RED ROCK SHIFTERS

Chapter Eleven

After we'd finished the call there was an awkward silence.

It was strange because it felt like Jace and I had known each other for years when the truth was that we were practically strangers. I could count on one hand the amount of times that we had spent any time together. It was just strange how it felt so normal yet at the same time extremely awkward. I had no idea what to say to him. What exactly do you say to the man that you once spent an intensely passionate yet tender night with right before you stole his kid?

"Night,"

I gaped at him in disbelief.

"Night?" I repeated.

Was the man not going through what I was going through? Did he not feel this weirdness between us?

"We have a long day tomorrow so you should get some sleep," he suggested. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"It is not that far to Red Rock," I reminded him. I had studied a map and I knew that it would hardly take us all day to get there.

"No, but then we have to go and see my parents and get their blessing," he said. I simply stared at him.

He wanted to get their blessing as soon as we arrived back in town? I had thought that we would have more time than that. I'd assumed that Jace would want to get Luna settled in Red Rock before he approached the subject of the mating ceremony again. I had also assumed that I would have more time to talk him out of it.

"Can't that wait?" I asked trying to hide the panic that crept in at the idea of actually mating with him.

"I told you Izzy. You don't see Luna until the ceremony," he said. I couldn't believe what he was saying.

"I remember. I just didn't think that you were serious," I answered.

"Deadly serious. Now get some sleep," he said. And then the bastard turned over and went to sleep.

Of all the fucking nerve. He dared to lay down the law and announced that I wouldn't be seeing my daughter until the deed was done and then had the nerve to go to sleep as though nothing had happened. Of all the fucking cheek. My head was spinning with all the thoughts in my mind. I couldn't get a handle on what emotion was affecting me more. I was upset that my daughter was miles away from me, confused by my head and heart telling me different things. But the emotion that ruled over all of them was the anger towards the asshole currently sleeping in front of me. He came in to my life and he ripped it apart as though he had that right. He had no right to take everything away from me and then act so calm, as though this was just another day in his fucking life.

It didn't take much to heighten my anger to the level of extremely pissed off and before I even realised what I was doing I had snatched one of the pillows off the bed and was hitting him over the head with it, repeatedly.

Jace jerked awake and snatched it from my grip but that didn't stop me and I simply used my fists instead until he caught hold of my arms and dragged me towards him. He'd sat up sometime during my little attack and he pulled me towards him until I was sat across his lap with my face buried in the crook of his neck. I didn't even realise I was crying until then but suddenly I couldn't stop. I sobbed my heart out until there were no more tears and all I could do was make small noises as I tried to catch my breath.

I had always thought that I was a strong woman who didn't cry at stupid things but I had cried more in the last twenty four hours than I had in my entire life. I hadn't even cried when I was giving birth, I had broken three nurse's hands but I hadn't cried. I hadn't even cried at my first look at Luna. I'd been too exhausted to cry but I had felt my heart swell at the sight of her.