Chapter 8

NINA HAYES POV

“I said I have an idea.” I insisted as I tried to get his attention fast, my voice forcefully turning calm.

Jace raised an eyebrow. “What's that?”

“How about you leave me alone?”

His eyebrows arched even more. “If that's your idea, then it's a terrible one.”

I ignored him. “We can make it into a deal. You leave me alone and I don't get to tell my brother about this stupid stunt of yours— dragging me out here in this rain like a lunatic!”

I thought my words would hit him like cold water.

I thought that grin on his face would immediately wipe off, he'd apologize and back off, scared of me actually telling my brother about what he had done.

But to my surprise, Jace blurted out laughing.

Sick psycho actually took one look at me and laughed.

He laughed at me with a wound that was deep, despite the rains, I could hear them.

It was deep, it was unbothered, and worse, it was shamelessly loud.

He laughed at me like I was the crazy one for bringing up such an idea.

He laughed so much, I felt ashamed, especially when his teeth flashed under the weak glow of the Field's flashlight.

“I was thinking you'd say something better. Something that'll actually scare me. Your brother?” His laughter rumbled again, “If it makes you feel any better, you can tell your mother about us, too. Invite me over, I’d love to see how the conversation goes.”

Then he ended it with an infuriating smug I wished I could wipe off his face.

Fair enough, I thought. He has more guts than he looks. He wasn't bluffing from the way I saw it; Jace didn't actually care.

My brows furrowed. He wasn’t bluffing. He genuinely didn’t care.

With a sharp exhale, I shoved the bouquet of roses into his chest. Yes, they smelled sweet, amazing. They had no business being in my hands at a time like this.

His fingers curled around them, he took them to his side, and then tilted to my side.

“Why?”

“Because I want you to leave me alone,” I said firmly, my voice low but shaking.

I expected a silent nod and a sharp turn, but Jace didn't move. He didn't step back, didn't flinch, he still had that annoying smirk like I was telling a joke.

“You really want me gone?”

“With every breath in me.” I pressed my hands, shoving light at his chest. He had muscle beneath that wet fabric of his sweatshirt, the storm had made me cold, but touching him, I felt warmth.

Jace was silent for some seconds, and then, instead of moving, he leaned closer than before, lowering his head just enough for the dripping rain to touch my forehead.

“And what if I don't want to?”

My defense kicked in. I pushed harder, enough for my boots to slide across the slippery ground.

I should have steadied, but I didn't. Next thing I knew, the ground tilted in a sudden lurch. I pushed myself off him, but I kept sliding away.

My breath caught when I realized I was going to fall. I pitched forward, heart lurching, scrambling to any surface I could find.

Panic…

And then…

He caught me.

One strong arm looped around my waist, yanking me upright against my embarrassing pose.

The world tilted back in its place, but now, I was much closer to the man I wanted away from me. 

I was inches away from his face.

Too close.

I heard thunder strike, I heard the storm worsen, but yet I heard his breathing.

It was steady. Unshaken and deep.

His scent, it was sharp, it was clean, it smelled male. It wrapped around me before I could push it away.

The more it filtered into my nose, the more my heart hammered. My wolf, fu’ck my wolf… she was so weak, she stirred faintly underneath my skin like she recognized something I didn't want to.

Being this close to Jace was dangerous for me at this time.

It was a stupid mission. A deadly one, fatal, any of the words that mean I shouldn't do it.

Yet, I was.

“Careful.” He murmured with a voice so smooth, it made me shiver inside.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself back to reality. In a blink of an eye, I shoved him again, this time with both hands, before my brain would betray me finally.

His warmth around me was now replaced by the cold sting of rain.

“I'll tell you for the last time, don't touch me.” I snapped, even though my voice was shaky, “Stay away from me.”

Jace didn't protest like I expected him to. At least not outwardly. He just smiled with that infuriating grin as though I was entertaining him.

I turned sharply and then started walking back to the dormitory. My boots splashed through the puddles, my hoodie soaked as it clung to my frail frame.

I really didn't care if I was walking into a pit, I just needed to get out of there, to anywhere he couldn't find me at.

I hastened my steps, rushing back towards the dormitory when I heard my name again.

I pressed my eyes shut.

I should have known he wouldn't make it easy.

“Nina! Hold up!”

I kept walking, ignoring whatever he wanted to say, but seconds later, a hand gripped me tightly.

I swirled around, my fist clenched and ready to fight, glaring intently with malice, “ I told you before, Jace. Let. Me. Go!”

My words fell to a deaf wall.

He didn't, his grip wasn't painful as it was before, but he sure didn't let me go.

I jabbed at him a few times, but his hands were latched onto me like stone. 

“I'm serious! Leave me alone.”

“What part of ‘leave me alone alone’ do you not understand?!”

Instead of answering, he twirled me in his arms and brought me face to face with him. Then his voice lowered, it even sounded gentle.

“I need you to listen to me. Even if it's just for a second.”

I froze. Not because I wanted to, but because I couldn't move. He had locked me in.

“What is it?”

He studied me for a while and then stepped forward, the rain dripping from his lashes.

“Stay with me for thirty days.”

I blinked so hard my eyes ached, “What?!”

“Just thirty days.” He insisted, “Spend those days with me. Give me a chance to be close to you. Allow yourself to fall in love with me in those days, and if by the end of thirty days, you don't love me, I'll grant you any wish.”

I stared at him like he was drunk.

But I didn't perceive any hint of alcohol.

“I'm serious. I'll do whatever you ask, no games, no chasing around you, no teasing you, just spend thirty days with me, and if you don't want me afterwards, I'll leave you alone.”

I broke character laughing, I couldn't help it, he sounded really drunk.

“You're kidding, right?”

He wasn't. He didn't even smile.

The urge to laugh more stopped. I composed my stance again.

“You've lost your mind,” I muttered, shaking my head. “Jace, I don't know if you've noticed, but falling in love is the last thing on my mind right n—

“Because you're afraid?”

I paused. “Afraid of what!!!”

“You're afraid that if you get close to me, you'd want me as much as I want you. That has to be it.”

My forehead wrinkled. Was he thinking out of his butt?

“Listen, you don't know anything about me, I am not scared of you—

“I know enough. You're scared, and that's fine. It means you like me too.”

Infuriated. That was what I was feeling.

If thirty days was what it took to leave me alone, then I would gladly let him waste his time.

Jace thought he could win me over, but little did he know the wreckage his brother had caused.

Now, my heart was made of stone, I was untouchable.

“Fine,” I said with a razor-sharp voice.

“Fine?” Jace blinked.

“Yes. Fine. It's a deal.”

Jace blinked. “Fine?”

“It’s a deal,” I raised my eyes to meet his gaze, squared my shoulders, and flashed a bright smile.

“Knock yourself out, do whatever you want for the next thirty days, but when I don't fall for you, I want you out of my face forever.”

Jace smirked, “Deal. Don't go back on this.”

“I won't.”

Why would I?

I mean, thirty days was a month, a month of enduring Jace. I had survived Aiden for years, which was far worse.

This was going to be easy, right?