She turned and looked Lucien straight in the eye. With that look, he begged her one last time not to do this. But she shook her head slightly, and his face mottled with uncontrolled anger. “Will you keep Laila and Vil here with you? Please?”
He nodded, and she thought he might not trust himself to speak.
“I’m leaving with Reuben. Now.”
“Caia, we’re coming with you.” Alexa and Jaeden rushed over.
Lucien opened his mouth to speak, but Caia beat him to it. “No, you’re not.”
“But Caia—”
“Do you want me to do this?” she hissed, feeling so angry at them. Stupidly she’d hoped their conscience would make an appearance, and they’d tell her no. Not that it would matter because Reuben would still take away his protection if she didn’t do it.
Jaeden blanched but Alexa nodded enthusiastically. “Of course we do.”
“Then stay here.”
“Bu—”
Jaeden grabbed Alexa’s arm. “Be quiet, Lex. We’ll stay,” she agreed, and Caia could see a shimmer of guilt in her eyes. She wasn’t so comfortable with blackmail after all. Too late.
Caia turned away from them and gave Vil and Laila a reassuring smile. “You’ll be fine here,” she promised and strode toward Reuben who stood at the doorway, waiting for her.
“Caia, wait!” Magnus ambled after her. He grabbed her arm and spun her around. She’d never seen him look so mad before. “Why?”
Impetuously, she pulled him in to hug him close so she could whisper in his ear where the others couldn’t hear. “I can’t explain. I wish I could. But I can’t. I’m still me, I promise.” She choked on tears, and he squeezed her tight.
“I love you,” he told her softly.
That was it. She had to get out of there before her control broke. “I have to go,” she mumbled and pushed away from him, hurrying from the room. Through the glass-fronted doors, she caught sight of Saffron waiting by Reuben’s car in the driveway. She crossed the foyer and felt Reuben at her back.
“I hate you,” she told him quietly.
After a moment of silence came his sad reply, “I know.”
Caia flinched at the sound of Lucien’s almighty roar from the dining room. It was followed by a horrendous crash. A shower of tinkling ensued.
Reuben sighed as he held the front door open for her. “There go my windows.”
Jaeden had never felt this guilty in her life. She still couldn’t believe Lucien had actually thrown Caia out of the pack. And everyone had let him! Ryder had let him! She wanted to beat the crap out of him for that.
She ambled wearily along the corridors of the hotel. The place was surprisingly big and nice. Everywhere was hardwood flooring and bright lighting. Faux flowers added a little romance here and there, and the paintings and décor were modern and airy, giving the whole place a sense of openness. The bedrooms were huge as well. She’d taken one next door to Alexa and was studiously avoiding Ryder, who, for the moment, was thankfully preoccupied with making sure Lucien was alright. Their Alpha had cut himself up pretty good when he threw chairs through windows and smashed, crushed, and basically destroyed everything in his path after Caia left.
If it hadn’t been for Laila and Vil, who managed to magik them up some new windows, they would all be freezing their asses off. So … who gave a damn if Lucien was hurt? He’d thrown Caia out.
You’re angry at yourself, not Lucien.
Like hell!
Dad would be so mad at you.
She growled and stomped through the halls. She was looking for Lucien’s room. She wanted to give him a piece of her mind.
“There you are.”
She tensed at the voice and turned slightly to see her mate walking toward her determinedly. “Ryder.” She nodded at him as if they were strangers instead of mates.
He grunted at her. “Jaeden. Nice to see you. It’s been awhile.”
“I’m not in the mood for your pathetic wit.”
He pushed her up against the wall, his eyes sparking with irritation. “I’m not in the mood for your childish behavior but still I’m going to put up with it because you’re my mate … or have you forgotten that?”
The feel of him close to her, his scent, his heat nudged at her heart, adamant to start it beating again. And she so wanted to just let go, to fall into his arms and tell him everything and make him persuade Lucien to retrieve Caia. But she wouldn’t. Instead she pictured the gory sight of her father’s body.
She wanted revenge more.
“I haven’t forgotten,” she replied quietly. “Although I’m trying.”
Ryder flinched, and she refused to feel bad for the hurt that flickered in his gaze. “What the hell does that mean?” he growled, pushing his face aggressively closer.
She shrugged, pretending indifference. “I don’t want it. I don’t want … you,” she lied, struggling to forget her amazing first time with him that night at the Center. She’d never felt closer to anyone in her entire life.