Chapter 15 THE ASSHOLE
MERRIELYNN.
With just one question hanging on the tip of my tongue, I followed after Cormac with my heart pounding hard in my chest.
I needed to know much he knew, and how far he had gone with his background check on me.
“Wait!” I called, but he slipped through the exit opposite the main one. I quickened my pace, anxiety suddenly gnawing at me. I really hated running after him like this, and worse, I hated that he was ignoring me.
"Cormac, stop!" I called again, staring at his retreating back, but he didn't even glance over his shoulder.
Frustration bubbled up inside me. "How the hell do you know where I live?" I asked in a loud voice when I could no longer keep up.
Now that I thought about it, I was freaking out.
How much had Cormac researched on me?
How much did he know about me, and how far was he willing to go with this revenge of his?
He kept walking, ignoring me still. But I wasn’t going to let him leave without answering my question. Thinking fast, I reached into my bag, my fingers wrapping around my textbook. I took it out and hurled it in his direction.
Boy, the weight of it felt oddly satisfying, and for one moment, I really wished I’d aimed better. But the book missed his head by a breath, landing with a thud at his feet.
He finally stopped, glancing down at the book.
I held my breath, waiting for him to turn around.
I watched him cock his head slightly, before he spun around to face me. With the look on his face, I didn’t think throwing that book was a good idea.
Anger bled into his features.
Before I could think of what to do, he crossed the distance between us in seconds, startling me. One moment, he was standing a little distance away, and the next, he was right in front of me. I held my breath, waiting, but I was so scared. And before I could get a word out, his hand closed around my throat, pressing me back against the wall.
Fear enveloped me like a chill, freezing my thoughts and making it hard to breathe.
My heart raced, pounding against my chest as I met his gaze. In that moment, I felt utterly vulnerable, trapped in what seemed like a nightmare I couldn't escape. How could I have been so dumb to bother a sleeping lion?
Every instinct screamed at me to fight back, but I was paralyzed, caught between the urge to scream and the instinct to stay silent, hoping that somehow, Cormac would just let me go.
My heart raced as he leaned in, his mouth curling into a snarl. "You’re pushing your luck, new girl," he growled as his grip tightened around my neck.
I was going to begin struggling when he added, "Do you want to see what I can do when I've run out of patience?"
I gripped his wrist tightly, swallowing hard as I held his gaze. "I’ve been on the edge of my seat since the day you threatened me," I shot back, trying hard to keep my voice steady despite the rush of adrenaline surging through me.
Cormac’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he watched me.
My breathing became ragged under his scrutiny, and I hated how aware I was of his fingers against my skin. I hated the way I felt paralyzed by our closeness and despite my situation, I imagined him getting closer. What is wrong with me?
The way his voice dropped to an eerie low snapped me out of it. "I don’t know what you think you’re going to achieve by putting up a fight,” he said. “But I’ll tell you now, I’m the last person on earth you want to cross. But you already fucking did, and I’m biding my time until I get the opportunity to ruin you and everything you want so badly.”
I swallowed nervously as those words sunk in, wondering yet again what terrible plans Cormac had for me.
“You can't exist here, in this world,” he continued through clenched teeth. “Especially when you come from nothing. You’re from a broken home, with broken rules and a bunch of screw-ups and rejects. No one wants you guys, so you call yourselves a family, a foster home. But you’re all just a group of people who should never have been born."
Those words stung deeply, but I fought back the tears that burned behind my eyes. I couldn’t let him see that he was getting to me. I had to stay strong; I couldn’t show him my weakness, not now. Not ever in front of him.
His grip suddenly tightened around my throat, cutting off my oxygen, and I felt a fresh wave of panic.
I felt myself slowly rising to my tiptoes as Cormac inched closer, his forehead almost touching mine. "To me, you’re nothing. Just like the world sees all the people from your background. Don’t pretend to be anything more. Do what you’re supposed to, or everyone here will see just how much of a waste you are."
My breath caught in my throat, and I heard the sound of the door creaking open behind me, but Cormac didn’t take his eyes off me for a second. "And don’t you ever,” he bit out, “Ever do that again.”
His warning was in relation to my attack earlier.
I could tell he was dead serious, and I was sure he could tell I wasn’t going to cross him again.
When he finally released me, it was with such force that I instinctively clutched my throat, my eyes wide as I watched him, struggling to conceal the fear that churned inside me.
I spotted Emorie in the distance as she slowly made her way towards me. Cormac's gaze lingered for just a moment longer before he turned and walked away.
I didn’t get a chance to process what had just happened when Emorie rushed to me, her eyes wide with concern. "Are you okay? What were you doing with Cormac? Did he hurt you?"
I could hear the worry and confusion in her voice, and I knew I needed to reassure her somehow.
I realized I wasn’t in any pain, despite how he’d gripped my throat. All I felt was the shock of what had just happened. As I rubbed my neck, I noticed he hadn’t actually choked me that hard. It made me wonder why.
He had always threatened me since I started here, yet he was careful enough not to hurt me?
With Emorie standing there, looking so worried, I figured I needed to come clean about what’s been going on.
"Here goes nothing. I walked in on Cormac and Ms. Elizabeth during my first week here," I began, my voice shaking. "He had me kidnapped and threatened me. And to get back at him, I trashed his car. That’s what led to everything at the assembly."
I breathed heavily as I watched as Em's confusion turn to understanding, and for the first time, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders just by sharing my truth with her.
She tried her damnedest to conceal her absolute shock though.
Damn secrecy. Cormac was an asshole.
I knew that she had heard all the whispers and rumors, but I could see the surprise on Emorie's face as she realized that the rumors were actually true.
I couldn’t bring myself to mention the part about us being mates; it felt too raw and complicated to share right now.
"Cormac has somehow found out where I live," I told her. "Now he’s threatening to tell everyone at school unless I get the wolfsbane for the auction."
I could see the sudden worry that clouded Emorie’s eyes and I could only imagine how much worse the students here would treat me if they found out where I came from.
“I’ll come with you.” Emorie suddenly declared.
My gaze lifted to hers, a flutter forming in my chest.
I didn’t think I’d make a friend to easily and so true in such a short time, but I was suddenly glad that was the case.
She took my hand in hers.
And even though my throat was still pulsing from the feel of Cormac’s hands, having hers in mine was suddenly all the reassurance I didn’t even know I needed..