Chapter 16 #2
With the call ended, I held the phone to my head, cursing under my breath.
What a fucking mess. The worst part, more than the unwanted social media bullshit, the fact her brother would fucking lose his shit or even that there was a chance I’d created a rift between Clementine and my sister was that I really liked the girl.
A hell of a lot. And not just because I enjoyed the passion we’d shared.
She was different. She was… Fucking perfect.
I quickly glanced at the team’s Instagram account until a swell of anger rolled into my system. Fans or not, who the fuck did they think they were, saying such horrible things about her? What the fuck?
Without thinking, I fisted my hand, smashing it into the wall near the bathroom door. A gaping hole appeared, my hand immediately aching, but that would fade. Of course it would fade because I was a goddamn wolf capable of healing quickly. And no one on the internet wanted to let me forget.
Or anyone else for that matter.
I grabbed my duffle, tossing in what I’d need for the trip. I certainly wasn’t coming back to the house. I’d hunt her down, no matter what I had to do. I snatched my keys, fighting another violent urge.
The second I threw open the door, Anthony appeared, his eyes opening wide. “Dude, is everything okay? I heard a big boom.”
“Just fine.” I moved around him, determined to ignore Jagger if he was awake. Which meant he’d better hope he didn’t pick right now to confront me. I wouldn’t go easy on him. Not when my wolf was lurking just under the surface.
“Where are you going? We’re leaving for the game in a couple hours.”
“Yeah, I know. Big fucking deal. Do me a favor. Don’t pay any attention to the shit on the internet.” I didn’t give him time to ask questions or do his usual act of tormenting me.
I rushed down the stairs, throwing open the door.
All I could think about was getting to my Clementine.
* * *
The theater had seen better days, although certain parts of the building were under renovation. I remembered my parents taking me and my siblings here to see The Nutcracker years ago. I hadn’t been inside since. I stood in front, uncertain how to get inside.
I tried the main doors. They were locked, and no one was in the ticket booth. That wasn’t going to stop me. I’d noticed her car parked on the street. She was here and she would talk to me.
There was an alley on one side of the building. There had to be a door somewhere. I tried the first. Locked. The second. Locked. By the time I moved around back, I was prepared to crush the lock with my hand to gain access. Which I could do.
Stronger. Faster. Keen eyesight. Keen hearing. As a wolf I had it all but wasn’t allowed to use any of my strengths unless in a controlled environment.
That didn’t include on the ice.
I almost didn’t bother trying the back door. Thankfully, I did, smirking when I could easily fling it open. I’d barely walked inside when I heard music. Haunting music.
Somehow, I made my way to the back of the stage, finally finding an opening on the side.
There she was. The most beautiful woman in the world.
Yeah, I could say that. Her hair was down and today she was wearing a purple leotard, her bare feet moving across the stage with such beauty and grace, I wasn’t certain I was breathing.
I’d known she was talented, but this was something else. This was something very special. The song was one Samantha had turned me onto, ‘My Immortal.’ In watching Clementine moving with such joy yet sadness was more compelling than the lyrics had been the first time I’d heard them.
With every spin and every jump, she offered intense emotion.
I stood where I was, fearful if I even took a breath I would interrupt her.
I’d never seen anything like this before.
She was completely letting go, compelling the nonexistent audience to feel every jab of anguish and every moment of sorrow.
As the song and the dance reached a crescendo, my breathing was labored.
Something felt different, more intense than before, our connection stronger, even more electric.
I was almost in a trance, watching her carefully as she stumbled then flung her arms into the air before falling to the floor, her back heaving.
I wanted to applaud, but I didn’t want to frighten her. Evidently, she sensed my presence, her hands fisting even before she lifted her torso, keeping her head dropped until the last minute. When she finally looked me in the eyes, I sensed confusion but not anger.
Five seconds passed. Ten. The awkward silence was a challenge I didn’t know how to handle.
“That was incredible.”
She tensed, slowly rising to her feet. “How did you get in?”
“The back door was left unlocked. But I was going to smash the lock if I couldn’t find a way inside.”
Just before she looked toward the empty chairs in the auditorium, she shook her head. “Well, you should leave. I need to practice.”
“I know. You have a dance coming up. Right?”
“Yes, I do and it’s important to me.”
“Sam mentioned there might be some talent scouts or something?”
Everything I’d said so far had been a mistake. I could tell by her expression. “Yes, maybe an artistic director of a national dance company.”
“That’s fantastic.” One step closer and her body stiffened.
“We’ll see. My luck hasn’t been very good the last few days. Why are you here?” She folded her arms, closing herself off.
“Why?” As soon as I stepped even closer, she took the same number of steps away. Damn it. She hated me. “Because I wanted to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“Us.”
“Let me help you. There is no us. I thought we were both on the same page. No complications. No strings. Now a couple pictures and suddenly, the whole world thinks we’re getting married.”
“Yeah, things got a little weird, but you know how people are.” My mind was in lockdown. Yes, I should confess the reporter had approached me in public, but what good would it do? Damn it. I wanted to kill the guy.
Her short laugh caused a pit in my stomach. “Yes, I do know. I’m curious. Did Jagger get to you or your sister, or you just happened to be perusing social media? Or maybe that reporter had already called for an exclusive on our upcoming wedding, eager for all the gory details.”
“You’re angry.”
“Hell, yes, I’m angry. I just… It’s just not what I need right now.”
“Samantha called a little while ago.” I tried getting closer to her again. She retreated again. “I’m sorry people are such assholes. I’m used to it, but they had no business dragging you into the middle of my world.”
“I’ve come to expect people enjoy watching others suffer.”
“I’m really sorry. I never intended for any of this to happen.”
“What do you have to be sorry about?”
I thought about her question and guilt was already eating me alive. “That I wasn’t able to protect you. Especially with the girls at the bar and whatever they said to you.”
“Protect me? Like a big he-man barbarian, the way you are on the ice? From the crazies out there? They’re everywhere, Cole. I don’t like what was said, the ugliness some people tried to imply, but I can’t change who and what they are as people. Neither can you.”
“Yeah, well, you haven’t been forced to deal with the shit for years. And yes, from the crazies who have nothing better to do than to hound me as if I’m some fucking lab rat.”
She nodded, still completely nervous around me to the point of constantly tugging strands of hair.
I could swear she was about to rip them from her scalp.
“Will people actually believe we’re engaged?
Evidently so, since my old roommate from college, a girl I could barely tolerate, texted with fake congratulations. ”
“People will believe anything these days, no matter how ridiculous. I’ll talk to our social media guru later and see if she can fix it.”
“Fix it? You know what they say about when the cat is already out of the bag. I really don’t need the extra pressure.”
“Do you think I’m to blame for the crap on the internet?” Her hesitation meant at least a small part of her did. Shit. Shit. Shit. This was all my damn fault.
“Maybe you should have warned me, Cole. Not about you being so popular, but about the real reason why. You’re a shifter.”
There it was in all its ugly glory. The real reason why she was so pissed. At that moment, I was angry as well. “The fact I’m a shifter shouldn’t matter. Nothing about my DNA changes how I play hockey or how I enjoy my life. I’m not some freak, Chelsea.”
“Freak? Of course you’re not a freak. That’s not what I said.”
“Yeah? Well, that’s what everyone else thinks.”
“Not everyone. You’re considered one of the best players in the AHL. Since I couldn’t sleep last night, I spent some time discovering who Cole Kendrick was as a hockey player and as a man. While you’re screaming with talent, you’re also angry all the time.”
Her comment caught me completely off guard. Another step taken, this time two steps lost. Damn it. “Hockey is a violent sport.”
“But you take it to the extreme and some people are terrified of you.”
I had no idea how to respond. “Wait. You’re afraid of me because I’m a shifter? You’re afraid I’ll hurt you?”
As her expression softened, she flicked her eyes back to the empty seats.
“That’s not what I said. I’m not afraid of you.
What I am concerned about is how you react under duress.
Not just playing hockey, but I noticed your body language the other night.
You were ready to tear that guy limb from limb all for looking at me.
I mean, your eyes were… They weren’t human. ” Her frown tugged at my heartstrings.
Now what could I say to that? “I know my limits.”
“Are you sure about that?”