Un.Requited (Claimed Series) (31 page)

“He still feels guilty for
Siring
you,” Hayden perceived. “Even though you survived the transformation, he still thinks he ruined the life you could have had.”

“Of course.”
Fergus suddenly sat up, leaning closer to Hayden. “But I never gave up on him. He had a good reason not to
Sire
me, a valid fear, one I could understand. I could never get angry with him because he just wanted to protect me. Eventually, my patience and my determination to stick by him convinced him that his fears weren’t necessarily justified.”

Hayden stilled, her eyes narrowing on the twin. “That’s not funny, Fergus.” She stood up from her bed and approached the door. “You told me that story just to draw parallels between Nathan and Cole. You have a right to your own opinion, but don’t force it on me.”

Fergus pressed his lips together and studied her. “You’re pretty smart.”

She opened the door, waiting for him to leave. “And you aren’t exactly subtle.”

The lanky twin unfolded his tall frame from the bed and approached her. With a sure hand, he shut the door again and leaned closer to Hayden. “I’m not trying to manipulate you into thinking anything you don’t want to think, Hayden. I just want you to know that Cole has his own reasons for doing what he does. He doesn’t mean to hurt
you,
he’s trying to protect you—”

“Protect
himself
,” Hayden corrected, clenching her fists at her side. “I get it,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “I get why he’s decided to close himself up to any sort of attachment. At first, I thought he was a coward for doing it, and maybe he is, but I’ve come to accept his reasons.
But
what I can’t accept is how he leads me on like a fool and discards me afterward. It humiliates me. It’s not right.”

Fergus bowed his head, his eyes troubled as he stared at the floor. He reached out and cupped her shoulder with a heavy and warm hand.

“No, it’s not right, Hayden.” His eyes were concerned as they peered into her stubborn mask of resolve. “I didn’t know he led you on. I had no idea. You’re right.” The hand tightened on her shoulder. “But no matter how much he may have hurt you, I can assure you that it wasn’t his intentions to cause you any pain. He loves each and every one of us and he’d do anything to protect us.”

Her expression softened. Fergus was blameless in this situation. She couldn’t be mad at him, especially when his purposes were so pure. He had a calming presence and he truly did want harmony amongst the pack. He wasn’t taking sides; he was only trying to make her feel better.

“I can talk to Cole,” he offered honorably.

“No.” The idea seemed alarming to her. “I’d rather just forget anything happened. We’ll eventually put this aside and go back to the way things were. It’s better this way anyway.” Somehow, she convinced herself that it really
was
better that she didn’t act on her feelings for Cole. She was in his pack now, initiating a romance probably wouldn’t end well.

He seemed uncertain, but eventually nodded his consent.
“If you’re sure.”
Giving her shoulder one last reassuring squeeze, he reached for the handle to the door.

Hayden reached out and covered the handle, preventing him from leaving. “What was he like before his parents’ death?” The question came from her mouth before she had time to censor it. It had always been a
burning
question she’d had, especially since she started interacting with Asher.

Fergus blinked, offering a gentle smile. “He was happy, carefree. I’m hesitant to say immature, but I think it had a lot to do with his youth. He really enjoyed hunting with his father and he loved his pack unconditionally, like he does now, but he wasn’t afraid of expressing it.
But
he also wasn’t an Alpha then, and he didn’t consider our protection as his one and only duty. Becoming an Alpha definitely changes a wolf, and I actually think you would prefer this version of Cole to the old one.” He grinned at her deep consideration. “I’ll go get your Star Wars posters.”

Hayden released the handle. “Thank you,” she said genuinely. They both knew she wasn’t just thanking him for the posters.

He flashed a toothy smile.
“Always.”

_______________

“Go Fish,” Fergus all but sang as he watched Hayden grab another card from the pile. He held his single card up to his face in order to hide the smug grin that had been present for over four hands.

Flashing him a look, Hayden snatched another card from the pile. To her right, Nathan was lounging on the couch, his nose all but pressed inside his hard-covered book. His tapered fingers tapped the spine of the book and his eyes occasionally glanced up to study the two critically, paying special attention to Hayden.

She ignored him.

“Do you have any fives?” Fergus asked next. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, leaning his forearms on the coffee table. As a result, Hayden had to lean away, not wanting him to see her cards. 

Mumbling underneath her breath, Hayden took three fives from her hand and passed them sloppily over to the twin. Grumpily, she watched as Fergus grinned happily and spread his suit of fives on the table next to his other collections. She was seriously beginning to suspect that she had a mirror behind her, or more realistically, Nathan was somehow signaling silently to his brother.

Quickly flashing the bulkier twin a look, Hayden spied Nathan hastily looking back down at his book, pretending as if he hadn’t been watching.

“That’s it,” Hayden complained as she slapped her mismatched cards on the table. “I can’t handle losing a fifth time. It’s a blow to the ego.”

“An ego that can withstand a few blows, plus some,” Nathan muttered quietly.

“Excuse me?” Hayden pressed icily, having picked up his murmured words. She rotated her body around to face him fully. “What did you say?”

“Nathanial,” Fergus scolded.

Nathan’s eyebrows furrowed at his book. “What? I’m simply trying to read.”

Fergus tapped the table, catching Hayden’s attention. “Why don’t we play Monopoly?” After noticing the repulsed sneer on Hayden’s face, Fergus was quick to suggest another.
“
Candyland
?”
His face was expectant, looking as if a simple refusal would completely deflate him.

She didn’t have the heart to deny him another game, especially when she had a feeling this was her ‘Fergus-therapy’ for the day. After last night’s conversation, Fergus kept close to her throughout the day, plastering posters across her bedroom walls and putting up a few pictures of
himself
and members of the pack. Instead of feeling overwhelmed at his constant companionship, Hayden surprisingly felt soothed and at peace.

“
Candyland
,” she agreed neutrally. With barely suppressed amusement, she watched as Fergus all but tripped over himself to get the board game. “Would you just say what’s on your mind and get it over with? Fergus is gone, you can speak freely.” She was beginning to go crazy at Nathan’s constant surveillance.

Nathan was silent for a moment, watching her blatantly from over his book. 

Reaching out to pick up the split cards, Hayden froze when a foot landed on her hand, holding her in place. Her head shot up, observing Nathan as he leaned closer to her.

She suppressed a flinch, never having been this close to this particular twin before. At his proximity, Hayden felt no guilt for outright staring at him, studying his features curiously. His face
was sculptured
finely; his facial planes making him look almost feminine, yet masculine at the same time.

“Whatever dispute you and Cole are going through now, I suggest you work it out.
Soon.”
He tone was crisp, matter-of-factly.

Hayden’s face fell and she did nothing to stop the frustration from seeping into her tone.
“Not you too.
Who’s next in this intervention? Is Devan lurking around the corner to add in her two cents?”

He frowned at her, almost succeeding in belittling her. “Cole’s been in a high mood since your arrival here.
But
a few days ago, his mood is back down, making all of us miserable in turn. Whatever your issue is, get over it.”

Her mouth turned upside down into a deep sneer. “Your concern is honestly touching, really, it is,” she drawled in sarcasm. “But you don’t see me nosing around in your business, do you? Did you see me hounding you to call off your request to mate with Devan?” She raised her eyebrow superiorly. “No, you didn’t. So feel free to return the favor.” With a tug, she pulled her hand out from underneath his foot, making sure to scrape the vulnerable skin around his ankles.

Nathan hardly flinched. “You’re assuming that I’m forcing her to be my mate.”

Hayden flicked her hair over her shoulder, barely glancing at him. “Well aren’t you?”

Turquoise eyes were hard as they watched her. “Devan and I talked about being a mated pair long before Cole became Alpha, and long before she chose to insult the pack by seeing Joseph behind our backs. It was a tentative agreement at the time, but it was consensual.”

Nathan looked up, through the ceiling and in the general direction of Devan’s room. “I’m definitely not forcing her into anything. It would hardly be chivalrous without her consent.”

That was news to her. Coupled with Nathan’s confession of not forcing Devan into a relationship, and Fergus’ tale last night, she was beginning to see Nathan in a new light.
But
he was still an asshole. “You see? I have no right to butt into your business because I don’t know all the facts. And
you
don’t know any of the facts involving Cole and me.” 

Nathan blinked rapidly, frowning and appearing contemplative. Seconds later, his expression cleared into something akin to reverence. “That actually makes sense.”

“Remarkable, isn’t it?” Hayden ridiculed. “I actually have the capability of using common sense.” Before she could mock him further, she stiffened, feeling the uncomfortable sensation of someone crossing the territory line. 

By no means was it a magical alarm that went off in her head, but it did make her
feel
vulnerable and territorial at the same time. It hadn’t been this way when Shane had crossed over the territory line, but that could have been because she hadn’t had her first full moon yet.

She scrambled up, rushing past Fergus and up the stairs just as the doorbell rang. Cole had already beaten her to the door and was opening it, his broad shoulders set. Hayden was surprised to catch a peek of Eric and Asher on the other side, their postures both relaxed and nonthreatening.

“Sorry to force the territory line, Cole, but I’m a bringer of news.” Eric tilted his head marginally, a sign of submission for being on another Alpha’s territory. 

Next to Eric, Asher easily spotted Hayden from over Cole’s arm. The beta flashed
her a
grin, earning Cole’s hasty observance. Hayden feigned disinterest when Cole glanced over his shoulder at her.

“I was wondering if we could speak in private,” Eric continued, oblivious, or at least ignoring the growing tension around him.

Cole seemed to give Eric’s request some thought. For a moment, it looked as if he was going to decline, but he stepped aside reluctantly and allowed Eric and Asher entrance. As the blond beta entered the threshold, Cole sized him up, retaining eye contact until Asher
was forced
to look away.

“We can speak in my office,” Cole invited grimly, his eyes still focused on the relaxed form of Asher. The Alpha then turned to look at Nathan and Fergus who had come up behind Hayden. “Watch them,” he ordered sharply, pointing to both Asher and Hayden.

After what seemed like forever, two days at most, Cole finally held eye contact with Hayden. He only offered her a look of warning before guiding Eric down the hall and into his office. She looked after him, her jaw tight with unrestrained frustration.

“I see he’s in a good mood, as always,” Asher joked. Glancing over his shoulder, he pushed the door shut behind him. “His remarkable inhospitality skills haven’t changed either.”

“You don’t even belong here,”
Nathan
pointed out calmly. “He doesn’t need to be hospitable to a beta of another pack.”

Asher nodded sharply at Nathan, his face mockingly serious. “Good to see you too, Nathanial.” He leaned against the door of the entranceway. “I see you’re still hoping to claim Blake’s spot as beta. Can’t quite grasp the position, huh?”

“Blake and Addie are out shopping,” Hayden supplied lightly, sensing both men were on the defense. “Nathan is our deputy beta until he comes back.” 

The blond beta’s eyes softened when they landed on Hayden. His tense shoulders sagged a bit, a sign that she had successfully lightened the mood. “It’s good to see you again,” he hailed. “But I can’t say that the situation is on good terms.” He stopped there, leaving it open.

Nathan quickly took the bait. “What happened?” he inquired sharply, seemingly forgetting about his earlier misgivings with Asher.