She hugged him tighter that feeling of safety washing over her again.
"I love you Cara," he whispered into her hair.
She looked up into his eyes to find them clear and focused like a laser beam. Her gut clenched and tingles raced over her skin. He loved her. "I love you too."
She'd never told a guy she loved him before. As hard as it should have been to say the words flowed out easily– just like everything between her and Noah. No pretending. No awkward silences that she felt the need to fill with small talk. No judgment. Despite all of their baggage, what she felt for Noah could not be denied. She loved him and she wanted to be his forever.
He lifted her chin and kissed her again. Every inch of her wished they weren't at the beach, but back at the condo, naked in his bed.
"Maybe we could sneak away, if you're done here," he said.
"You read my mind."
Over by the showers, Liam and the rest of the crew waited for them. Noah took her hand and they stepped out of the building’s shadow, back out onto the sand. She looked up at him and though most of the tension had left his shoulders, his skin held a paleness that worried her.
"Noah?"
He turned at the sound of his name. Cara looked toward the stairs, next to the restaurant, which led from the pier down to the beach. A beautiful brunette, along with a group of other people stood on the bottom step.
"Noah!" the girl cried. She ran at him and flung her arms around his neck. He dropped Cara's hand to grab the girl. Cara stepped aside, to avoid being bowled over.
The girl pulled his face to hers and she kissed him hard. Cara's stomach plummeted as fast as a roller coaster.
Noah pushed the girl off lightly as the rest of the group approached.
"Oh my gosh," she said. "I can't believe you're here."
"I can't believe you're here."
"I told you we were coming up to Los Angeles today. I was gonna come see you, remember?"
Noah's gaze shifted sideways to Cara.
"Hey man, it's good to see you." A shorter, stocky guy with a crew cut walked up and shook Noah's hand.
"Scott."
The rest of the girl’s group came up and either hugged or shook hands with Noah. It didn't escape Cara's notice that the girl who'd kissed him still had her fingers tightly interwoven with his.
"What's up?" Liam and Natasha approached and Cara turned.
She wasn't sure what to say. Clint, Buck, Rock, and the girls joined them as well.
"Who are your friends?" asked the beautiful brunette.
Noah turned to Cara and her gut twisted. Guilt was planted firmly on his face.
"Oh, this is Cara, Liam, Natasha, Clint, Buck, Rock, and a bunch of other friends from where I'm staying."
"Hi! I'm Brigette. And these knuckleheads are a bunch of our friends from high school and stuff."
Everyone exchanged hellos. Noah's eyes stayed planted on Cara and a chill raced over her.
"We're just gonna go up on the pier and ride some rides. Come with us?" Brigette asked Noah.
"I… I can't. I came with these guys and we had a whole day planned..."
"Come on man," said Scott. "We haven't seen you since you got back. I'm sure your new friends understand."
"Please." The look on Brigette's face told Cara everything she needed to know.
"I…" He looked to Cara.
"Go," she said. "It's fine. You should be with your friends. They haven't seen you in a year."
"But I gave Cara a ride…" He looked so conflicted that she wanted to wrap her arms around him, tell the rest of them to screw off. He was hers.
"It's not a big deal. I can get a ride with these guys," Cara said flatly. It had to be his choice. She couldn't be one of those clingy girlfriends. It just wasn't her style.
"Come on," Brigette urged. "They said it's fine." She kissed his cheek again and pulled on his arm. "Please?" Her large blue eyes rounded with anticipation.
Finally he nodded and headed toward the stairs with Brigette hanging off his arm. Cara watched him go and every step he took felt like he was stepping on her heart. He glanced back at her and she gave a small wave and prayed silently that he would be okay.
"Come on," said Natasha. "Let's go for a swim."
Cara rubbed her forehead with a shaky hand. Her emotions were piling one on top of the other; she couldn't decide whether to scream, cry, or totally lose it and run after him.
Natasha grabbed her hands. "How about you and I can go for a walk and talk."
Cara gave Natasha a weak smile. She really just wanted to get out of there, but she worried for Noah. She couldn't just take off.
"Sure."
Natasha linked her arm in Cara's and told Liam they were gonna walk down the beach. He nodded and took their belongings down toward the water with the rest of the group.
Cara and Natasha spent an hour walking by the water, but not much was said. By the time they got back to the group she could barely stand being around anyone. No one had heard from or seen Noah, so obviously he didn't need her. The thought was like a punch to the gut.
He'd tried to save her, and then told her he loved her, only to leave with Brigette. Not that she could blame him, it wasn’t like she'd tried to stop him from going, but… he could have said no.
"You know, I think I'm done for today," she finally said. "I've got a ton of homework and I'm tired… I'll just catch the bus back."
"Cara, don't go. Stay," said Natasha. "You haven't been out of the condo to do more than work and school for months."
"Yeah, stay," said Liam.
She hugged Natasha. "I appreciate it but, I just want to go home now."
"I'll take her," offered Clint. "I forgot my surfboard and wanted to run and get it anyway."
"You don't have to do that."
Clint gave her a genuine smile. "It's not a problem."
Liam pulled Cara into a hug. "I didn't know. I swear I didn't."
She nodded. "It's okay. I should have realized he'd have a girlfriend."
Her mind was a jumble. She'd opened her heart to him. Her body. Her soul. And he'd lied to her and gone off with someone else. Noah. The one who'd told her he couldn't stand lying. Had it all been a game? Their connection was undeniable, but there was obviously a lot of history with Brigette. And the affection Brigette felt for Noah had been unmistakable.
Cara waved goodbye to everyone as she and Clint walked to the parking lot. She hopped into his SUV and as he pulled out of the parking space, she looked toward the rides in hopes of catching a glimpse of Noah. Guilt swept over her. What if she left and he needed her? She shook her head. If he'd needed her he wouldn't have gone off with Brigette. She'd been a fool to think that just because she'd given up her old life when she'd come to Malibu meant he would too.
"You didn't have to do this you know," Cara said. "I'm sure you didn't want to come all the way back out here just to get a surfboard."
Clint shrugged. "I know how it is. Seeing someone you care about in the arms of someone else."
Cara glanced over at him. "You still care for Natasha."
He looked at her. "It doesn't matter. She's bonded to Liam."
"Well, I appreciate you doing this anyway." The ocean zipped by as they headed north on PCH but the scenery held none of the joy she'd experienced on the way down, with Noah.
"So, you were relocated here right? Like Natasha?"
"Yeah." She sighed. "From Missouri."
"Now, how did that happen exactly? Being relocated?"
"My mama left me a business card. I called the number on it and they arranged everything."
"I'd never heard about that until Liam arrived. Is it just for werewolves?"
"No for all kinds of shifters. I think Noah said the Night Shift are all return vets or something. Why? You need to relocate?"
"I was just thinking how cool it would be to help shifters like that. The way Liam did with you guys."
She glanced over at him. "Really?"
; He chuckled. "I know. I give off a good stuck up vibe don't I?"
"I wouldn't put it that way but…"
"Nah, I get it. It's cool. My dad expects me to act a certain way as Alpha-in-waiting.”
"But?"
"I don't know that I want to be Alpha. I'd rather help people."
"Well you helped me today and for that, I thank you."
He smiled. "Any time."
For those fleeting moments, on the drive back to Malibu, Cara forgot about Noah and Brigette. But as they pulled up to the condo, it all came crashing down on her.
"Thanks for the ride." She grabbed her bag and exited the SUV.
"Cara?"
She stopped and looked up at Clint’s suntanned, good-looking, surfer face.
"For the record. That girl has nothing on you. He'd be a fool to choose her."
"I don't know that you're right about that but I appreciate you saying it all the same."
She walked to the gate and punched in the code. Then she went into her condo, straight up to her room, flung herself down on her bed, and sobbed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Cara spent the rest of the day locked in her room, trying to study but her brain refused to cooperate. Instead she replayed every moment of the afternoon's events. From the aquarium, to lunch, to the beach to Noah's I love you. All of it stuck like photographs, glued inside her skull.
At ten p.m. the front door opened, then closed. Her stomach roiled and bile burned a trail up her throat. She waited on her bed, eyes pressed shut. Silence permeated the air until the sound of slow, heavy footsteps made the stairs creak. They stopped in the hallway and there was a knock on her door.
She stayed silent, ripped between wanting to answer and wishing he would go away.
"Cara?" His voice came out gentle and muffled from behind the door. "Are you awake?"
Was she awake? Of course she was awake.
She willed herself to stay in bed but her legs disobeyed. She tiptoed to the door, her hand stopped on the knob.
"Cara please open the door."
She pressed her forehead into the wood. Her body shaking.
"I can hear you breathing on the other side. I know you're there. Please let me explain."
"I don't need an explanation Noah."
"Yes, you do. It's not what you think. Brigette was my girlfriend for a long time. When I got back, I told her to move on, that it was over between us, but she won't listen."
"Do you love her?"
There was a moment of hesitation. "Only as a friend now. Since I met you–"
Cara pulled the door open. "You should go back to her. She loves you and you obviously have feelings for her."
He reached for her. "I don't want her. I want you."
Cara shook her head. "No. You're better off with her. I could see that today."
"You don't mean that. I know you don't. Don't do this. Don't shut me out."
"I bit someone." The words came out before she even realized she'd said them.
Even in the darkened hallway she could see the shock on his face.
"What?" His eyebrows furrowed and he shook his head.
"I bit someone. That's why I had to be relocated. Not because of my mom being shot."
His mouth opened and closed several times. "You should have told me." His voice held a hard edge to it.
Her heart shattered into pieces. "Yes. And you should have told me about having a girlfriend. I guess both of us are liars."
She closed the door and locked it. She pressed her head to the door and stifled a sob. It was for the best. He deserved to know the truth. And the look on his face told her everything she needed to know.
****
Noah stared at the closed door. Anger bubbled inside him so rapidly he couldn't hold it back.
"You should have told me!" He slammed his fist onto the door and heard a yip from the other side. He backed up several steps and ran his hands through his hair, grabbing it by the roots. How could she have hidden that from him? All those times she’d said she had something to tell him but she hadn't. She'd stayed silent, knowing how he felt. Watching his pain at becoming a werewolf. Consoling him, making love to him.
He turned and sped down the stairs, slipping and falling, then getting back up. He closed the front door with a bang and headed for his truck. Anger laced his thoughts as he started the engine. He had to get away. Had to think.
He sped toward Los Angeles. Topping one hundred miles per hour, he swerved around cars, like he was back on an amusement ride. Once in Santa Monica, he found the nearest liquor store and bought a fifth of tequila. Then he checked into a motel and threw himself onto the bed.
His thoughts were filled with Cara. Her scent, her skin, her taste. How could she have not told him?
His phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket. It was Brigette. Dammit. He'd told her once and for all that it was over between them. She hadn't taken it well.
"Is it that girl? Cara? The one you brought."
"It's not about Cara. It's about me. I'm not the same guy anymore. I can't be what you need."
"But you will be some day. I'll wait."
"I don't want you to wait. I want you to move on. This is it Brigette. I loved you before, but now… Thank you for today, but this is goodbye."
Tears had streamed from her eyes as he'd gotten into his truck and left her standing there. Now she was calling again. No matter what he said, it wouldn't go well. The best thing he could do was not answer. It was the only way she'd move on.
He dropped the phone and picked up the bottle of tequila. He undid the top and took in the strong, heady smell of the alcohol. He lifted it to his lips and stopped. For the first time in weeks, dark thoughts crawled up his neck, whispering things he should do to himself. He didn't want to be this person. He didn't want to be any person. He just wanted to fade away.
He lifted the bottle again and drank deep. He needed to forget.
****
"Hello?"
"Liam it's Cara."
"Are you okay?"
No, she was not okay. "I'm calling about Noah."
"Did he hurt you?" Liam was on high alert.
"No. He came home about ten and tried to apologize and I told him about me biting Mr. Perkins and he took off. I'm worried."
"Did he come back at all today?"
"Not that I've seen but I just got home from work."
"Is his stuff still there?"
"Yeah. I thought maybe you could call Tate and see if he's heard from him. I'm really worried about what he might do."
"I'll take care of it."
"Please let me know if you find him."
"I'm sure he's fine. I'll call you as soon as I know anything."
"Thanks Liam." The nagging sadness that had accompanied her all day, like her own personal storm cloud, turned to fear the moment she'd gotten home and realized Noah was still gone.
She hadn't expected him to be there, but she'd at least expected his stuff to have been touched. It hadn’t and that made the slimy tendrils of panic squeeze in on her thoughts.
She walked up to her room and sat on her bed. There was no way she’d be able to concentrate on schoolwork. She needed to find something else to do.
She walked back down, to her front room, and turned on her Xbox.
****
A buzzing noise woke Noah from where he was splayed across the squeaky motel bed. His eyelids clung together, like a kindergartener had pasted them shut. He rubbed at them, trying to pry them open. The buzzing was so loud, he felt like it was coming from inside his head.
He looked around for the source of the sound and realized it was his phone. He lunged for it and fell from the bed onto his back.
His head smacked the nightstand and pain exploded from the back of his skull. "Dammit!" He rubbed his head. "Hello?"
Every inch of his body itched; his skin felt like it was peeling off.
"Sergeant where the hell are you?" Donovan's voice blasted through the pho
ne, making his head throb even harder.
"Uh…" He tried to remember where he was. "A motel."
"And what do you think you're doing in a motel? That's exactly the kind of hell we pulled you out of Sergeant. Don't you dare tell me you're falling back into old habits."
Noah ran his tongue over his scuzzy teeth. "No sir."
"I'm sorry I didn't hear that."
"No sir!" Noah sat up and leaned on the bed.
"You tell me where you're at and Tate will come get you. And if you reek of alcohol when you get here, you're gonna regret it Marine."
"Yes sir." Noah told Donovan where the motel was and hung up. He looked at the time. It was seven in the evening. He'd slept all day. An empty bottle of tequila lay on the floor next to him, along with his leg.
He hung his head in his hands, and then stood. He hopped to the bathroom, turned on the shower then grabbed a washcloth and scrubbed it across his teeth. There was nothing he'd be able to do about his breath but at least he could take a shower and give the impression of someone who wasn't totally losing it.
Tate showed up thirty minutes later, with a toothbrush and toothpaste in hand.
"Donovan is going to kill you if he smells liquor."
Noah took the toothbrush and ripped into the toothpaste. "Thanks man, you're a lifesaver."
He shoved the brush into his mouth and scoured every inch – twice.
"How did Donovan find out I wasn't in Malibu?"
"Liam called. He said you took off and had been missing for over twelve hours."
Cara. His gut clenched thinking of her.
Noah walked to the second bed and sat on it. "Cara…"
Tate nodded. "She finally told you."
"You knew too and didn't tell me? How could you put me in a house with a girl, knowing she'd bitten someone? After all I've been through, why would you do that?"
"Because I thought she could help you."
Noah shook his head. "Help me?"
"When you and I talked on the phone three weeks ago, you were a mess. Drunk, ready to kill yourself because you had become a werewolf. I thought, if you went out there and met Liam, and the others, you'd see that this life wasn't as bad as you thought. Cara is a sweet girl who's been through a lot. I thought she'd help you learn to forgive and move on."
Cursed by the Moon (Shifter Rising Book 2) Page 11