Jaded Hearts
Chapter 7

Taylor

My steps were wobbly as I approached him. I never thought I’d see him again, but here he was in my doorway. How had he even found me? Morgan and I had moved after the incident and didn’t tell anyone where we were.

“Tesoro, just stay back, alright? Everything’s okay.”

I wanted to believe him, but he hadn’t seen how this man had broken me in every conceivable way. I was a shell of a person when I was with him, and that was how he wanted me: shy, insecure, and obedient.

“Matt? Please close the door. He shouldn’t be here, and I don’t want to see him.” I hated how weak I sounded. How he immediately made me fear him again. It wasn’t fair. None of this s**t was fair!

“Ahhh, my beautiful flower. Have you missed me?”

I almost gagged, hearing the way he spoke to me. Like we left things on good terms, like he had treated me with even a fraction of the dignity and respect any human being deserved. “Matt, please.”

Drew made a move to take a step towards me before Matt stepped in his way. “You need to leave now before things get ugly,” Matt warned him.

Drew’s laugh terrified me, just as it always had.

“Do you know who I am? Do you know who you are talking to? I don’t think you want these problems.”

“I know exactly who and what you are. You are nothing, and Taylor is mine. You will never speak to her or touch her again. If you come back here, you will regret it.”

Drew seemed confused by Matt’s confidence. He was used to dealing with people who were weaker than him, people he could intimidate. This was a change that he didn’t like. “I’ll leave when she tells me to leave. You want me to stay, don’t you, flower.”

Matt growled so loud I felt it in my chest across the room. If I was Drew, I would’ve been terrified, but instead, he just smiled. “Which pack are you from? You don’t know what you’ve just started.”

How does he know about packs?

“I believe it’s you who doesn’t know what he’s started. Matthew Stone, Gamma of the Blue Moon pack. You know who we are, and you know where we are. If you want to continue down this path, come replace me. We’ll be waiting.”

Drew took a few steps back away from the door and shot me a look of pure hatred and disgust. “I really hope she’s worth it.” He then turned and walked back to his car.

My legs were close to giving out on me. I was so scared, and I didn’t want to be here anymore. I wasn’t safe here anymore.

“Matt, can we leave, please?” My voice was barely a whisper, but it was all I could manage. He took a step towards me and wrapped me in his arms.

“Of course, we can, baby. Did you want to finish packing? If not, I can have someone come back for your stuff. Or we can buy you new things. Whatever you want.”

“I’m finished. Let me grab my bag.”

“I’ll get it; you stay here.” He walked into my room, and something pulled me towards the window. I looked out and saw Drew still in his car, staring at my front door. He must have felt me looking because his eyes darted over to me and flashed yellow as a sinister smile spread across his face. I jumped back and couldn’t help crying out. He wasn’t at all who I thought he was.

“Taylor, what is it?” Matt asked while he slung my bag over his shoulder.

“He’s still here. Why won’t he leave?”

Matt placed the bag down, pulled his shirt over his head, and quickly stepped out of his jeans. “This motherfucker thinks I’m playing games.”

His voice was way deeper than usual. This wasn’t Matt anymore. Logan was coming out. This couldn’t happen here. I couldn’t have a werewolf charging out of my apartment. I stood in front of him and blocked his path.

“Logan, look at me. Look at me!”

His grayish-white fur was starting to come out, and his eyes had turned black with green flecks. He was a few moments from fully shifting.

“Logan, please calm down and take me home. Don’t leave me in here by myself.”

His body momentarily stopped vibrating as he looked down at me. “Is he the one who hurt you?”

“Yes. So please, let Matt come back and take me home.”

“I’ll kill him!” He crouched down, and I heard the sickening pop and crack of him transforming. The only thing I could think to do was to sit in front of the door and wait. Logan wouldn’t hurt me, even when he stood almost two entire feet taller than me. I sat down and brought my knees to my chest as Logan snarled and snapped in front of me. He wanted out.

And I stayed calm.

“Logan, listen to my voice. Bring Matt back to me, please. I need him now, and I can’t let you out that door like this. If you love me, please give him back.”

He slowly sat down, then placed his humongous head in my lap. I ran my fingers through his thick and silky fur and continued to talk to him. “I never would’ve thought I’d feel safe with a huge wolf in my lap, but I’ve never felt more protected. The devil was at my door less than five minutes ago, and I feel as safe as ever right now.”

His breathing began to calm down, and I could feel his muscles relaxing. “Bring him back now, please.”

His body started to tremble while his fur retracted, and Matt’s form began to reappear. About thirty seconds later, I had my guy back. “Taylor, I’m so sorry I lost control like that. Are you hurt?”

“Not at all. You know Logan wouldn’t ever hurt me.”

He stood up and pulled on his pants before gently moving me out of the way and opening the door. When he came back, he pulled his shirt on and picked up my bag. “He’s gone now. Let’s get out of here before he comes back, and I rip his d**k off.”

“Wait. How did he know about packs? You said that he knew who you are. What am I missing?”

Matt sighed before he took my hand and pulled me towards him. “Drew’s a wolf, tesoro. He’s a member of our rival pack, and now I’m going to kill him.”

* * *

My mind was reeling. I never once suspected Drew was a wolf. Thinking back on it, there were times when I would hear him growl when he would become upset over something he felt I did wrong, but I never put much thought into it.

And he was strong, much stronger than anybody else I had ever dealt with, but why would a wolf want to date a simple human girl? I didn’t understand. “Matt? I’m not Drew’s mate, right?”

His low growl let me know how much that thought pissed him off. “Absolutely not. You are my mate; mine alone.”

“So why would he pursue me? Why does he keep coming back? Doesn’t he have a mate somewhere out there?”

“When we are created, all wolves are paired with a mate. But sometimes things happen, and one of the pair dies before they meet. The other wolf may get a second chance, and maybe they won’t. It’s a possibility that he found his mate but rejected her, or maybe she’s out there, but he just hasn’t found her. I really don’t know, baby.”

“He wanted me weak. He hated when I stood up to him and looked him in the eye. He would get so angry. He always needed to have complete control.”

“Don’t think about him anymore, alright? He won’t ever touch you again. And in this relationship, you get to have all the control you want.”

I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text message to Morgan. I didn’t want her at the apartment alone now that Drew had found us. She was off from school next week as well, so I suggested that she go see her parents or something. I knew she was working, so I’d just call her tomorrow morning to check on her.

Matt reached over and grabbed my hand. “Tell me what you need, tesoro. I’ll do anything to make this better for you.”

“I don’t really know right now. I just need to sit still for a while and process everything, I guess.”

“When we get to the house, I’ll run you a hot bath. I’ve got to go fill Xander in on all of this, but while I’m gone, you just sit and relax. How’s that?”

“Will you be gone from the house?”

“No, Xander has an office just one floor up. I won’t be far at all.”

“Okay then, that sounds perfect.”

We rode in comfortable silence all the way back to his house. The last time I had arrived, I was passed out from shock, and this morning, I was too focused on meeting his parents. I didn’t get to see how beautiful it all was.

Even in the dark of night, I could tell that the land was lush and green and looked like it went on for miles. The house was a beautiful polished marble that reflected the moonlight perfectly. They did a great job keeping the grounds well-lit with accent lights scattered all around. I would love to walk around out here all night. It was so peaceful.

We pulled into the garage, which was filled with at least ten other cars, and entered the house. I grew up in apartments my entire life, but this was nothing like I had ever seen. Everything was so clean and modern and new. And huge. It would take a long time for me to get used to this and see it as normal.

Matt took my hand and led me up the stairs. “Kade and I share the third floor. It’s reserved just for the Beta, Gamma, and their families. My wing is here to the left of the stairway. All of this is mine, and now it’s yours. Explore as much as you want.”

Matt’s “wing” was at least four times the size of the apartment I shared with Morgan. We passed three spare bedrooms, an office, and a dressing room before we made it to his bedroom.

“How do you guys afford all of this?”

He sat my bag on the bed and began clearing out a few drawers while he spoke.

“The house was built years ago, by Xander’s great-grandfather, I believe. It was passed down to him when he became Alpha, and it will go to Xayden when he’s ready. Blue Moon also has quite a few businesses we operate. Remember how I told you I work in the Black Enterprises building downtown?”

“Yeah, I remember. That building is huge and super shiny.”

“Well, that’s Xander’s. He’s Xander Black. Most of the pack hold positions within the company, and we make our money that way.”

“And what’s your position? You said marketing, right?”

He blushed when I asked that. Why didn’t he want to tell me? As long as it wasn’t telemarking, then I saw no issue with it.

“My position is decent.”

“Is that your title? Matthew Stone, Decent?”

“No. It’s actually Matthew Stone, Sr. Vice President of International Relations. Do you need space in the closet? I’ll clear some for you.”

He quickly rushed to the closet and began shuffling things around. It was packed with clothes and more than a handful of very nice business suits. He was serious.

“International Relations? Since when is that marketing?”

“I market the company and its services to different companies, internationally.”

“But you’re only twenty-three. How are you a VP?”

“The last VP kinda died suddenly about six months ago. I’m one of the only people in the pack who has a business degree and is multilingual. I’m working on French now. And people just like me, I guess. Besides, to a wolf, age doesn’t really mean much. We start gaining responsibilities when we’re young, so this isn’t that big of a deal.”

“I’m feeling really inadequate right now. It’s a good thing you knew I loved you before I found all this out. Otherwise, I’d feel like a gold digger.”

He took my hand and pulled me to his chest. “Hey, you can never be inadequate. Don’t ever say that.”

“I’m a college sophomore with student loan debt, a tiny apartment, and a crappy waitressing job. It doesn’t really compare.”

“And I’m in love with you, not the things you have or the positions you hold. Now put your stuff away while I go get your bath ready.”

This had been one of the strangest, most eye-opening days of my life. I was more than ready to wash it all off and start fresh.