JESSICA
“What do you want?” I say, words sharper than I intend, but it’s the only thing keeping me upright. The door clicks shut behind us, even though I dra want this talk in the first place, it gives me peace seeing how he look. His eyes are tired, darker than usual.
I hear the faint sound of his breathing. That’s all, I don’t want to notice anything else. “You yanked me in here like your lungs would stop working if you didn’t speak. So speak, Grayson. Say whatever the hell you dragged me in for.”
“You’re in my head, Jess,” he says–voice low, frayed at the edges. “You never leave. Not for a damn second.”
And for a second–one full, traitorous second–I want to lean back into him.
I want to fold but instead, I step away. “Grayson. We really shouldn’t be doing this.”
“We broke up,” I say evenly, even though everything inside me is clawing, raw, screaming. “And you promised to let me go.”
“I’m trying,” he growls, jaw clenched. “But Jess stay the hell away from my brother.”
Hah. Funny how he says that now considering he never mentioned anything about him.
“So this is what it’s all about?”
“He’s dangerous-”
“And you’re not?!” I snarl, shoving him hard enough to knock the breath from his lungs. “Stop doing this. Your father offered me a chance, do you know that?” Grayson growl but I continue to speak because I want him to know there’s a place for me in his pack again.” He told me I can be a warrior if I train under—”
“Under who? My brother?” he snarls, grabbing my wrist. His grip is too tight–tight enough that I feel the bones shift. I rip my arm away with a gasp. “Do you even know who he is?” he spits. “Do you have any idea what he’s capable of?”
“Let me guess,” I bite back, “You’re the only one allowed to hurt me?”
His face falls, jaw slackening. “Jess-”
“No! Don’t ‘Jess‘ me!” I’m circling him now, refusing to be cornered. My wrist throbs where he grabbed it. “Don’t you dare ruin this for me, Grayson. Not again.”
His nostrits flare. “You don’t understand what you’re getting into.”
“If you so much as breathe in my direction during training, if you threaten your brother, if you do anything–anything–to sabotage this opportunity…” I step forward, close enough to smell the pine and rage rolling off him. “I will make sure you regret it for the rest of your miserable life.”
I back toward the door, hand fumbling for the knob without looking away from him. Something feral flashes in his eyes–something that makes my heart stutter despite everything.
“Stay the hell away from me, Grayson. I mean it.” My voice drops to something barely above a whisper. “Cross me on this, and whatever was left between us dies. Permanently.”
I step out, slamming the door hard enough that the hinges groan in protest. As I stride down the hallway, back straight and head high, I feel something wet on my cheeks.
I wipe it away roughly. He doesn’t deserve my tears.
When I came back, Riot is nowhere to be found. I frown looking at his stupid note on the table.
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Chapter 69
Let’s meet tonight, I’ll pick you up. Don’t cry too much for my brother”
Screw him. Screw both of them.
I don’t know what Riot means when he said he’ll just pick me up but I’m sure as hell I can use a rest. So, I just went home and try to sleep.
But sleep doesn’t come. Instead, my body burns with frustration–at Grayson, at Riot, at myself. I toss and turn, sheets twisting around my legs ta restraints. I kick them off, growling through clenched teeth.
The clock reads 3 P.M. when I finally drift off, anger melting into something else entirely.
“Hmm.. please, ah” The sound escapes before I can stop it.
A mouth finds my breast, teeth closing around the nipple making me squirm. Oh my goddess, it feels so good. His tongue flicks across the sensitive tip, and I arch my back, shoving myself closer to his hot mouth. My fingers tangle in his hair, pulling him harder against me.
“Please,” I whimper, not caring how desperate I sound.
His tongue leaves a hot trail down my stomach, teeth nipping at my hipbone. I’m squirming, pushing his head lower, shameless in my need. Salava glistens on my skin where his mouth has been.
“Yes,” I hiss, feral and unrestrained. “Don’t stop.”
When I feel his breath between my thighs, I jerk upright, gasping-
My eyes snap open and I notice the curtains fluttering wildly–my window’s wide open. When the hell did that happen? Cold night air rushes in, making me shiver. When did I open that? Did I even open it?
“Perfect. Just perfect.” I kick off the tangled sheets wrapped around my ankles like vines and stagger to my feet.
My reflection catches in the mirror–hair wild, eyes bright, lips swollen from my own teeth. I look feral, unhinged. I look exactly how I feel.
I stomp toward the window, ready to slam it shut when something outside stops me dead. A massive wolf stands in my yard, staring directly at my
window.
At me.
The scream freezes in my throat. I can’t move. Can’t breathe.
The wolf’s jaw drops open, revealing teeth made for tearing flesh. A string of saliva drips from its maw.
My hand flies to the window, slamming it shut with such force the glass rattles. I fumble with the lock, hands shaking so badly I miss twice.
“Holy shit, holy shit,” I chant, backing away. Is that..Grayson? No, it’s not him. Those eyes… those fucking eyes.
I stumble backward, knocking my hip against the dresser, sending my phone clattering to the floor. Damn it. I tried to crawl to get it but it’s under my
bed!
Something scratches against the glass–a sound so faint I almost think I imagined it. Then it comes again. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.
I force myself to look up, inch by terrified inch. My neck creaks with the effort, muscles locked in fear. Just one more look. I need to be sure. I need to-
The door swings open, and I whirl around with a strangled cry.
“Well, well.” Riot leans against the doorframe/smirking like he owns the night. His eyes rake over me, slow, deliberate. And then I realize I’m standing here half–naked in front of him. I grab the edge of the dresser to cover myself, but it’s too late. His eyes have already seen too much.
He licks his lips – slow. Almost lazy. Then he cracks his neck to one side, giving me another long look.
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Chapter 69
“You son of a bitch –Thiss, reaching for the door, ready to shove him out. But he’s faster 110 van je fan naam, his hand ea
him but he’s stronger. With a savage yank, he pulls me against his chest, my breaths teaving me in a shocked pasp:
“Going somewhere?” he growls, his face friches from mine. He twists, flipping me around en fast my head spins, my bark slamming downed ve arm snakes around my waist, locking me in place while his other hand pins both my wrists above my head against the door.
“Easy, wildcat,” he breathes, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “Wouldn’t want you hurting yourself.”
I stomp down on his foot, hard, but he just laughs a dark, hungry sound that sends unwanted heat coursing through me
“Fucking let go!” I snarl, bucking against him. “Riot!”
I thrash against him, but it only makes him press harder. This fucking asshole. A whimper escaped my lips when i felt his fingers tangle in my hair yanking my head back to expose my throat.
“What are you scared about, Jess?” His teeth graze my earlobe, a deliberate bite that’s just shy of painful. “What makes you whimper huh?”
Shit. I almost forgot about the wolf earlier. I jerk my head toward the window, searching for anything, any marks or evidence that what I saw was real but there’s nothing. It’s just pure darkness.
Riot follows my panicked gaze, a wolfish grin spreading across his face. ” You saw a ghost Jess?”
“Fuck you.”
It’s not a fucking ghost. I saw someone. I saw something. I can feel him laughing before he let me go.
“There’s something out there,” In
“Worried about monsters, Jess?” His laugh is cruel, mocking. I intend to really hurt him when he finally let me go. Riot stalks over and crashes onto my bed, sprawling across it.
I scramble away, suddenly aware I’m wearing only a tank top and underwear. “Get off my bed,” I snarl, lunging for my dresser. I yank a shirt out, nearly ripping the drawer from its tracks.
“Why?” Riot stretches, muscles rippling under his tight shirt. “Don’t worry you’re not my type.”
I scoff, tugging the shirt over my head. “Me neither. Why are you here, Riot?”
“I’m here to pick you up for training.”
“At this hour?” I snap, grabbing sweatpants and yanking them on. “It’s already dark!”
“Yeah, and?” His voice trails off, and I notice his eyes aren’t on me anymore.
They’re locked on the framed photo I stupidly left on my nightstand. Me and Grayson, arms wrapped around each other, laughing like idiots at some joke I can’t even remember now. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Riot’s eyes narrow, something dangerous flashing across his face. “Well, isn’t that sweet,” he growls, reaching for the frame with barely controlled
violence.
I dive across the space between us, snatching the photo away. “Touch it and lose fingers.”
His nostrils flare, like he’s physically restraining himself from attacking. “Him? Really? That’s who you’re pining after?” The disgust in his voice feels like
acid.
“None of your fucking business,” I clutch the photo tighter, backing away.
Riot surges to his feet, towering over me, his body radiating heat and fury. For a second, I think he might actually strike me–then he scoffs, the sound rough and dismissive.
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Chapter 69
“Fine. Whatever. Let’s just fucking go.” He stalks toward the door, shoulders hunched like a well ready to pounce.
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