C29 Twenty nine

Adrian's POV

The pull screamed harder than before..

Not whispered.

Not nudged.. No It screamed in a violent, panicked, demanding and raw way.

And for the first time since I learned how to control myself from certain things, I didn't know if I could control myself anymore.

Especially not when it came to her.

Selena.

She stood frozen in shock in front of me, her eyes wide, her breath uneven, the smell of alcohol and danger clinging hard to her skin making me more unstable.

The streetlight reflected in her hair, her clothes and her face turning her into something unreal, something breakable.

Something mine.

"You," I said again, lower and rougher now , "are coming with me."

Oh the heavens help her if she decides to refuse..

Her throat worked. "You.. You don't get to order me around. Who the fuck do you think you are? Huh?"

The man groaned behind me, still on the ground but I didn't turn.

I didn't need to.

"Leave," I said flatly.

He coughed. "She doesn't look like she wants to go anywhere with you man.. what the fuck are you doing?."

That was a mistake and just as my wolf readied himself to rip this motherfucker to shreds..

Selena grabbed my arm. "Adrian, stop.. please."

Her touch hit my skin harder than any challenge.

I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to stay where I was and to keep my wolf leashed.

"Lucas," she said, voice shaking, "just go please."

He hesitated. "Are you sure? Will you be fine?"

She nodded too fast. "Yes. Please."

He got up, backing away, his eyes never leaving me. "You're unhinged, man."

I leaned slightly forward. "And you're still breathing. Be grateful."

He didn't argue. He turned and disappeared down the sidewalk.

The moment he was gone, the night closed in around us.

Too quiet.

Too charged.

Selena folded her arms around herself, swaying just enough to set every alarm in my body screaming.

"You can't just show up and do that," she said.

"I absolutely can," I snapped. "When you're drunk and about to get into a stranger's car must I always save you from doing stupid things and making terrible choices huh? What the fuck is wrong you?."

"I knew him!"

"You met him tonight."

"That doesn't make him dangerous!"

"It makes him unknown and it makes you look like the slut you claim you're not"

She laughed bitterly. "And you're known? Is that supposed to make you safe? You push me away like a rag when it pleases you so you have no right to talk. I'm sure you're only here because of the pull.. But don't worry I'm sure it'll wear off soon"

The words cut deep.

"I'm trying to keep you alive," I said.

Her eyes flashed. "From what? Life? Or you?"

"From yourself," I shot back. "From the bond tearing you apart while you pretend it's not there."

She stiffened. "Don't talk about the bond."

"I will talk about it," I growled. "Because I felt it snap the second he touched you and I knew if you went with him you'd end up on his bed."

She stepped closer, chin lifted in defiance. "That's not my problem and who I decide to fuck is none of your bloody concern."

"It becomes my problem when it nearly drives me feral in the middle of a street."

Her breath hitched.

"Why were you even here?" I demanded. "Why this bar?"

She looked away. "I needed a drink just one."

"One drink?" I scoffed. "You can barely stand."

She shoved my chest. "You don't get to judge me."

I didn't move an inch.

"I get to be angry," I said. "I get to be worried because what's going wrong with you is going wrong with me as well."

She laughed hollowly. "You don't get to care okay so stop pretending like you're not dying for the effects of the lake to wear off.. how I decide to get it off me is none of your stupid concern."

That snapped something.

I grabbed her wrist.. not hard, but firm enough and she sucked in a sharp breath.

"Don't lie to me," I said quietly. "You went inside to forget me I can smell your arousal from here.. I fucking traced your scent all the way here and it's gotten stronger."

Her silence confirmed it.

"And did it work? Did forgetting me work" I asked.

Her voice came out small. "No."

The word lodged itself in my chest.

"Then why?" I asked. "

She yanked her hand free. "Because you won't choose me and now you can't even reject me and it hurts."

I froze.

"You say things," she continued, voice trembling, "you look at me like I'm everything.. and then you pull away like I'm poison."

"I pulled away because of a lot of reasons," I said.

"Of what?"

"Of not stopping."

Her breath stuttered. "So you wanted me."

"Yes."

"No hesitation?"

"None."

Her eyes searched my face like she was looking for the lie.

"And now?" she whispered.

I stepped closer. "Now you're drunk, vulnerable, and standing too close to someone who would tear the world apart for you."

She swallowed. "You don't mean that I'm sure you're just saying it cause my scent as well as the pull is messing with you."

"I threw a man across the pavement," I said. "What do you think?"

She laughed softly, broken. "You don't get to be jealous, I mean you're with girls all the time you don't see me throwing tantrums."

"I don't get to be calm either I'm not you."

Her palm pressed against my chest again, fingers curling into my jacket.

"You're shaking," she murmured.

"So are you."

The pull surged, hot and violent, my wolf clawing at the inside of my skin.

"Come with me," I said again, voice hoarse.

Her eyes glistened. "And then what?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "But I know I can't watch you hurt yourself like this."

She hesitated.

Then shook her head. "I can't."

Something ugly twisted inside me. "Because of him?"

"Because of you."

I laughed bitterly. "That's worse."

"I'm already breaking," she whispered. "I can't survive wanting you like this."

"You're not the only one," I said.

Silence fell between us, heavy and dangerous.

"I should go," she said finally.

"You can barely focus," I said. "Don't fight me on this."

She didn't.

We walked in silence, tension crackling with every step. When she stopped beside her car, she fumbled for her keys, hands shaking.

I caught them before they fell.

Our fingers brushed.

The pull detonated.

Her breath left her in a sharp gasp.

"Adrian," she whispered, "don't."

"Don't what?"

"Look at me like that."

"I can't stop."

Her eyes lifted to mine, dark, wrecked, wanting.

"I hate you," she said softly.

"I know and you're drunk."

Her fingers tightened in my jacket again. "You're ruining me."

"Then why are you still here?"

"Because you haven't let me go."

Neither had I.

The space between us suddenly vanished and I kissed her.

Not carefully.

Not gently.

Like everything I'd been holding back finally shattered.

She gasped against my mouth, her hands clutched me like she was afraid I'd disappear again, kissing me back with the same desperate heat.

The world fell away.

And I knew..

I was gone and this wasn't even about the pull anymore.