Chapter Five: Cole Ryder
678 Words
The ride home was unbearable.
Mostly because Mason wouldn't shut up.
"You should've seen your face."
Jace gripped the steering wheel tighter.
"Mason."
"No, seriously."
"Mason."
"The kick was beautiful."
"Mason."
"You flew."
Jace slammed the brakes at a red light.
Mason immediately shut up.
For three seconds.
Then—
"You actually flew."
Jace considered throwing him out of the car.
By the time they reached the Ryder estate, he was tempted.
The massive gates opened automatically.
Beyond them sat one of the most beautiful homes in Blackwood.
Elegant stone walls.
Massive windows.
Perfectly maintained gardens.
Fountains.
Lights.
Luxury.
To most people, it looked like heaven.
To Jace, it was home.
The moment they stepped inside, warmth greeted them.
His mother was setting the dinner table.
"You're late."
"We know."
She glanced up.
Then froze.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Jace."
"What?"
"What happened to your face?"
Mason immediately burst out laughing.
Jace groaned.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" his mother repeated.
"You look injured."
"I'm fine."
Mason snorted.
Jace kicked him.
Hard.
"Ouch."
Before another argument could begin, a voice echoed from the staircase.
"What's that smell?"
Jace immediately knew who it was.
Great.
Cole.
His older brother descended the stairs casually.
Tall.
Confident.
Annoyingly perfect.
The kind of older brother who somehow made everything look effortless.
Cole stopped halfway down the stairs.
Then took a long sniff.
His face twisted immediately.
"Oh, that is awful."
Mason nodded.
"Right?"
Cole pointed at them.
"Vampire."
"Yep."
"You two reek."
"Yep."
"Get out of here."
Jace rolled his eyes.
"Hello to you too."
"No."
Cole covered his nose dramatically.
"Seriously. Mom hates the smell of vampires."
Their mother immediately looked horrified.
"Oh, absolutely not."
"See?" Cole said.
"It'll take a week to get that smell off you two."
"Comforting."
"You're welcome."
Cole walked closer.
His eyes landed on the scratches covering Jace's face.
Then on Mason.
Then back to Jace.
A slow smile appeared.
"Let me guess."
Jace already hated where this was going.
"You killed a vampire?"
Mason immediately answered.
"Nope."
Jace closed his eyes.
"Mason."
"More like we got our asses kicked by a girl vampire."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Cole blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then stared directly at Jace.
"Wait."
"Mason."
"What?"
"I told you to shut the hell up."
"I had to tell somebody."
Cole looked between them.
Then looked back at Jace.
"You got beaten by a girl?"
"No."
"A vampire girl?"
"No."
"A little vampire girl?"
"Mason."
"Just being accurate."
Cole's mouth fell open.
"Oh my God."
Jace groaned.
Their mother was trying not to laugh.
And failing miserably.
Cole sat down at the table.
"No. No. Hold on."
Jace immediately knew this would be a disaster.
"You."
Cole pointed directly at him.
"Jace Ryder."
"Don't."
"The future Alpha."
"Don't."
"The guy who acts like he's God's gift to wolves."
"Cole."
"Got beaten up by a teenage girl."
Mason wheezed.
"It gets better."
"It doesn't."
"Oh, it does."
Mason leaned forward.
"She kicked him so hard he literally flew."
Cole slammed both hands onto the table.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Their mother finally laughed.
Actually laughed.
Jace had never felt so betrayed.
Cole wiped tears from his eyes.
"This is the greatest day of my life."
"I hate this family."
"No, you don't."
"I absolutely do."
Mason pointed at his ribs.
"I think she broke something."
Cole laughed harder.
"I can't breathe properly."
"That's because you're dramatic."
"No, seriously."
Cole laughed even harder.
For nearly ten minutes, nobody stopped making fun of Jace.
By the end of it, his patience was gone.
Completely gone.
He stood abruptly.
The laughter slowly faded.
His silver eyes darkened.
The room became quiet.
Jace only had one thing to say.
"I'll find her."
Nobody laughed this time.
"I'll find that girl."
His jaw tightened.
"And next time..."
His voice dropped lower.
"...she won't get away."
Cole studied him carefully.
The amusement vanished from his face.
Because beneath all the embarrassment...
Jace was serious.
Very serious.
Somewhere in Blackwood...
a vampire girl had humiliated him.
And Jace Ryder wasn't the type to forget.
Or forgive.
- Writer
