Page 75 of Ice Rebel

The second I threw open the door, Anthony appeared, his eyes opening wide. “Dude, is everything okay? I heard a big boom.”

“Just fine.” I moved around him, determined to ignore Jagger if he was awake. Which meant he’d better hope he didn’t pick right now to confront me. I wouldn’t go easy on him. Not when my wolf was lurking just under the surface.

“Where are you going? We’re leaving for the game in a couple hours.”

“Yeah, I know. Big fucking deal. Do me a favor. Don’t pay any attention to the shit on the internet.” I didn’t give him time to ask questions or do his usual act of tormenting me.

I rushed down the stairs, throwing open the door.

All I could think about was getting to my Clementine.

* * *

The theater had seen better days, although certain parts of the building were under renovation. I remembered my parents taking me and my siblings here to see The Nutcracker years ago. I hadn’t been inside since. I stood in front, uncertain how to get inside.

I tried the main doors. They were locked, and no one was in the ticket booth. That wasn’t going to stop me. I’d noticed her car parked on the street. She was here and she would talk to me.

There was an alley on one side of the building. There had to be a door somewhere. I tried the first. Locked. The second. Locked. By the time I moved around back, I was prepared to crush the lock with my hand to gain access. Which I could do.

Stronger. Faster. Keen eyesight. Keen hearing. As a wolf I had it all but wasn’t allowed to use any of my strengths unless in a controlled environment.

That didn’t include on the ice.

I almost didn’t bother trying the back door. Thankfully, I did, smirking when I could easily fling it open. I’d barely walked inside when I heard music. Haunting music.

Somehow, I made my way to the back of the stage, finally finding an opening on the side. There she was. The most beautiful woman in the world. Yeah, I could say that. Her hair was down and today she was wearing a purple leotard, her bare feet moving across the stage with such beauty and grace, I wasn’t certain I was breathing.

I’d known she was talented, but this was something else. This was something very special. The song was one Samantha had turned me onto, ‘My Immortal.’ In watching Clementine moving with such joy yet sadness was more compelling than the lyrics had been the first time I’d heard them.

With every spin and every jump, she offered intense emotion. I stood where I was, fearful if I even took a breath I would interrupt her. I’d never seen anything like this before. She was completely letting go, compelling the nonexistent audience to feel every jab of anguish and every moment of sorrow.

As the song and the dance reached a crescendo, my breathing was labored. Something felt different, more intense than before, our connection stronger, even more electric. I was almost in a trance, watching her carefully as she stumbled then flung her arms into the air before falling to the floor, her back heaving.

I wanted to applaud, but I didn’t want to frighten her. Evidently, she sensed my presence, her hands fisting even before she lifted her torso, keeping her head dropped until the last minute. When she finally looked me in the eyes, I sensed confusion but not anger.

Five seconds passed. Ten. The awkward silence was a challenge I didn’t know how to handle.

“That was incredible.”

She tensed, slowly rising to her feet. “How did you get in?”

“The back door was left unlocked. But I was going to smash the lock if I couldn’t find a way inside.”

Just before she looked toward the empty chairs in the auditorium, she shook her head. “Well, you should leave. I need to practice.”

“I know. You have a dance coming up. Right?”

“Yes, I do and it’s important to me.”

“Sam mentioned there might be some talent scouts or something?”

Everything I’d said so far had been a mistake. I could tell by her expression. “Yes, maybe an artistic director of a national dance company.”

“That’s fantastic.” One step closer and her body stiffened.

“We’ll see. My luck hasn’t been very good the last few days. Why are you here?” She folded her arms, closing herself off.

“Why?” As soon as I stepped even closer, she took the same number of steps away. Damn it. She hated me. “Because I wanted to talk to you.”