Un.Bridled (Claimed Series #2) (7 page)

Hayden noticed Cole’s eyes drilling scornfully into Asher. She wouldn’t stand by and let them belittle Asher, especially when she had a direct role in tonight’s proceedings. With a reassuring hand to Asher’s wrist, Hayden stepped beside him.

“Asher may have mentioned Rachel, but I was the one who wanted to speak with her.” Blake’s glare was hard to withstand. “I did it for the sake of the pack,” she explained tightly.

“For the sake of the pack,” Blake mocked. “How pathetic is that excuse? Asher made up some story to draw you out, make you dress like that, and flaunt you in front of Cole to make him jealous.”

Hayden twitched and then raised her hackles. Blake was furious, but she wasn’t too far behind. “He didn’t make up a story when the evidence is right in front of me, of all of us. Rachel is using you
and Fergus to get a position in Cole’s pack. She did it when Xavier died and she’s doing it now that Falco and Joseph are gone”

Blake ran an agitated hand threw his tussled brown locks. His amber eyes bypassed Hayden and landed on Asher. “It’s a convenient way to get Hayden riled up.”

Asher shook his head, a wary grin expressing his disbelief. Across the alleyway, Cole kept his silence, appearing to be present just to keep Blake at bay. Even if he knew the truth behind Rachel’s motives, he wouldn’t speak up. After all, that would be siding with Asher.

“I’m protecting you.” Hayden forced Blake’s attention back on to her. “She’s playing with your feelings. She’s manipulating you—”

“You act like you know her, Hayden,” Blake interrupted heatedly. He seemed genuinely angry. If it wasn’t for Cole’s attendance, he might not have been so placated. “I’ve known her since I’ve moved here. You don’t know enough to judge her.”

She clenched her jaw, acknowledging some truth to his statement, but too stubborn to back down. “I know that she’s the direct cause for the rift between you and Fergus. You two used to be inseparable and now you can’t even be in the same room.” 

“People grow apart.”

“But not members of a pack,” she argued. “She’s playing you and acting like a victim. Just like tonight—”

“She
was
the victim!” Blake wailed, incredulous. “You were intimidating her!”

Hayden huffed and turned away in frustration. Was Blake really that smitten with Rachel that he couldn’t see her true nature? Or was Hayden in the wrong by misjudging Rachel and her ploy to get into Cole’s pack?

The female Alpha looked at Cole. “Aren’t you going to step in?” she demanded him. “You said there is no dating outside the pack. Or are you just going to condone this?”

Cole hardly had a chance to respond, for Blake chortled loudly. It was a ridiculing sound, and the look he flashed Hayden made her feel belittled.

“You’re a hypocrite, Hayden.” Disappointment and fury never looked as intimidating as it did on Blake. “Stay out of my business, do you understand me? You know full well that I don’t stick my nose into your business and I don’t air your secrets. I expect the same courtesy from you.”

She hunched her shoulders at the words, watching through lowered lashes as Blake stormed away. A part of her felt as if she’d betrayed Blake and the relationship they shared.

Hayden understood why he was angry, but she’d only meant to protect him.

Numbly, she was aware of Cole dismissing Asher. She nodded her gratitude as Asher ran his fingers reassuringly across her back. She didn’t blame him for what happened tonight. He’d only thought he was doing the right thing.

Just as she’d believed. 

Hayden noticed Cole was swathed partly in the shadows, as if he was leery of getting too close to her. His expression was unreadable and even his eyes were shuttered.

“Did I do the wrong thing?” she asked as soon as Asher was out of earshot.

Cole’s lips thinned. “I think your intentions were noble, but you could have handled things differently.” He inclined his head ever so slightly. “You could have come to me. I have no intentions of accepting Rachel back into the Slayter pack.”

She shook her head, keeping her arms crossed stubbornly in front of her. The sense of belittlement still hadn’t left her. If anything, it had gotten stronger under Cole’s excessive stare. “It’s not even that,” she said softly. “I just wanted to stop Blake and Fergus from getting hurt.”

Unexpectedly, Cole gave a throaty chuckle. His lips parted in a mocking smirk. “One clear warning is all you can give them. Sometimes, they need to experience the consequences of their actions in order to learn from their mistakes.” He paused. “It’s painful, but it allows them to grow.”

They were words spoken from personal experience, she knew. She also sensed wary amusement in his tone, as if he were trying to hint to Hayden that she, herself, had already received a warning about something. Hopefully he wasn’t talking about Asher. Hayden already knew the dangers of leading Asher on, which was why she’d been keeping a friendly distance.

“Go home, Hayden.” Cole angled toward the back door of
The Lounge
. “And as a warning, I never want you to step foot outside the house dressed like that again.” His words were hard, husky, and his eyes were especially merciless as they swept lewdly down her body.

Her face turned warm at the unabashed manner of his appraisal. Recovering, she scowled fiercely at his retreating back. “I’ll just put on my parka next time.”

As soon as he escaped back inside the tavern, Hayden pulled at the hem of her dress, finding it a modest length and not as exposing as Cole made it out to be. She made a mental note to dress like this more often, if only to antagonize Cole.

Slowly, she began making her way back to the pack house, turning despondent as a deep hol
lowness settled in her chest.

Hayden never realized how lonely it would have been if she didn’t have a close-knit pack.

With Nathan running his own pack, Cole working overtime, Fergus and Blake avoiding her, and Addie off doing her own thing, Hayden was left to her own devices. Usually her days consisted of sitting outside Adolf’s house and mulling over the turn her life had taken.

Originally, she’d felt guilty for wedging herself between Rachel and Blake. While she should have approached things differently, she didn’t regret it. If anything, she felt bitter.

For once, she would heed Cole’s suggestion and let them make their own choices. If all she got was a slap on the wrist for trying to help, Hayden refused to stick her hand out any longer. Or at least until another situation presented itself…

“You don’t give up, do you?”

Hayden stiffened. Throwing her head at an awkward angle, she spied Adolf leaning against the same tree she occupied. His approach had been silent and undetectable. Unless, of course, Hayden had been too deep in her thoughts to take proper notice.

“Never,” she responded automatically. 

Grey eyes gazed through Hayden, searching for something,
anything
to send her away again. He didn’t find anything. “Get up,” he instructed sharply. Without another word, he turned his heel and retreated further into his property.

The female Alpha scrambled up from her position against the tree but hesitated. She assumed he wanted her to follow him, but her wolf was leery of crossing another Alpha’s territory line. Muffling her uncertainties, Hayden crossed the line and hurried
after the silver-haired Alpha.

Adolf’s property was flatter than Cole’s hilly estate, but it possessed just as many trees. Hayden zigzagged through the numerous tree trunks, having to jog to keep up with Adolf’s quick pace. Her heart was in her throat as he led her around his house and further into the backyard.

Cole would snarl at her and tell her she was being foolish for carelessly following Adolf. But Hayden wanted this more than anything. She’d take the unnecessary risks if it meant he’d teach her.

Up ahead, the woods grew thicker, effectively blocking out the hazy rays of sun. In the darkness, Adolf was a graceful white shadow, moving soundlessly and fluidly through his territory. Hayden tried to follow with just as much dignity, but realized that only an Alpha on familiar turf could move so lithely.

Adolf led her to a clearing, a small reprieve from the thick tree cover but wide enough to move around comfortably. He stood tall as he regarded Hayden, his shoulders proud and his eyes calculating.

“I assume Cole doesn’t know about your persistence.”

Hayden stopped opposite of him, wondering if Adolf had finally accepted her request. She didn’t dare get her hopes up. “No,” she responded truthfully. It was best if they got off on the right foot. “He wouldn’t approve.”

A ghost of a smile crossed the normally sneering lips. “I would imagine not.” The light humor hurried from his expression. “I need to stress the reality of your expectations. You want to learn how to wield a dagger, how to fight properly, am I correct?”

Hayden nodded.

“Before
we both agree to what I have to offer, you must realize the limitations. You are a female.” Adolf gave her small frame a once over. “You will never win against a seasoned fighter. Ever.”

She frowned deeply at that, reminded once again that Adolf was extremely sexist.

“It has nothing to do with your skill level, but everything to do with your small stature.” From his rigid tone, it seemed as if he had trouble admitting that aloud. “No matter how unfair you might think it is, it is simply the course of nature. Male werewolves are built to protect and defend. Females are built to nurture and breed.”

Looking at it from that angle, Hayden reluctantly understood where Adolf was coming from. She squared her shoulders and pressed for confirmation. “Even if females inherit strength from their wolves, they still can’t be a threat?”

“You’re thinking from your human intellect. Because you were a human before your transformation, you experienced a remarkable change in your body. Victory against humans will be easy for you. Conversely, male werewolves, experienced in combat, will always be a level higher than you.” 

Hayden’s stubbornness reared its ugly head. “But in the wild, it’s often the female Alpha that hunts the prey and defends her pups.”

Adolf chuckled lowly. “Everyone hunts for food and protects the pups. The Alphas just receive the incentives.” He cocked his head to the side and surveyed her in amusement. “Have you ever tried to spar with Cole? Or perhaps the Mutt he calls a beta?”

“Blake,” Hayden corrected deliberately. “No, I haven’t.”

She recollected the way Cole’s powerful muscles tensed and expanded as he sparred with Blake. He was a lot larger than Hayden was. Sparring with him seemed tasking. Physical sparring, that was. Verbal sparring was another matter.

A single eyebrow rose at her continued silence. “You wouldn’t win.”

She breathed through her nose, stifling her irritation. “I realize that.”

She wanted to ask Adolf if
he
would win against Cole but decided not to push her luck. Despite Cole’s young age, the other Alphas respected him to a certain degree. She imagined it was because he could dominate in a fight. A couple weeks ago, Hayden saw a preview of Cole’s abilities during the rogue attack. He succeeded in defending himself against a pack of wolves while protecting her at the same time.

“Close combat will not be your preferred method when fighting
against a larger male. However, if you have the advantage of a dagger, you may be able to turn the tables.” Adolf pursed his lips. “Knowing your restraints, are you willing to continue?”

“Yes,” Hayden replied without having to contemplate. “I have my own dagger and everything.”

Adolf made an ‘awing’ noise, every bit mocking. “Is that supposed to impress me?”

Hayden placed her hands on her hips, exasperated.
“Obviously not.” She looked at him narrowly. “Are we going to start today?”

Instead of replying, Adolf began to circle her, his gaze criticizing and assessing. He was silent as he stopped at her turned back. Before Hayden could look over her shoulder
to see what he was doing, a hand grabbed her ponytail and yanked on it. Hard.

“You have too much hair. It’s too long. Cut it.”

Through the pain in her scalp, Hayden fretted. Her hair was something precious to her. After many years of mishaps, it finally reached the middle of her back. “I’ll braid it.”

Adolf released her hair and stepped back around. “Then I won’t teach you. You have too much hair. It will be easy for an opponent to grab it and take advantage during battle.” He made to grab it again, but Hayden stepped back. “One yank will expose your throat and give your enemy enough invitation to slit it.” 

“What about your hair?” she demanded. “It’s just as long.”

Indeed, Adolf’s silver hair hung past his shoulders, looking ridiculously smooth and shiny. Briefly, she imagined Adolf being the envy of models who featured in shampoo commercials.

Hardly impressed with her attitude, Adolf kept his tone cool and collected. “Unlike you, I know how to fight with long hair. When you can show me you’re just as capable, you can grow it out however long you’d like. Chin length should do for now. Keep it tied back when we meet.” Her face must have relayed her disinclination, for Adolf stopped short and pointed a finger toward the road. “If you value your hair over these lessons, I refuse to teach you.”

“I want to learn,” she declared passionately. Hair grew back
, after all. “I’ll shave my head if you want.” She immediately regretted those words when a malicious spark entered Adolf’s eyes. “Chin length is good,” she insisted faintly. 

Luckily, Adolf didn’t push the issue. “Wear appropriate clothes and don’t bother bringing your dagger. Assuming you received it from Nicolas during the attack, it is crafted from silver. We will start with wooden daggers
after
physical conditioning and
after
you learn how to defend yourself with your hands.”

There were
a lot of ‘afters’, a lot of
emphasized
afters. She hadn’t thought about starting off slow, but it was logical enough. Hacking one another with silver blades probably wouldn’t be very effective in learning how to battle.

“When will we meet?” She was still leery he would lead her on and then revoke his offer.

“We will meet here every morning at eight.” He motioned to the area around him, a clearing wide enough to find again. “If you are not here beforehand, I will assume you are unable to make it and we’ll proceed the next day.”

It was unbelievably lenient and understanding of him, so much so that Hayden narrowed her eyes in doubt. “And you’re not going to tell Cole about this?”

Adolf inclined his head. “If that is what you wish.”

Hayden placed the majority of her weight on one leg and scrutinized the motionless Alpha.

After sitting outside his property for days on end, he had finally caved in. His prejudices regarding a woman’s role in the werewolf community blinded him to a female’s potential worth. He vowed never to teach a woman combat, simply because she belonged in the kitchen, heavy with child. So why, after all this time, had he finally given in?

Holding her tongue from voicing her suspicions, Hayden simply nodded. “Thank you.” She held his eyes for a respectable amount of time before dropping them in willing submission.

Without another word, Hayden turned her heel and began to retreat from Adolf’s property. She could feel his eyes on her, most likely full of scorn as usual. When she turned back, she was surprised to see him watching her with deep consideration.

* * *

“It sounds like it was a mess,” Shane Donovan somehow managed to say between the ravenous bites of his hamburger. “Not only was Devan and Joseph involved, but they were somehow influenced by Nicolas and his rogues. Not to mention, the rogues have developed drugs that can suppress scent, trigger their wolf side, and even suppress their Lycan half…” he trailed off to take a deep breath. “It’s actually quite impressive. Well, fanatical, but… impressive.”

Hayden shrugged and gnawed on a fry. “Devan and Joseph said the traditional wolves are stagnant and living in the past.” She glanced across the street at Adolf’s house. “I kind of agree with that. They’re stuck in their old ways. I’m sure they never considered using technology and science like Nicolas has.”

Shane grunted. “To be frank, the methods of traditional werewolves are effective, always has been. Nicolas may have an improved pack of rogues and a few weapons up his sleeve in terms of the injections, but traditional werewolves have decades of fighting techniques and control. They have order and a solid network. Nicolas is still leading rogues who have little control of themselves and their morals. It must be hard to control all of them.”

She pondered on that. “But he has injections that can suppress their wolf side. That would tame them to a certain degree, wouldn’t it? At least long enough to keep them in order.” She grimaced when she remembered Devan kidnapping her and injecting her with the serum.

Shane pointed a finger at her that was doused with tomato and mayonnaise juice. “Yeah, but it would also dull their senses. Nicolas wouldn’t risk drugging his rogues only to be ambushed by an enemy. They wouldn’t be able to fight back as efficiently.” To emphasis his point, he licked his finger and popped it noisily from his mouth.

The human got her there, Hayden concurred. Ignoring his attempts at licking the mayonnaise from his wrist, she dug in the grease-stained bag and tossed him a third hamburger.

They were currently perched at the end of Shane’s driveway, enjoying an impromptu picnic. His Hunter relatives were peering out at them, but as long as they kept their guns pointed elsewhere, Hayden was comfortable enough.

Unwrapping
her hamburger, Hayden suddenly had a cold realization. “Just say Nicolas doesn’t create something that can give the rogues control while maintaining their strength—”

“Because that’s getting a little farfetched,” Shane interrupted.

Hayden waved impatiently in his direction. “I’m saying if they don’t create something, you might as well look at the obvious. Cole and the other Alphas have commented that Nicolas and the rogues are turning more humans. What if only a select few rogues are turning humans, not all of them?”

Shane furrowed his eyebrows. “Then the newly turned rogues would have similar Sires…” He trailed off before his eyes widened. “And we know that Sires control the wolves that they’ve turned.”

Hayden picked up where he left off. “Rogues might be a proper hierarchy now. Nicolas is the Alpha, clearly, but maybe he has chosen who can Sire and who can’t. Just say one or two wolves have been appointed by Nicolas to spread lycanthropy. Those wolves have total command over the ones they’ve turned. The rogues wouldn’t be as uncontrollable if they have common Sires giving them mutual orders.”

Shane grunted. “Do you think Tracer is one of the appointed Sires?” Without waiting for her response, he continued. “
Just think, you would be a part of a mindless army.” His fascination abruptly quelled at her sour look. He was quick to reassure. “But luckily, you’ve resisted his control before. You can do it again.”