Tainted Romance

by Simone Elise

  “I meant it in a general kind of way. Will you just forget I even said it? It’s not a big deal.”

  “Considering you looked like you wanted to murder me when you said it, I would say it is a big deal.”

  She slammed her locker shut. “Well it isn’t, Harris, now would you just back off. I’m not in the mood to fight with you about something that isn’t important, ok!”

  Yeah, and she totally didn’t have a problem with me. I arched my eyebrows at her, and she huffed, throwing her bag on her back, and pushed past Blake and headed down the hallway.

  Apparently, the conversation was over.

  ***

  ALLIE

  “He makes me furious, not to mention, I nearly spilled the secret today.” I paid the cashier and turned to continue talking to Jace. “I tell you now, he is going to be the death of me.”

  “Maybe you should tell him? He could help influence a change,” Jace offered.

  “I’d rather swallow razor blades.”

  Jace laughed.

  We stepped out into the night air and it hit me as if I walked into a brick wall. Zane.

  I looked up, and there he was with a girl I didn’t know.

  I guess I was with a guy he didn’t know. Maybe she was new to the pack, or maybe she was his new girlfriend. Either way, it didn’t sit well with me.

  I sighed internally. Why did I have to have this connection with him?

  I could ignore him or…

  “Hey, Allie.” Zane stuffed his hands in his pockets and stopped right in front of us.

  “Hey, Zane.” I had to admit I was a lot calmer than when I last spoke to him but, then again, it mightn’t last long.

  “Good night for a walk.”

  “Yeah, I was just saying the same thing to Jace.” I awkwardly brought Jace into the conversation. For some reason, I didn’t want Zane to be jealous. “Jace, this is Zane. Zane, this is Jace.”

  They shared a handshake, and I felt somewhat more comfortable with that.

  “This is Rebecca. Rebecca, this is Allie.” Zane introduced the blonde, and I pasted on a fake smile and took her hand.

  “Rebecca has just moved into town,” Zane added.

  I am guessing my first guess was correct. There was a new wolf family in town. Made sense that she would be hanging out with Zane, but it still didn’t mean I had to like it.

  “Well, I’ll most likely see you at school then.” I smiled at her.

  “Yeah, it will be my first time at a real school, as I’ve been home-schooled most of my life.” She looked nervously down at the ground.

  “Well, don’t be nervous, you have Zane, and well, you know me now too, so you aren’t going in not knowing anyone.” I felt bad for her even though she had something I wanted - Zane’s attention.

  “Well, we better go.” I glanced at Jace. “It was, um, nice seeing you, Zane and Rebecca.”

  I went to walk past Zane when his hands linked with mine, stopping me. “Are we ok?”

  Oh, Zane, if only you really knew how far away we were from ok. “Yeah.” I smiled. “Of course.”

  All these lies were going to kill me in the end. I was sure of it.

  We were halfway up the block before Jace spoke. “Well, you two seem to be alright then.”

  “Yeah, well there is a first for everything, and as long as I keep lying to him, everything just stays the same.”

  “Then tell him the truth.”

  I had toyed with the idea. I had dreamt about it; what it would be like to tell him I remembered him and then reality came crashing back, bringing me back down from the choice.

  It wasn’t an option.

  Chapter Fifty

  I had tossed and turned all night just thinking of the what if. What if I told Zane? Would he believe me? Would it cost us our friendship? Not that we really had one to begin with, but still, what we had was something.

  From the lack of sleep and the feeling of nausea, I really wasn't in any mood to be at school. Yet here I was because Jace threatened to tell dad it was getting too big for me to handle. I still hadn't shifted and, even though Jace remained positive, I knew he was losing hope too.

  I closed my locker door and shifted my textbooks from side to side and then I looked up, and I wish I hadn't. There was Zane with Rebecca laughing and looking like they really were getting on. Great, more competition.

  "Hey, Allie."

  "Blake."

  "You look like hell."

  "Thanks." I turned and looked up at him. Something was different. What it was I wasn't sure, but something was so I couldn't stop myself from asking. "So, what's new with you?"

  He scratched the back of his neck and slowly turned to face me. "Funny you bring that up. I sort of have something to tell you."

  "And?"

  "I kind of. Well, not kind of. I have. I mean."

  "Spit it out, Falcon."

  "Ebony and I are dating. It's official now so whatever we had can't happen anymore. Friends with no benefits."

  That's what it was. He had mated with his mate. Talk about jumping in deep water. Going from fighting to sex, to now forever together.

  "That's great, Blake, I'm happy for you." Was I lying? Yes. Ebony was a bitch, and Blake deserved someone better, but still, she was his mate, so he was going to love her unconditionally and she would love him unconditionally.

  Blake let out a long breath. "You have no idea how nervous I was telling you."

  "Well, I noticed you had a thing for her, so I was kind of expecting it." That was the honest truth because normally mates connect, and they can't be broken apart. Mates are meant to protect each other. The more I thought about it, the more sour I got. Zane didn't do any of those things for me. He let them wipe my memory.

  I gripped my books a bit tighter.

  "Well, I'm happy we are all good so wanna explain to me why you're giving Zane and the new girl dirty looks?"

  "Just surprised to see Zane friendly with anyone apart from his two loser friends." Then I remembered Ebony is one of those loser friends, so I quickly said, "Sorry, no offense."

  "It's alright, you don't have to like her." He winked at me, and we began to walk together through the crowded hallway.

  When we reached Zane and Rebecca, I was planning on ignoring them, but she had other ideas.

  "Oh, Allie, hi!" She grabbed my arm.

  "Um, hi Rebecca." I wanted to rip my arm from her grasp.

  "Allie," Zane said friendly.

  "Hi, Zane."

  It was now that I saw something that made me want to spew. Ebony gripping Blake's arm and curling into his side. I guess I should get used to this.

  "Come on, Blake, I have something to tell you." She smirked evilly at him and then tugged on his arm.

  Blake looked at me with an apologetic smile.

  "It's alright, I'll see you in English." I waved him goodbye.

  So, this leaves me in an awkward situation. I glanced between Zane and Rebecca and immediately I was thinking of excuses.

  "So, I might go. Don't want to be late."

  "We're in the same homeroom as I checked. Seeing you and Ebony are the only females I know here. But she seems busy with her boyfriend." Rebecca waited for me to lead her in the right direction.

  It was going to be a long day.

  ***

  I was running. I was running from today. Rebecca and her questions. Just thinking about her and the questions made me run harder.

  "So, Allie, that guy last night, was that your boyfriend?"

  "No, he is just a friend."

  "Do you have a boyfriend?"

  "No."

  "So how long have you known Zane?"

  "Not that long."

  Zane gave me a disapproving look at this point. I wasn't lying. When I lost my memories, I lost him too. As far as he was concerned, I had forgotten all about him.

  "So, you two," she glanced between us, "Aren't a couple, or
been a couple, because you totally have that couple vibe."

  What did I say to that? Nothing. I let Zane handle it.

  "Allie and I are just friends."

  "If you could call it that," I added. This scored me a questionable look from Zane.

  ***

  I tripped over a bit of wood and went flying head first into the bark. Panting, I rolled over and stared at the blue sky. My earbuds fell out, and it was around about now I wished I hadn't run as far. I was deep in the woods and a long way from mom's house.

  While I was laying here staring at the clouds, a strong scent hit me. It engulfed me.

  Zane.

  Why hadn't I picked up on it before?

  Then I heard the cracking of twigs. I glanced to my right, and just out of the corner of my eye I spotted him.

  The big black wolf.

  Should I pretend to be afraid?

  I slowly stood up, keeping my eyes locked on his. He took a step out of the shadows, and if I didn't know it was him and that he wouldn't hurt me, I would be running. I'd be running for my life.

  He came closer.

  I took a step closer to him, putting my hand out.

  If someone were watching this, they would be thinking I was putting my hand out to get eaten.

  Finally, he was out of the shadows and in the clearing, barely a meter away from me. Knowing he wouldn't hurt me, I closed the gap and put my hand into his thick dark fur.

  He wasn't afraid of my touch, and he didn't pull away. Instead, he just let me pat him.

  Without thinking, I started talking. "God, you're huge. What kind of wolf gets this big?" And I meant it because normally wolves are smaller, but Zane was soon to be Alpha, so it made sense why he was so big and strong.

  "No-one would believe me that I've seen you." I sighed. "If only you knew the whole truth."

  Just before I said too much, there was a low growl. My head snapped around and standing there were three wolves. They weren't pack wolves. They were free wolves, like me.

  Before I moved anything, Zane knocked me back behind him. Ok, we were in trouble. These wolves wanted blood. They killed for sport, and an Alpha would be a prize. Zane lowered himself to the ground ready to fight.

  He knocked me back again and growled as if saying stay behind me. God, Zane, I wasn't stupid, but sitting on the hard ground wasn’t exactly comfortable.

  There must have been something in my expression because he dipped his head and licked the side of my face. Yuck, but sweet as well. I scrambled back behind a tree just in time as a red wolf jumped for Zane. Zane fought him off, but the other two came at him at the same time.

  They rolled around in the dirt, Zane biting and snapping at them, but they had him pinned and then it hit me - hard.

  They could kill him.

  One bite to the neck and that was it, and they were trying hard for the death shot. He needed help. Again, the red wolf snapped at Zane's neck. The other two wolves were pinning him down, and every time he threw one of them off, it would come back for more.

  It was now that I realized the most obvious. It wasn't gravity holding me to the earth, it was Zane.

  If something were to happen to him, I would lose my gravity.

  I'd lose him before we even got our start.

  I ran towards them, and, without knowing what I was doing, I flew into the air, changing. It was painful and all-consuming. When I landed on all fours, I ran to Zane, taking the red one by the neck and hauling him off Zane's neck.

  The two brown ones backed off slightly, and then once Zane was on his feet, he charged them. Flinging them from side to side. Throwing one into a tree. It didn't take long for them to retreat. I thought Zane was going to charge after them, but he didn't. He froze and slowly turned around, his teeth showing and growling - at me.

  Oh my God, he doesn't know it's me. Come on, Zane, remember what I looked like. I didn't know how to change back, and I had no link with him to tell him it was me.

  He was angrier at me then at the wolves that charged him. Then it hit me. He thinks that I attacked me. He thinks I've killed Allie. If I didn't change back, he was going to kill me. I could run, but he would catch me and kill me so I dropped to the ground and lowered my head. I wasn't a threat.

  He snarled.

  Come on, Allie, change back. Focus on it. If you don't, he will kill you. I closed my eyes and calmed my breathing and then the next thing I knew I was staring at my hands. Scooting back, I hid behind a tree.

  "Zane, it's me, will you calm down and stop snarling at me!"

  Great, now I was naked and in the forest with Zane. Today couldn't get any better.

  I stuck a glance around the corner, and there was one very stunned wolf. Feeling I could change again without focusing, I rounded the corner. He was just standing there completely stunned. Playing with him, I nudged my head into his chest. When he still didn't move. I licked the side of his face, and he shook his head, waking up from his stunned state.

  Now the real questions were about to begin.

  Chapter Fifty-one

  My last glance at Zane was him standing there stunned, and I wasn't waiting for him to snap out of it so I ran and normally I wouldn't have got away from him so easily, but he was stunned. So, I took advantage of it. I pulled a towel off the washing line at the back of mom’s house and wrapped it around me.

  I sneaked back inside and, lucky for me, mom was fast asleep. I took a deep breath in when I closed the back door behind me.

  Shit.

  He knows.

  Now, what should I do?

  ***

  He wasn't at school.

  I hadn't seen him, and I was now at my locker so I had made it this far.

  I was pulling out my Social Studies book when the locker slammed hard in my face, just missing my fingers.

  What the fuck?

  And then I went cold.

  I inhaled, and that was all I needed.

  Darn.

  "You and me. Now."

  "Um, I'm kind of busy, Zane."

  Then he grabbed my elbow and dragged me along behind him. People were staring, all thinking what's he doing with her. I wasn't in the popular group so why would Zane Harris have anything to say to me.

  He slid open an empty classroom and let go of me when he closed the door.

  He slowly turned around, and when he did, it was like a punch to my lungs.

  Those eyes.

  His temper was only just under control.

  "How long?" he spat out while flexing his hands.

  "A while."

  "How?"

  "My dad and brother gave me an injection that undid what you did to me." I put the book down on the table and sighed. "I wanted to tell you but then time passed, and I didn't see the point anymore."

  "See the point! SEE THE FUCKING POINT!" He was fuming. "YOU ARE MY MATE! I've been going through hell without you, and here you are keeping it from me."

  "So, don't go on with the ‘I'm your mate’ bullshit. You let them wipe my memories. YOU LET THEM TAKE EVERYTHING FROM ME!"

  "You were sick. I didn't get a choice."

  "Well, I'm better now," I huffed, feeling ready to throw something across the room.

  "So, you're a free wolf?"

  "Yes."

  "An outcast?"

  "Whatever you want to call it."

  "I thought your father was dead?"

  "Turned out he just didn't like mom."

  "Does your mom know?"

  I laughed dryly. "No."

  "Who does?"

  "Dad and Jace."

  "Who is Jace?"

  I rolled my eyes. "My boyfriend."

  He narrowed his eyes at me.

  "Aww for God's sake, Zane, he is my brother. You met him the other night!"

  "Right." He rubbed his chin. "Well, this changes things."

  Changes what? What was he thinking? He didn't honestly think I was going to
go back to the pack after being free!

  "No, it doesn't. We aren't connected. You can do what you want, and I can do what I want so you have my permission to date whoever. Hell, marry them for all I care. Just leave me alone."

  "That isn't going to happen."

  "Yes, it is."

  "You are coming back to the pack and dad will reconnect you. You are no outcast or free wolf. You are my mate, and my mate will stay by my side."

  "Zane, listen to yourself. The whole pack knows what happened to me and if they find out I've been a free wolf or an outcast, they won't ever follow my command, and with you stepping up taking your father’s position, it would just be a nightmare. They wouldn't follow you."

  "You don't know that."

  "Oh, come on! Zane, I lived in the pack, and I know what they thought of free wolves. I'm not stupid."

  "Fine. They don't need to know you were a free wolf. We will just tell them you were sick and now you are better."

  "You forget one thing."

  "That being?"

  "I hate the pack. I hate the rules. I hate the chain of command. Alpha's rule is law, and I can't just give up on my freedom now I've had a taste of it."

  He stared at me, those big black opals just staring through me. I swallowed hard and took a step back.

  "You, Allie, are my mate. No-one will have you but me, and when I'm Alpha no one will dare say you don't belong."

  I chewed my bottom lip. "You can't do this to me. It's whiplash, Zane. You fought it. I fought it, and now we are separated, and I think it’s what's best for us now."

  He crossed his arms. "You could have been killed last week. You can't fight."

  "How do you know I can't fight?"

  "You skipped every training session, Allie. I'm not stupid."

  "You actually took note of that!"

  "You were my mate. You would have a target on your back from the beginning. If people wanted to hurt me, all they’d need to do is hurt you."

  I was overwhelmed. He kept saying the word mate. I knew I was still drawn to him, but if I joined the pack, I wouldn't even have the slightest chance of breaking free, and then it hit me.

  Do I want to break free from him? Do I really want nothing to do with him? My eyes slowly widened, did I love him?