55

A little, he said. Not anymore though.
He stood up looking his usual smart self, although his hair was slightly ruffled still.
Good, I don’t like it when you’re mad at me, I admitted.
I wanted to apologise.
For what ? I asked.
Earlier on when you came home with Toby, the blood-I didn’t want you seeing me like that.
I hadn’t really thought about it, especially when Ray was near enough the same. I had already established that Colton did what he needed to do. He saved my brother and I was thankful. I didn’t care if it included killing whoever stepped out of line.
Ray’s warning that Colton was dangerous played heavy in the back of my mind. I knew maybe my biggest flaw was being able to look past all this bad in him. I hadn’t really seen his proper alpha side in action and I knew he wanted to keep me in the dark when it came to that.
It’s okay, I finally said.
He seemed to relax, which was worth seeing. Colton came over towards me and kissed my lips ever so gently, I felt my face become hot as he held me in his arms.
So tell me, have I persuaded you ?
I smiled. You know you have.
I know, he smiled devilishly.
I’ll do this and stay.
Thank you, he said sincerely and left a chase kiss on my cheek, the same time I felt a vibration on my stomach. It was his phone.
He pulled away from me and dug into his pocket, pulling out a brand new phone.
He glanced at me nervously. Jenny’s looking for me.
My heart sank at that, I forgot the bitch was here. Why is she here ?
Just part of my plan, he said and I wondered if what Ray and I discussed earlier about Jenny’s father killing his parents was really true. I couldn’t ask though, I didn’t know how.
Is it working ? I asked, referring to her whining about Colton not being interested in her.
Yeah, I threw her an annoying party, she seems easily pleased by that. Come on, I need to take you back. He kissed me again, this time for longer. I didn’t know when the next time we would be doing this. He pulled away sadly. I’ll make up for all of this Layla, I promise.
I nodded glumly. I loved this, being with him. I didn’t want him to go back to her. Why did things have to be so complicated ?
Colton took hold of my hand and we made our way back over towards the locked door. He unclicked the lock the same time dropping my hand. My heart sank. Stupid alibi.
The music was thumping loudly when he opened the door and allowed me to walk out first. I turned to face the front, but stopped dead in fear, because there was a gun pointing right at me and the person holding it pulled the trigger.
The sound of a gunshot being fired leaves me frozen to the spot. The bullet rips through the air towards me. It’s going to hit me, I already know. With death close, I’m left with nothing but my thoughts.
They say that before you die, your whole life flashes before your eyes, but for me it doesn’t. Not like that. For me, the only thing on my mind is Colton. If I die right now, I will never see Colton again.
I squeeze my eyes tightly shut as I wait for the bullet to hit me. But I feel nothing. It takes me a few seconds to realise the bullet should have hit me long ago, but I feel no pain.
I open my eyes, shocked to see that I’m in Colton’s arms, my back against his chest. He shielded me from the bullet that should be in my head right now. He pushes me back inside the room from where I just come from and I topple to the floor as the sound of another gunshot fires.
I scream, mostly from shock, until I hear a door slam shut. Colton is yelling, but I can’t make out his words. My ears are ringing. Colton bends down in front of me and takes my face with his hands. We’re alone in the room and the door is now closed.
I can see his worried eyes inspecting me, and when he sees that I’m not hurt, his face smooths with relief.
Are you okay, are you hurt ? he asks. I shudder, tasting my salty tears in my mouth.
Overwhelmed, I sob and push my face into his chest. I’ve never been so scared in my life. Colton’s arms immediately wrap around my body and he hugs me tight.
It’s okay, everything’s going to be ok.
I don’t know if that’s true or not, but thankfully, I’m starting to get over my shock by being in Colton’s arms.
Were you shot ? I ask frantically, pulling my face away from Colton’s chest and inspecting him. His body is shaking, his face pale.
Yeah, he breathes out, looking uncomfortable. My back.
The blood drains from my face. Colton took the bullet. He stiffens as I try to get out of his arms.
Let me see, I plead and eventually he lets arms around me drop.
I crawl around to look at his back and gasp at what I see. The bullet has pierced his right shoulder, leaving a hole in his shirt and blood around the area.
I need you to get it out for me. It’s a wolfsbane bullet. I can’t heal properly.
I inhale a sharp breath at what he’s asking me to do. But with him being in pain, that’s enough to snap me out of it.
He unbuttons his shirt for me and pulls it down. His toned shoulder is covered in blood.
My stomach cringes at the sight of it, but I finally work up the courage and plunge my finger into the wound, not wanting to think about it too much. He inhales a sharp breath, but that’s the only sound he makes as I feel around for the bullet, fighting the urge to gag.
His blood is hot around my fingers as I try to feel for the bullet. Finally, I feel it, but it’s lodged in there tight.
I can’t get it, I say breathlessly, not wanting to hurt him. I can’t seem to grasp onto the bullet with just one finger.
Keep trying, you’re not hurting me. You can do it. I put another finger inside, having no choice but to widen the wound. He hisses out in pain, but I manage to keep going until I get a grip on the bullet and begin pulling it to the surface.