My skin crawls. Anger explodes in my veins. I start backing away but he grabs my arm to keep me next to him.
Where are you ? he asks coldly.
I’m on my way home, baby, why ?
You’ve made a real big mistake tonight, Jennifer.
What ? Jenny splutters on the other end of the phone. What are you talking about ?
Did you think I wouldn’t find out what you did tonight ? he asks.
W-what ? What are you talking about, Colton ?
Layla is my mate.
There’s a pause. What do you mean your mate ? Wolves never mate anymore.
The mating bond was activated. Unfortunate for you, Layla will not be a moonwalker, and even if she was, I would still love her. You’re on my list. I will be coming for you. You can tell your father if he wants a war, I will happily give him one.
My legs buckle in exhaustion, but Colton keeps me up in his arms as he holds the phone in the other.
I don’t know what y-you’re talking about, baby, I would never ha-
He sighs. You’re not a great actress.
Really. Tell your moonwalker pals that you’re working with that its game on.
He hangs up the phone and throws it across the bathroom so that it smashes against the wall into tiny pieces.
I can’t believe he just rang Jenny.
I sit down on the floor and Colton falls next to me, looking as exhausted as I feel.
You still want me ? I ask him in disbelief. I thought he would hate everything I am.
His head snaps in my direction.
Of course I want you. I don’t care if you become a moonwalker, Layla. It changes nothing. I’m so sorry this happened to you, that I didn’t put you first. I look into his tormented eyes. Ray is right, I thought maybe I was doing the right thing by not getting you involved. That protecting you with lies was the right thing, but it just made everything worse. I was selfish and I should have been honest with you from the beginning.
Colton. I take a deep breath. I know moonwalkers killed your parents. If you want revenge more, I will understand and I won’t hold it against you.
No, he says sternly, causing my body flinch. When I saw you lying in my office, I just-shit-I thought I was going to lose you. I failed you, Layla. I don’t deserve to have you. I know there is so much we have yet to learn about each other but what I feel for you is more important than revenge right now. It was Jenny’s father that initiated my parent’s death. He’s been working with moonwalkers all this time, but none of that matters anymore.
It took me getting bitten for you to realise this ?
Yes. He bows his head. I’m far from perfect. I doubt I’m even an ideal boyfriend, nevermind a mate. I’m just… The things that happened to them-
He swallows hard and my stomach twists into knots. I lift my hand and place it against his cheek.
What’s going to happen to me Colton ? I ask.
…You’re in transition. You will be what Ray is. Half and half. It’s a little different because of what happened before you turned. While you were asleep, Mike did some blood tests. The infection from the bite is progressing, building you towards your first shift on the full moon. What should have taken a week has taken a day.
I begin shivering at the horror of what he’s telling me. It finally sinks that that I’m actually going to be a werewolf. This is actually happening to me.
I break down and start crying. Colton’s arms go tighter around me and I hold on.
I don’t want to be a werewolf, I say. I don’t want to be…vicious or eat humans.
You won’t eat humans. Your pureblood won’t allow that. It didn’t allow Ray.
But what if I’m different ? I don’t know what to expect, Colton. I’m so scared and a-angry. I want everyone to suffer and I hate it.
I know. He hugs me closer. I want people to suffer, too. So far you have had the normal. Hallucinations, the fever and outbursts. Mike doesn’t know how this will pan out because you’re different from Ray and female. He pauses. If you want to go with him, I’ll understand. But I really want you to stay.
I bite my lip, not knowing what to say. I feel so hurt inside and lost. I know I won’t be able to do this without him. I need him.
I’ll stay on one condition.
What ?
If I survive this, I want you to tell me everything. I want to know everything about you and your past. I want to know about your parents and why you want revenge so bad. If you can’t trust me enough to tell me, you will lose me for good. I will walk away from this. You. I’m giving you a chance, because right now I don’t think I can cope without you.
He nods slowly and I know this is going to test him. But look at what being kept in the dark has done. I’m going to shift into a werewolf because of it.
Okay…I’ll do anything, he answers finally.
And, if I survive-
-You will survive, he interrupts.
Don’t interrupt, I scold. When and if you tell me everything I need to know, and we end up together, I want you to promise me that when the time comes I will be the one to tear Jenny from limb to limb and the bastard moonwalker that did this to me.
Colton raises his eyebrows in amusement, but nods. As long as I can help in torturing the bastard, too.
I smile, even though it hurts. And when that’s done, and my anger is happily satisfied, we will both avenge your parents together and any moonwalker that was involved to satisfy you.
His eyes widen and he shakes his head. No, it’s over. It’s too dangerous.
I know what this sounds like, but I know you won’t be happy deep down. I want to help you. I just don’t want to be shut out anymore.
We’ll talk about this some other time, I just want to get you back in bed. You need to rest, he says and I feel my heart sink, knowing he will never agree to it even though I know what happened to his parents is silently killing him.
How many years has he spent planning his revenge and now he’s dropping it all for me ?
It doesn’t make sense.
I know a part of me should be happy that we are now public and that he is willing to be the man I want him to be, but how can I live with myself if it makes him unhappy ?
I can even see the uncertainty in his eyes right now and I want to wipe it away…
As Colton lifts me from the ground I catch my reflection in the mirror. I gasp at how horrible I look.
I look so bad.
I think you still look beautiful. He kisses my forehead, his warm lips against my forehead makes me shiver. Have some sleep first and I’ll run you a bath afterward.
We go back into the bedroom and Colton sits me down on the bed. Ray is leaning against the wall by the door, his expression sullen and moody.
I’m staying, I tell him firmly. I have nowhere to go. I don’t want our parents to know about this.
Ray narrows his eyes at me. So that’s it. You’re going to forgive him for everything he’s done ?
That’s none of your business, I say as a wave of pain his me. …Colton knows what I want now.
Don’t be a fool.
I’m not being a fool. I’m tired and scared. I don’t n-need this right now. Go if you want to go. The moment I put my head on the pillow, exhaustion hits me and all I want to do is sleep.