Chapter 070
CADE
My steps slowed the closer I got to Hannah's room. This was bound to be a difficult conversation and she was pissed at me. Rightly so. I only hoped she would forgive me. Or at least let me explain.
I adjusted the collar of my shirt, rapped on her door. I heard her tell me to come in. Slowly I pushed the door open, walked in.
Hannah was lying on her stomach, with her nose stuck in a book. She snapped the book shut, turned and immediately the placid expression on her face became one of irritation.
"It's you," she said, her tone cold.
"Yes, it's me," I said.
My tentative smile only got me an eye roll.
"May I... sit?" I asked her.
She didn't say yes. Neither did she say no. So I took it as a sign that she was not going to bite my head off if I sat close to her. Beside me, she sat ramrod straight, her arms folded across her chest with her face slightly turned away from me.
Small talk, I told myself. Start with small talk.
"So how are you doing?"
"As good as I can be, as you can see," she said dryly. She began rifling the pages of her book again, as though impatient to get on with it.
"Hannah, I'm sorry-" I began. She gave an almost inaudible snort. "No really I am. I was too harsh. I should have taken your side earlier. Forgive me. Please."
My hand on the sheets inched towards hers. She snatched it away.
"It's fine. I'm not upset," she said.
"I know you very well, Hannah and I know you're upset with me."
"Humph! Are you in my head now?"
"I don't need to be. We're mates, remember? I admit I should have done better. There is no excuse for what I said, but I can explain why I acted the way I did. I tend to be a little overprotective sometimes, especially towards you. I've been trying so hard to keep you safe that I couldn't bear to think of you in danger again. I was mad that you got yourself in that situation. Anything could have happened, Hannah. Asher and Julia could have gotten lucky. They could have hurt... maybe even killed you. The thought... shook me."
"I didn't put myself in that situation. I told you that. I wouldn't have hurt Julia or Asher if they didn't try to hurt me first, so I still can't understand why you see me as the monster instead of them."
I was surprised and saddened that she would actually think this of me. Her countenance showed that she meant it too. I struggled to find the words to tell her that I thought of her as the exact opposite of a monster. Whenever I looked at her, I saw a girl who was gentle, precious, so in need of care and protection.
And that is what I wanted to do. Protect her. She had no doubt gotten stronger these past few weeks, but to me she would always be the really pretty, troubled girl who had stumbled into that classroom and stolen my heart.
"I have never and I can never think that of you," I said quietly.
She gave another snort and a pert toss of her head. "If that's true, you have a very strange way of showing it."
Out of my back pocket, I brought out the little notebook I had brought with me. It was blue, one of Hannah's favourite colours. It had artistically drawn butterflies, flowers, stuff I thought a female would like, on it's cover. Hannah was curiously glancing at it before I held it out to her.
"Here," I said. "I got this. It's for you."
"What is it for?"
"I said it was for you, but it's actually going to be our book. I know how you always like to write stuff so I figured you would appreciate some sort of outlet for your feelings. It works like this, if there's something you really want to talk about, something that is getting you upset, all you have to do is write it down, show it to me. I'll try to understand your point of view and I'll do my best to make you feel better." I gave her a rather sheepish grin. "I guess for now this method is better than me talking first. I seem to make an ass of myself whenever I open my mouth. So... are you going to accept my gift and apology?"
As Hannah shyly took the book from me, her skin brushed my fingers. It was only a second's contact but it was grasping a live wire. Only a live wire made you feel unimaginable pain but this was... pleasant but electrifying all the same. Still I didn't allow my outward manner change. I didn't let her know how much that little contact affected me.
'Keep it cool,' I told myself.
She turned the book over in her hands then flipped the pages open.
"So are you going to write stuff in it like I suggested?" I asked mildly.
"I'll try." By the careful, almost reverent way she placed the book on her bedside table, I knew she would do more than 'try'. It turned out my idea was enough to break the ice after all. A pause, then. "Thank you, Cade."
"And thank you for putting up with me. There's something I've been meaning to ask you. Have you ever been on a date? A real date?"
She didn't even think about it. She was shaking her head before I had finished talking.
"No, I haven't," she said. "Between trying to avoid Asher and trying to survive, I haven't really had the time to go on a date."
"Well, I want to change that," I said, laughing at her dry humor. "I want to take you out on one. There'll be flowers, scented candles, a good meal, maybe some romantic music. It will be just the two of us." I tipped her a wink. "My brothers will have to wait their turn. It will make me so happy to know I'm the first guy who gets to give you that experience."
The blush that stained her cheeks made her even prettier. I found myself wanting to kiss her and then I thought- why the hell not?
I scooted closer to her, gently held her cheek. I could hear her breath rasping in her throat. Her eyes were fixed solely on my lips, lips that were inching closer to her moist ones.
I heard a sound, thought for a moment that it was somehow the sound of my own beating heart.
"The door," Hannah said, her breath fanning my face. "Someone is at the door."
I was torn. Enjoy the moment or answer the door? I glanced at the door, then at Hannah. I made my decision in a split second. This moment with Hannah was not going to be traded for anything.
"Ignore it," I murmured. "Whoever it is will go away."
Hannah gave me a half smile. Her eyes began to drift closed as I leaned close to kiss her. Another knock sounded at the door, louder and more insistent this time. Whoever was on the other side clearly had no intentions of going away. I groaned.
"We'll have to continue this later," I told Hannah who looked happy at the prospect. Aloud, I called, "Come in. Willa! I should have known it would be you, my ann-"
Whatever joke I was about to make was cut short at the sight of Willa's grim face.
"Dad wants to see you both immediately," she said.
"Why? What happened?"
She sighed heavily. "Alpha Dawson and Asher just arrived. They're in the meeting room."
We jumped to our feet at once, followed Willa who had already begun walking away after delivering her message. I wanted to give Hannah some words of reassurance but I refrained. Hannah looked grimly determined to face whatever this was. I was too. I would rather have all my teeth pulled out than to allow Asher hurt her again. The same thing went for my brothers. Of that I was sure.
Alpha Dawson and Asher weren't the only ones in the meeting room. Julia's father was there too. My father was speaking to Asher's father when we walked in.
Julia's father hissed, "There she is!"
Alpha Dawson whirled around, his eyes unerringly finding Hannah's.
"I can't believe it's all because of her," he cried. "Her! So much fuss and trouble over a weak and disposable freak with traitor for a father."
"Keep my mate's name out of your mouth. Stay away from her," I said hotly.
Alpha Dawson laughed. "Brave words, pup but I would advise you to keep your mouth shut while your elders and betters talk about this. I came here for justice. I'm not leaving until whoever tried to kill my son is identified."
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