Read Online Un.Requited (Claimed Series) by Reese Morgan - Free Book Online
Authors: Reese Morgan
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the only rational explanation.
His biceps may be larger than her head, and he may carry an aura of control and domination, but Hayden immediately balked at his tone.
“Gregory told me all about you,” she started coolly, catching his eyes and holding them. “He said you hated humans and you hated newborns that were Sired by rogue werewolves. What is there to understand about your point of view? You were blinded by your discrimination and chose to execute me like an animal.”
Cole stirred, resembling the man who had faced Nicolas earlier. His eyes hardened and his hands curled into fists. “Now that is a juvenile notion and exactly why I said you needed to understand my point of view, not Gregory’s. He’s human. It’s natural for him to be afraid of me.”
Hayden leaned forward, clutching her scarf underneath the table. Cole could certainly turn on and off his Alpha influence, making it hard for Hayden to keep her ground. “Then you’re more than welcome to explain your point of view.” She did nothing to hide the scorn in her words.
Leaning against his chair, Cole observed Hayden stonily before a small grin stretched his lips. His fists uncurled and he seemed to relax. “Nicolas has been expanding his pack numbers. He’s smart and manipulative, not like the animals he commands.” Pausing, he waited until a group of humans walked past before continuing.
“Until a few years ago, packs graciously took in newborns that were Sired by rogues, confident that they could tame them. Nicolas saw this as an opportunity to attack his enemies from the inside out. He used these newborns to slaughter the packs that took them in. It’s Nicolas’ goal to outnumber the traditional werewolves.”
“Traditional werewolves?”
“Traditional werewolves are those who live by a set of old laws and live in hierocracy pack. Those who choose not to follow the decrees are deemed rogue werewolves, or lone werewolves that aren’t qualified to have a pack under their control.”
The man motioned toward the scars across Hayden’s neck. “You were Sired by Tracer, essentially becoming just as much as a pawn to him as you are to Nicolas. You’re a high-risk newborn and the majority of traditional werewolves would choose to execute you rather than to take the risk in housing you. Especially now, with his claim, your odds at settling in a pack are rare to none.”
Her hand jerked underneath the table, intent to cover her neck, but she refrained from doing so. “Then why did you keep me alive?” she asked bitterly.
He hardly blinked, giving a stare so intense she had to look away. “I already told you why I kept you alive,” he replied hoarsely. “I understand our methods are inhumane at times, but our packs are our family. We will always choose the safety of our pack over the life of a newborn.” Cole frowned when he noticed the harshness of his words. “That’s not to say I don’t value your—”
“I understand what you’re saying,” she interrupted, refusing to hear his false consolations.
What Cole had said had crossed her mind earlier, she just had never considered it from his perspective. If it were up to her, Hayden would never choose the life of a stranger if it meant putting her family in jeopardy. Again, she experienced the suffocating feeling of extreme isolation and solitude. She was entirely alone now, a hazardous risk no one wanted to take a chance on.
Before Cole had any chance to offer more empty reassurances, Hayden looked at him intensely, a stubborn tick to her jaw. “You didn’t kill me, claiming you recognized that I had more control over myself than other newborns did, but that was your opinion. Kieran may not agree with you. How do you know he will accept me into his pack? Or worse, how do you know he won’t kill me as soon as I arrive in Minnesota?”
Cole had the audacity to look confused, with his eyebrows drawn together and his mouth pressed into a stubborn frown. “Kieran?” As
His biceps may be larger than her head, and he may carry an aura of control and domination, but Hayden immediately balked at his tone.
“Gregory told me all about you,” she started coolly, catching his eyes and holding them. “He said you hated humans and you hated newborns that were Sired by rogue werewolves. What is there to understand about your point of view? You were blinded by your discrimination and chose to execute me like an animal.”
Cole stirred, resembling the man who had faced Nicolas earlier. His eyes hardened and his hands curled into fists. “Now that is a juvenile notion and exactly why I said you needed to understand my point of view, not Gregory’s. He’s human. It’s natural for him to be afraid of me.”
Hayden leaned forward, clutching her scarf underneath the table. Cole could certainly turn on and off his Alpha influence, making it hard for Hayden to keep her ground. “Then you’re more than welcome to explain your point of view.” She did nothing to hide the scorn in her words.
Leaning against his chair, Cole observed Hayden stonily before a small grin stretched his lips. His fists uncurled and he seemed to relax. “Nicolas has been expanding his pack numbers. He’s smart and manipulative, not like the animals he commands.” Pausing, he waited until a group of humans walked past before continuing.
“Until a few years ago, packs graciously took in newborns that were Sired by rogues, confident that they could tame them. Nicolas saw this as an opportunity to attack his enemies from the inside out. He used these newborns to slaughter the packs that took them in. It’s Nicolas’ goal to outnumber the traditional werewolves.”
“Traditional werewolves?”
“Traditional werewolves are those who live by a set of old laws and live in hierocracy pack. Those who choose not to follow the decrees are deemed rogue werewolves, or lone werewolves that aren’t qualified to have a pack under their control.”
The man motioned toward the scars across Hayden’s neck. “You were Sired by Tracer, essentially becoming just as much as a pawn to him as you are to Nicolas. You’re a high-risk newborn and the majority of traditional werewolves would choose to execute you rather than to take the risk in housing you. Especially now, with his claim, your odds at settling in a pack are rare to none.”
Her hand jerked underneath the table, intent to cover her neck, but she refrained from doing so. “Then why did you keep me alive?” she asked bitterly.
He hardly blinked, giving a stare so intense she had to look away. “I already told you why I kept you alive,” he replied hoarsely. “I understand our methods are inhumane at times, but our packs are our family. We will always choose the safety of our pack over the life of a newborn.” Cole frowned when he noticed the harshness of his words. “That’s not to say I don’t value your—”
“I understand what you’re saying,” she interrupted, refusing to hear his false consolations.
What Cole had said had crossed her mind earlier, she just had never considered it from his perspective. If it were up to her, Hayden would never choose the life of a stranger if it meant putting her family in jeopardy. Again, she experienced the suffocating feeling of extreme isolation and solitude. She was entirely alone now, a hazardous risk no one wanted to take a chance on.
Before Cole had any chance to offer more empty reassurances, Hayden looked at him intensely, a stubborn tick to her jaw. “You didn’t kill me, claiming you recognized that I had more control over myself than other newborns did, but that was your opinion. Kieran may not agree with you. How do you know he will accept me into his pack? Or worse, how do you know he won’t kill me as soon as I arrive in Minnesota?”
Cole had the audacity to look confused, with his eyebrows drawn together and his mouth pressed into a stubborn frown. “Kieran?” As
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