by Simone Elise
Chapter Fifty-two
Jace was sitting in the lounge room reading. I was sitting in the opposite armchair. Jace's face was serious, and it still amazed me a girl hadn't put a claim on him yet. Sure, he had admirers, but he never followed up on it. I wondered if he was waiting for his mate. I frowned. That was something I had found.
I remember the teacher coming in and telling Zane and me off for being in the classroom by ourselves. Zane had disappeared down the hallway by the time I walked out. Not that I knew what to say to him. Could I honestly tell him I didn't want a relationship with him when everything in my body tells me otherwise?
I loved him. It wasn't the hormones telling me that or the fact he was drop dead good looking. He could have his pick of the girls, but somehow fate had put us together.
"Stop staring."
I blinked, Jace breaking my thoughts. "Um, sorry," I muttered and redirected my glance at the open fire.
"Come on, out with it, what's up with you?" Jace closed his book and gave me a serious glance. "You have been on another planet since you came here."
"I'm not on another planet."
"Tell me what you're thinking about then."
"Zane." I sighed and rubbed my temples. "I think…well… I know it wasn't the plan, but I'm…"
"In love with him?" Jace said smugly. "Dad and I expected as much."
"What?"
"Come on, Allie, your first change. The thing we have been working on for months, only happened when your mate was threatened. You might be a free wolf, but your wolf has decided she wants her mate. Now you just have to come to terms with it."
"It's not that easy."
"Yes, it is. You love him. He loves you. End of romance story."
"Jace."
"Allie."
"I can't be an Alpha's wife. I don't know anything about leading, and I hated the pack life. How can I just forget all that and seal my fate with the man that won't only be Alpha, but will always have power over me."
"Yes, but you're forgetting something." Jace leaned forward his eyebrows arching. "You will have that power over him too."
I scoffed and crossed my legs. "I doubt his love for me will blind him from his pack."
"No, but it will frame how he leads them. You're everything to him so, Allie, I think it's time you faced the music."
"I don't think I can."
"Dad's already accepted the fact you will go to them. The only person stopping you is you."
"And the past," I pressed. "It's not as easy to just forget he let them wipe my memories. He didn't protect me then."
"I'm guessing there wasn't much he could do."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Since when have you been on his side?"
Jace shrugged his shoulders and picked up his book. "I'm on the side that is going to win. Fact is you love the guy, and he loves you. It's only a matter of time until you end up together. Now shouldn't you be getting home?"
I glanced at the time. "Yeah, mom will be wondering where I am."
I sighed and got up. Jace was right about a lot of things, and I would love to say he was wrong about this, but like always he was right.
I loved Zane. Now I just didn't know what to do.
***
I felt incredibly stupid. Standing here on the porch. I was going to turn and run when the front door opened.
Right. Looks like I'm not getting out of it.
"Who are you?" A girl I had never seen before, eyed me down. "If this is about the street parking, we already put in a permit."
The pack house was always filled with strangers. It must be weird for Zane to live with them.
"Um, no. I'm, um, am here to see Zane. Zane Harris."
"Oh." She frowned. "I'll just be a minute."
She closed the door in my face, and I heard her walk off. I took this time to lean against the porch pole and watch the rain and lightning. The storm that was predicted was incredibly beautiful. It was calming to watch, and I was so wrapped up in watching it and hadn't heard the front door open or close.
"Allie."
I spun around. My hair damp from the rain, wearing just jeans and a hoodie. I wasn't dressed to impress, and I wasn't even wearing make-up. Instead, I had come here straight from dad's. Jace's words, ‘you will end up together’ just rang in my head. He said I had to 'face the music,' well, this was me facing the music, and boy it was loud.
"Hey." I smiled.
Zane was standing there, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Even in this cold, I could bet he was warm. The white t-shirt was so tight, it clung to his muscles, defining each one.
"What are you doing here?" He tilted his head to the side watching me, trying to figure me out.
"Facing the music." I smirked and leaned back against the pole. "Someone close told me something that made me think I should talk to you."
"Well, you are the last person I expected to see tonight." He put his hands in his pockets. "So, what are you here to talk to me about?"
I took a deep breath in. I could do this. "Um, well, it's…not easy to say."
"Try me."
"I'm in love with you." I exhaled quickly and then inhaled just as quick. "I know I'm not going to make the perfect Alpha Wife. I know I don't lead with steps to follow in. I basically will suck at this, but if fate thinks that you and I are the perfect fit, I'm not going to fight it anymore. That's what I came here to tell you. I'm not fighting it anymore."
I wasn't going to fight the longing or the wanting. I wasn't going to turn down opportunities to be with him. I wasn't fighting the process anymore.
Zane just stood there. Not making a sound. Not moving. Not replying to me.
I sighed. "I guess I'll let you think about it." I took a step closer to him and planted a small kiss on his cheek. My lips were on fire, just from the small touch. "Night, Zane."
I turned and took the steps. I guess I had stunned him. I ran through the rain until I was at my car and when I pulled away, I glanced and saw Zane still standing there. Just watching me. I guess after this morning, he would never expect me to do a 360, but I had, and as I drove away, I didn't regret it.
Chapter Fifty-three
I had been keeping my distance, but not on purpose but because Zane had always seemed busy. We had classes together, and he would always arrive late and sit at the back, even though I always made sure there was a seat next to me empty. He just never took it. Then outside of school, he had football and friends so I didn't see him then either.
I was beginning to think him and I wasn't on the same page. In fact, I might have wanted the pretending to be over and just be up front, but he didn't. I guess I needed to accept that. Tonight was a pack meeting, and it was the first time I would be making an appearance. Everyone knew I had got my memory back.
Alpha Harris said it was best if we just pretended nothing happened so that was what I was going to do.
I was putting my books in the locker when I got a sore leg. In fact, it was aching. I looked down at it. I hadn't hurt it, so why the hell was it aching? I ignored it and closed my locker. One more class and the day was over. The lunch bell rang, signaling the end of third period. One more to go.
"Hey, Allie."
"Um, hi Blake."
Blake was one of them that hadn't accepted the fact I had my memories back. He seemed betrayed by it all.
"So, you going to the game tomorrow night?"
"The football game?"
"Yeah."
"No. You?"
"Yeah. Ebony wants to watch Zane play."
Ebony. Another subject Blake and I disagreed on.
"Cool." I couldn't think of another thing to say to him.
His face softened. "You should go."
That was left field. "Why?" I couldn't think of one reason to go to the game. Zane would be there, and I doubted he would want me there. My leg started aching again.
"Because Zane will be there." His words were d
irect. "And you should be there to support your mate."
That's where this conversation ends. I turned and walked away. I thought I was walking away from him too until I noticed him at my side.
"Allie, there is no reason to fight it anymore. Trust me. It's great."
I froze and spun around. My anger getting the best of me. "It might be great for you, Blake, because your mate wants you, but in my case, my mate doesn't want me so excuse me if I take opportunities not to be embarrassed or ignored."
With that said. I stormed off to my last class.
***
Once again, I left the seat next to me empty, and, once again, Zane was late and ignored me; literally walked past me, like I was just like any other person. I shouldn't be surprised.
The class started, and because my hearing was better, I was picking up on other conversations around me, and I had picked up on a conversation between Ebony and Zane.
"How was practice?" Ebony said.
"Same. Hurt my leg but… Jake pushed me into the goal post," Zane answered.
"Did it hurt?"
"Fuck yeah. I'm still limping."
He hurt his leg. I had hurt my leg. What were the chances? I drummed my pen on the table. I needed to get out of here. Being this close to him was hard. I scooped up my books. The teacher was busy with another student. He wouldn't even notice if I slipped out. I slid the door open and walked out.
I was halfway up the hallway, heading towards my locker.
'Where are you going?'
I spun around. Who the hell said that? The hallway was empty.
'I said where are you going?'
Zane. It was Zane's voice. Inside my head!
'Zane?'
'Yes. Where are you going?'
'How the hell are you in my head?'
'We bonded when you kissed me. Now, where are you going?'
Bloody hell. I didn't know this would happen. I didn't know that if I kissed him, I would bond with him. Maybe that's why I had been wanting him so much. Everything clicked into place. Right down to the sore leg.
It was common knowledge that when Alpha feels pain so does his mate, although, in this case, we weren't really mates. Still, the same rule applied.
'Leave me alone,' I shouted in my head then pulled my earbuds out from my pocket. I wouldn't be able to hear him over the music, and he wouldn't be able to hear what I'm thinking. I needed to talk to Jace about how to put up a mental block because, right now Zane would be feeling everything I felt and hearing everything I thought.
I didn't even realize. No wonder he hadn't bothered with me. All this time he was picking up my emotions and prying into my thoughts.
Chapter Fifty-four
"I'm telling you. He was in my head!" I yelled at Jace, who really wasn't getting how much this was freaking me out. "He was talking to me!"
"Well, you started it by kissing him." Jace crossed his arms. "I'm guessing you are telling me this so you can learn how to put up a mental block."
"Yes!" Finally, he got the purpose of my visit.
"Well, I can't help." He shrugged his shoulders and made my mouth drop open.
"Why the hell not!"
"Because I don't know how to block out your mate. Alphas are known for it. There isn't really a way to tune him out, but you can see the good side to this."
"That being?" I said dryly.
"You can hear what he is thinking too."
"Fan-fucking-tastic."
"Come on, Allie."
"I have to go." I picked up my bag.
"Why?"
"Pack meeting." I looked at him with a less than impressed expression. "And now I get the pleasure of knowing Zane can just access my thoughts any time he feels like it. Heck, he could be listening to this conversation right now!"
"Allie. You will feel when he is listening."
"Because I felt it all the other times." I rolled my eyes and walked to the front door. "Someone should have warned me this could happen."
"Well, how were we meant to know you would go around kissing him?"
"IT WAS ON THE CHEEK!" I grabbed the front door handle. "Thanks for all your help."
Jace stood there smugly. "Have fun at the meeting."
"You're joking, right?" I opened the door and walked out.
"REMEMBER TO THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS!" he yelled from the porch.
Yeah sure. He could joke about it. He didn't have someone else in his head.
***
The meeting was as dull as I remembered they were. Alpha Harris went on and on about something. Mom listened intently to every word because any word from Alpha Harris was law, to her anyway.
Zane sat up the front on stage and pretended to be interested. Unless he really was interested, then someone shoot me because my mate likes boring conversations.
I was on my phone with an earbud in just in case Zane wanted to listen. All he would hear was me singing along to Metallica.
"Allie." Mom whacked my leg causing me to be back in the moment. I pulled my earbud out.
"What?"
"Alpha Harris is talking about you."
"Why?"
"Shush. Just listen."
"I'd rather not."
"Allie."
"Mother."
"At least pay attention."
I sighed and looked up. By the time I did, he wasn't talking about me anymore. I wondered briefly what he had said, then decided I didn't care.
'You could at least pretend to be interested.'
Zane. In my head again.
'You could at least get out of my head.'
'You bonded us.'
'I didn't do it on purpose.'
'Cam is going to ask you out. Say no.'
'Who the hell is Cam?' I didn't know this person, so how would they know me?
'He is staring at you right now. To your left.'
I glanced to my left and found a pair of brown eyes watching me. As soon as our eyes locked, he looked away.
'How do you know he is going to ask me out?'
'He was asking me for advice. Say no.'
'Why? You date. Maybe I should try it.'
'Allie. Don't tempt me.'
'Leave me alone.'
'Tell me you will say no.'
Alpha Harris closed the meeting, and everyone got up and started to move to the dining hall. Mom was up and whacking me to move. I rolled my eyes. God forbid someone else talk to Alpha Harris before mom.
I dragged my feet walking to the hall. I was nearly there when someone stopped me.
"Hey."
So, this was Cam.
"Hey." I didn't need to see Zane. I knew he was watching.
"So, you got your memories back." He stuffed his hands in his jeans and rocked on his feet, with a smile on his face.
"Yeah and somehow I don't remember you." I wasn't being rude, but this was the first time I had seen this guy or meet him.
"Yeah, I've always been meaning to say hi to you."
"Well, you have now." I smiled and started walking. Not surprised whatsoever, he walked next to me.
"So, what school do you go to?"
"The one everyone goes to." I frowned at him. "In fact, why haven't I seen you there?"
"Well I was new, you had just lost your memories, and I couldn't introduce myself."
"Right."
We walked into the dining hall. The table was covered in food. So, these things hadn't changed a bit.
"So, I was wondering. Well, I was hoping that if you weren't too busy, we could…"
"Allie, can I talk to you." Zane was at my side, and then rudely grabbed my arm and dragged me away.
"Hey, I was just about to get something to eat!" I half yelled at him.
"You were going to say yes." He let go of me, now we were in the corner, and he had lowered his voice.
"So."
"So, you are…
"I am your what, Zane? Go
on, finish that sentence." I wanted to hear it out loud. I wanted him to admit it. This bond we had should be bringing us closer together. Instead, he was fighting it. "I told you I wasn't fighting this anymore, so do you really think I was going to make you jealous?" I crossed my arms. "In fact, Zane, you are the one fighting us so when you wake up and have made up your mind, let me know."
I shouldered past him and walked back to the hall. He could think on that for a while.
Chapter Fifty-five
I didn't get upset often. In fact, I never got upset. I couldn't remember the last time I cried, but I was crying. Right now. I wiped a tear from my cheek. Another fight with mom. She was wearing me down. I wanted nothing more than to just run away and leave all my problems behind.
Zane.
Mom.
The pack.
School.
All gone.
Then my thoughts turned to a subject that always upset me.
Dad.
How could he just leave me like that? How could he just leave his only daughter with a woman obsessed with the cult we lived in?
My bedroom felt smaller than usual. I had to get out of here. I needed air. Screw that, I needed a drink - something strong. I needed to escape.
My mind drifted back to Blake approaching me this morning about wanting to have sex just to get his frustration out about Ebony. Well, at least I knew why he wanted to have sex with me. He wanted revenge and he wanted to hurt Ebony so I talked him out of it.
I slipped on my high heels, changed from a t-shirt and shorts into a t-shirt dress, and grabbed my phone and purse.
Mom was asleep. It was after one in the morning on a Friday night, so really it was early Saturday morning. Pack meetings always go forever, and we only got back an hour ago.
I took the keys off the hook and headed outside. The night air was warm and welcoming on my skin. I could bathe in this.
I unlocked the car and started it up.
So, where to first, a club or a bar? Either way, I was going to forget about my troubles for one night. Just one night. I was going to let myself have fun or, at the very least, escape.
***
ZANE
What the hell was she doing? My fingers were pressed against my temple. The pain was killing me, but it was nothing compared to what my mind was doing. Running wild with what she was doing.
