I’ve got to go, but I’ll catch up with you later?”
I nodded and mumbled a goodbye. I opened the present and gasped. Kian had found a first edition copy of my favourite book, The Book Thief. I felt tears prick my eyes at how thoughtful he had been.
Cole didn’t say a word and I glared at him as Kian left.
“What is wrong with you?” I demanded.
“Me? I’m not the one who has given up on us.”
“He hasn’t given up on us. We both knew there was going to be a day where Kian would have to step up. Why can’t you be happy for him?”
“I am,” he replied, too quickly.
“Oh, my God. You’re jealous. That's what this is about, isn’t it?”
“Hales,” he sighed, dropping his head in his hands. “Didn’t you notice something, earlier? I don’t know how much longer I can stay here.”
I reached out and tugged his hands, making him raise his head to look at me. There was anguish in his eyes and I couldn’t believe I didn’t see this before. The challenges between him and the Steelmans. The way he carried himself. The way he fought.
Cole was the alpha that Kian wasn’t.
“Then we will leave, together.”
His blue eyes met mine. “I can’t ask you to do that, Hayley.”
“What else is keeping me here?”
“Where would we go?”
I wrapped my arms around him, resting my head on his shoulder. “Somewhere up north. I’m not actually that fond of the beach, I just thought I should be since we live here. I want forests, hills, small communities where everyone knows everyone.”
“I’ll find it for us.”
“Find me a smile, too. You aren’t allowed to be miserable. It’s my birthday, Cole, eat some cake.”
He let out a light chuckle but sobered quickly as he looked across the table. “You’ve eaten all of it!”
“Oops,” I giggled.
See? Big appetite.
I wasn’t even sorry.
✽✽✽
I flopped onto my bed, exhausted from the day. Cole made me train with him, in my wolf form, as a mild punishment for eating all the cake before he’d had a chance to try some. He more than made up for it though by taking me out to the best dessert place in town.
“Maybe your ability to drive is a good thing after all,” I commented, rubbing my bloated belly. Is there such thing as too much cake and ice cream? I think I found my limit today.
“Told you,” he said, grinning. He hung up his jacket on the back of my bedroom door before kicking off his shoes. He lay down on the bed next to me and picked up a strand of my hair between his fingers. “You are beautiful, Hayley. I don’t deserve you.”
I bit my lip, working up the courage to ask him my burning question. “If you’d wanted me since the moment you met me, why were you always with other girls at school?” Shoving them in my face.
He dropped my hair and rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. “Hayley… there is something I need to tell you.”
“Okay?” I felt my heart rate quicken and I willed my wolf not to shift. I was afraid that it would ruin this serious moment.
“I think,” he sighed, clearing his throat, “I think you’re my mate, Hayley. At first, I didn’t want it. Then, when I realised I didn’t want anyone else to have you, I tried to get over you. What have I ever done to deserve you?”
He continued speaking but I didn’t hear the rest.
I think you’re my mate.
My heart rate was going wild at this point and I felt the beginnings of a panic attack.
“Hayley? Fuck, I can’t even do this right.” He was holding me, stroking my arms. There was that connection again between us that always shocked me, but maybe he was right.
“Cole, are you being serious right now?” My voice was meek, and I hated that I was showing weakness, but I was at his mercy with his words.
“Completely serious.”
I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck and pressed my lips to his. This was the first time I had initiated it, and I felt his low growl of approval. His hand slid to my waist, tugging me against him. I felt every plane of his hard body as he pressed me into the mattress, kissing me as though his life depended on it. I opened my legs so he could settle between them, annoyed with myself for choosing my jeans over a skirt.
Wait.
What the fuck was I thinking?
“Cole,” I gasped, my hands pressed against his chest. “I want to talk to you about it more first.”
I could see his disappointment, but he didn’t push me. He looked down at me, smoothing my hair back, and I longed to press my body up to meet his again.
“What do you want to talk about?” His voice held an edge.
“Why? All the other girls. The pushing me away. Why did you wait so long to kiss me?”
“Because I was afraid,” he admitted, his voice low. “What if I imagined all of this between us? I’m not the only one interested in you, and God knows I don’t deserve you.”
“Why do you say that?” I reached up and stroked his chin, his stubble rough under my fingers. “You always say you don’t deserve me.”
He closed his eyes at my touch, and I couldn’t get a read on him. “Let me give you your present.”
“Present?” I eyed him suspiciously as he rolled off me, taking all his heat with him. I suppressed a shiver from my nerves. Cole had never bought me a present in my life.
“
Uh, now I’m nervous. Please calm down.” He cleared his throat a few times and produced a small box.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Is he proposing?
I couldn’t breathe.
“I bought this a while ago. I heard of this concept called a promise ring and… It’s stupid, really. I just heard of it once and thought of you. I think about you all the time actually, but anyway.” He was rambling and I had never seen this side of him. “As I’m trying to say, I bought this, and have been meaning to give it to you for a while. I decided to give it to you after I grew some balls and admitted you’re my mate.”
I stared at him and when his eyes met mine, I felt a grin spread across my face. “This is adorable. Can I see it?”
“Yeah,” he opened the box, showing me the ring.
“It’s an emerald,” I gasped.
“Your mum’s favourite jewel.”
“How did you…” I let the tears fall. I hadn’t told anyone about it.
“I asked your nan when I went out to buy it.”
“Nan knew how you felt about me?”
“Who do you think told me about the promise ring?” He flashed a quick smile. “Yeah, she knew. Tristan knows, too. And Kian.”
“I’m the last to know,” I stroked the ring, in complete awe. I wasn’t mad at him for hiding his feelings from me, but I was disappointed I hadn’t seen it for myself earlier.
He took my right hand in his gently. “You put it on the right instead of the left. It’s bad luck apparently to wear it on the left until you are engaged or married.”
“Okay,” I whispered, watching as he slipped the ring on my finger. “What if I shift?”
“We’ll go out tomorrow to find a chain for you so you can wear it around your neck?”
I nodded and he raised my hand, kissing it. I watched his eyes darken as my lips parted.
“The pack is out tonight,” I said.
“I know.”
“So, we’ll be alone – all night.”
“What are you saying?” He raised his eyebrow, challenging me into asking him out loud.
“I want you,” I admitted. I set the box down and straddled Cole’s hips, so I was in his lap. His hands rested on my waist to steady me. “How many girls have you slept with?”
