Chapter 5
688 Words
"What, another work trip?"
Cole doesn't wait for an answer. He steps forward, bends down, and hoists me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing. I yelp, caught off guard.
The world spins as he tosses me onto the couch, my head reeling. Before I can catch my breath, he's on me, pinning me down.
His voice is low, magnetic, with a hint of liquor. "Guess we'd better make this quick, huh?"
His warm breath, laced with cedar, brushes my trembling lashes. I squirm, trying to push him off, but he tightens his grip on my wrists, his other hand locking my twisting hips. His knee presses against my legs, trapping me completely.
Then his lips crash into mine, his fingers moving with practiced ease, igniting sparks across my skin. He's not blind to my resistance, but this is his go-to—using heat to douse any fight between us.
five years together, and he's never once apologized or sweet-talked me through a disagreement. I'm five years older, so I've always let things slide, compromising as long as he didn't cross a line.
But not this time. He's been lying from the start.
I snap out of the haze and shove him hard. "Cole, we're done. I want to break the bond."
Caught off guard, he tumbles off the couch. His face hardens instantly. "All this over a damn dinner? You're almost thirty, Lauren. Stop acting like some dramatic pup."
I button my shirt, my voice steady. "When have I ever made a scene?"
He wasn't expecting me to push back so hard. His patience, already thin, snaps. "I'm giving you an out. Take it, or there won't be one later."
I meet his gaze, unflinching. "I said we're done."
"Done?" He parrots my words with a lazy drawl, a smirk curling his lips. "What do you think we are, Lauren?"
I freeze. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He snorts, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Bedmates. That's it. If you're bored, you can walk away anytime."
My body goes rigid, a sharp pain slicing through my chest. Even braced for it, the truth stings. In his eyes, we were never even a real bond. Just bedmates.
"Lauren." He leans down, leveling his gaze with mine, his smile cruel. "I told you back then you could push me away. But you chose to fall into bed with me, didn't you?"
"You didn't actually think we were mates, did you?"
It's like a blow to the head, leaving me ice-cold. "Sure, you're hot, great figure," he continues, "but bind myself to an older she-wolf? Even if I was fine with it, my pack wouldn't be. You're my sister's friend. Breaking the bond and losing the friendship would be messier than just keeping things casual. I thought you got that."
"I thought we were on the same page. With our age gap, when you're fading, I'll still be in my prime. Did you really think I'd bond with you for life?"
I dig my nails into my palms, fighting back tears. "Don't worry, I won't cling to you. Give me some time, and I'm gone."
I turn away, tears spilling despite my best efforts. I curse myself for being so weak. I knew this, so why does it still hurt?
I bury myself in packing, ignoring the heavy silence. Cole lights a cigarette but doesn't smoke it, his eyes tracking my every move. When I toss our matching couple's stuff—mine, not his—into the trash without hesitation, he shifts, visibly irritated.
As I drag my suitcase toward the door, he finally speaks, his voice low and cold. "Walk out now, and don't come crawling back like a whipped pup."
I pause at the door, then turn back. His lips twitch, like he thinks he's won, but I bend down and fish a takeout container from the trash.
The one he saw on the table when he came in. The one he tossed without a second thought.
I hold it close, meeting his gaze. My voice is flat, lifeless. "Cole, is it fun, trashing what matters to someone else?"
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