Chapter 7

NINA HAYES POV.

The sound of the thunder rocketing through the roof as I walked down the hallway sent shivers down my tiny frame.

It was cold.

It was dark.

And it was raining.

Three deadly combos every tiny-framed girl like me hated.

My wolf was too weak to keep me warm, and so I relied on the two heavy sweatshirts and raincoats I slid into to protect me.

Its warmth helped greatly, but when I stepped foot outside the school dormitory, all hell rained loose.

I thought of running back inside; no one was supposed to be out in a terrible weather like this.

But the thought of Jace telling Killian about my secret contract with Aiden fueled me.

I forced my way through the storm and pushed forward towards the football pitch.

The rains blurred my sight. The wind staggered me back. With every step I took towards the pitch, the slippery path took me three steps back.

I persevered, fighting with every laboured breath I had, until finally, I wrapped my hands around the first pillar by the entrance.

My phone beeped in my pocket, the vibration comforting my little frame.

‘You’re not here.’

A text flashed on my phone's screen.

The raindrops had soaked my hair, trailing down to my eyes, they blurred the edges of my vision momentarily. My fingertips felt soggy, yet I typed.

‘Just got here. Coming.’

The message ticked twice, and then he saw it.

‘Waiting.’

My heart pounded twice as much as it did as I made my way over there.

A million thoughts reeled through my mind.

‘How could he have possibly found out about our contract?’

‘Did Aiden tell him?’

Just to spite me?

I cursed Aiden a few times, my heart full of heart just thinking of how he played me.

I made it to the entrance in no time, my heart still pumping with anticipation and worry.

The dumpster was just few steps away. It looked dark, damp, and unfamiliar. Not like the little slice of privacy I had once known.

I neared until I stood there.

‘You're not here.’

I quickly texted.

He saw that message too.

I saw three dots dance at the bottom of my screen, and then a text dropped.

‘Turn around.”

Hesitation hinted at my movements, worried at what I would meet. 

The heavy downpour on the roofs of the pitch, the thunder clamouring in the sky, the fearful lightning.

None of it mattered. Not when the noise was drowned out by the sound of my own heart banging against the walls of my chest.

I dragged a deep breath and calmed myself, sliding my heels as I turned to my back.

My jaw dropped to the ground immediately.

‘You like it?’

Jace stood there with an umbrella, a bouquet of flowers, and a box of chocolates.

He was soaked to the shoes, too. The silhouette of his large frame outlined by the wet sweatshirt and sweatpants he had on him.

He neared me.

“Are you impressed?”

A bright smile plastered on his face, his eyes glowing with pride. 

I moved my lips to speak, but nothing came out. Finally, after his third "Are you impressed?” I forced the words off my tongue.

“What is this?”

His eyes rolled to the flowers and then the chocolate.

“What do you mean? Is it not obvious? I'm proposing to you.”

Proposing? To do what? 

Was that why we were here?

Was that why he brought me out in the storm?

I swallowed my fury, forcing my features to relax.

Jace poked the flowers at me. Fresh roses, they smelled wonderful, then he handed me the bag.

“I wasn't sure what chocolate you'd like, so I got you rosemary. I heard they are the best here. I hope you like them.”

My palm itched to throw them away, but I stopped myself.

After he had handed them over, I forwarded the question.

“Why am I here, Jace? Why did you bring me under this terrible storm? What secret are you talking about?”

Jace raised a questioning brow. He guided me into the umbrella, an inch closer to him, which I dreaded.

“I wanted to see you again. Don't you like the flowers?”

“No. It's not that. You said something about a secret. What secret?”

His wicked smile flashes again.

“That was just something to get you out of the house.”

My chest sank with relief. I sighed heavily, my shoulders relaxed immediately. A second later, the anger resurfaced again.

“So… you brought me out here for nothing?” I gritted my teeth. “For goodness' sake, it's fu’cking raining cats and dogs.”

His laughter vibrated through the tiny space we stood in. His hands found my side, he took a step closer. 

At that moment, I noticed his jawline. Jace had a beard, it hid his jawline. A jawline Aiden didn't have.

My eyes traced to his arms that widened to an embrace as he neared me. His arms were thrice the size of mine.

Strong, muscley, veiny.

I felt my throat itch for water. Damn, he looked good.

I snapped from the terrible thoughts in my head. 

‘No more boys, Nina. Remember?’ I nodded to my thoughts.

“Your brother said you looked sad. What better way to cure your depression than a little water splash?”

A water splash? 

Anger boiled double inside of me. I forced my lips shut.

“Be my mate, Nina. You felt our bond. I like you, and I think you like me too. What do you say?”

“No.” I spat forcefully.

My feet turned to leave, but his hands found my wrist again.

I groaned painfully. Jace adjusted his pull.

“Sorry.”

“Let me go.”

“No. I like you. Be my mate.”

“Let me go.”

“No.” I pulled away, my strength a joke to his intimidating build. He jiggled with laughter again.

“A few years back, you used to pull like this. I thought you'd be stronger by now. Guess not.”

“Let me go!” I sneered. 

“No.”

When the nice method didn't work, I thought of something else.

I froze mid-pull, my eyes glowing with excitement.

“I have an idea.”