The Werewolf Wears Prada (Entangled Covet) (San Francisco Wolf Pack) (18 page)

Everywhere.

I’ve gotten to more people than you know.

He’d left Melina in Gabriel’s care.

He’d never doubted him as a trusted friend…until now.

Chapter Twenty-Six

There’s someone else I can’t trust.

Lydia haunted Hayden long after she left his sight. All the way back to the law office, actually. Rogues were everywhere—he couldn’t trust anyone anymore—but it was more than that.

Melina had taken the job at
Eclipse
.

He couldn’t believe it.

Writing an article on him, exposing him as a wolf was underhanded and deceitful. The thought made him sick to his stomach. How could she even think about accepting a proposition from someone like Lydia?

No, that’s not what bothered him most.

She chose the job over me.

Sickness bubbled into seething anger. He didn’t blame her for taking the job—it was her dream. In no time, she’d be an asset to the magazine. They’d be lucky to have her. But that didn’t mean the thought didn’t piss him off.

She was going to write an article on him—the column of her career, probably—to use him to get ahead.

What kind of a person did that? He must not have known her as well as he thought he did…

Swerving into his usual spot, Hayden hopped out of his car and charged into the elevator. He jabbed the button and waited impatiently for the doors to open on his floor.

“Gabriel!” He stepped out, hands clenched into fists. “You still here?”

Silence.
No wait, there was something in the distance. A printer spitting out pages. The sound came from his office.

She was here, finishing her article, most likely.

“Melina?” Following the sound, he stopped when he spotted her standing in front of his desk. Despite his anger, relief washed over him. Bitterness remained though, leaving a nasty taste in his mouth. “You’re here.”

Safe and sound.

“Oh my God, I’m so glad you’re okay.” She started to move toward him, but stopped suddenly as if something held her back. Her features were strained, her face pale. “I’ve been worried sick.”

Although it killed him, he gave her the space she clearly needed and remained in the doorway.

“I thought you’d be checking out your new office by now,” he said, leaning against the doorjamb.

She frowned. “Why would I be doing that?”

“Because I know all about the job. I have the proof right here.” As he removed the contract from his back pocket and threw it to the ground at her feet, his heart drummed in his ears. “I can’t believe you’d side with the traitor over me—over us.”

“I did take the job, but I’m writing—”

“I don’t care. Not anymore. You can save the excuses. I’ve asked the guards to come up and escort you out.”

She swallowed hard, but didn’t move a muscle.

Something was off.

“Where’s Gabriel?” A musky smell invaded his senses. Someone was in the room. “He still here?”

The corners of her lips twitched. And then her eyes shifted to the left side of his office, to the space between his desk and the wall-to-wall window. “He stepped out for a few minutes.”

Lie.

“Is he coming back?”

She nodded, shaking.

Another lie.

“Why don’t you step out here with me so we can talk.”
What the hell was going on?
“Melina? What do you say?”

Beads of sweat trickled down her temple. She was in trouble. Putting a finger to his lips, Hayden crouched low and scanned the shadows slanting over the floor. A thick, unmoving form lay near the window.

Gabriel…

Something moved behind his desk, shifting the dim rays of light. And then the unmistakable sound of a bullet sliding into the chamber filled the air. Jerking upright, Hayden cut his shocked breath short.

The intruder held a gun to the back of Melina’s head.

Hayden froze, blood to bone.

“Reagan,” he pleaded, tone flat. “You don’t want to do this. Put the gun down.”

He should’ve known Lydia would have Reagan in her back pocket…

“I’m the one giving orders around here now.” Lydia’s most trusted confidant snarled, and moved around the desk, closer to Melina. “Guns have that effect. Everyone listens when they’re staring down the barrel. Don’t they, sweetheart?” Snatching Melina around the waist, he dragged her against him and shoved the barrel of the gun to her temple.

Pulses of white-hot fury shot through Hayden’s muscles as she winced.

“Tell your boyfriend to back off,” Reagan seethed into her ear.

Leaning her weight against him, Melina blinked quickly. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

Oh, God.
This wasn’t the time to argue about petty shit.

Do what he says.

Reagan smirked and stared Hayden down over Melina’s shoulder. “You can deny it all you want, but it’s not going to save him now. I can sense the connection between you.”

As Hayden’s shoulder began to round forward, he suppressed a growl.

“I’m not trying to save anyone.” She swallowed hard. “I’m just letting you know that killing me isn’t going to affect him the way you think it will. Didn’t you hear him when he walked in? He’s called the guards on me. They’re on their way up.”

Holding the gun square to her temple, Reagan’s finger moved to the trigger. “Then I guess you’re expendable.”

“No, wait.” Hayden put up his hands in surrender. “I’m the one you want. Take me instead. She’s meaningless.”
Heart clench.
“The guards will deal with her if you let her go. I’ve already arranged it.”

He hadn’t set up a thing, but Reagan didn’t need to know that.

“You already
arranged
it?” Melina stared him down as if she didn’t have a gun held to her head. “To hell with both of you.”

And then, with lightning-quick speed, she threw her head back, striking Reagan in the nose.

Groaning, Reagan’s finger squeezed the trigger in reflex. “You bitch!”

She whacked his wrist, twisted away from him, and then jabbed him in the throat with the side of her hand. Bowling over in pain, Reagan coughed out a blood-curdling curse.

As Hayden kicked the gun out of reach and wrenched Reagan’s arms behind his back, the guards burst through the emergency stairwell door.

Reinforcements.

Melina was going to be all right.

“You really did call them?” Mouth dropped open, Melina stepped aside as they carted Reagan out. “I thought you were blowing smoke. You know, for effect.”

He had been. The guards must’ve seen the situation unravel over the security cameras.

“There’s a packmate down over here,” Hayden said, focusing on Gabriel. He knelt at his side and felt for a pulse. Strong beats thumped against his fingers. “He’ll be all right, but he needs to be treated. She does, too.”

“I’m fine.” Folding her arms over her chest, Melina sat on the edge of his desk and crossed one leg over the other. “I can take care of myself.”

The only reason she was able to do so much damage to Reagan was because he wasn’t expecting her to fight back. And he wasn’t in wolf form. If he’d had time to shift before the guards arrived, it would’ve been an entirely different story. Not that he’d tell her any of that.

“You should still be checked out,” Hayden said, as three guards escorted Gabriel to the elevators. “Just to be sure.”

“If you insist.” She hopped off his desk, and faced him, fire burning in her eyes. “Seeing as how you called them to deal with me in the first place.”

God,
everything was such a mess.

He was happy she was safe, but if she’d drop him so easily for a damned job, how could he trust her intentions or her feelings? How could he believe a word out of her mouth? Whether what they shared was between two people in love or material for the next juicy article?

He couldn’t live, or love, that way.

“You’ll be safe with them,” he said, anxiety knotting in the pit of his stomach. “But don’t forget to grab your article off the printer.”

“You bastard.” She fumed, eyes narrowing to slits. “After everything we’ve been through, you really think I would throw it away for a stupid job?”

“Of course I do. That’s exactly what happened. The proof is still crumpled over there on the floor.” He steeled himself against her. “I don’t blame you, Melina. You’ve always deserved better than what I could give you. You’ll be amazing at
Eclipse
.”

Shaking her head, Melina planted her hands on her hips and huffed. “For the record, I wasn’t going to expose you—the article is about Lydia and the corruption in the company. But you can read it for yourself since I know you don’t trust me.” She turned on her heel and stormed out of his office. Two stomps and she spun around. “And you’re right about that last part. I
do
deserve better than you.”

He was still standing in the same spot, staring toward the elevators, long after she’d gone. He couldn’t calm down. Air rushed out of his lungs. His heartbeat wouldn’t slow. Stabbing pain had begun to pierce his temples. He might as well have been breaking in two—cracking straight down the middle.

When strength trickled back to his legs, Hayden stumbled to the printer and picked up the few pages she’d printed. The more he skimmed, the more he felt like an asshole.

Corruption at Eclipse.

Lydia Hyde behind it all…

Not a single mention of werewolves. His name didn’t appear once.

“Damn it!” He crumpled the papers into a wad and chucked them toward the trash bin. She’d been telling the truth. She hadn’t planned to expose him at all. “I should’ve known. I’m a raging idiot…and I don’t deserve her.”

Truer words were never spoken.

Hayden charged toward the elevators, and stopped at the wolf painting.

“She’s better off without me,” he mumbled, standing in the exact place where she’d admired the painting. “She does deserve better. And she’ll be safer without me at her side, screwing everything up.”

Saying the words aloud didn’t make him believe them anymore.

Hayden roared, scrubbing his hands through his hair. And then he snapped.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“I have to get the hell out of here.”

He punched the elevator button and counted the seconds until the cage arrived. The metal box shook and trembled as he pounded against the mirrors, letting the fury spiraling in his gut take him over.

He longed to shift and burst through this body, taking his most primal form. He couldn’t shift right now, of course, but it didn’t lessen the overwhelming urge.

There were a million and a half reasons why he and Melina couldn’t be together. The danger she’d be in as his mate, especially now that he was officially going to be the Alpha, and Lydia’s threat alone were reasons enough.

Even if he could get past those, even if he believed he could protect her, it didn’t change the fact that eventually, he’d be alone again. If he felt this torn up leaving her now, how would it be later in life, after they’d bonded and grown old together?

The pain would tear his chest in half, he was sure of it.

The elevator doors opened. Gabriel stood in the basement, hands on his hips. A bandage wound around his head, but other than that, he appeared normal.

“Gabriel.” Hayden forced his temper to cool. “How do you feel?”

“Fine,” he said, nodding. “Better than fine. The guards fixed me up with this stupid head wrap and a bunch of feel-good meds. I’m flying high for the next hour. They wanted me to walk laps through the building. Stimulate the blood or some shit.”

“Glad to hear it. I didn’t like seeing you laid out that way.”

“Reagan took a cheap shot. Caught me off guard.” Gabriel smirked. “But from what I hear, your lady returned the favor for me. Speaking of, how are you doin’, Hulk?”

“Hulk?”

Gabriel motioned to the metal rail in Hayden’s grasp.

Shit.
He must’ve torn the sucker off in his blind rage. He chucked it into the back of the elevator and marched out into the lobby. Gabriel followed on his heels.

“Hey man, you’re in no form to go out. You look like you’re about to burst out of your skin.” Gabriel grabbed Hayden by the elbow. He jerked it out of his friend’s grasp. “Where are you headed?”

“Fuck if I know.” He wanted to run to Melina and haul her against him. Tell her how much he ached to have her in his life. “I’m going somewhere I can breathe.”

“What happened up there?” Gabriel stood in front of him, his arms folded over his chest. “Between you and Melina?”

“I broke it off. Ended it. Killed it.” Hayden slapped his arms against his sides. “I accused her of using me to get a leg up in her career. I drove her so far away, she won’t be coming back. It’s probably for the better, anyway. In order for her to live a long and happy life, she can’t be anywhere near me.”

“That’s what you think?”

Lydia’s threat still echoed through his head.

Melina would never be safe. Not while there were rogues roaming the city. He couldn’t protect her every second of every day. Melina wasn’t the type to be caged, and he couldn’t do that to her.

“It’s what I know.” Something cracked in Hayden’s chest. “I have to get out of here.”

Gabriel followed him into the parking garage. “Do you love her?”

That was the question of the hour, of the week, of his life, wasn’t it? Melina was everything he never knew he’d always wanted. She was his fated mate, but their connection went deeper than that. She was intelligent with a razor sharp wit that had him rolling on multiple occasions. She was drop-dead gorgeous, and somehow managed to see him for who he really was.

She’d looked deeper than anyone else ever had. She’d broken down his walls and made him
feel
when he’d been cold and achingly lonely for so long.

“I love her more than I’ve ever loved another.” Picking up his pace, Hayden dug through his pocket and unlocked the Bugatti’s doors. “I love her enough to leave her. Does that answer your question?”

As Hayden slid into the driver’s seat, Gabriel grabbed the doorframe. “You’re crazy to let her walk away from you,” Gabriel said, “but if you’re sure this is what you want, I won’t stop you.”

“Good.” Hayden brought the engine to life. “Now get the hell out of my way.”

“Wait. One more thing,” Gabriel said. “If you’re not going to be with her, do you mind if I give her a go?”

Possessiveness rumbled through Hayden’s veins. “You’ll stay away from her or we are no longer packmates.” Biting out the words, he saw nothing but a haze of red. “Do you hear me, traitor?”

“So you don’t want her, but you don’t want anyone else to have her, either?” Gabriel nodded as if he hadn’t heard Hayden’s threat. “Oh, she’ll live a long and happy life, all right. A long and lonely one, if you have anything to say about it.”

His connection to Melina would never, ever fade. He couldn’t handle losing her. Not now, not ever.

Never
to another.

He was dying inside, his chest aching with loneliness.

But the mere notion of her being with someone else—

His stomach recoiled before he could finish the thought.

Melina would eventually find someone like Gabriel or another werewolf in their pack. That fact was inevitable. They wouldn’t be fated mates, and wouldn’t share the same connection and chemistry he’d experienced with her, but the new someone would fill a void. He’d fill the empty spot in her bed, and in her heart.

Hayden trusted his packmates to a certain degree, but not with her life, or her heart. If something happened, if they hurt a single hair on her head, he’d rip theirs clean off.

No one could protect her the way he could…

If he spent time with her now—even a few minutes kissing her heart-shaped lips, ghosting his hands over her mane of silky-black hair—he’d cherish those memories forever.

He’d never regret a single moment.

Hayden extended his hand to his friend. “I know this sounds odd, but thank you.”

“Glad I could clarify a few things for you.” Grinning like the cat that ate the canary, Gabriel took Hayden’s hand. “I thought it might take a desperate measure to get you to see the writing on the wall. You two are perfect together. She’s the only one who can put up with your shit.”

As Hayden realized he’d been joking about asking Melina out, relief washed over him.

“Son of a bitch.” Choking out a laugh, Hayden smacked Gabriel’s hand away. “You’re a piece of work.”

“A masterpiece, some might say.” Gabriel turned, starting his walk toward the lobby. “You know there’s a benefit at the de Young Museum tonight…it’s a black-tie poker tournament. Nationally televised. Ten-thousand dollar buy-in. If you play your cards right, you might be able to land a date.”

“I like the way you think.” Hayden’s wheels turned, though doubt settled in. After behaving so badly and turning Melina away, would she go? Would she forgive him? “Do you have a date?”

“Ah, you know me,” he said, grinning. “I’m too indecisive to pick just one.”

Someday, a woman was going to come along and show Gabriel the true meaning of soul mate. Only then would he know how truly satisfying it was to love one woman, and know, unequivocally, that she was his for all eternity.

And that’s exactly what Melina had given him.