Chapter 216


    Chapter 216 – Silent Treatment


    3rd Person


    As soon as Sinir left Roger and Cora alone, the human turned towards the door, determined to flee.


    They’d talked about the mating ceremony for the better part of an hour, but as soon as they finished


    making their ns, Cora made a break for it.


    Before her hand could touch the door knob however, Roger’s voice stopped her in her tracks. “Oh so


    you’re back to ignoring me, are you?”


    Cora stiffened, turning back to the newly-minted Beta. “You got my sympathy when your brother was


    dead, but now that we know Dominic is alive, I don’t see any reason to pretend.” She answered with a


    shrug, trying to push away the memory of having the huge wolf’s arms around her. Of course, that was


    much easier said than done – her mind was already carrying her back to that emotional night, and it


    was nearly impossible to forget the way her heart had raced when he touched her.


    Roger’s tears gradually slowed as Cora held him, breathing in her delicate scent and letting her gentle


    touch tame his rabid wolf. Soon his heaving breaths were low and steady, and Cora’s soothing


    murmurs fell quiet. It shouldn’t have been so electrifying – to hold a grieving man this way. But as the


    worst of the storm passed, the more intimate the embrace seemed, and suddenly Cora was so terribly


    aware of Roger’s powerful body flush against hers that she could scarcely breathe.


    She felt as though his hands were scalding her through her clothes, and his warm breath fluttering over


    her neck roused butterflies in her stomach. Gooseflesh rose on her arms as he emitted a soft rumble of


    appreciation for herfort, and Cora wondered why her mouth suddenly felt so dry. Even though the


    big wolf had been vicious and unhinged mere minutes before, Cora felt safe and content in the circle of


    his arms, and more rming yet – she realized she didn’t want him to let go.


    That was thest straw. As a doctor Cora was used to touching people constantly, and in the midst of


    the refugee crisis she’d done more than her fair-share of hand holding. But no one had ever blurred the


    lines of personal and professional this way, evoking deep emotions she should not be feeling –


    especially not for a man who infuriated her as much as Roger.


    Cora extracted herself a bit too abruptly, but she attempted to cover her actions with a hasty


    cough.”You’d better let me take a look at your feet.” She suggested, ncing at the debris-strewn floor.


    The wolf’s blood mingled with the ss and splintered wood and Cora wasn’t sure how to even cross


    the wreckage, but Roger lifted her into his arms and carried her through the worst of it, ignoring her


    protests.


    “What are you doing?!” She’d eximed, wriggling in his strong grip.


    “My feet can’t get any more beat up than they already are – yours can.” He exined, hitching her


    closer.


    “I’m wearing shoes!” Cora countered, rolling her eyes.


    “Well you can’t ever be too careful.” Roger answered easily, though she thought she saw the corner of


    his mouth twitching. He carried her into the bathroom and reluctantly returned her feet to the ground,


    but he didn’t release her immediately. Instead he leaned her weight against him, as if worried she might


    not be steady without his support.


    Cora pulled away, bing increasingly flustered. “Have a seat.” She instructed, searching through


    the cabs and extracting first aid supplies. Roger settled on the edge of the bath and patiently waited


    for her to finish her search. If she’d felt brave enough to look over at the wolf, Cora would have seen


    the hungry way he followed her with his dark eyes, or noticed the smirk which twisted his lips as he


    listened to her pounding heart and racing pulse.


    Trying to still her shaking hands, Cora sprayed warm water over the wolf’s torn feet, wincing when she


    saw all the ss shards imbedded in his soles.


    “How were you even standing?” She inquired.


    “It helps that I’m very drunk.” Roger answered, his eyes locked on her lovely face. He was finding it


    very difficult to control himself with the beautiful human, especially given the way she’d stood up to him


    so courageously. He knew it must not have been easy for her, and though part of him was proud, her


    skittishness was thoroughly provoking his wolf’s prey drive.


    Cora’s knees were weak, but the familiar motions of her work helped keep her on bnce. She


    methodically extracted the ss from Roger’s feet with sharp tweezers, then cleaned and bound the


    wounds with careful precision. ‘There.” She said, wiping sweat from her brow, even though the


    temperature in the room was low. “You should stay off of those for the rest of the night.”


    “But how will I get to my bed?” Roger inquired, arching a brow Cora didn’t like the sultry note in his


    deep voice, and she nced in the direction of the bedroom. “I think you’ll find your bed is in pieces. I


    think maybe you should sleep in the tub.”


    She rose to her feet, cleaning up her supplies, and Roger’s heart sank. He didn’t want her to leave, in


    part because he enjoyed herpany far too much, but also because he simply didn’t want to be


    alone. Roger mped his eyes shut, not wanting to remember the pain which drove him to wreak so


    much destruction. “I’m sorry for the way I behaved earlier.” He said, catching Cora’s hand before she


    could get away.


    Cora frowned down at him. “I’ve seen worse.” She answered honestly, “But I think perhaps you


    shouldn’t be alone tonight.”


    “Is that an invitation?” Roger questioned hopefully.


    “My medical opinion.” Cora corrected. “The same I would give anyone in your state.”


    “Everyone I care about is in the same condition – or thereabouts.” Rogermented, feeling very sorry


    for himself. ‘They shouldn’t have to deal with me on top of everything else.”


    Cora studied him closely. They were in an opulent pce with dozens of servants and guards. Finding


    someone to stay with the wolf wouldn’t be difficult – even arranging a new room for him would take little


    more than the wave of a hand. So why was she so tempted to offer her ownpany? Why didn’t she


    want to leave him? Why was she so bloody tempted to feel his touch again. “I could stay with you.” She


    blurted, before she could think better of it. “If you like.”


    Roger blinked up at her, surprised but pleased beyond belief. “Really?”


    “As long as you behave yourself and don’t get any wise ideas.” Cora answered, notching her chin up.


    “I think we have plenty of proof that wise ideas aren’t my forte.” Roger replied, gesturing to the


    demolished suite.


    “You can say that again.” Cora snorted, sweeping her gaze around. “But I’ll be damned if I’m going to


    spend the night in this death trap. I’ll ring downstairs to borrow a wheelchair and then you cane to


    my room.”


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    ‘Thank you, Cora.” Roger squeezed her hand, but Cora pulled herself from his grip and crossed her


    arms over her chest. ‘You don’t know what this means to me.”


    Cora’s cold expression wavered, a sh of genuine empathy bleeding into her features. Still, she didn’t


    let her guard down. “I mean it, Roger. No funny business.” She stalked away before he could reply,


    giving him a delightful view of her retreating backside.


    “Ah, so that was just pity, was it?” Roger questioned, calling Cora back to the present.


    ‘That and my oath as a doctor,” she shrugged. “I couldn’t exactly leave you bleeding and practically


    suicidal.”


    “U-huh, and I suppose you hold all your patients that way?” Roger pressed, closing the distance


    between them. He didn’t stop until he was towering over her, and the delectable scent he’de to


    love spiked with adrenaline. “And let them sleep in your bed even though you insisted they stay on the


    couch?”


    “Only the ones who are giant cry babies like you.” Cora bit, resting her hands on her hips


    “Come on, admit it, Cora.” Roger purred, stroking a lock of hair back from her face. ’You’re warming up


    to me.”


    “Don’t be ridiculous.” She insisted. “I showed you a bit ofpassion in a time of need. That doesn’t


    mean I’ve forgotten your past crimes.”


    ‘You’re the only one who hasn’t.” Roger reminds her, sidling closer. “I’m not saying I deserve it, I just


    find it curious that you can’t move past things that your sister and my brother have forgiven. After all,


    they were the targets, not you.”


    “All that means is that I hold a higher standard for my sister than she would for herself.” Cora argued,


    backing away until her shoulder des collided with the door. She froze when she realized she was


    cornered, nervously licking her lips as Roger continued to prowl forward.


    “I have a different theory.” Roger shared, resting his hands on either side of Cora’s head. “Would you


    like to hear it?”


    Cora shook her head, not able to find her voice.


    ‘You like me.” Roger dered, enjoying the way her eyes dted with surprise and anticipation. ‘You


    don’t want to, but you can’t help it. But instead of dealing with that fact, you’ve turned me into a


    monster.”


    Anger and fear warred for dominance in Cora, even as heat pooled in her stomach. “I have news for


    you.” She hissed, fire zing in her veins. “I didn’t have to turn you into anything. You helped Damon


    set this war into motion. You targeted my sweet, innocent, pregnant, sister because you couldn’t handle


    coming second to your brother. You’re trying to rewrite yourself as being deep andplicated and


    tortured, but all you truly are is a little boy with a fragile ego and major mommy issues.” Cora pushed at


    his burly shoulder, and Roger took a step back, eyeing her warily. “If I’d known you were going to twist


    things this way I never would have shown you the ounce of humanity I did. But let me be clear, I won’t


    be making that mistake again.”


    Without another word Cora turned on her heel and stormed out. Roger listened to her pounding heart


    as she retreated down the hall, and though she didn’t know it, the sound stayed with him for the rest of


    the day, and well into the night.