#Chapter4
The Fallout
/"Here/" he turns, a softness changing his handsome face slightly, making him more appealing, less cold, and he extends a hand to help me up. It's the first time I ever saw any real humanity in this guy, and it renders me mute as I let him pull me to my feet. That heat and transference of sparks at the slight touch makes me jump, and that familiar urge to need more of him, want his touch, makes me pull my hand away quickly. Internally bristling and inhaling fast to cool the sudden heat that rides up my neck and face. Blushing, I look away to break contact.
He frowns at the sensation too and backs off as soon as he lets me go, obviously uneasy at how much chemistry is stirring up from something so simple. It's not a secret him and Carmen have been a steady thing for a long time, so I guess he feels like this is somehow cheating on her. She watches like a hawk; I can feel her hatred burning through my soul and wishing harm on me. The sting on my face tells me she probably left a handprint and I try not to glare her way and enrage another outburst.
/"I swear to god, Cole…./" Her voice breaks and tears spring from her eyes, instantly dampening her cheeks. /"If you leave me for this little, reject…/" For a second, the pure heartbreak in her tone gets at me, cutting me in the chest, and I'm a little sorry for her. Not really knowing what love feels like, or what this would do to my heart if it was me. I guess a slap isn't comparable to a devastated soul and the thought of losing someone you thought was your mate.
That stupid part of me that cares, whether I should or not, and I find myself staring at the floor guiltily as though somehow accepting I've done something wrong here. I feel ashamed.
/"Be quiet. Go home and I'll talk to you later. Right now, we are nothing until this gets rectified. I can't have two mates. You know the laws./" It's the edge in his tone that signals him executing his dominance and she recoils quickly, knowing when not to question or argue, even if her face gives away the pain in what he said. Alpha's have a tone, reserved for times when pack animals won't obey. It somehow renders us mute and makes us do what is asked of us and this is one of those times. Even I tremble at the effect it has on everyone present and have to stop myself from slinking back into the shadows. Not every male has the gift, only those who were born to lead.
/"Alora? That's your name, right?/" Colton turns to me, surprising me with the change, those chocolate eyes melting me when we connect and I have to look away again, too pulled towards him for my own liking and nod shyly. No control over his effect on me and I don't like this one bit. Freedom was calling to me, and now this, annoying unfightable desire to be wrapped around the one guy I never wanted to know.
/"Or Lorey… I get called both./" It's a feeble quiet mumble and I inwardly curse myself out for sounding as weak as his pack always labelled me. It's no wonder they cast my bloodline to the reject pile. I'm no match for an alpha.
Relax, I'm not going to hurt you.
It's his voice in my head and I flicker up, startled that he spoke to me inside my mind and not verbally. We're not supposed to be able to do that when both in human form, and especially not when we're not from the same pack.
How can you……?
I start to ask, replying in the same way without thinking and then inhale sharply as I realize, I just did the same thing. I've no idea if that breaks rules considering who he is.
We imprinted. We have a link; we can hear each other even from miles away. No distance is too far. No one else can tap into this. It's like our own personal telephone line with dampeners.
He isn't looking at me, but watching Carmen walk down the hall, crying into her own hands and creating a pitiful picture. I can sense his pain from watching her go and it pains me too. Feeling what he feels, another downside to now being connected to this guy. I don't want to feel heartbreak or pain or any of this crap.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of this.
The honesty and ache in my response brings his eyes to mine and we do that weird thing, where we lock eyes, get a tremor of something we can't deny, and both look away again. Neither want this, that much is clear.
You didn't do this. Fate did. Now we just have to figure out how to undo it. If that's even possible.
The hesitation in his tone catches me off guard and despite myself I look at him properly. His side profile of chiseled square jawline. Sallow skin and dark hair to match those dark eyes and brows. Colton is tall, muscular, and fit, which is only enhanced by being among the biggest wolves in the pack even at his age. His family originated from Colombia and you can see his heritage clearly, in the best kind of way, despite his mother being Caucasian. Me, I'm just a good old country white. Bland hair, plain girl, and nothing special or beautiful that I know of. Carmen is a goddess compared to me.
The atmosphere turns cold as a troop of men come marching in from the same door we did, and I'm pushed out of the way ungraciously by one of them. I get knocked sideways, unable to stop myself, and for sure know I am spiraling down as I lose my footing. Still on unsure legs after tonight's ceremony and unable to stop myself.