Chapter 4

• Jared
• Jared was lying in his bed with his arm draped over his eyes. His world had fallen apart. Even if it was the beginning of the summer and his bed was fairly warm, his body was freezing cold. How come in a matter of a day, everything as he knew it disappeared?
• Jared had always wanted a family. And yes, at some point, he had hoped it would happen with Amely. But this thought went down the drain a long time ago.
• Something next to him clattered, and he jolted up with a glare. Amely was standing there, her arms limply hanging to her sides.
• “Is that how you always managed to climb to the second floor and come here? You never used the front door. Because you're a werewolf?” he gritted out, his voice full of venom.
• “Yes,” she murmured.
• “I see.” He looked to the side, not bearing the sight of her. “When did it happen?” he asked, his heart thundering in his chest. His child, his own child... He was a father now.
• “On your birthday,” her resigned voice returned.
• “When I told you I didn't want to see you again, but you still came to my room in the middle of the night?” His brows arched up in irony. This was so fucked up.
• “Yes,” Amely whispered and winced, biting the corner of her lip.
• Jared chuckled, but his laughter was filled with pain.
• “Okay, let's go to him.” He stood up and towered over her. “Through the door this time. And no excuses because of your father,” he warned through clenched teeth.
• When they climbed into the car and started driving, Jared looked through the side window and stared at the night sky, dark houses, and passing trees. They started blurring, and flashes of the past appeared in front of his eyes.
• Almost two years ago
• “So, she invited you again?!” Parker laughed and kissed the cheek of his girlfriend.
• The streets were starting to get filled up with people, going to the regular Saturday fun. And here Jared was, also headed to the place he dreaded and couldn't wait to see. It was mindblowing, the way his heart felt.
• “Why? Does she want to use you as a stress reliever again?” Maria joked and fixed her gaze on Jared.
• His guts wrenched at her words, but he remained silent. So what if that was the truth? He was doing the same thing... more or less. The moments he was alone and kept dreaming of Amely confessing her love for him were going to remain a secret.
• “That's how the procedure works—she makes fun of him during the party. Annoys and teases him and after that climbs to his room on the second floor! Just like a bloodthirsty vampire!” Parker joked and huffed a laugh.
• “Or a hungry succubus!” Maria chimed and joined in with his mirth.
• “Yeah, I know.” Jared smiled bitterly. “Women are weird.”
• Parker touched his forearm, and he halted.
• “Don't pretend it's not hurting you, Jared. This is not a healthy relationship, and you know it. Take the reigns and prove to her you're a man. Don't let Amely play you. You're better than that and deserve a better partner than her!”
• “I'll deal with it.” Jared's lips pulled up reassuringly, and he patted his friend on the shoulder. But his smile wasn't believable even to him. “I can handle one woman. I can end it whenever I decide, I don't care,” he said, stubbornly trying to lie and convince himself of that.
• But he did. He cared. He had cared since the first time he saw her in that convertible.
• Jared didn't know what it was, but there was something about Amely... Something about her presence alone that made him want to stick close to her. And he had enjoyed that so much when they were friends in high school. At least until senior year, when something snapped in her and she changed so drastically. He kept searching for the light he used to see in her all those years ago. And it happened. Only when they were alone and in bed.
• His jaw clenched.
• ...
• Jared sat on a chair and grabbed one of the beers on the table. The lights everywhere were turned off, and the only things lighting the space were colorful LED lamps and TV screens. The place really looked like a club. What was it like when it was empty? Loud music was blasting through the speakers, reaching every part of the full house.
• It was making a small headache pound in his head, but Jared tried to ignore it. It was nothing. The evening was just beginning. He wanted to see Amely. And see what she would do. Thinking about the past and the way they were in the beginning put him in a sour mood. He wanted those years back. The woman he saw now only broke his heart in front of people and used his dick for fun when they were alone. At the end of the day, everything she did hurt him. Of course, he wanted to have sex with her, but he wanted it to be as an added bonus in a romantic relationship.
• Jared gulped the beer down and threw the empty can in the trash bin next to the table. He knew this was all stupid. His twisted relationship with Amely was stupid. But why did he keep holding onto it?
• He grabbed another can from the table and opened it. His eyes found Amely's figure on the sofa in front of him and froze on her. There were so many people separating them, but still, she was the only thing he could see. No matter how masochistic it was of him, he couldn't get his eyes off her. His stomach was tingling just by remembering how it felt to touch or kiss her. Her scent and her sharp perfume... He could still sense them in the air and on his body. They were addicting. Just like his drug he couldn't stop taking. Just like the woman he loved and hated.
• Her blonde hair was falling on her slender shoulders and back in stylish waves, and her short dress showed more than Jared wanted others to see. All these short skirts and dresses... They had been a part of her wardrobe ever since he first met her. But then other men's eyes didn't bother him. He didn't feel as insecure as now. He didn't hope something more would happen between him and Amely.
• All the men around were watching, waiting to pounce on her. Amely had always been full of admirers and men that desired her, but most of the time she just ignored them and remained alone. The short, casual flirts she had in high school, most of them to mess with Jared, were also gone.
• Jared chuckled under his breath. They used to do that to each other a lot. But their games who could mess with the other more had started morphing into something twisted and dark, and he was starting to get tired of this procedure. Maybe if he talked to her... just for once seriously talked to her, things could change.
• He glanced at her. Amely was still on the sofa, talking with Mila.
• But even if she had abandoned her short flings, this didn't mean she couldn't have other men she played with in the middle of the night. Perhaps it was not only Jared? He wasn't her only toy?
• This thought pissed him off, and he squeezed the can of beer, the liquid bursting on his hand and dripping on his leg. He shot up, grumbling under his breath, and threw the almost empty container in the garbage bin.
• When a girl, obviously slightly drunk, approached him and tried to wipe the wet part of his jeans, Jared grabbed her hands and motioned for her to leave. He didn't care about casual sex. He already had a partner in crime for that.
• When he looked ahead again, he saw the blue eyes of the girl he wanted, glaring at him. They were full of anger and disdain. The apocalypse inside them immediately put him on edge. He hadn't done anything bad. He pushed the girl away, again reserving himself for her. Even if she didn't deserve it.
• Jared's heart dropped at her intense gaze, and he started walking. His steps were slow, unsure, and the more he got closer to her, the more pulled to her and scared he felt. Could he really talk to her? Here? Now?