Addict (Hunter #2)(77)

“Owens.” He stopped me before I put my key in the lock to my apartment. When I turned to face him, he was in my space. He was an awfully big guy. He was only slightly smaller than Gray. “You sure you’re okay?”

I practically growled at him.

His hands came up. “Hey, I’m just asking. You had a rough night. I know how these things go. Is the vampire really leaving?”

“You already know?” I hadn’t told him and he hadn’t been at the party.

The big were shrugged. He leaned against the wall. “It’s a small world. You’ll have to get used to it. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. Marcus pulled aside Michael House’s new girl down in Ether. He asked her to make his flight plans. You going with him?”

I shook my head.

I swear that werewolf smiled. “It’s for the best, you know. You shouldn’t be with some dead dude. You’re a wolf. You belong with other wolves.”

“I don’t know a lot of other wolves.”

He was kind of super cute when he grinned. He had one dimple. Not two, only one creased the right side of his face. “You know me. You know your uncle. We’re not without connections. The full moon is a week away. You wanna run with us?”

I couldn’t help it. A little smile tugged at my lips. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

I loved to run with the wolves. It filled something inside me. I wasn’t tied to the cycles of the moon, but I felt their pull. When the moon was full, I had a need deep inside to run and loved being part of a pack, if only for a night or three. I missed it. If Trent could get me in with the Dallas wolves, I’d think about being nicer to him. I’d killed their alpha and two betas a couple of months before. If he could smooth the way, I’d be happy.

He smiled back, leaning against the wall. “Good. You’ll like the pack. They’ve been asking about you. I know you think you’re going to have a hard time with them, but the majority was happy to see Castle go. And anyone who wasn’t will have to deal with me. I’ll drive you out. We have to go up to Denton, but it’s worth it. Maybe we can grab some dinner first since I doubt you’ll hunt the way we do.”

I shook my head. I would run with the wolves, but I wouldn’t be hunting down Bambi for supper.

He winked at me. “See you tomorrow, Owens.”

He walked off and I was left with a choice. Open the door and deal with Marcus, or run like the coward I was. I gave serious thought to starting my monthly run early.

In the end, I slid the key in. I wanted to see him one last time before he went.

The condo was dark and quiet. I let myself in, sadness pulling at the core of my being. This wasn’t how I thought this day would end. I expected to be wrapped around him, his head on my chest. He loved to listen to my heartbeat. I didn’t expect to be mourning him.

He stood by the window. The condo was dim, but the snow outside illuminated the room. He’d drawn back all the blinds and stared down on the world below. Snow was still falling outside, an ethereal sight. He leaned into the large window, his forehead touching the pane. His hair fell forward, covering his brow. He looked gorgeous and disheveled, his normal perfection marred with concern. His skin was pale alabaster, nearly glowing in the moonlight. He was slightly alien and wholly untouchable—a lonely, unapproachable god.

His suitcase sat by the doorway. I glanced to the entryway table and saw Marcus’s passport and wallet. My hand went to the Venetian glass heart around my neck. I hadn’t taken it off. I supposed in time I would. I couldn’t bring myself to toss it at him now.

“You can take the bed, Kelsey.” His voice echoed through the apartment, but he didn’t move at all. “I’ll sleep on the plane tomorrow.”

“Sure.” He obviously didn’t want to talk. I turned to start for the bedroom, but stopped because I couldn’t let him go without saying a few things. It was his fault. He’d made me feel halfway lovable. It gave me a little pride. It also fed my anger. “You know, you’re just like the rest. I thought you were different, but you’re not.”

“I’m like all the other men in your life, am I?” He laughed, but it was a hollow sound. “You wish to compare me to the lieutenant because I refuse to watch you die, Kelsey?”

“Bullshit.” I didn’t believe that at all. “You’re splitting because I didn’t do what you told me to do. You know, Marcus, it would have been easier if you’d listened to me in the first place. I told you it wouldn’t work. I told you you wouldn’t want me in the end.”

He went back to watching the snow. “If that is what you wish to believe, Kelsey, then I cannot stop you.”

Three Kelseys. He wasn’t going to slip up and give me what I wanted. He wasn’t going to call me cara mia or bella. I was Kelsey. I should be happy he wasn’t calling me Miss Owens. He got rigidly polite when he no longer cared. I heard the king telling me to fight for him, but at that moment, I wanted to fight with him. I wanted him to feel as shitty as I did. It wasn’t fair. He was the one leaving me over a professional decision. He was the jerk.

I crossed my arms over my chest. A nasty feeling had taken root in my gut. What can I say? Put me in a corner like that and I tend to turn bitchy. “The king is giving my training over to Hugo. Any thoughts on how to handle him?”