Chapter 8
It had taken a lot of willpower for Jocelyn to walk away from him and his kiss. But she didn’t have a choice.
She forced herself to move only after he’d broken away because she couldn’t bear to look into his intense blue eyes swarming with hues of yellow. She feared what she would see, of what he’d say, so she’d spoken first with a hint of sarcasm. It was all she had.
His kiss had been fiery, intense, and all-consuming, just like him. His skin pressed against hers felt like the sun warming her flesh. He’d smelled of the woods; it soothed and stimulated her at the same time. And now she reeked of him. It was another reason to hate him. One kiss and everyone would know.
The elevator doors parted, and she ran into her room closing the door behind her and began to strip off her clothes jumping in the shower a moment later. After her shower, she opened the door leading into her room and caught Landon’s smoldering gaze upon her.
“What the…are you insane?” she screamed at him. “Why are you in my room?”
“Why are you showering? We still have an entire afternoon of training left,” he countered.
“That wasn’t a rhetorical question, wolf. You can’t just ask me a question every time you don’t want to answer one,” she retorted holding her towel tightly around herself.
“Why did you shower, Jocelyn? Answer me.”
“I’m not answering any of your questions because you don’t answer any of mine! Do you want me to call Lucas? I swear to God I’ll have him throw you out on your ass like the mutt you are.”
Landon placed his hands on her shoulders. Her eyes flashed silver as she used her power of the wind to throw him backwards.
“I wasn’t going to hurt you,” he said lifting himself to his feet.
“Don’t touch me! Ever again!”
“Why did you shower?”
“Oh God! This again?”
“I’m not leaving until you tell me why you showered.”
“Because your stench was all over me,” she blurted.
She hadn’t wanted to admit it only because she knew withholding the truth would infuriate him. And still it was a lie, she loved his scent, but she didn’t want anyone to know what had occurred between them.
“You’re lying,” he mumbled his eyes stark with pain.
“No, I’m not. That kiss was a mistake. I don’t want anyone knowing, which would be impossible if I reek of you, so I showered,” she said calmly knowing she’d struck a nerve.
“I’m sorry,” he said as he quietly exited her room.
Landon’s eyes had spoken volumes, and he’d exposed it to her. They’d been bleak, vulnerable, aching, and he hadn’t been able to shield it from her. She had hurt him and felt it staring into his eyes. Inexplicably, her chest now ached for him.
The almighty alpha wasn’t almighty after all. He actually had feelings. Who would’ve guessed? Why did he even care what she thought anyhow? What offended him? The fact that she showered to dispel his scent or was it that she didn’t want anyone to know? Why had she been so cruel to him?
“Joce, he woke up,” Olivia said as she barged into her room. “He’s up; he’s asking for you.”
“Cain?” she asked as she rushed into her closet and quickly threw on a pair of leggings and a tank top.
“Yes, hurry,” Olivia said.
They reached Cain in minutes. Relief flooded through her when she entered his room and noticed he was attempting to sit up. He looked a lot better since the last time she had seen him. The burns to the right side of his body were still visible, but they were healing and his cheeks were now rosy. Benjamin, Jacob, Lucas, and Jenna filed out of the room giving them a moment alone.
“Joce,” he said as she walked over to him and took his hand in hers. “You are okay?”
“Of course. How are you feeling?” She hugged him lightly as she thanked the heavens he was finally awake.
“Burned…” he said a feeble attempt to jest.
Tears overwhelmed her eyes, “Why are you sitting up? You should be lying down.”
“Don’t cry. Please,” he begged as he reached to wipe her tears. “I’ve been immobile for a long time already. I need to sit.”
“It hasn’t even been a day.”
“I know…” He smiled sadly. “I’ve failed you again. I think someone else should take over guarding you.”
“What? No, Cain, you’ve never failed me. Not to mention, you saved Olivia and countless others.”
“Who did I help if I was rendered helpless? If Landon hadn’t been there…”
“Shh…I’m not listening to this. The burns affected your brain, and you are not thinking clearly. No one else is watching me but you. That’s final.”
“Always so stubborn, Joce.” He laughed as he leaned against the pillows. “Are you gonna tell me now what you did to that wolf? He walked in here looking like a shell of himself.”
“I don’t know what I said to upset him, but he had it coming,” she said as she tossed back her wet hair.
“Oh, did he?” he asked, and they both laughed.
“Jocelyn,” Lucas called for her as he lightly knocked on the door.
She rolled her eyes, knowing exactly why Lucas was interrupting. “My brother-in-law wants me to train.”
“Don’t worry about me. Go.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.” She lightly kissed his forehead. “Love you,” she said as she walked out of the room.
“Love you, too.”
Jocelyn yawned when she entered the gymnasium, thoroughly exhausted from two attacks, training, and not to mention worrying about Cain. She wasn’t sure if she could withstand another four hours. But she had no other choice; she needed to learn to use her powers and needed it now more than ever.
On Lucas’s command they attacked, she willed her powers to flow, flinging everyone backwards. Jenna once again helped them land safely. They attacked her again and again until she grew so weary she thought she’d be unable to use them again. But she persisted, never complained, never asked for a break.
“Are you okay?” Jenna asked her, concerned.
“Just tired,” she replied.
They attacked again, and she flung them back less forcefully. The remainder of her energy vanished instantly as her face paled, she wobbled. Her body gave out. Her lids drifted close, and everything went black.