STOLEN BY THE HEARTLESS LYCAN

Chapter 9: Under Watch.

Cora’s pov.

“Damn it! Damn it!” I internally cursed multiple times.

I’d curse vocally, but we’re in a library and though I’m severely lacking in social graces, I know that being loud in a library is a big no.

Still, it’s hard to contain my frustration so I wrinkled the edge of the book I’m ‘reading’ and tightly clenched my jaw.

The source of my frustration stood just a few feet away, oblivious to how rattled I am by his mere presence alone. It’s not just the general uneasiness that comes with him being a large imposing man that’s my problem, it’s that fact him being around me just made my plans a million times more difficult to carry out.

I shut my eyes and forced myself to breathe. But no matter… I can work through this, right?

I pried open my eyes to peep at the large, blue-eyed man leaning against the wall, his eyes were fixed on the carpet and judging by the way his lips were pursed and his eyes narrowed into slits, it’s clear that he doesn’t want to be here as much as I don’t want him here.

Too bad he was not willing to defy Creed, I’d have had a plan on my hands. I considered something similar to jumping him when the time comes, but a quick glance up and down his large physique quickly has me dashing that idea aside. No, definitely not. He could choke me with half a thought and kill me with the sheer force of his will.

He’s nearly as imposing as Creed, but unlike the indisputable air of lethality the Prince carried around him, his own aura was more brutal, more jarring, than Creed’s, he’d be hard to fight and possibly even harder to seduce.

Not that I’d attempt that anyway, acting flirtatious around Creed was one thing, keeping up that behaviour around large, unfamiliar men was like breathing through a tube.

And I’ve done that before, so yes, I can make that comparison.

It was like he could feel my gaze on him, because he lifted his head and stared straight at me with a passive look on his face.

I could tell that he didn’t like me, even behind the formal, almost polite tone that he’d used when speaking to me earlier this morning, not that I minded that too much, I didn’t like him either. He was Creed’s watch dog and I was the uninteresting thing he was supposed to be watching.

I have to give it to Creed really, he’s smart. ‘For my own safety’ he’d said, it’s obvious what Hunter's purpose here is, to keep an eye on me and make sure I don’t escape under any circumstances.

Too bad, it only had me thinking a lot more, I’d planned on waiting Creed out and slowly seducing him. He’s tough, but I’m not blind. I can see that I have some sort of effect on him and I had every intention of utilising that weakness as a means of escape, but things have become a hell of a lot more difficult with the towering mass of man watching me and possibly reporting every single thing I did back to Creed.

I’ll have to double my efforts. I’ve spent years in a cell, trapped by my own father, I spent years wishing I’d be free while all the while playing submissive and doing everything I could to avoid getting killed, now I’ve found some semblance of freedom and a chance to gain more and I certainly won’t give that up and certainly not to a man almost as bad as Papa.

I had to now speed up my plans and shift them a little to include the guard standing a few feet away, which meant putting aside my unnecessary fear of him and trying my hardest to charm him to compliance as well.

I took in his bored features again, he clearly doesn't want to be here and I could work with that.

With his eyes still on me I shut the book and cleared my throat first. He doesn’t react, but I can sense leaned forward a little so he could hear me better.

“So…” I started. I’m not exactly sure what my intentions were with that, but it’s better than shooting subtle, curious glances at him all day.

His lips remained sealed, and if anything his gaze became more hostile.

I let out a long sigh and leaned further back into the high-backed couch I was seating on.

“At least try to say something back,” I murmured.

He still didn’t reply. It was like talking to a brick wall.

So I was stuck with a silent, intimidating guard dog, how nice.

“Really? Nothing?” I asked with a slightly offended tone.

He straightened from the wall and a jolt of fear shot through me, I tampered down the feeling before he could see it on my face.

I waited for him to move, maybe he’d march over to me and finally say every vile thing he’s certainly holding himself back from saying, maybe he’d attack me and strangle me until the life drained out of my eyes, maybe he’d cuss me out and drag me by the hair the way pap sometimes would from within the bars.

My heart starts to race at the many scenarios that I come up with, and I gripped my book a little tighter, ready to chuck it at him and run if need be.

Except, he didn’t approach, didn’t speak, he merely kept his eyes pinned on me as though he could use his gaze to peel back every layer of my skin and reveal every nasty thing underneath.

“It’s rude to not reply when someone is speaking to you…” I tried again, this time he sighs and runs a hand over his face.

He muttered something under his breath and I quickly leaned forward in a bid to grasp his words.

“What?” I folded my arms, beyond ready to push this man to his breaking point. “I don’t want you around either, but here’s the difference between me and you. I’m trying to be courteous and you’re being rude!”

“For f**k’s sake,” he hissed. I grin at the sound of his voice, even though the way he’s looking at me has my alarm bells ringing.

“There, you see! Talking isn’t that hard,” I rested my head on my palm and put on the most friendly look I could muster. “I don’t think we’ve introduced ourselves to each other, I’m Coralie and you’re…”

“You know my name,” he hissed back.

“Yes, but you didn’t volunteer the information, besides there’s a lot more in getting to know people than just knowing their name,” I said pleasantly.

“We don’t need to know each other, I’m here to keep you safe not to be your friend,” he counters, his tone was completely devoid of any emotion and I had to fight to keep my smile in place.

It’s not like I want to be your friend either, I ball my fists in my hand, I was half tempted to just throw my book at him in hopes that it would fix his foul mood, but I have a feeling he won’t appreciate that.

“You don’t want to be here do you?” I decided to just be more direct. “You don’t even seem to want me around Creed either.”

He didn’t reply.

“Look,” I was practically at the edge of my seat at this point. “You don’t like me and I think you’re rude, not a good combination at all. So with that in mind, why don’t you just take your leave and let me enjoy the presence of my own company.”

Lord knows I’m better company than he is.

He looked a little amused this time and for a moment I hoped that he’d just say yes and I’d be free to plan the rest of my escape in peace, but of course, he shut that thought down with a small sneer and the harsh words that came out of his mouth next.

“You’re right about one thing, I do not like you,” his eyes were like ice. “But Creed wants you around and he wants me to gaurd you, so that’s what I’ll do. I know what you’re planning, and inasmuch as it’d make me happier to see you gone I won’t disobey Creed for that. End of discussion.”

I threw my hands up in exasperation. “You didn’t even consider it.”

“End of discussion!” His tone had me shuffling back into my chair a little, fear curled around my chest like a vice, but I didn't let it show.

He was now back to being a silent, immovable pillar of muscle and malice.

I let out a long string of expletives, giving up completely on social graces, he looked pleased with himself.

I’m going to have to shift the structure of my plans then. But with him constantly watching me, I can sense that things will be very difficult.

“Fine then,” I stood up from my chair and placed my hands on my hips. “Let’s go to the kitchen. I'm hungry.”

He still didn’t speak, but he let out a low grunt and followed behind me.