Shifters of grey ridge b.., p.27
Shifters of Grey Ridge Box Set, page 27
part #1 of Box Set: Books 1 - 3 Series
“You are mine, Hayley. You will always be mine.” My wolf fumes at her denial of my claim. “We’re meant to be together.”
“Yes, but we’re not, are we? And you’ve barely spoken to me since we got here,” she reminds me and I wince. She’s right, we’re not really together. I don’t know what we are, friends or something stupid like that? I’ve been trying to be the good guy and yet I’m making my mate insecure.
“Hayley, I know I’ve gone about this all wrong. I’m sorry. I should have brought you here on my arm and shown everyone how fucking crazy I am about you. I miss you and I feel lost without you,” I blurt out, suddenly panicking that I’ve pushed her too far.
“How do I know you won’t change your mind again? That we won’t get home and you’ll decide there’s another reason I’m not enough,” she challenges, and she’s right, I haven’t done anything to show her how much I admire her. How much faith I have in her to stand by my side as Luna. She only hears more hollow words.
I go to step in and wrap my arms around her, my wolf wanting to comfort her, but she shrinks back as if touching me would be painful. My wolf whines and I feel his fear that we are screwing this up beyond repair. I can feel her uncertainty through the bond and it’s tearing me up.
“Hayley, please... don’t think like that,” I plead.
“I don’t know what to think,” she says dejectedly and I’m about to tell her how I feel, to beg her to let me bring her to the ball this evening, when some douchebag with a six-pack and a tan sticks his head into the grotto and flicks his gaze back and forth between us. He senses the tension, but it’s the bad type of tension, not the fun kind, so he thinks it’s a good idea to interrupt.
“Hayley, you okay in here? Is he bothering you?” he asks, as if he needs to protect her from me, her mate. I growl as he tries to step between us, and Hayley places a hand on my chest to stop me before I grab him.
“I’m fine,” she says calmly, and nods back towards the pool, telling him to leave us alone again. He fixes me with a serious look and puffs up his chest, peacocking for Hayley’s benefit.
“Dude, you need to fucking chill. You’re scaring her,” the douchebag says, and I can’t stop my wolf. The suggestion that we are a threat to our mate is enough to make him go berserk. Before he even has a chance to react, I slam him up against the wall and snarl menacingly in his face.
“COOPER! For heaven’s sake!” Hayley grabs my arm and yanks hard. The unexpected contact snaps me out of the red mist that has descended, and I immediately let him go, running my hand back through my hair in frustration with myself for losing my temper so easily. He rubs his throat with his hand and shoots me a filthy look.
“We’re about to start a game of water polo if you and Leila want in,” he says as he backs away, trying to retain some semblance of swagger about him, even though he isn’t prepared to fight me.
“Jesus,” she mutters, “Where is my Cooper? Where is the guy I met?” she asks as she shakes her head and gives me a sad little smile before she re-joins Leila in the pool. I punch the wall of the grotto and am strangely satisfied when I see the ragged abrasions on my knuckles, knowing this bit of pain is the least that I deserve.
Cooper: Rex, you’re right. I’m making a mess of this.
Rex: I’ll stay and keep an eye on things, make sure nobody steps out of line. You need to get out of here and get your head straight.
I nod numbly as I stumble back into the changing room and put my head in my hands.
What the hell am I doing?
CHAPTER 56
HAYLEY
Leaving Cooper in that grotto earlier, fully clothed, was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. I had to jump straight into the water to hide how turned on I was from these shifters and their super-sensitive noses.
I want him, more than anyone else I’ve ever wanted before. I know that I’m pushing Cooper, but knowing he would have claimed his mate already if she were a wolf, I’m not willing to accept anything less. Linking my arm with Leila’s, we walk into the ballroom and my nerves disappear. It’s some people’s worst nightmare, but I know I’m good at this. Damn good. Mingling, chatting and making connections. It’s a skill.
The ballroom looks amazing, bathed in soft pink tones and about a million twinkling lights. We snag a couple of flutes of champagne from a passing server and bump into Max. He looks dashing in his tux. His almost black hair is long on top and shaved at the sides, and tonight it’s slicked back neatly in a man bun. Other than the hint of one tattoo peeking up over the collar of his shirt, most of his ink is covered up. He usually dresses like a sexy biker, but somehow looks just as dangerous, but handsome in formal wear.
I spot Blake arriving through the double doors and he is the complete opposite of Max, looking groomed and polished like a GQ model. He’s stunningly handsome. It’s impossible not to recognise that, but my reaction to him is not the same as the one that I have with Cooper. One look into Cooper’s deep brown eyes and I’m putty in his hands. His more outdoorsy, less slick look appeals to me more.
“Ladies, looking beautiful as always,” Max says, bowing slightly. “I heard you caused quite a stir down at the pools today, and yet, no lucky men are escorting you this evening?”
“Who needs them?” Leila quips, grimacing as she takes a sip of the champagne and places the full glass back onto a tray of empties. “Yuck, not feeling that.”
“I’ll get you something else,” I offer and sneak off to the bar to give her and Max some time to chat on their own. She’s been putting on a brave face, but I know she’s upset about whatever’s been happening with Marcus or not happening. Perhaps Max will be the one to show her she has other options... and what a fine option he is. Just as I reach the bar, I see the tall gentleman beside me turn his head slightly as he finishes his order.
“And whatever the lady is having,” he adds to the bartender in a gruff voice that I immediately recognise.
“Alpha Reynolds, very kind of you, thank you.” I glance up at him and catch him looking at me curiously.
“What?” I ask.
“I didn’t think you’d accept,” he mutters, not bothering to hide his stunned expression.
“You’re right, I should buy you one instead after earlier,” I say.
“No, I didn’t mean it like that. Just none of the Joneses normally want to speak to me or be near me. Apart from Marie, and that’s only out of politeness.” He genuinely looks a bit lost, and I roll my eyes and sigh.
“Well, I’ll happily have a drink with you. It’s the least I can do after you stuck up for me.” I smile at him, and he grins back, despite looking utterly gobsmacked.
“You’re probably the only person here who would be happy to be. You seem to have made quite an impression on everyone. I wouldn’t want you to tarnish your reputation by hanging around with me,” he informs me with a serious expression on his dark features. His eyes are a piercing, pale grey colour, and it’s quite unnerving. It gives him an intense, brooding look all the time.
“And why would that happen?” I ask, curious why he’s considered persona non grata.
“My father was not a pleasant man, to put it mildly. He made lots of enemies within these four walls... and packs have long memories.” He grimaces and takes a long draw from his beer as he gazes around at the other groups of wolves, drinking and catching up like old friends.
“And are you the same as your father?” I ask him bluntly, and he looks offended, eyes widening with outrage.
“No! I am nothing like my father. I’m trying to engage with the other packs, but nobody will even entertain it. But I can’t appear weak or desperate. It’s a Catch-22,” he admits.
“You need a big gesture, then. Show everyone that you’re serious about undoing whatever damage your father has done. Do it without duress and it’ll show strength, not weakness. Something like reversing the bans on moving between packs, perhaps? Something that’s a win-win for everyone.”
He eyes me curiously as I pitch my thoughts.
“You only need one pack to agree to it, and once it is successful, the rest will follow.”
“You rolled your eyes at me earlier. No one has ever done that before.” He frowns at me as though I am an alien species, as he not so subtly changes the subject.
“It’s the price that comes with having a drink with me. My humanness makes me immune to your wolfy scariness,” I tease, and he smiles again.
“I’ll give your suggestion some thought,” he says, effectively ending the conversation. It would be rude of anyone else, but I do genuinely believe that he thinks the dislike for him is contagious, and he’s trying to spare me from that.
“Good. Have a good evening, Alpha.” I pat him gently on the arm and pick up my drink to leave, when suddenly Blake is by my side.
“Everything alright here?” he asks tightly, and Reynolds fixes him with a glare at the insinuation that I might not be safe in his company.
“Everything is perfect, just making new friends.” I flash a smile at them both before walking back towards the Jones’s table. I’m hopeful that Alpha Reynolds might undo the damage his father did to his pack’s reputation. And that I might be able to help him.
COOPER
Ethan saunters up beside me as I pretend to casually look around the room while I’m watching with trepidation as Hayley speaks to Alpha Reynolds at the bar, before accepting a drink from him and chatting away happily. I’m about to push off the table I’m leaning on and go over to interrupt, but Ethan places his hand on my arm to stop me.
“Wait, Cooper. You need to trust that she can handle herself.”
“Easy for you to say.” I begin to argue further and shake out of his grip when I notice her heading back towards our table, Blake Steel in tow behind her. She stops in front of us and pulls Ethan in for a big hug and a kiss.
“So, you skip the boring parts of the weekend and just come for the party, eh?” she teases him good-naturedly. She’s a vision in a mid-length off-white dress that skims over her curves. It’s one-shouldered, so her bare marking spot is exposed and it’s calling out to me. She’s breathtakingly radiant.
“I was called in as reinforcement. I heard you and Leila have been causing trouble.” He winks. “And a room full of drunk alphas is a brawl just waiting to happen.” He claps Blake and me on the shoulder as he says this, and the two of us frown at the same time as Hayley laughs.
“How is Reynolds doing?” I ask Hayley, unable to pretend I’m not dying to know what they were talking about.
“Indeed, how is the angriest wolf of them all?” Steel asks, equally intrigued.
“Stop, he seems nice.” We both raise an eyebrow at that. “He’s trying to undo the damage his father has done but he keeps getting stonewalled. I think he’s genuine.” She shrugs when she sees our shocked expressions. “I might have an idea or two to help.”
“I think that’s enough work for the evening. How about a dance?” Blake commands, and he reaches out for her hand. My stomach tightens, and for a moment I have to grip the table to stop my wolf from surging forward and challenging Steel for what he sees as an attempt to steal our mate. He glances at me for a split second, as if he can sense my internal struggle. Maybe he can.
“Oh, I’m not sure I’m ready for dancing...” Hayley starts to make her excuses, but Steel is having none of it.
“Steel...” I grit out in warning, but he just flashes me a big smile.
“Don’t worry, Cooper, I’ll bring your prize employee back in one piece.” He’s baiting me, I know he is. I swallow down my rage and force myself to stay silent.
“Come on, Hayley. Someone has to kick things off, or it’s going to be a very dull night around here. Max, Leila, what do you say?” Max places an arm around Leila’s waist and steers her toward the floor with a smile and a bow. Hayley looks at me with concern before hesitantly placing her small hand in his and letting him lead her away. He’s literally taking my mate away from me and I feel like someone is standing on my chest. I imagine this is what having a panic attack feels like.
“Rex told me you were making a mess of things, but I can’t believe what I’m seeing. You’re just going to stand here and let him have her?” Ethan says incredulously, grabbing my arm and turning me so I’m facing him.
“Watch it,” I warn him, but he just shakes his head at me vehemently.
“No! No, I will not watch it, and I’m not watching this shit-show any longer. She is your mate, Cooper. I know you have this noble idea of waiting until she’s had time to adjust, but it looks like she’s doing just fine. When the hell are you finally going to stop being so fucking stubborn and believe her? When she’s back here next year, stomach round and full, with Steel’s pups in her belly?”
He gives me a little shove and if he wasn’t my best friend, I’d have laid him out right there and then.
“Shut the fuck up!” I flash my canines at him in warning, revealing just how close to the edge I am.
“I can’t, Cooper, because I’m your best friend, and I’m telling you now that you’re going to lose her... and it’ll be the biggest mistake of your life.” I push him off me and go back to staring out at the dance floor, where Hayley and Blake have just taken position in the centre of the dance floor.
“I don’t want her to resent me later. She should have time. I don’t want her to think that she never had a choice.” It sounds lame even to me.
“You’re afraid she’ll reject you later, but you guys are nothing like Rex and Stacey. What do you think is going to happen if you keep pushing her away and let these charming bastards woo her.”
I stare at Ethan, wondering if that’s really what I’ve been doing. Trying to give Hayley space because I’ve seen how much pain Rex went through and I’m waiting for some kind of assurance that she’ll never reject me.
I look back at Hayley and see her laughing at something Steel has said. His other hand rests lightly on her hip, the white silky material of her dress the only thing between his fingertips and her body as he spins her around. I cough to stifle a groan when my mother appears beside the two of us, wrapping an arm around us both, effectively trapping us beside her.
“Look at that. Don’t they make a stunning pair?” My mother nods her head towards my mate and another man, and I reach up to tug at my hair in frustration. Calm down, you trust Hayley. It’s not like that, I remind myself.
“They look like that perfect couple on the top of a wedding cake,” she comments, and I can’t take it anymore. A loud growl comes out of my mouth before I can stop it, and a little grin tugs at the corner of her mouth.
“MINE!” I roar at the top of my lungs.
My mother flinches but looks strangely satisfied as everyone standing around us turns to see what’s going on and murmurs ripple through the crowded ballroom. Confronting the most dangerous wolf on the entire east coast might not be clever, but I’m not waiting another minute to have Hayley in my arms again.
I just hope I’m not too late.
CHAPTER 57
HAYLEY
As I place my hand in Blake’s, I know this is probably a terrible idea. Cooper is already on the verge of losing it if the maelstrom of emotions swirling through the bond is anything to go by. Will the sight of me dancing with another male push him over the edge? I almost change my mind and pull my hand away to turn back when Blakes’s grip tightens on my hand.
“Trust me, Hayley.” He speaks so quietly into my ear that I’m certain nobody else around us can hear.
“I just... this is a bad idea,” I blurt out, feeling genuinely afraid that Cooper will see this as a rejection. I know from seeing the after-effects of what happened to Rex, exactly how much that will hurt him.
“Cooper will be fine. He’s trying to be a gentleman, and act like a human would in this situation. He’s giving you time and space, blah, blah, blah,” he says, stopping and facing me with a big grin on his face. “But he’s not human, and you’re destined to be mated to a powerful wolf. So, the sooner he acts like himself again, the sooner both of you can get on with being happy together.” He inclines his head to me in a bow before wrapping an arm around my waist and leading me out onto the dance floor.
For such a big man, he is an effortless dancer. He takes care to leave some space between our bodies, knowing being too close would make me uncomfortable the way I am feeling right now. I don’t want to make Cooper jealous.
“He’s going to lose it, Blake, I can feel it,” I warn him, and catch a glimpse of Cooper’s tense face while he speaks to Ethan as we glide by. They look like they’re having an argument and I have a sinking feeling in my stomach.
“Good. He needs to remember that primal feeling that he had when he first scented you., He needs to remember exactly what he has and what he wants. I will say this much. I am impressed by the control he has over his wolf. There aren’t many who could do what he has done.” Blake is talking about Cooper like this is all some sort of social experiment.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying this. Let’s see how impressed you are when he shifts in the middle of the ballroom,” I mumble, and he laughs heartily again.
“It won’t come to that. I’m right, you’ll see. I always am.” I glance up at this handsome man who has made this weekend much more bearable for me and shake my head at him as he smirks cockily at me. I relax and enjoy myself, smiling at Leila as she twirls past in Max’s arms, her dark hair flowing behind her and her stunning green dress lifting slightly as she spins.
“Thank you, Blake,” I say seriously, and he frowns a little as he looks down into my eyes, his own sparkling with curiosity.
“For looking out for the lost little human. I know you have plenty of other people demanding your attention.” I think I hear a growl and some commotion over to the side of the dance floor, but Blake turns us away from it as if determined to keep our focus on just enjoying our dance.
