Chapter 6: Because of One Slap

When Cole got home that night, he must have seen the box in the dumpster.

He came over, furious, and pounded on our door.

“Aurora, come out. We need to talk.”

I opened the door.

He stood in the hallway, his face a cold mask. “Why did you throw away everything I ever gave you?”

“That’s none of your business anymore,” I said calmly.

The fight from earlier was still written all over my face. The moment Cole saw the bruising on my cheek, the sharp edge of his pine scent faltered.

“How is it still this bad?” he breathed, reaching for me.

Echo’s warning was instant and absolute. My shoulders went rigid, my teeth ached, and my body registered Cole as a threat before I could even think.

I took a sharp step back.

His hand froze in midair.

I almost never got hurt. In the past, if I so much as bumped into a desk, I’d run to Cole with tears in my eyes, demanding comfort.

The truth was, I wasn’t afraid of pain. I was clumsy, often not noticing small scrapes until days later.

I just liked being vulnerable with the person I loved.

Cole always said I was spoiled, but he loved that I depended on him. He loved that my wolf trusted his scent implicitly.

Now, all of that was over.

He had never seen me look at him with such coldness, and for a moment, he couldn’t seem to process it.

“I didn’t mean to, Aurora. The way you were talking back to me, I just… I got angry—”

“Since you’re here, let’s get this straight,” I cut him off. “From now on, we act like we don’t know each other.”

His face hardened.

“If we see each other at school, don’t talk to me. Use my full name. Don’t call me Rory. And don’t ever come knocking on my door like this again.”

I started to close the door.

Cole grabbed my hand. He didn’t use his wolf dominance this time, but his touch was still a phantom echo of the slap. His expression shifted from guilt to a confusing mix of anger and bewilderment.

“Do you really have to take it this far? If you’re mad because I hit you, I can apologize. But don’t you think this is a little extreme?” He searched my face. “What if you regret this?”

“I won’t.”

“Why?” he demanded, his temper fraying. “Just because I accidentally slapped you once?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice clear and steady. “Because of one slap.”

Cole fell silent.

“Fine,” he finally bit out, his voice tight with anger. “If this is what you want, have it your way.”

He let go of my hand and stalked away.