by Reese Morgan
Instead of answering his sardonic question, Hayden took the middle route. “I wanted to save them,” she whispered.
Images from the massacre, more especially, the young girl’s last moments, flashed persistently through her mind. The more Hayden attempted to suppress the memories, the more prominent and vivid they became.
“You can’t save them all.”
Hayden narrowed her eyes. Pity wasn’t exactly the best word to describe Cole’s tenor; it was more along the lines of gruff callousness. Evidently, he didn’t care. “No,” she growled. “I realized that firsthand.”
Cole was unrelenting and hardly abashed. “What did you think you could do to save them, Hayden?”
“Why haven’t you asked what I saw out there?” Hayden raised her eyebrows challengingly and threw her arms down at her sides. Her vulnerability fell way to anger. “Why don’t you ask how many werewolves survived the massacre?”
A hard line formed Cole’s mouth. “I don’t ask questions I know the answers to.”
She stared. “Normally, in most cases, if you know someone just witnessed the most horrific event in her life, you’d comfort her, not drill her with insensitive questions.” Her tone was bitter and every bit cutting.
He might have a general impression of what happened, but he didn’t know the details. Last night, he experienced her horror and grief through their bond. Cole knew what she had gone through, yet he was far from comforting. She knew she’d done something stupid, but she had expected a bit more compassion from him.
Cole crossed his arms over his chest, not out of vulnerability but out of impatience. There was nothing reassuring about his forbidding stance. “You brought this upon yourself, Hayden. You knew what would happen if you went out there.”
“But I didn’t.” She winced at the whining tone before trying to adapt an impression of control. “I thought I could warn them in time.”
“You need to stand on your own.” Unrelenting, he bombarded her with harsh words. “This is not the last time something like this will happen. Are you still intending to live up to the expectations of being an Alpha?”
The question took her off guard. “Of course I am—”
“Then you will need to learn how to face situations like these without leaning on another for support. If something critical were to happen to the pack, you would need to set aside your own feelings and protect the ones under your care first and foremost.”
Hayden tried to find even the faintest hint of emotion on Cole’s face. She saw nothing but stoicism. Despite their differences, Cole knew her best. Either he figured a professional angle would bring her out of her depression, or he truly thought things would get worse with the rogues and the Hunters. She hoped it wasn’t the latter, but she had the strangest premonition that it was.
“This is reality and I want you to see it with your eyes wide open.”
She tried not to feel like she was drowning, but everything felt so nightmarish. Cole had comforted her in the past over things far more petty than this. Why was he toughening her up now? Did the future really look so bleak from his perspective?
As if feeling guilty for his harsh treatment, Cole flattened a palm against her cheek. “It’s unfair,” he murmured, bowing his neck and placing his cheek on top her head. Despite his closeness, he still managed to keep a respectable distance. “You should have never seen the things you had, but I never want you to forget what you saw. Don’t try to hide from the memories or the emotions.”
He stood for a moment longer, holding her. The fingers of his free hand brushed her waist, as if wanting to grab her but thinking better of it. Reluctantly, after another caress to her cheek, Cole pulled away.
“Why?” Hayden’s question stopped his departure. “Why should I be content to stand back and watch and do nothing to stop it?”
“You should never feel content,” Cole replied gravely. He paused near the door and looked back at her. “Things were not always this way. Since Nicolas’ reign, the number of these rogues has increased significantly. The Hunters are a secret, exclusive society who tracks and kills rogues. Albeit cruel, they do have their principles.
“If the entire population learned of our existence, it would be dire. Humans are cruel, self-centered beings. You think the Hunters are hostile, imagine what a mob of frightened, ignorant humans would be like. Fear would lead to unorganized killings and the chaos would be overwhelming for everyone involved, not just for the werewolves.”
Sullenly, Hayden mulled it over. “Basically, what the Hunters are doing is population control.”
Cole opened the door, ignoring her derisive remark. “You didn’t know where those rogues came from, Hayden. While it may not be morally right to kill them, it is necessary in some cases. Just be thankful we were not forced to do it ourselves, a situation you may find yourself in the future.”
Without another word, he exited her bedroom, clearly still carrying his earlier anger. Hayden exhaled noisily and collapsed on the edge of her bed, her mind and body fatigued.
Accepting what the Hunters had done was not part of Hayden’s itinerary. But she reluctantly understood Cole’s arguments. If the world found out about werewolves, there would be mass hysteria. Humans with no experience would hunt, perhaps killing traditional werewolves, or even worse, humans they suspected were werewolves.
The werewolves wouldn’t be blameless either. If they were hunted, they would defend themselves ruthlessly. Innocent humans would be stuck in the crossfire, and as a result, meaningless deaths and even more newborns would start multiplying. It would be an endless cycle.
Hayden was suddenly hit with the Hunters’ true worth. While cruel, they did bring equilibrium. They were a stable obstruction between the humans and the werewolves.
Nonetheless, she still didn’t approve of innocent rogues being slaughtered. She wondered if there was someone she could blame. Could the Hunters be blamed for being too cruel? Were traditional werewolves at blame for not trying hard enough to induct new rogues into their packs? Or could she blame other rogues for biting humans and Siring newborns?
Cole said it wasn’t always like this.
Hayden reached over and caressed the dagger on her nightstand, her mind in turmoil.
If they got rid of Nicolas, would the situation eventually fix itself? She was suddenly struck with the same question she had many times before.
What was Nicolas planning?
* * *
“I don’t smell anything cooking!” Blake hollered from the living room. “I’m starving! Hurry up.”
On top of Cole’s abrasive lecture, he’d also given Hayden a punishment. Considering she enjoyed cooking so much, he assigned her dinner duty for a week. There had been no specifics in his orders, which meant Hayden planned to take careful advantage.
Balancing the platter with one hand, and a pitcher of milk with the other, Hayden bustled out of the kitchen and into the living room. Abandoning the traditionalism of the dining room, the pack relocated to the living room. No one could ever pull Fergus and Blake away from their favorite television program for too long.
Hayden lifted her chin as she passed Cole. She would make him regret giving her this particular punishment. Or maybe next time, he wouldn’t forget to specify his instructions.
Stopping before a lounging Blake, she deposited a bowl of Cheerios onto his stomach. “Would you like some milk with that?” she inquired innocently, holding out the pitcher of milk. Tilting it ever so slightly, a few drops dribbled onto his lap.
He howled and scrambled into a sitting position. “Cereal? For dinner?” He seemed more concerned over his meal than his wet pants.
Hayden smiled grimly. Even if it was petty, it felt good to get back at Blake. “I’m sure if Rachel was here, she’d whip up some homemade potpies,” she quipped cynically.
The last time the pack ate together was before Nathan’s departure from the house. Since then, there had been quarrels, tensions, and Rachel-invasions. Tonight, though
, they were together. While there was still an air of unsettlement, there wasn’t enough tension to warrant angry outbursts.
“Fruit Loops?” Fergus inquired with hopeful longing. From his position on the couch, he tried to catch a glimpse of the bowl that awaited him.
“You are a fruit loop.” Blake flicked a Cheerio at Fergus’ head.
“Yes,” Hayden responded, ignoring the beta as he flicked a Cheerio at her this time. “With chocolate milk.” She handed Fergus the bowl of sloshing cereal. The pack omega looked positively thrilled as he accepted his dinner.
“Cole has a sick sense of humor,” Blake mumbled, not caring if said Alpha was in the same room. “This may be a punishment for Hayden, but it’s an even bigger punishment for us.” Amber eyes narrowed on Cole. “Did you plan that? Are we at fault too?”
Cole’s silence was answer enough.
“Fruit Loops or Cheerios?” Addie sat primly in her chair, her blue eyes imploring and amused as she awaited her fate.
“Neither.” Hayden grabbed a warm bowl from the platter. “I made you cream of wheat with honey and cinnamon. I know how much you enjoy it.”
Her eyes widened and a pleased smile graced her lips. “You even added blueberries on top. What a sweetheart.” She accepted her bowl appreciatively. “Thank you.”
Across the room, Blake sat flabbergasted. His bowl of cereal was held lopsidedly and a few Cheerios rained to the floor. “It’s clear who you favor.” He then perked up, watching as she neared Cole. Sadistic glee brightened his eyes as he waited to see what kind of concoction their Alpha would receive.
Hayden wasted no time placing Cole’s bowl on his armrest. “Raisin Bran.”
Cole gave her a long, unimpressed look before staring down at the bowl. “Without the raisins,” he observed grimly. He looked back up at her. “Did you eat them from my bowl, Hayden? Is this your way of rebelling against me?”
Hayden stared mutely back at him, withholding her initial response of reminding him of all the things she had done to rebel against him. Stealing raisins from his bowl would hardly be a victory. Though, before she could respond, the real culprit confessed.
“It was me, sorry.” Fergus leaned forward sheepishly. “It wasn’t from your bowl, though. I went through the box instead. I was making ants on a log, but we were out of raisins.”
Groans of exasperation sounded throughout the room, Blake the loudest protester. “I ate that cereal this morning. I thought it was a defective box without raisins. It was just your grubby fingers that gave it that extra flavor.” He kicked Fergus in the shin, causing the omega to spill his cereal all over the floor.
Fergus made a noise of grievance as he quickly tried to salvage the Fruit Loops from the ground.
Hayden ignored the two in favor of holding Cole’s gaze. If the man wanted a dominance duel, then Hayden would comply. She had a feeling Cole got off from their dominant plays more than she did, but he’d never let it show. Their bond only picked up exceptionally strong emotions, and at the moment, Hayden wasn’t feeling much of anything from him.
“What do you have there?” he asked throatily.
Keeping his stare, Hayden tossed the empty platter aside and cupped her bowl against her chest. “Leftover roast beef and rice.” She raised her eyebrows superiorly. “Pity there wasn’t enough for more than my share. I guess that’s one of the perks of being female Alpha.”
She tried taking a bite without looking away from him, but she missed her mouth and the food tumbled down her shirt and onto the ground. Cole grinned wolfishly, amusement creasing the corners of his eyes.
“Careful,” he murmured pleasantly. “We wouldn’t want to task you with something as challenging as eating.”
Hayden tried to ignore the breathing figure hovering next to her, but she figured it was a good excuse to look away in her embarrassment. She would give Cole victory for this round.
Next to her, Fergus stood and pointed expectantly at her bowl of roast and rice. “Blake spilt my cereal,” he complained.
She sighed and thrust the bowl into his hands.
“I’m ordering a pizza.” Blake stood up and purposely dropped his bowl of dry Cheerios on the ground. Addie scolded him, but it fell on deaf ears. “And it’s coming from your paycheck,” he informed Hayden, brushing past her and toward the stairs.
“I don’t have a paycheck.” She smiled vindictively, though it vanished when Blake flashed an even larger grin.
“Yeah you do. You have a roll of cash in your underwear drawer.”
“You go through my underwear drawer?” Outraged, Hayden turned to the one man she thought she would never whine to for help. “Cole!”
Cole already had his head rolled to the side, pinning Blake with an exasperated, almost disgusted stare.
The beta held up his hands, though the silly grin on his face hardly hailed surrender. “Trust me, I was only looking for money. I’ve seen a lot more of Hayden to make me blush. A simple pair of lacy panties wouldn’t get me excited.” If anything, Cole’s stare grew colder.
Before Hayden could defend her privacy, the unmistakable sensation of someone crossing the territory line interrupted her. As she turned to approach the door, a breeze rustled past her. Cole had moved past her so quickly, she hadn’t even registered him moving.
Throwing open the front door, he stepped out first, followed by Hayden. Whoever crossed the territory line must not have been a threat to Cole, for he hadn’t told her to go back in the house. Nonetheless, his shoulders were set, prepared in case of trouble.
One glimpse at the man charging up the steep incline of Cole’s property chilled Hayden to the bone. Snow fell in generous quantities, the flakes so large and clumpy the road was obscured from the porch. But somehow, through the poor visibility, the features of the desperate and worried man seemed clearer than day.
“Where is he?” Asher’s father roared.
After planting his solid form on the porch steps, Cole looked back at Hayden. Blake rushed from the house and took position next to Cole, creating a barricade that prevented Eric from coming closer. Like a coward, Hayden stayed back, too devastated to face reality.
He had really done it, she realized. Asher really had left.
A reassuring hand brushed her arm and another hand became a comforting weight on her shoulder. Undoubtedly, Hayden’s helplessness was conveyed through her expression, for both Fergus and Addie closed in around her, offering as much silent support as they could.
She instantly felt guilty for being so carefree with the pack tonight when Asher was still so deeply troubled. In many ways, Asher had been more affected by the rogue massacre than Hayden had.
“Where is Asher? Where is my son?” Eric demanded again, coming to an abrupt halt before Blake and Cole. His brown eyes, much like his son’s, riveted toward Hayden. They held such intensity. It wouldn’t be surprising if he hadn’t even taken notice of Cole’s intervening figure.
Struggling for words, Hayden simply shook her head.
“I know you know!”
“Eric,” Cole pacified warningly. “How do you know Asher is truly gone and not out for the night?”
“Many of his things are gone.” Eric released a shaky breath and pressed a hand to his forehead.
Known as one of the most levelheaded and affectionate Alphas in Albertville, it was surprising to see Eric so unraveled. His bare feet curled into the snow, evidence that he’d come charging to Cole’s house as soon as he’d found out Asher was gone.
“He left a note,” the man started hoarsely, “telling me not to wait for his return.”
The lump in her throat proved difficult to swallow. Hayden kept her head bowed, unwilling to see the raw grief on Eric’s face. Asher was his only son, his only family. Even though Asher wanted her silence in regards to his departure, Hayden was finding it hard to honor her promise.
She hadn’t believed Asher would really take the dive and leave Albertville. After the full moon, when they had sat side by side
in dawn’s early light, he had told her he needed a change. He said he needed to get away.
“Where is he, Hayden?” Eric struggled to keep his tone neutral. “Please, I need to know.” He paused. “I came here, half expecting you to be gone as well. He cared for you a great deal. I thought you two would have left together.”
Guilt soured her saliva, making it impossible for her to stomach. She should have taken a leaf from Cole’s book and practiced stoicism, for Eric saw the answers to his inquiries clearly on her face.
“He did ask you,” he breathed in revelation.
The members of her pack stared at her, some accusing, some questioning. She watched as Cole slowly turned to face her. His eyes were narrowed, as if he expected her to flee the pack house in the dead of the night. Hayden closed her eyes, torn between wanting to reassure them and needing to dwell in her remorse.
Asher had asked her to come with him. With their hands clasped together, he had confessed that he needed her. Reluctant at first, Hayden had replied that she couldn’t leave the pack and that she wanted to fix things with the rogues and the Hunters. He had scoffed, not believing she had a chance at improving the situation, but had understood in the end.
Still, his absence left Hayden with a sense of hollowness. A part of her wondered if she should have gone with him. He’d been hurting so deeply. She felt partly responsible. If she hadn’t insisted they warn the rogues, he wouldn’t have felt compelled to escape.
“He did ask me,” she responded numbly. Caching Cole’s eyes, Hayden challenged him, wanting him to feel like a fool for doubting her. “But I told him I didn’t want to leave my pack.”
The sharp planes of Cole’s face hardened as he examined her. His stare penetrated through any and through all of Hayden’s reservations, searching for something only he could find. Seemingly accepting her answer, Cole turned back to Eric.
“Between the two of you, I always thought you were the reckless one.” Despite Blake’s and Cole’s unmoving figures, Eric stare was direct and penetrating. “He left because of what happened with the rogues, didn’t he? He told me about the child being killed. Is that what drove him away?”