Star Cursed (Zodiac Wolves #2)(15)

I was frankly astonished by the fact that Jordan hadn’t tried to kiss me again. I could see his lingering gazes on my lips, my neck, the curve of my breasts. I felt the possessive heat in his eyes as he watched me, but he hadn’t done anything more than brush his lips over my cheek, not since that time in the garden. Thank the gods.

“You’re distracted tonight, Ayla,” Jordan said, and I yanked my gaze away from staring at my plate. I hardly had an appetite. It was the night before the full moon, and I was getting antsy. If I was going to escape, it would have to be tonight. I should have eaten everything on my plate to keep my strength up, but my stomach revolted against every single bite.

“Tired,” I said, giving him a placid smile. "Mira and I stayed up way too late watching that Korean show on Netflix you recommended. We couldn't stop."

"I knew you'd like it." Jordan smiled back at me and took a sip of wine. "Is your food okay? You've barely touched it."

I looked down at the gourmet salmon dish in front of me, trying to come up with a good excuse. I’d been given such good food here, even when he’d had me locked in prison, better than anything I’d ever had at my house in the Cancer pack. I hated it, and I hated Jordan even more for thinking that he could woo me over with nice food, new clothes, and pretty words. I hated even more how the part of me that answered to the mating bond liked his gifts and wanted to stay.

Good mate, it whispered to me. Will take care of you.

Right, until the moment he decides he doesn't need me anymore, I thought sardonically.

"I guess I'm just not that hungry tonight. Actually, would you mind if I went inside? I want to make sure I get lots of sleep before tomorrow." I stood before I heard an answer.

"Of course." Jordan stood as well, setting his glass down. He stepped forward, two long strides to get to me, and reached out to touch my cheek. Goosebumps followed in his wake as his hand trailed down my neck, light enough to tickle. I couldn’t help the delirious shiver that went through me at his touch, nor could I stop myself from leaning into it.

Jordan seemed encouraged, and slid his hand down my arm, to take my hand I thought. But instead, his fingers traced down to my hip, which he held possessively. When he gave a slight squeeze, I gasped, trying to hold myself still so I wouldn’t push him away—or pull him forward. I wasn’t sure which would be worse at this point.

“It’s okay to be nervous,” Jordan whispered, and his breath ghosted along my skin. “But everything will be better after tomorrow night. You'll see."

“Right,” I choked out, instead of let go of me. I shivered again and closed my eyes, willing myself to feel anything but this mix of pleasure and wrongness.

Apparently, that was the answer Jordan wanted because he let me go, and when I turned to look at him again, he had a satisfied smirk on his face. “Go rest up, Ayla. You have a big night ahead of you tomorrow. We both do.”

It sounded like a promise, but it felt like a threat. I managed a shaky smile, thrown completely off by how much I wanted him, and how hard it was to resist staying with him. For days, he'd kept his distance from me, being a perfect gentleman and giving me my space, but now my body hummed with the need to close the gap between us. I couldn’t stand another moment of it.

Tonight I would run—or die trying.





Chapter Seven





I turned away a little too quickly and then slowed my steps so it wouldn’t look like I was running away from Jordan. No doubt he could hear the way my heart pounded and smell the desire between my thighs. At this point, I think he was enjoying the anticipation, knowing tomorrow we'd be mated once and for all.

I opened the back door, not sparing a glance for the multitude of guards surrounding the house, and when it was firmly shut behind me, I sagged against it. I banged my head against the door, as hard as I dared, and Mira appeared in the doorway of the kitchen.

“Dinner with Jordan again?” she asked.

“I hate him,” I said, although that wasn’t completely true. I wanted him, and I hated myself even more for wanting him to touch me more, to kiss me, to claim me as his own. I shuddered, still feeling the ghost of his fingers on my hips grabbing me in a way that only one person had before. “We have to get out tonight. It’s our last chance.”

"I'm ready," Mira said, her eyes flashing with determination.

I looked outside at the moon lighting up the sky over the backyard. The only good thing about it being the night before the full moon was that my powers should be stronger. Since I still didn’t fully know how to use them, that would be important.

"We'll wait two hours and then go, so they'll think we're asleep," I said. "You have your bag packed?”

"Mostly. I'll go finish up now."

She headed out of the kitchen, and I pushed away from the door and followed her up the stairs. Luckily, Mira had brought two backpacks with her from the Pisces pack, which meant I could shove the little toiletries kit from the bathroom in, as well as some food and clothes. Just enough for a few days. I hoped we wouldn’t need more than that.

My heart continued pounding as I picked up the backpack I’d already started packing this morning, knowing tonight would be the time I’d use it. Now I closed the blinds in my room and finished up, then changed my clothes. I'd worn a black sheath dress for my dinner with Jordan, but I put on jeans and a t-shirt for my escape. Then I turned off my light and waited, sitting in the dark, going over my proposed escape route in my head a hundred times, wishing I had more info to make a better plan, wishing Kaden would just come save me, wishing I'd never gotten myself in this situation in the first place. I squeezed my eyes shut and pulled myself away from my dark thoughts. This was the lot I'd drawn in life, and the only person who could save me was myself.