Page 39 of The Rise

“Then what is it, Hunter?”

“It’s about everything, okay? It’s about everything I never fucking had, and I want to give it to you! Why can’t you just accept it?” I roar before climbing out of the car. I’m halfway up the steps when I hear her slam the car door. I don’t look back, not until I hear her talk.

“How do you know I want it?” I lower my head for a brief second before I turn to face her.

“I saw you that day. The day you came in with those kids. I saw the hurt and the pain in your eyes, and instantly, I wanted to take it all away from you. I sat up that night trying to reason things out with myself. I didn’t know you. I can’t save everyone,but you know what? I can save you, Lana. I can fucking save you, and if it’s the last thing I do on this earth, then so be it.”

“You don’t know me, Hunter,” she sobs this time.

“I know what I see. I know what I feel. I know what I see when I look at you, and that’s everything, Lana! Everything!”

Chapter 18

Lana

His words hit me like a fucking freight train to the chest. I never thought I’d hear anything like that come from Hunter or anyone for that matter. As much as I’ve been used and abused in the past and told I wasn’t wanted, I didn’t think anyone would want me again.

He stormed inside a few minutes ago, and I stood here just trying to catch my breath and my thoughts. I don’t know how to feel or what I should say to him. I don’t know much of anything at this point.

“You know when Gods take a woman, it’s the highest honor,” I hear Hoax behind me. I turn to look at him, wiping my eyes as I do.

“Without their permission?” he chuckles and nods his head.

“Even then. You know what that means when he doesn’t ask your permission?” I shake my head. “It means that he already knew it was going to be you all along.”

“How could he know that?” I ask him.

“You let him in, Lana. You give him tiny pieces of yourself every time you follow his orders. When you care about him, he sees it as more. He feels it as more.”

“But wouldn’t it be better if I agreed?”

“Do you not care about Hunter? I won’t say love because you can’t know that yet, but you care in some capacity for him,” he tells me. He’s right. I do care about him.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Then just be with him, Lana. Hunter had a hard life. He never really fit in anywhere but at Chaos with the Gods. That’s his home. That’s all he knows. Give the man a chance.” He walks past me and heads inside as I take in his words.

After a few more minutes of collecting myself, I walk up the stairs and in the front door and am greeted by Tamsyn and Angel.

“You’re a God! Can you believe it?” Angel squeals as she pulls me into a hug.

“I’m not sure how I feel.”

“You’ll get used to it,” Tamsyn adds.

“It’s just a strange ritual, I guess,” I tell them. That’s when my eyes find his across the room. He isn’t looking at me directly, but I can feel his gaze. It always feels like I’m on fire, and butterflies erupt inside of me. A few girls and a guy stand there talking to him while he takes small sips from a glass.

“You should go over there,” Tamsyn says, nudging me a little.

“He’s pissed at me.”

“No, he’s not. Go over there before Heidi puts her claws in your man,” Angel adds. I nod my head, take a deep breath, and walk across the room toward him. I stop when I come up next to him, but he doesn’t look at me. He continues talking to the girl in front of him and I can’t take it anymore. I turn and start to walkaway when I feel his hands wrap around my stomach and pull me back.

“Who told you to leave?” his voice is gruff and sexy. Why does it affect me the way it does?

“You were busy.”

“Oh, little rebel. I’m never too busy for you,” he whispers against my ear, causing me to shiver.

---