Cursed Hearts (A Crossroads Novel)

by Light

  “The accident kind of ruined my audition. I don’t think I’m going back. I’m not sure how I even got up the courage to try out.”

  A man’s voice rose above the quiet chatter in the dining room, drawing everyone’s attention. Rome was three paces away from Christian and Aria’s table when he heard him. He didn’t want to believe it, but he knew that voice.

  “Where the fuck is he?” Henry hollered, shoving past the hostess. “Rome! Rome! Get your worthless ass out here you piece of shit!”

  Rome was shaking. Every synapse in his brain was telling him to run, to escape through the back of the restaurant, but his legs wouldn’t move. Henry hadn’t ever done anything like this before – at least not in public. It was always done behind the safety of walls and closed doors.

  “Where is that—there you are,” Henry grit out, locking eyes with him. He stumbled through the dining hall, weaving uncoordinatedly around tables and chairs. “How dare you!” he shouted.

  Rome could smell the booze on him from here, and it was only getting stronger the closer he came. Besides not being able to move, Rome couldn’t speak. He was shaking so bad that the tray he was carrying with Ariahna and Christian’s dinner suddenly slipped out of his fingers, crashing to the floor around him.

  Is this really happening? he thought.

  Henry stumbled up to him and shoved Rome so hard that he went plunging to the ground. Other than Henry’s shouting, the place was dead silent. The entire restaurant was watching him be humiliated.

  “What the hell did I do now?” Rome managed to ask.

  “You know what you did, you little faggot,” Henry roared.

  “What?” Rome breathed. He watched as his father picked up a plate off of someone’s table, frightening the woman it had been sitting in front of. He hucked the plate violently at him, and it hit him square in the chest, shattering and splattering red sauce all over his shirt. Glasses and silverware had become ammunition as he continued his assault. Rome was too stunned to do anything but try and shuffle away. There was glass and ceramic all over the floor, and the fine carpet was now stained with food. Rome couldn’t help but feel like he’d stumbled into a nightmare. Henry’s hands closed in his shirt and he hauled him to his feet. No one was doing anything to help him. No one was even telling him to stop. They were all too busy watching to care.

  “I didn’t raise you to be someone else’s bitch, you little queer.”

  “I’m not—”

  “Don’t fucking try and lie to me! Everyone’s runnin’ their mouths about how my son’s a fucking fairy,” he yelled. “I saw the picture, you and that long-haired freak sucking face… You disgust me.” He shoved Rome backwards into a table, nearly knocking it over in the process. “Your mother’s turning over in her grave right now. She shoulda aborted you when she had the chance.”

  “Stop it,” Rome pleaded quietly. “Go home.” He held up his arms to shield his body from another incoming glass that broke upon impact.

  “Don’t you fucking tell me what to do!”

  “Go home, before they call the damn cops on you,” Rome stressed.

  “You are nothing but a good for nothing waste of space,” Henry breathed. “No one in this place even gives a shit about you.”

  Ariahna felt like she was in a trance. For several moments, she was too stunned to react. When she realized what was happening, she tried to come to Rome’s defense. Christian practically leapt over the table to stop her.

  “Don’t,” he breathed.

  Rome glanced around the room at the people standing around him. Beyond the slight shaking of hands holding up cellphones, they were all as still as statues. He could feel the sting of tears welling up in his eyes. People were recording this. They were all just watching his father yell at him and throw things. The manager wasn’t even instructing anyone to escort his father out.

  “Don’t touch me,” he warned as Henry grabbed at him, hooking his fingers in his shirt. Rome slapped his hands away, shoving Henry back. He couldn’t take any more of this. “What do you want from me?” he demanded. “You’ve embarrassed me, thrown me around and insulted me—I’m sure I’ve lost my job now because of you. And you’ve already made it clear to everyone in this room what you really think of me. What more could you possibly have to say?”

  “You’ve never been anything but a damn disappointment!”

  “Let me tell you something… that long-haired freak is my fucking friend, and he’s a better person than you’ll ever be.” Rome heard a quarter of the room scoff at that. Clearly they were members of the magical community, and aware of what Kaleb was. “God, have some fucking respect,” he said, looking around the room in disgust. “None of you even know him, or me.”

  “I hope someone leaves you both mutilated in a ditch,” Henry garbled.

  Rome had to clench his eyes shut as fury bled into his irises. He was trembling, but for an entirely different reason now. His fists were curled so tight that his nails were now biting into his palms. “I’d like to see them try,” he said under his breath. “You know what, I’m not even gay, but if I was, is this really how you’d treat me? After everything I’ve done for you?”

  “You’re no son of mine,” Henry bellowed, slurring the words.

  “Was I ever?”

  “…No. You want to know something about that precious mother of yours? The woman was the biggest fucking slut I have ever seen. Anyone in this town could have knocked her ass up. Why do you think they look at you like that? You’re the son of a fucking whore.”

  Rome lost it. He surged at Henry with intent to kill. And he probably would have, if Richard hadn’t stepped in at that precise moment.

  Richard had gone to the bathroom for two minutes, and this was what he’d come back to find. It didn’t surprise him that it was Henry and Rome at the epicenter of all the chaos. If it was up to him, he’d throw them both out of town.

  “Fuck you!” Rome yelled. He was glaring and pointing at Henry from around Ariahna’s father as he attempted to hold him back. Richard was trying to get him to calm down, but Rome was too enraged to even take in anything he was saying. “I hope the next time you pass out in a pile of your own vomit that you drown in the shit, because I’m not going to be there to pick your ass up. This was the last fucking straw. If you so much as look at me again, I’m going to leave you mutil—”

  “Mr. Navarro!” Richard shouted.

  Rome bit his tongue, looking up at him. His eyes were cold, but they demanded his attention, and there was just something about him that made Rome want to tuck his tail between his legs and run. Even as angry as he was, Richard was instilling him with a healthy amount of fear.

  “Sit. Down. Before I haul you into the station with him.” Richard pulled Henry’s arms violently behind his back, slapping him into a set of cuffs and dragging him towards the door. After what he’d said about Donna, Henry was going to be lucky to survive the night, regardless of Rome’s threats.

  Rome stood there looking around as everyone continued to stare at him. He wondered how anyone could just watch something like that happen and not lift a finger to do anything. The manager began crossing the floor, and Rome shook his head in disbelief. He practically ripped off the stupid bow tie around his neck, dropping it at his feet.

  “You—”

  “Don’t even bother,” he said. “I quit.”

  Rome unbuttoned the uncomfortable shirt he’d had on over his tank top, tearing it off and shoving it into his boss’s chest. “I hope everyone loved their entertainment for the evening. Enjoy your overpriced food and your god-damn perfect lives.” He actually took a bow then, sweeping out through the back door and triggering the building’s emergency alarm. It wasn’t until he was standing alone in the dark alley that he felt the burning of hot tears stinging at his eyes and slipping down his cheeks. The cold air against his skin left him hugging himself as he slid to the ground. He was sitting next to a pile of garbage near the trash compactor, and it felt strangely fitting
. After all, it was where everyone thought he belonged anyways. Maybe it was time he stopped fighting the inevitable, he thought. No one would care if he died. The only reason they might even notice was because they’d realize they didn’t have anyone left to kick around.

  “Rome?” Aria called out softly. “Where are you?”

  “Please,” he choked out, “just go away.”

  Ariahna lifted up the edge of her dress so it wouldn’t scrape along the ground, shoes clicking softly against the cement. She crouched down beside him, balancing on the balls of her feet. Rome wouldn’t look at her. She touched his hand softly, staring at his calloused fingers.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I should have done something.”

  He shook his head silently no.

  “Are you hurt?” she asked, touching his shoulder. She frowned at the feeling of his skin beneath her fingers. It was raised in some areas, and dipped in others. She found herself pulling back the fabric of his tank top, revealing a small part of his back. “Oh my god… did he do this to you?”

  “You’re going to ruin your dress,” he breathed. He wasn’t fighting against her as Aria pulled him forward, getting a better look at his scars.

  “How long?” she asked in a broken voice, falling onto her knees in front of him. Her green eyes were bright with unshed tears. “Have you—have you ever told anyone?”

  Rome shook his head slowly. Aria wrapped her arms around him, hugging him fiercely. He clutched tightly at the fabric of her dress in return.

  “…I’ve never told anyone, either,” she whispered.

  Rome had buried his face in her neck, seeking the comfort of somewhere to hide – somewhere safe away from everything, and everyone. Her words hit him like a punch to the gut, expelling a quivering breath from his lungs. He pulled back, cradling her face in his hands and wiping away her falling tears with a gentle touch. He was left staring searchingly into her eyes.

  “Is someone hurting you?” he asked. “Tell me. Who is it?”

  Aria swallowed thickly. “I didn’t mean it like that,” she breathed.

  Rome knew she hadn’t meant to say that to him. He could tell by the frantic, unsteady rhythm of her heart that she was scared, and more than that, that she was now lying. “What did you mean it like?” he asked, touching a strand of her curls. She didn’t seem intent to answer him. Rome’s fingers tingled at the touch, and the beautiful red of her hair started to spread out over her loose curls, revealing the natural color beneath. That was the first time he’d ever done anything magical that wasn’t an accident. He pulled her slowly to her feet. Ariahna didn’t belong back here with him. Not next to a pile of trash in a dark alleyway. She was ruining her beautiful dress and smearing her makeup. And for what, him? Rome didn’t want that.

  “You should go back to your date,” he whispered. He was caressing the side of her face and pulling her close even as his words tried to push her away. They were inches away from kissing when the back door to the kitchen swung abruptly open. Autumn was standing on the stoop, her face pale and full of concern. Aria tensed at the sound of her voice.

  “Rome, are you alright? I was just talking to the manager. He wasn’t going to fire you; he was just going to ask you to leave for the night. I think that’s a good idea. You could probably use some rest.”

  “Thanks,” he said, restraining his frustration. When he looked back at Aria, her irises were shimmering yellow. Alluring flecks of gold had overtaken her normally green eyes as she stared at the brick wall beside them. He almost couldn’t believe it. Christian was right.

  “I’m sure they could use your help in there,” Aria said, not turning to look at her. “Thanks for your concern. I’ll make sure he gets back okay.”

  “Okay,” Autumn said, dragging out the word. Her eyes drifted away from the head of red hair up to Rome’s stunned looking face. “Are you sure you don’t need anything?” she asked. The girl in Rome’s arms spun to face her, advancing so quickly that Autumn stumbled backwards in surprise.

  “I said I’ve got it,” she said tightly. “Why don’t you go inside?” Rome’s hands curled slowly around her arms, and she let him pull her back against his chest. Aria wasn’t sure where this aggressiveness was coming from. She couldn’t be certain if she was being possessive, or just protective of Rome, but she didn’t want this girl anywhere near him. He didn’t need a bunch of people hovering over him and making him feel claustrophobic.

  “It’s okay,” Rome said. He was looking at Autumn, but the words had been meant for Aria. “Tell the manager I’ll talk to him later.” Autumn nodded and ducked back into the kitchen. The moment she left, all the rigidness flooded out of Ariahna’s body and she exhaled her unease. Rome twisted her around to face him. “I thought you just wanted to be friends? If you’re so jealous, maybe you shouldn’t be out on a date with Christian.”

  “I wasn’t jealous. I’m not jealous. I was just looking out for you.”

  “Trying to protect me from the big bad blonde?” he smirked.

  “Well… didn’t you think all her questions were annoying?”

  “She seems nice,” Rome said innocently. “She sent me flowers.” He was testing to see if he could get a rise out of her. He wanted her to admit that she was actually jealous, that she liked him. Quicker than she could look away or blink, her eyes flared gold. The jealousy was bubbling between them like a wave of heat, coursing with the added power of her wolf.

  “Are you an alpha?” he whispered.

  Aria blinked, her forehead creased in apparent confusion. “What?”

  “Come on,” he grinned. “Don’t play games. I know what you are.”

  Her face was turning red with embarrassment and a nervous kind of fear. “Rome, I think you’re a little disoriented after what happened. We should get back to school. Christian can drive us, okay?”

  Rome felt a smirk playing at the corner of his parted lips. His wolf wanted to assert its dominance, its strength. In other words, he was trying to show off. A dangerous look reflected in his eyes, erupting in gold as he growled and backed her up against the building. “I’m stronger than him,” he purred. “I know you can feel it.” He curled his fingers around her waist, lifting her up to meet his eyes. “…You should be with me.”

  Aria pressed her hands against his forearms, clinging to him with her legs as he dangled her in the air. “Rome,” she whispered. “Are you—?” She couldn’t bring herself to say the word aloud, couldn’t bring herself to believe it was true. It was a rare gift. She’d never met anyone else who possessed it. It just wasn’t possible. She was shaking her head softly. “What are you?”

  “Dangerous,” he grinned. “Dominant.” He leaned in, dragging his lips over her neck and nipping gently. He wanted to possess her, to claim her as his. “I want you,” he breathed. “I want you to be mine.”

  Aria shuddered softly against him. Everything was finally starting to click. She’d thrown back that rather strong glass of wine before coming to find him, and it was definitely impairing her reasoning abilities. Rome wasn’t what she’d thought, he wasn’t like her. He’d asked if she was an alpha. That could only mean—

  “You’re a werewolf,” she breathed. His firm body was flush against hers, his hands strong and wild as he gripped at her sides. It was stirring something in her that she didn’t know how to settle. “I don’t belong to anyone,” she said bitingly. “I’m not going to submit to you.”

  Rome liked her fire. The strength she had hidden in her was driving him wild. “I wouldn’t expect you to,” he whispered. “I want to be yours, just as much as I want you to be mine.” Rome was getting excited, practically vibrating with energy. His wolf wanted out, it wanted to run. It wanted the soft ground beneath its feet, the freedom of nature and the wind at its back.

  “Run with me,” he said.

  Aria tore her eyes away from his mesmerizing gaze.

  “I can’t.”

  “Then meet me on the full moon,” he said, kissing a
t her neck.

  Rome’s lips were hot against her skin, making her quiver.

  “Meet me and we can run together. It’ll be just the two of us. Aria, you belong with me. We belong with each other. I want to protect you, care for you… I want to keep you safe. I—” Rome was pressing his forehead against hers, his lips trembling. He wanted to kiss her, and more than anything, he wanted to tell her that he was in love with her. He had been from the moment he’d laid eyes on her. His hands slipped under the loose fabric of her dress, fingers gliding up the smooth expanse of her legs.

  “My feelings for you are real. I can’t stay away from you. I don’t want to be just friends, and I don’t want anyone else. I want you.”

  Aria was trapped in the sensation of his palms sliding over her skin. Her head was spinning as she listened to his words, letting herself fall prey to their seduction. “I can’t,” she repeated, trying to make herself believe it. Her eyes darted up to meet his, and her throat had never felt as hoarse as it did in this moment. “I’m not… like you,” she said. “I don’t want to lead you into a lie. I’m not what you think I am. I’m not what you want. I’m sorry.”

  Rome halted his movements, staring deeply into her eyes. “You are everything I have always wanted. Ariahna, I’m in l—”

  “Aria?” Christian shouted, walking around the side of the building. He hadn’t reached the back alley yet, and he couldn’t see them. “Is he alright?” Silence rung out as his answer. “Are you alright?” he said uncertainly. “…Aria?”

  Rome exhaled, and just as Christian rounded the corner, he surprised her with a hot, passionate kiss. His tongue slipped into her mouth, dancing wetly with her own as he pressed their bodies together, keeping her pinned to the wall.

  “What the fuck?” Christian growled.

  She turned away from Rome’s mouth, pressing her cheek against the brick. Christian was storming towards them in a spiraling fury, and Rome’s lips were latched around her neck. He was doing this on purpose, she realized. She pushed against his chest, letting her legs slip back down to the ground and losing a shoe in the process. Rome’s hands threaded up into her hair, and then he was being ripped away by her very angry date.