C24 Twenty four

Selena's pov

The air outside was sharp enough to sting my lungs, the wind slicing through my coat as I stepped through the exit.

The arena lights glared off the snow-coated pavement. I pulled my collar tighter and started toward the parking lot..

Then I saw him.

Adrian.

Standing right in front of my car.

The streetlamp above him flickered.. like it struggled to illuminate him. Or maybe it was just how he stood.. rigid, jaw tight, chest rising too fast, his eyes fixed on me like I had just committed an unforgivable crime.

I stopped walking.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

He didn't answer.. not immediately anyway instead his annoying eyes slid down my face, then back into mine like he was forcing himself to stay angry.

"We need to talk," he finally said.

I swallowed. "About what?"

"Don't stress me," he muttered. "Just come. We need to talk.. like adults."

His voice was hard, like he was swallowing something bitter.

"And where exactly are we talking? Why can't we talk here?" I asked.

He released a short breath.

"At the locker room. That's where it's safest to talk."

Safest?

With him?

That was ironic.

Still, I nodded eager to see what he was up to.

He turned and began walking back toward the building. I followed, feeling the cold making its way into my bones, or maybe that was just him.. his presence always scrambled my nerves.

The hall was empty, lights humming overhead. We turned a corner, then entered the locker hallway. It was quiet, echoing, abandoned.

When we reached the locker room, he pushed the door open.

Inside.. no one.

The benches were scattered with towels, water bottles lined on the counter.

Sticks resting against steel lockers.

"Where is everyone?" I asked, stepping inside.

"They left," he replied.

"All of them?"

"Yes."

His tone was flat, and his expression was too unreadable for my liking.

"I was waiting for you."

My hand paused mid-motion as I placed my bag down.

Waiting for me?

"You were waiting for me? Why?"

No answer.

Instead.. he reached behind his neck and peeled off his warm-up shirt.

"What are you doing?"

"Don't get too cocky and start having stupid ideas. I didn't get to change after warm-ups," he said casually, voice tight as if the fabric annoyed him.

The shirt came off.. slowly.

And I turned away from him..

Immediately.

But not fully.

I angled my face away while my eyes.. betrayal in motion.. shifted sideways.

His bare upper body was carved from something unfair and ancient. Muscles moving beneath tan skin, shoulder blades shifting, back muscles tightening as he tossed his shirt onto the bench.

"Step mother instinct kicked in?" he asked with a mocking and sarcastic tone which made me stiffen.

"I'm just.. I'm trying to avoid any form of awkwardness."

"Well, it's not working," he muttered.

I pretended not to hear.

He reached into his locker, and just as he lifted a clean shirt..

"Ah!!.. shit."

He pressed his hand against his shoulder.

My stomach tightened.

"What happened?"

"It's nothing," he muttered.

"That is not nothing."

I walked to him without thinking.

Without planning.

Without remembering that I was supposed to maintain distance.

"Where?"

He hesitated.

"Muscle spasm. I guess it's from the warm up earlier."

"Sit," I sternly commanded and he sat then looked up at me.

The lighting above us made his eyes darker, sharper, hungrier. His chest moved but it was not steady, not controlled.. it just moved.

I kneeled slightly beside him and reached for his shoulder..

His hand caught my wrist.

We looked at each other.

His pulse jumped beneath his fingers.

"I said it's nothing."

"And I said sit still," I whispered back.

Slowly.. he released me.

I placed my hand at the base of his neck, fingers pressing into the tight muscle.

He inhaled sharply.

My thumb slid upward, kneading the knot.

His jaw clenched.

"Does that hurt?" I asked.

"No," he muttered.

But his voice cracked.

My eyes lifted to his.

And everything stilled.

We had fought.

We had screamed.

We had broken each other in ways impossible to reverse.

But right now...

our bodies didn't remember the war.

Only the bond.

Only the pull.

His breath brushed my cheek.

"You shouldn't be this close," he muttered.

"Then let me do my job so I can leave you," I whispered.

He didn't move.

Instead, he watched my mouth.

Watched my breath.

Watched me and I withdrew my hand.

He exhaled through his teeth, frustrated.

"With everything going on," he said quietly, "with Raymond staying.. do you just allow anything?"

"I don't understand"

"You didn't look uncomfortable," Adrian snapped. "He said you were happy he's staying. Happy you'll be spending time together."

"Ohh that? I guess.. He exaggerated," I replied firmly.

"So you're not spending time with him?"

I immediately went silent cause what was his business with who I decided to spend my time with.

And that silence was enough to fuel his fury.

"He invited you to that ridiculous party," Adrian continued, voice sharpening."And you agreed."

"I didn't agree," I answered. "I said we'll see because I doubt if I'd have the strength to attend any party after what happened in the last one"

His tongue pressed against his molars.

"You laughed and the moment you walked past me you just stopped like I was some sort of monster?"

My heart trembled.

"Honestly, I don't understand where you're headed.. I wasn't laughing," I murmured.

"You smiled," he said. "I haven't seen you smile in months."

That hit harder than I expected.

"And what exactly would you like me to smile at?" I stared at him. "At being resented by you? At being unwanted in my own pack? Or at being treated like a whore when I absolutely I'm not?"

His eyes closed like he hated that truth.

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, head hanging between them.

And then..

He spoke through clenched teeth.

"You are not unwanted."

"You treat me like I am and honestly I no longer give a damn," I angrily answered .

He lifted his head.

"I treat you like someone who left," he replied.

"Who didn't fight for what was hers."

"What was mine," I repeated slowly, "died the moment your father died."

He swallowed hard as silence r found it's way through the room.

Then..

He whispered something I wasn't ready for.

"I know."

I blinked.

"What?"

He held my gaze and then his face came closer to mine.. before I could register what was going on his lips were on mine...

"What are you doing?" I quickly asked as I tilted my head away from his and stood up.

"What the pull wants.. if this is the only way to get you out of my head then so be it"