Un.Bridled (Claimed Series #2) (14 page)

Cole tossed a second throwing knife into the target, this one taking position next to his first. He paused before grabbing a third, considering her from the corner of his eye. “Yes. I’m not particularly capable of keeping you in line.”

The reverberations of their earlier confrontation abruptly vanished.

She was suddenly very pleased with herself for being the cause of Cole’s struggles, so much so that a vindictive smile stretched her cheeks. It grew wider when he looked at her with displeasure.

“I’m decent with a blade,” Cole continued, “but Adolf is more proficient. For throwing knives, I can hit an immobile target, but if it’s moving, or if I’m moving, I’m not so accurate. Adolf plans to teach you in both circumstances.”

Clearly, he and Adolf had discussed her training.

It might have been juvenile, but Hayden wanted to excel at something that Cole did not. “So I can continue training with Adolf without your male egotism getting in the way?” She remembered how he’d been concerned over Adolf making inappropriate passes on her. “Cause, ah, he probably wouldn’t want to seduce me, considering he has a thing for Addie.”

“You can continue training.” Cole then looked at her, the miniscule wrinkles at the corners of his eyes the only evidence of his amusement. “Stay out of their business, Hayden,” he warned.

She huffed. “I wouldn’t dream of getting in the way.”

* * *

“I don’t think there is enough snow for your fort, Fergus.”

The pack omega appeared crestfallen, muttering something about warm Novembers under his breath. “We can’t build a tree house and we can’t build a fort.” He glanced over at an old oak tree, a few scraps of wood leaning against its trunk. “I was hoping we could build it this weekend. You’re never around anymore.”

Hayden frowned and crouched down. Her fingers clawed at the snow, giving her something to do in the face of Fergus’ scrutiny. Granted, she was invested in her training with Adolf, and therefore not around as often as she used to be, but the rest of the pack was also sparse.

“We need Cole to help us.” She shaped a snowball between her palms. “He’s the only one that knows how to use tools. But he’s been busy with work.”

Evidently, he hadn’t been able to sell his company to potential buyers in New York. Whether it was because he’d left early or because they weren’t interested, Hayden didn’t know. While Cole
was
making more of an effort to be at home, almost suspiciously so, he was still working off hours.

Fergus plopped down next to her and took the snowball from her hands. “He’s home today…” he grumbled, but didn’t press further. They both knew he was working in his office. “Blake’s been with Rachel every day. I hardly get to see him. And Addie tries to run all-day errands in town.”

“You really liked her, didn’t you? Rachel?”

Fergus’ fingers curled into the snowball, causing the sphere to explode in a shower of flakes. “I did, but that was mostly before Nathan left our pack. Besides, I’ve come to accept that there isn’t much chance of a girl liking me for who I am.”

“Nonsense,” Hayden admonished fiercely. She reached over to brush the snow from Fergus’ hands, squeezing them reassuringly in the process. “I find you endearing. Any woman would be a fool not to see everything you had to offer.”

Sullen disbelief washed Fergus’ features as he stared at their entwined hands. “It doesn’t matter anyway. Romance is the last thing on my mind. As the pack omega, I experience the pack’s turmoil. We’re not doing so well, Hayden. I’d like to try to fix things, but I don’t even know where to start.”

Hayden blinked “I thought I was the only one who noticed.”

It was becoming more common for Fergus to express solemnity and grimness as opposed to his usual silliness. As he sat next to Hayden, he was nothing short of disheartened. Again, she was reminded of all the things Fergus was going through. To experience the turmoil of each pack member on top of his own grief would wear anyone down.

“No, you’re not the only one.” Fergus stared down the incline of Cole’s property and towards the road. “When we were whole, I never realized how much Nathan and Devan completed the pack. Now that they’re gone, I can see the gaping holes they left behind.”

Though Hayden hadn’t known Devan well, she could clearly see the destruction left in her wake. Nathan’s absence was even more conspicuous. 

“Blake is questioning his role as beta now that Nathan is gone, and he’s also more sensitive to Cole’s criticism. It’s why he’s so absorbed with Rachel. She makes him feel needed and wanted. Important.” Fergus’ eyes gazed past the trees and towards town. “And Addie…” he trailed off. “She all but raised Devan as a daughter. She’s still grieving.”

Hayden remembered Cole mentioning that the pack had
their own way dealing with grief. She was surprised Fergus noticed all this with his empathy of the pack.

“And you,” Fergus started, turning back to Hayden. He tightened his hand over hers. “You’re still new to the pack, yet you already have an Alpha’s instinct to protect us all. You’re frustrated that
you can’t relate to our grief over Devan. As a result, you try to distance yourself and keep busy with other things.”

“And Cole?” she asked, barely achieving anything above a whisper. Fergus had the ability to raise a mirror and reflect their faults and their accountabilities back at them. It was a remarkable, but unsettling gift.

Blond eyebrows rose and the omega glanced at the house behind his shoulder, perhaps to check to see if Cole was loitering. “Both of you are too alike for your own good. He’s difficult to read and he thinks he needs to hide what he’s feeling.”

“What do you
think
he’s feeling?”

“Guilt.
Longing.” Here, Fergus looked pointedly at Hayden. “I believe he’s over Devan’s betrayal, but then again, he was always more angry with her than troubled over her absence. He wants to be around the pack more often, but he’s struggling just to keep his head above the water with finances. When he’s not preoccupied with work, he’s preoccupied with you.”

She deadpanned at his knowing look before focusing on the more approachable observation. “If Cole’s really struggling with money, why doesn’t he just declare bankruptcy and we can all find jobs to support each other?”

Fergus pressed his lips together and Hayden knew the answer right away.

“Male egotism.
He needs to get over that,” she murmured. Instantly, she sobered and nudged him with her shoulder. “We all might have our problems, Fergus, but you’re also experiencing disappointments. You lost Devan, Nathan, and Blake all in a short span of time.”

He hung his head, his sorrow becoming hers. “I should be happy for Nathan and Blake.”

“No. They can have what they want, but that doesn’t mean they can leave you behind. When was the last time Nathan came to visit you? And when was the last time you and Blake hung out
without
Rachel? You have every right to feel wronged.”

Fergus released her hand and began scooping up another pile of snow, perhaps giving himself some time to gather his thoughts. “Even so, I still feel it’s my duty to fix the pack.”

“That is not your obligation alone, Fergus.” Hayden sighed and leaned backwards, bracing her palms behind her. Throwing her boots on top a packed mound of snow, she stared listlessly into the woods. “Maybe time is all we need to mend things.”

Even though Fergus was constructing a mini snowman, he remained grim. “Time can mend many things, but it can also do a lot of damage if left to its own devices. It’s best if we work with time and try to change things gradually.”

After carving three separate sections of his snowman, Fergus sat back and admired it. Reaching no higher than two feet in height, the snowman’s three body parts were perfectly shaped and proportioned.

“Do we have any raisins for his mouth?”

Hayden looked at Fergus sharply. “Cole won’t want you rummaging through his Raisin Bran.”

He seemed disappointed but brightened a moment later. “We can use Fruit Loops then.”

Considering this, Hayden nodded seriously. “Fruit Loops would definitely be a Fergus-inspired alternative.” She sat up. “What will you use for his eyes?”

A mischievous smile blossomed across his face, revealing a set of yellow teeth that hadn’t been displayed in ages.
“Blake’s Oreos. I’m sure he won’t miss a few.” He clambered up, excited at the notion of getting on Blake’s bad side. “And if we get hungry while we’re decorating the snowman, we should be able to help ourselves to the rest.”

“I’ll get the milk,” she volunteered.

“Chocolate milk!”

Before they could sneak into the house and steal Blake’s Oreos, they overheard laughing coming from the street. Turning, Hayden scowled when she saw Blake wander into the property with Rachel at his side.

Cole had warned Blake once. Obviously, he was allowing Blake’s flirtation and attachment to continue in order to teach the beta a lesson. He believed Rachel would leave as soon as a better opportunity presented itself. Hayden didn’t want to see that happen and was not inclined to support Cole’s decision of waiting for the destruction to hit the fan.

Fergus stood next to her, watching the pair with discontent. Either he still liked Rachel, or more reasonably, he just wanted Blake back.

“Hello, Fergus,” Rachel hailed softly, using that well-mannered and sweet tone of hers. “I see you’re building a snowman. How cute.” She smiled pleasantly at Fergus and Hayden, intentionally avoiding the latter’s eyes.

As any typical male werewolf would do in the presence of
females they claimed as their own, Blake grew territorial. His expression closed and his shoulders stiffened when Rachel turned to smile at Fergus.

“And he’s also building a tree house,” Blake supplied with false enthusiasm, pointing out the pile of wood next to the old, gnarly oak. “No one ever said Fergus wasn’t ambitious with his extracurricular activities.”

Hayden’s eye twitched and Fergus continued to stand passively. She firmly believed Blake did not intentionally mean to harm his pack members, but as Fergus commented earlier, Blake was coping his own way. He was infatuated with Rachel because it made him feel appreciated, and in turn, he wanted to appear capable and impressive.

Before his insecurities, before Rachel, Blake would have been right alongside Hayden and Fergus. He would have found ways to transport more snow into the front yard so they could successfully build their fort.

Upset at Blake’s criticizing remark, Hayden crouched down and constructed two snowballs. As soon as Blake and Rachel turned toward the pack house, Hayden aimed at the female’s head and chucked the snowball at her. It exploded satisfactorily against her head and Rachel squealed in surprise.

Just as she was about to throw the second snowball at Blake, he turned around, beyond furious.

“Stop acting like Devan, Hayden. There are other women worth getting to know besides yourself. Your jealousy is uncalled for.” 

His words cut Hayden deep, causing the snowball to drop from her hands. What made it worse was that Cole witnessed the whole thing. Emerging from nowhere in particular, the Alpha stood on the front porch, clearly sensing the trouble before it happened. She couldn’t look at him, not when Blake had humiliated her.

She couldn’t help but to wonder if Blake’s comment was true. Was she acting like Devan had when Hayden was new to the pack?

Apparently, Fergus didn’t think so. His snowball flew through the air with unnatural speed, splattering Blake squarely in the face. “Wake up, Blake,” Fergus rebuked. “You aren’t as superior as you’d like to think.”

Blake wiped the snow off his face, his whole body trembling with unsuppressed anger and humiliation. As soon as his eyes were clear of snow, the beta pinned Fergus with a tunneled stare, indication he would charge at any second.

Fortunately, Cole intervened.

“This has gone on long enough.” Cole’s eyes bored holes into the back of Blake’s head. “You’ve had your fill. Now it’s time to part ways.” Power and threat cloaked the Alpha, making him appear far more intimidating than usual. When his eyes landed on Rachel, she stumbled backward out of true fear, not in hopes of manipulating the men around her. “Get off my property. You are not welcome here.”

“Cole!” Blake threw his hand out, gesturing towards Hayden and Fergus. “How is that rational? They were being juvenile.”

“When your
fun
begins to cause conflict amongst the pack, it’s no longer permitted.”

“Their immaturity started it.”

Cole remained blasé at Blake’s childish response. “Don’t be an idiot. I know everything that goes on in this house. You were ridiculing and belittling your pack mates. That’s where I draw the line.”

“I don’t want her to leave.” Something akin to desperation brightened Blake’s eyes. Grabbing Rachel’s arm, he held her at his side, unwilling to let her retreat. “Just because
you
are too cowardly to bond with your life mate doesn’t mean we should all suffer because of it.”

A certain
stillness cloaked the yard. Everyone held their breath, detecting Cole’s escalating fury. Rachel appeared confused over the admission, but she eventually put the two and two together and pulled away from Blake. This time, Cole’s expression
was
enough to send her running from the property.