The Found One

Chapter 25

Izzy POV

The shower had been running when Hayden dropped her off at their room with a nudge and a wink. Sitting on the end of the bed her mind was a chaotic mess, thoughts tumbling over each other

The sound of the bathroom door opening broke her out of her troubled thoughts, she had been so engrossed she missed the water turning off. Glancing up from where her hands laid limply in her lap she was met with the sight of Rowan's bare chest.

She frowned when the sight of his perfectly chiseled and still damp flesh did nothing for her, even as her eyes travelled up taking in his shoulders, strong jaw, soft lips, damp hair curling around his ears there was no reaction. No flutters, skipped heart beats, flushes of colour – nothing. Her frown deepened.

A pair of black jeans hung low around his hips, his feet bare as he ran a towel over his head, Izzy cocked her head to the side trying to read his mood.

He seemed – restless. Agitated.

"We'll be leaving in a few hours. I just need to go over a few things with Maleco."

"Rowan-"

"I want you to stay in here. I'll have Hayden and Derek, and Liv stay with you until we depart."

"Rowan-"

"Even with them here I don't want you leaving the room. Just stay here and stay out of trouble."

"Rowan!" She tried again, this time letting her voice rise, demanding his attention.

"What Madeline?" The exasperation in his tone made her roll her eyes, her fists clenching to stop herself from trying to pummel him.

"We need to talk about what happened." She said, her mind filling with thoughts of the stage, the wolf charging for her, Rowan ripping out his throat.

"No we don't." His voice was cold and flat, she flinched. He DID NOT talk to her like that. Others? Yeah. But not since Vance's office had he spoken like that with her. Pain flared in her chest and she had to bite back the sting of tears in her throat. I will not cry. I will not breakdown in front of him, not again.

"Yes we do."

"I think you've done enough talking Madeline. I may have indulged you before, but don't let that make you think that you have a right to dictate what I do, or who I am. You are alive only because I decide it."

Any words she had dried up as his sunk in. She felt like he slapped her. She'd rather he have hit her. The words, his words, the cold emotionless tone bit deeper than any punch or claw ever could. She felt the tears gathering on her lashes, only pure willpower kept them from raining down her cheeks. She stared at his tense back, refusing to even breath, her entire being hoping that he would spin around, face breaking into the lopsided grin that made her stomach flip, and tell her it was all a joke.

Her mind rebelled as he took a stiff step away from her, his hand shaking as it pulled open the door. He didn't turn to fling the last daggers against her heart. "Your human Madeline and this isn't your world."

After the door slammed behind him, she gave into the numbness pulling at her. Letting it ease her into oblivion, her body sinking sideways until she was curled on the end of the bed, eyes open and unseeing, mind quiet, the only thoughts the words he had said, playing over and over.

Even when the others cautiously entered, she stayed still, ignoring their attempts to penetrate the numb haze she willingly surrendered herself too. The numbness the only thing keeping her heart from flying apart into a million pieces.