Tainted Romance

by Simone Elise

"Allie, don't just leave," Ryder said to my back as I walked up the small path heading for the gate.

  There was nothing to say, and there was nothing Ryder could say to fix it.

  Zane and I are what we are - broken.

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  You would think confronting the problem would somehow help fix things, but when it came to Zane and me, it only made things worse if not dead altogether.

  Zane wouldn't look in my direction. He wouldn't walk anywhere near me. Literally, he would take the long way and be late for class instead of accidentally bumping into me.

  I slumped over the back desk, taking the whole desk up. This was the class that I truly hated because it was the smallest class I had with Zane which made it close to impossible for me to not overhear their conversation.

  "Told you it wouldn't work." Taylor’s loud voice boomed around the room when he entered.

  "You're full of negative," Ebony scoffed behind him and following her was King Pin Head himself, Zane who was doing the gentleman thing of holding her books as well as his.

  "He's not worth your time, Eb." Zane's voice had a softness to it, and I hated hearing it. Why did he have to be nice to her?

  "I hate those Falcons," Ebony grunted before dropping herself in a chair and putting her feet up on the other. "If he thinks I'm going to be some puppet on a string, he is wrong."

  "All jokes aside, but it is still assuming." Taylor smirked, taking a seat opposite of her.

  "Oh, it is fan-fucking-tastic." She glared at him.

  "At least Blake doesn't want to destroy your life." Zane's words sliced through my heart. I had never planned on it working out the way it did.

  I wasn't the one fully to blame either, but of course, Zane wouldn't see it through my eyes.

  "Just the girl I've been looking for." Chase wandered over to my table, grinning and being happy which was everything I wasn't.

  "Why?"

  "I needed my daily dose of depression and misery."

  "Hilarious." I pulled my feet off the chair so he could sit down.

  "Seriously though, Allie," he lowered his voice, "When is this going to stop? You can’t keep acting like a zombie."

  "Drop it, Chase."

  "Allie, come on, even Blake is worried about you and your mom.''

  "And you think Art Theory is the best class to bring this up?'

  I began to feel the anger creeping through my blood. I wasn't in the mood for a fight as I was mentally and physically exhausted.

  "Allie, you aren't eating, you aren't sleeping, you have been changing, and the doc spoke to your mom about you losing control over your wolf. You're in a bad state, and you need help."

  Furious was one word that came to mind, but it was the burning red pepper rage that blew the top off my calm expression.

  "I don't care anymore. I don't care if I lose control of my wolf. Hell, I don't even care if that side of me dies because I feel like I am human anyway. If you really wanted to help, you would leave me alone."

  I snatched my books off the table and stormed out, ignoring the teacher's rant about me leaving, and pretended I hadn't seen that worried look on Zane's face.

  Why couldn't they just let me suffer in peace? Wasn't like I was ruining their life by not being a bubbly flying fairy. No-one could fully understand what I was feeling right now, and I think that came a bit down to myself; because I didn't really know how I felt about it either.

  The only thing I knew without a doubt is that it hurt knowing Zane and I wouldn't ever have a friendship.

  Who would have thought that would be something I would be upset about a few months ago?

  If only I could turn back the clock.

  ***

  One would think if you had a shit day at school when you came home, things would turn around or at least you could chill out. Instead, when I unlocked our front door, I was greeted by a nagging mother.

  "Allie, we've been summoned." She waved an official piece of paper in my face. "You know what this means! This means they know! This means we are going to be killed or worse run out of town!"

  "I don't see how being ran out of town is worse than dying." I personally wouldn't care if they kicked us out; well, at least that was what I wanted to think.

  "Allie, go get changed and put a smile on that sad face of yours because we are going to have to convince them that we are worth keeping around."

  I dragged my feet up the steps. There was no chance in hell I was putting any effort into impressing them.

  ***

  I was bored within minutes of stepping into the 'meeting,' which surprisingly didn't involve Zane. I had expected him here cheering for me to be kicked out, or at least voice his opinion that I shouldn't be around here cause I didn’t care about his pack.

  "Allie, are you even listening?" Mom snapped her fingers in my face, bringing me back to the boring boardroom which was filled with the elders and in all their wisdom, Alpha and Mrs. Alpha, and then there is mom who had been playing the crying poor-me card since we entered.

  "What was the question?" I asked, trying to sound sorry for not listening, but I failed at it.

  "You have disconnected from the pack, and it would be mandatory for you to remove that shield if we let you and your mother stay in the pack," Alpha Harris explained slowly. Do I look like a toddler learning to understand?

  Anyway, they are the stupid ones.

  "What block are you talking about? That old bracelet thing Jace clipped on me?" I glanced between mom and Alpha Harris, and he nodded his head.

  "Yes, that blocking shield needs to be destroyed as we can't have you relaying information back to your father and brother, without us knowing. By you wearing that bracelet, you could be spying on us right now."

  I held both my wrists up. "I'm not wearing a bracelet. I haven't been for weeks since I made Jace take it off. Are you telling me that is why all of you, including Zane, have been treating me like a…a… traitor!"

  I wasn't angry, I wasn't furious, I was ready to kill. They had wasted my time.

  "Then why can't we connect with you?" one of the elders asked.

  "I don't know! You guys are the all-knowing, wise ones, figure it out."

  "Allie, calm down." Mom pulled on my arm. They were just lucky my inner beast wasn't awake to be part of this argument. Actually, why wasn't she? We were under attack, and I was fighting by myself.

  "I'm calling this meeting to a close," Alpha Harris announced and then turned to mom. "You and I need to speak. Allie, you are free to leave."

  Everyone rushed off until I was the last one standing there, still thinking the same question. Why hadn't my wolf come to defend me? I knew we were disconnected but had it reached a different level now?

  Suddenly I was given a whole new thing to keep me up all night to think about.

  ***

  I hadn't brought my own car which meant I was stuck here until mom finished things up with Alpha Harris. I snuck out the side door and went to sit in my favorite garden. I had just reached the pond when I realized who was sitting next to it.

  I was going to turn and sprint but once again was too late.

  "You don't have to avoid me, Allie." Zane's voice floated through the stilled night air.

  Turning back around, I continued on my path to the pond.

  "Thought that was what you wanted."

  He shrugged his shoulders. "Thought you hated me." He gave me a blank side expression. "But then you did show up to the meeting, so that's something."

  "Don't see the connection."

  "Dad wants your memory linked back with ours, so you showing up at least means you're considering it."

  "Zane, I haven't been wearing that bracelet for weeks." I don't know why but my voice had come across softer and calmer - what this man does to me.

  The frown on his forehead was tight until his expression slowly faded with understanding and sadness in his eyes.

&nb
sp; "What is it?" I suddenly had to know what he was thinking right now. Darn, if my wolf were awake I would be able to read his mind.

  "Did dad take your mom aside to talk to her?" Suddenly he was panicked and jumping to his feet.

  "Yes, he said something about talking details," I said, watching him sprint away from me.

  Why wouldn't anyone tell me what is going on?! Everyone else seemed to have put the pieces together but me! All I wanted was answers.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  ZANE

  "You can't do it!" My voice was demanding and rough as I burst into dad's office. I knew what they were up to. They wanted to numb her wolf completely.

  "Son, you need to calm down." Dad used his 'calm and controlled' tone on me. "This isn't crystal cut."

  "So what if her dad is a traitor. I'll still have her. Don't numb her from me," I found myself begging for it not to happen. I knew dad's distaste for the fighters was strong. The thought that one of their breed would bind with me would be enough for him to want to kill Allie's wolf.

  "It isn't about that." Allie's mom’s tearful face came into view now. "We haven't numbed Allie’s wolf or her connection to the pack. It has broken by itself." Her tears began to fall quicker.

  "That's because of that stupid bracelet," I snapped. Why wouldn't they have thought of that? Wouldn’t that be the first point of call?

  "She isn't wearing it, son." Dad's large hand landed heavily on my shoulder. It was the sorrow in his eyes that caused my blood to run with ice.

  "Allie’s dying," I muttered, dumbfounded and…well, there weren't words that could be strung together to explain what I was feeling right now.

  ***

  It was all planned down to the last second. Allie hadn't even picked up on it that her funeral was approaching. I found myself wanting to spend every moment with her, and she wanted to spend every moment away from me. That was Allie.

  Couldn't change her.

  But they were going to.

  They were wiping her memory. Her wolf would be completely dead within days, if not hours, and then the doctor will inject her heart with a human venom that will let her live a full human life.

  But she would lose all her memories about me, about her mom, the Falcon brothers - everything would be gone. She would be blocked from this world altogether.

  All the werewolf memories would be gone, and she would only remember the basics. Her mom, school, apart from that, every connection she has ever had revolving around her wolf would be wiped.

  And once it happened, I would lose my mate forever, and that had me sitting here with silent tears sliding down my face as my heart sliced into pieces.

  I was going to lose her.

  ***

  ALLIE

  "If you look at me one more time like that, I'm going to throw my plate at you," I said deadly serious at my mother across the table. She was acting like it was our last dinner together or something.

  I found her crying in the kitchen when she was making tea. She blamed it on the onions, only there weren't any onions in the dinner. Even Chase and Blake were being weird, looking at me every split second like I was going to grow another head.

  "Will someone tell me what is going on?" I put my knife and fork down, not being able to take it any longer.

  They shared a look with each other, and for their luck, the doorbell rang.

  "When I get back, I want answers." I pushed myself away from the table and headed for the front door. Who would be coming around here this late?

  Opening the door, I immediately got my answer. It was someone that was unwelcome any time of the day.

  "Zane, what are you doing here?" I gave him a bored look.

  When he lifted his head, I was taken back. He looked shocked.

  "Zane, are you ok?" I didn't care if my voice was soft and caring, and I didn't care I was now touching his shoulder, trying to gain his eye line. "Just tell me what's wrong, and maybe I can help?"

  Tonight was getting weirder by the minute.

  His eyes soaked in mine and he slowly reached out, giving me time to pull away if I wanted to and he touched my cheek.

  "You're beautiful, Allie. Smart. Caring. Courageous. I'm sorry I didn't see that sooner," he said in a voice that made me think he was saying goodbye to me.

  "Zane, have you been drinking?" I asked seriously because I couldn't think of any other reason he would be here on my doorstep trying to undo everything he has ever done to me. Normally I would be able to smell the liquor on him, but my connection with my wolf wasn't as strong as normal.

  "I just wanted to…" His voice broke, as he stared me in the eye. "See you I guess."

  "Couldn't wait until second period tomorrow?" I asked with a smile. I felt relaxed around him at the moment. I was letting my shield down because he clearly wasn't in a state to pull out the knives.

  "No, I couldn't." He smirked, rocking on his heels with his hands in his pockets.

  I had to admit that he was one hell of a good-looking guy. I actually felt proud for a moment for fate choosing him to be mine, even though on most days we wanted to strangle each other.

  "Night, Allie. I won't keep you from your mom."

  I shrugged my shoulders. "She's seen my ugly mug since I was born, so surely she wouldn't be missing me." As soon as I said that, I swear I saw the curtains move out of the corner of my eye.

  "Anyway, I won't hold you up." I rocked on my heels. "I'll see you tomorrow, Zane, in second period."

  I turned and headed back inside before pausing and turning back. "Hey, if you are still on speaking terms with me tomorrow, save me a seat in the class."

  His lips twitched into a smirk, and he nodded his head, but it was the grief in his eyes that had me confused.

  But then again, not one part of tonight has made sense.

  Chapter Forty

  TAYLOR

  "Pack meeting on a Thursday? I wonder who has caused trouble this time," I complained to Ebony as we pulled into the pack house parking lot.

  "Well, it can't be Zane, as he is too hell bent on that Winters chick."

  "Her name is Allie."

  "Her name is Trouble." Ebony didn't hide her distaste for Allie. "Can't you see what she is doing to him?"

  I wasn't stupid. I knew Allie was causing his pain. "Well, maybe it's time we stepped up and forced him to talk to her."

  She scoffed.

  "For someone who is struggling to deal with her own mate, you sure are being cold-hearted about this," I gave her a pointed slap of reality as surely she could see the similarities between the two.

  Her eyes instantly narrowed. "Don't bring him into this."

  I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, don't be such a bitch about Zane and Allie, and then I won't have to."

  I unclipped my seat belt, but she had already slammed the door and left, not waiting for me. I swear that woman had become more hormonal since she found her mate.

  I slowly dragged my way up to the pack house. A compulsory meeting never meant anything exciting.

  ***

  I didn't know what to say.

  I didn't know how to bring it up, so I just sat beside him, staring aimlessly at the lake. I hadn't ever seen him this withdrawn. Hearing Allie was dying must be killing him. Here we were all expecting a boring compulsory pack meeting, and it was all about Allie and how we were now under new orders to never mention what we were.

  There is even a scripture that is read when a pack member is to be forgotten. Once said, you couldn’t talk to that person regarding anything to do with our werewolf side.

  Apparently, her memory was being wiped tonight, and as of tomorrow, she will only see us as people she goes to high school with.

  She will still know our names, but that's about it.

  I swallowed sharply, trying to break the silence. "It's not your fault this happened, Zane." I gave him a sideways glance. I knew he would be beating himself up about this. Blam
ing himself.

  "I've lost her," he mumbled under his breath as small teardrops slid down his cheeks.

  "Look at the bright side, at least you didn't mark her then this would be a hell of a lot harder."

  As soon as the words came out, I knew I had said the wrong thing.

  His expression and eyes darkened.

  "Zane, I didn't mean it like that." I planted a hand on his shoulder. "All I wanted you to know, was I am here for you."

  The anger didn't drain from his eyes, but something told me the anger he was holding onto was directed at himself.

  ***

  "Is it just me, or does the air smell better today? The grass is greener and the sky brighter." Ebony smiled broadly walking beside me, taking deep breaths in soaking in the 'better air.'

  "Get it out of your system before you see him." I pulled her to a stop. "I mean it, Ebony, Zane won't be able to take it so reel that shit in and keep it to yourself."

  Letting go of her arm, I walked off on her. I swore I heard her mutter ‘if only she were as lucky.’

  Scanning the front yard, I couldn't spot him anywhere. Maybe he was going to give the first day a miss. That would be a good idea. Just as I thought that, my eyes landed on him.

  "Hey, Zane!" I called out and jogged to catch up to him.

  He looked better than last night; although you could tell the man hadn't slept.

  "Can't deal with Ebony's crap today," he muttered while taking long strides. "My parents told me it would be best for me to not see the year out."

  That meant they didn't trust him to stay away from her. If there was one quality everyone knew about Zane, it was he prided himself on keeping his word. If his parents thought that he couldn't stay away from Allie, Zane was probably thinking the same thing.

  "Come on, man. It's a big school, so doubt you will even spot her today." I slapped him on the back while holding the door open for him, and that was when everything I just said meant nothing.

  A flushed and stumbling Allie slams right into Zane. Her books slapping and spreading across the hall, and of course, she had to have been drinking a can of orange which went all over Zane's white unit t-shirt.