Isabella
I eat my food in silence. Dane hasn't said a word since he revealed that he sometimes loses control of his bloodthirst. I'm not sure what to say either or how to spark up a conversation.
How do you move on from such a topic?
I would be lying if I claimed I didn't find Dane's bloodthirst frightening. Vampires scare me more than werewolves, but I somehow forgot Dane is a hybrid. If I inhale his scent and ignore his cologne, he smells like a werewolf of forest and pine.
Dane finishes his food and turns his attention to me.
I shudder at the sheer intensity of his stare. He is also a big man, someone not to take lightly. He is my bodyguard, and he is undoubtedly built for that part, too; intimidating and muscular.
"Are you afraid of me now?" Dane asks without breaking a sweat or even blinking.
I swallow thickly, knowing it's unwise to lie to him. He would see the truth regardless.
I mean...
Dane must be a people reader—it must come with being a bodyguard, telling if someone is hostile, afraid of bracing themselves to attack the person he is protecting.
I maintain our eye contact. "Yes."
His smile rolls in easy, but it's wolfish. "Then you understand why I rejected you, Isabella."
I glare at him. Dane's words piss me off because what he is saying makes no damn sense. It hits me as clear as day that Dane must be one of those annoying people who think they are always in the right.
Infuriating!
I'm seething in my seat, about to give him a piece of my mind. And Dane should listen to me. Because I don't want to repeat myself like a broken record. There is nothing more frustrating than that.
"My fear is natural," I keep my tone fierce and direct. "You and I don't know each other yet. I'm allowed to be on my guard, but your rejection of me lacks no ground. You should get to know me before making such a great decision, Dane."
My words pick his interest, and my heart flutters when his dark eyes show amusement. "Is that so?"
"Yes," I'm blushing now. Dane is looking at me like he wishes to devour me, spreading heat over my skin. It seems my fierceness caught his attention. "You will regret rejecting me."
He breathes a laugh. "I'm looking forward to that."
I arch an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yes, because I'm never wrong, Isabella," Dane gets up from his seat with a wolfish smile. It annoys me how attractive I find him, especially when he shows me his pearly teeth. "It would be such a surprise if I was proved wrong about a decision I've made for once in my life. Like I said, I'm always right. You're too naive and young for me."
I gasp. "Naive?"
"Yeah, I can see in your eyes," Dane keeps his attention on my face and offers me his hand. "You keep looking at me like I'm a broken soul that can be fixed if you love me hard enough. But that isn't the case, Isabella. I'm a hybrid, which means I'm a monster—that will never change. I will always be the wrong man for you."
"You don't know that!" I'm actually angry now. "You haven't even tried to date me or anything!"
"And I won't," Dane's voice is stricter now, intense and final. "You're my best friend's daughter, and that's messed up enough already. I used to be your father's beta."
"And?" I challenge.
"You're too young for me."
"I bet you don't even age," I glare at him. "So, in the end, it won't matter if I'm younger than you!"
Pain strikes Dane's features. As if it hurts him that he won't age. It makes guilt pierce me. I hadn't thought about the possibility of that fact being painful to him.
It must be, though.
Seeing everyone else age while you remain the same sounds more like a curse than a blessing. It would also explain why Dane looks so hot and young despite my father having aged.
I wonder if that saddens Dane? Now that I think about the people who are supposedly the same age as Dane look much older.
Dane doesn't appear to be a day over thirty, and the only thing hinting at his age is the dark circles underneath his eyes.
I bet he doesn't sleep well. Could it be related to Dane seeming to hate himself?
"Which also means I would have to witness you grow old and die way ahead of me," Dane says without meeting my eyes. His expression is one of inner pain and conflict.
I blink in surprise, speaking lowly. "Is that why you rejected—"
"Let's get to the car," Dane interrupts me. "It's getting late, and the Crescent pack over by that table is checking you out as if they are planning on taking advantage of you."
I glance at the other pack and grimace. Dane is right—the Crescent pack looks eager to murder me. This city isn't safe anymore.
"Come with me," Dane takes my hand.
Electricity immediately travels through my body, but Dane doesn't notice. He rejected me, which means his bond to me is gone. But what I find weird is that he still seems to care for me.
Is it only because he is my bodyguard? Or could there be some other feelings involved? Dane is holding my hand so hard. It's giving me butterflies.
A smile graces my lips as Dane pulls me out into the dark street and out of the restaurant. We head for his car, fastening our pace when the Crescent pack follows us.
"You shouldn't be walking alone anymore," Dane says as he opens to door to his car for me. "The streets are becoming more and more dangerous by the day. From now on, I will be picking you up every morning to take you to your school. I will also wait outside to drive you home after all your classes are over. Where you go, I go."
I wink at him. "Is my bed included?"
Dane grumbles and closes the door on me.
It amuses me how I managed to rattle Dane. He looks irritated even as he enters the car and takes the wheel. It prompts me to bite back a laugh. Dane is so funny to tease and agitate.
"It would be better if you kept your flirting at a minimum," Dane says as he back the car to get on the road. "Our relationship is supposed to be professional."
I smile at him in the rear-view mirror. "But it's so fun to see you almost lose your control and blush."
He narrows his eyes. "I never blush!"
I snort. "You're always so serious."
Dane doesn't say another word, and we drive off in silence. I steal glances at Dane now and then, wishing things were different. I would love to get some action with his incredible body.