Un.Requited (Claimed Series) (7 page)

It looked as if they were having fun, jumping on the car
roofs
and surfing from one car to the next. Nicolas even kept his poise as he leaped from one moving taxi to the one crossing
opposite of him. They made it look so easy, so uncomplicated, whereas
she
could hardly stand on her own two feet.

Hayden’s toes finally hit the edge of the sidewalk and she collapsed painfully to the concrete. Unfortunately, because Gregory was in her embrace, he collapsed just as hard
. 
Distressed, she watched as his face connected with the ground. 

There was a sudden
click
across from her, tearing her attention away from Greg. The familiar smell of silver burned her nostrils and she slowly looked up. Dazed, she stared wide-eyed down the barrel of a gun, unable to react as the muzzle pointed between her eyes.

“Cole! No!” A highly distressed Gregory pushed himself closer to Hayden.

She stared up at the man who held the gun. The man, Cole, stared back down at her, his attractive features crafted into a cruel mask of severity. She knew, without a doubt, that he would easily pull the trigger, consequences be damned.  

His hard mouth deepened further into a frown and his dark eyes narrowed as he closely observed Hayden. He sniffed the air around her, evidently smelling something that made him lower his gun just a fraction of an inch.

Hayden didn’t waste any time. She took advantage of his hesitation and knocked his wrist away, sending the hand and the gun swinging in the opposite direction. Acting on her survival instincts alone, Hayden scrambled up from the ground and ran. Not only would she have Nicolas and his rogues to worry over, but she would also need to keep a look out for Cole.

However, another man suddenly stepped forward, cutting off her escape. She briefly noted his resemblance to Gregory, especially when he raised his hands in defense. It was a gesture Hayden saw Greg use from time to time.

“Hey,” he called soothingly. He still had his hands raised, treating her like a wild animal. “Relax. No one is going to hurt you.” 

She was unconvinced at his reassurance. Cole was most likely already pointing the gun at her back, unashamed at killing someone with
their
back turned.

Just as she was about to push past him, a hand touched her shoulder, holding her back.

“Please, Hayden. My brother won’t hurt you.” Greg’s warm gaze pleaded with her.

Only, the blood rushing down his face had instantly attracted Hayden’s sharp observation. The scent was lovely, doing something to her stomach that the meat sub couldn’t even hope to satisfy. Nothing seemed to matter but the prey standing within arm’s reach.

Gregory seemed oblivious to Hayden’s inner struggle. He only shifted closer out of a perverse need to protect her from both Cole and his brother. Hayden squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to paralyze her senses from the human’s enticing blood. In order to snap herself out of the bloodlust, she gritted her teeth and held her breath.

Faintly, she heard both Cole and Blake bark out and demand Gregory to get away, to back away slowly. Curious to see if Greg was following their instructions, Hayden peeked at the boy, drawn to his wide, trustful eyes.

Even in the face of her hunger, Gregory gave an encouraging nod. “I know you won’t do it, Hayden. I trust you. You’re different from all the other newborns, remember?”

Underneath the ravishing hunger, Hayden groaned in exasperation. He was too trusting, too wholesome for his own good. With the history he had with uncontrollable werewolves, Greg should have heeded his brother’s warning and backed away. Hayden didn’t know if she could control herself this time around, no matter how much she wanted to.

Fortunately, the rogues’ belated arrival was enough to distract her from Gregory’s blood. She whirled around, watching in disbelief as a rogue flew off the roof of the car. The shaggy-haired rogue set his sights on Cole, his razor-sharp claws exposed and ready to peel away any barrier standing in their way.

Cole stood tall and composed, easily intercepting the rogue around the torso. He spun the werewolf around and flung
him carelessly to the ground.
With lethal grace, Cole brought back a heavy fist and punched his fallen opponent in the temple, effectively knocking the rogue out in seconds.

“It’s been too long, Cole.” A familiar voice spoke directly behind Hayden.

She stiffened, deciding to remain facing Cole, not giving Nicolas the satisfaction of turning around. Through curious and guarded eyes, she watched as Cole turned to give Nicolas his undivided attention.

Hayden would never admit it to anyone, least of all to herself, but many would describe Cole as roguishly handsome. Dark, wavy hair fell to his chin in jagged layers, and even the stubble across his jaw and chin looked uneven, as if he shaved with a dull razor. His masculine features were dark, menacing, giving him the impression of a clever and cruel predator.

“Nicolas,” Cole growled. His upper lip lifted, revealing sharp canines.

In his eyes, she could see the same frenzied obsession he shared with Nicolas. Her earlier assumptions were right, then. These two men were so fascinated with each other that they hardly took notice of the innocent bystanders in their way.

As if sensing Hayden’s thoughts, Cole’s emerald eyes low
ered, considering her briefly.
Something unrecognizable swirled in those eyes as he regarded her, but it disappeared as soon as he turned his attention back on to Nicolas. Straightening, his expansive
chest
and shoulders angled toward the rogue Alpha, poised and ready in case the Nicolas chose to attack.

Hayden didn’t know whom she would prefer to face. Both Cole and Nicolas were extremely different, as one was refined and the other barren, untamable. However, they did carry a similar aura of immense power and authority.

It would be in her best interest if Hayden could escape while they were distracted. Already, she was subtly inching away, giving them the room they decreed. Unfortunately, Nicolas’ pale eyes riveted toward her, having detected her sly retreat.

“I see you have come to take yet another thing that belongs to me.” He was looking at her, yet he was addressing Cole. “She’s my claimed mate. Are you willing to go against werewolf customs and take her away? Your kind
does
honor the old traditions, do they not?”

Cole immediately fixated on Hayden’s neck, more specifically, the unhealed bite mark. In response, Hayden found herself self-consciously covering her throat, unnerved with the expression Cole wore. 

She hadn’t believed a simple bite could act as a claim, but apparently, it was a tradition in the werewolf community. Would she be bound to Nicolas forever, just because of a simple bite? She found it incredibly animal-like, primitive, to choose a mate based on smell alone. Then again,
Nicolas’ insistence to claim her had steamed from his juvenile need to get to her before Cole had the chance. 

Hayden braced herself, expecting Cole to take out his gun again and attack her with extra vigor. Surely, the man wouldn’t have any reservations about executing her now that he found out about the claim. Yet, instead of any looks of disdain or gun pointing, Cole seemed rather passive, hardly resembling the man she had first encountered.

He sneered at Hayden’s neck before turning to Nicolas. “It wasn’t given freely.”

Nicolas smiled viciously. “Alpha’s don’t ask for permission, Cole, or haven’t you learned that yet? With you being so young and all, I suppose I can grant you reprieve.” His pale eyes taunted the younger Alpha, clearly mocking him.

If Cole hadn’t lost his composure first, Hayden may have foolishly done so herself.

She stepped back and watched as Cole charged at Nicolas. The rogue Alpha leaped away effortlessly, his smirk stubbornly in place as if this were a game to him. Despite his belittlement over Cole’s age, both Alphas looked evenly matched. Cole met Nicolas’ sly and quick advances with solid defense, able to get in a few shots of his own.

Hayden pulled her attention away, reluctantly impressed at their speed and brute strength, but acknowledging that now was a good enough time as any to escape. Everyone was occupied, engrossed in their own conflict.
Further
ahead, Greg’s brother was engaged in his own fight with Tracer, too distracted to stop Hayden, let alone realize she was leaving.

Her shoes splashed in the puddles as she backed away uncertainly, her pulse racing at the taste of freedom. She had to run home to get money, to get clothes, and then she would have the whole world to choose where to relocate. Nicolas may have a good nose, but even he wouldn’t be able to track her scent if she disappeared onto a plane or in a car.

Exhaling, Hayden turned her heel and ran past the male werewolves. Brushing her damp hair away from her face, she turned around the corner, only to come to an unnatural stop when she heard a muffled scream. Hayden hesitated, slowly peering over the corner and immediately spying Gregory in dire need of help.

A redheaded rogue was straddling the human, gripping the boy’s face with unnaturally sharp nails. Underneath Gregory, the puddles began turning murky red with blood, indication that something a lot more vital was injured. The human was breathing raggedly, whimpering as the claws pierced his jaw and cheeks. With disregard to the pain he was causing Gregory, the rogue leaned forward and eagerly licked the bleeding wounds. 

Hayden clutched the corner of the building, indecision tugging at her. With the others so preoccupied, now was the
only
time to get away.
But then
she remembered all the things Gregory had done for her. Thinking back to all the sacrifices he had made for her, running away suddenly didn’t seem so honorable. 

Staring, she could only watch in morbid fascination as the rogue continued to assault Gregory, treating him as a mere toy. As Gregory groaned painfully, the boy turned his head to the side, locking eyes with Hayden. There was no animosity in those eyes as he stared at her shell-shocked form. There was nothing but reluctant acceptance, as if he understood Hayden’s decision to run.

His purity cruelly ate at her resolve.

Making up her mind, Hayden pushed off from the building and charged at the crouching rogue. With the redhead distracted, Hayden was able to come up on him undetected. Gleefully, she lunged, tackling the rogue to the ground and wrapping her hands around the werewolf’s neck, squeezing tightly. 

They landed awkwardly on the wet pavement, both tangled ungracefully around the other. The rogue blinked at Hayden in surprise before narrowing his gaze in delight.

Knowing she needed to act quickly, Hayden removed her hands from the rogue’s neck and brought her fist back. She intended to mimic what Cole had done earlier, by knocking her opponent unconscious with a fist to the temple. Unfortunately, the rogue had more heightened senses than she did.

“I don’t think so, little bitch,” the rogue spat. He easily caught her fist with his palm. With a growl, the redhead placed his foot on her stomach and pushed.

It was such a simple, but powerful attack. The world spun as Hayden soared through the air, landing heavily in a deep puddle. She gasped, inhaling as much oxygen as she could into her shocked lungs. Immediately rolling on her hands and knees, Hayden blinked the water from her eyes and stared uncomprehendingly at the oncoming traffic headed her way.

Snapping herself out of her disbelief, she rolled on her side, avoiding a car’s tire only by a few inches. The spray from the wheels spit at her, hardly doing any damage to her already soaked figure. She shakily got to her hands and knees again, crawling to safety. Only, the redheaded rogue wasn’t about to let her go so easily.

The werewolf landed in a crouch in front of her, exposing his yellow teeth in an ugly leer. Snarling uncontrollably, he struck out and compressed the sides of her face with his bulky hands. Hayden grimaced as he forced her forehead uncomfortably against the wet pavement. The loose rocks and tar scraped her skin, easily cutting it.

“Let’s see how pretty you look after a little adjustment.” The redhead cackled with glee, his hands tightening and compressing her head more firmly against the road.

Straining her eyes, Hayden took notice of the car heading toward them. Because the rain was coming down in sheets, the driver probably wouldn’t see her so low on the ground. The rogue werewolf was truly aiming to get her head run over.

Fleetingly, Hayden wondered if this rogue was acting on his own uncontrollable rage. If Nicolas had claimed Hayden as a mate, surely the man wouldn’t want his pack members to kill her. On the other hand, the redhead could just be aiming to main her, not kill her.

Desperately, Hayden struggled against the rogue, her nails finding his wrists.

“Hayden!” Gregory called out frantically, as if he could somehow contribute to the situation by shouting her name on the sidewalk.

The closer the car came, the faster her pulse raced. Her heightening pulse and blind panic seemed to arouse the creature inside of her. As a response, she could feel her nails grow longer, heavier. Ruthlessly, Hayden shredded the skin on the rogue’s wrists, relieved to hear the redhead’s high-pitched howl.