by Simone Elise
“I thought maybe you didn’t care about me.” Xavier looked slightly hurt as he spoke. “Good to know otherwise.”
“As you always say, you’re my mate.” I gave him a pointed look with a smile. Placing my hand under my chin. “So what are we going to do now that supper is ruined.”
“Well,” Xavier’s face twisted slightly with debate. “We could pick up where we left off.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s where we have to stop. It’s not like we can go any further.” My smile dropped as I noticed Xavier’s change in expression. He wanted to take this further.
He opened his mouth to speak, but quickly spun around, his face suddenly looking shocked. “Emily.”
“What?”
“Emily’s here.” Xavier’s eyes darted to me before staring at the kitchen door. Sure enough, the doorbell rang, resonating through the house.
“You have to be kidding me.” I rolled my eyes. Of course she would turn up. It was always my luck.
“Can you, umm…” Xavier looked guiltily at me.
“Hide?” I scoffed and finished the sentence him.
“I was going to say stay here. I will try to keep her in the foyer.” Xavier looked uneasy, but didn’t say anything else as he quickly made his way out of the kitchen, closing the door behind him.
Gritting my teeth, I glared at the closed door, knowing I would hear every word.
The front door opened, and I tuned into the conversation that was happening a few rooms away.
“What are you doing here?” Xavier’s voice was sharp, which surprised me.
“It’s my home.” Emily’s voice was dull, and sounded tired. “Last time I checked you’re also my husband.”
Xavier remained silent. When I heard the front door close, I knew she must be in the house now.
“Xavier, look we have to talk about this.”
“And you thought tonight was a great night for that, did you?” Xavier’s voice was dull.
“I’m sorry I haven’t answered your calls and I wouldn’t let you in the hotel room every time you came by. But you had to understand I wasn’t ready.”
Wait, he has been trying to contact her? Maybe he wanted a divorce after all.
“Emily, I just…”
“Look, I read your letter. And you’re right. I should trust you. And I know you would never hurt me or the boys.”
My stomach began to fall. Surely I was just hearing this wrong and once again thinking the worst of him.
“I would never hurt you, Emily. And the boys mean everything to me.” Xavier’s voice had softened and sounded caring.
“What do I mean to you?” Emily’s voice was raw. “How are we going to face this?”
“Together, like we always do.” Xavier’s voice was breaking my heart with every word he spoke. “You know, Emily, I love you.”
Maybe I should storm out there and face the lying prick front on. I got up from the stool and made my way to the kitchen door.
“Good, because I was beginning to think that the whole soul mate thing might have been real and maybe you and I aren’t meant to be together,” Emily said.
I paused with one hand on the kitchen door, wanting to hear what Xavier had to say to that. He knew I would be listening every word, which just made this so much worse.
“The soul mate thing is true.” Xavier’s voice was clam and smooth. “But I haven’t found mine, because I think you are my human form of a soul mate. And I only can hope that if I ever find my soul mate, she understands that you are the most important person in my life and always will be.”
I closed my eyes and was ready for the heartache to kick in, but for some reason it didn’t.
“So you are saying you might find a soul mate?” Emily’s voice rose a little higher with alarm. “And you will have to leave me?”
“My soul mate will understand that you at this point of time are everything to me.”
Slowly I turned my back to the kitchen door. Tears ran down my cheeks. He wanted me to wait for her to die. I now knew what his plan was. He wanted to sleep with me tonight, ensuring that our bond became full and that I could never separate from him, and he would somehow still manage to stay with Emily.
How could his human love for Emily be stronger than his love for his mate? The only explanation I could come up with was that she had carried his children and that had placed a bond between them that wasn’t natural. But even knowing that it didn’t stop the tears from falling.
The feeling of rejection consumed me.
Dan
I fell back onto Chloe’s bed and glared up at the ceiling. Was she ok? was the only thought running through my mind. And I felt guilt once again when I realized it wasn’t my mate I was wondering about. It was Chloe.
Xavier was a prick and he didn’t deserve her. It wasn’t fair. Chloe was everything any man could ask for. Yet he treated her like second best. I turned onto my side and my eyes fell on the picture next to her bed, a picture of her and me.
I smiled weakly, remembering back to the night it was taken. I wished she had never found her mate. I wished that if she had to find out who her mate was, I wished it were me.
Groaning, I rolled back onto my back and glared at the ceiling again. Why wasn’t she home yet? I had only stayed because I knew there was be a small chance she would come home tonight.
Why was I so focused on Chloe? She was out with her mate, while my mate was dying in a hospital bed. I groaned out loud again when I thought of Maddison. Why did I have to find her? And why did she have to make everything worse by dying if I don’t mate with her?
For some unknown reason, I was in love with Chloe, and I couldn’t stop the feeling that came over me when I thought of her. I only went to see Maddison because she asked me to and I was kicking myself for going, because my stupid wolf took control of me and I couldn’t stop myself from touching Maddison.
I sat up quickly. I knew I was going insane. I couldn’t stop thinking about Chloe and Maddison. Why wasn’t Chloe home yet? When was she coming home? Maybe she wasn’t coming home at all. I felt disappointed as I thought that. It was likely.
I couldn’t stop the overwhelming thought though that she didn’t belong with Xavier. She belonged with me.
Chloe
I changed back to my human form next to the pack house, quickly whipping a large shirt off the line. My clothes and the shoes I wore before were now torn into pieces back on a dark street near Xavier’s house. I wondered for a moment if he would be surprised to walk into the kitchen and find me gone. Though now that I think of it more, he would mostly likely be happy. After all, Emily wouldn’t see me that way.
Slowly I crept up the house stairs. This night wasn’t ending the way I wanted it to. Or how I thought it would.
I didn’t know what to do next. I didn’t know how or where to go from here. It was ripping me apart. How could my mate do this to me?
My hand paused on my doorknob before I turned it. A scent drifted from under the door.
Dan.
I flung the door open quickly and shut it softly behind me. My eyes adjusted to the little light in time to see Dan sit up abruptly on the bed.
“Chloe?” Dan was across the room within a heartbeat, holding me in his warm embrace. “What happened? What did he do?” His voice was boiling with anger already.
“Xavier….” I pulled my head from Dan’s chest and looked up into his eyes. His eyes were so caring and full of compassion for me. That’s when I realized it. “Xavier and I are over, for good.”
“You mean you guys had another fight.” Dan sounded disappointed.
“No we are over.” I leaned back in his arms so he could see it in my eyes. “He chose his wife and I chose to not be second.”
Dan looked me up and down for a few seconds before locking onto my eyes. Finally he opened his mouth. “You’re seriously, you are actually going to let your mate be with a human?”
“
Nature must have made a mistake.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Xavier and I aren’t going to work.”
“He is your soul mate.”
“STOP TELLING ME THAT!” I roared and pulled myself away from him. “HOW DO YOU THINK THAT MAKES ME FEEL?”
“Chloe, just…”
“Don’t you dare say CALM DOWN!” Tears rolled down my cheeks freely, my emotions raw and now on display for Dan. “My soul mate wants me to wait. He has placed me second and do you know why? Because I’m his soul mate and I DON’T GET A CHOICE!”
“Chloe…”
“And then you stand there and remind me that I’m meant to just deal with it because he is my soul mate!”
“I didn’t say that!” Dan defended himself.
“Well, Dan, do you know what I say to nature and anyone else who mutters those words soul mate? Fuck you. Because I will not stand by and be second. I would rather be lonely and die alone, then be second for the man who is meant to love me unconditionally. I would rather have no one.”
“CHLOE!” Dan reached out and grasped my hands tightly, forcing me to look him in the eye. “You will never be alone. You will always have me.”
Sighing slowly, my head fell forward and leaned on Dan’s chest. For tonight I was going to take comfort in his words, even though I knew it could never happen.
Chapter 22
“Dad, why would I lie to you about this!” I crossed my arms, tears still leaking down my cheeks. After all, it wasn’t every day that you have to tell your father your mate wants to use you after his human love dies. “Please believe me?”
Dad frowned slightly and turned to look at Chad, who looked deep in thought. “Well, what can we do?”
“Nothing!” I scoffed, “He doesn’t want me. Dad. Please don’t make me try and work it out with him. I just can’t take anymore.”
“We need to speed up the separation.” Chad spoke up for the first time this morning. “Chloe can’t keep dealing with this.”
“How can I do that when he won’t let me?” I sighed slowly, knowing that there really wasn’t a way out. “I guess I just have to face it. I’m going to be used by him for the rest of my life.”
“How many more weeks of school are there?” Dad looked between Chad and me. When I couldn’t answer his question because I paid no attention to the school calendar, I was glad Chad did.
“Not many. Just over a month. Why?” Chad looked at Dad, as if trying to work out his plan.
“Well, this settles it. You are to attend school till the end of the year, trying to stay away from him. Make little contact. Be polite, but do not stay in his company for long. Then when the school year ends, you and a friend can travel for a full year, not returning until the separation is complete.”
“That should work.” Chad shot me a small smile. “That is, if you still want to go through with it by then.”
“Trust me, there is no way I’m turning back.” My voice was firm, even with a few stray tears leaking down my cheeks. There was no chance I would be going back to Xavier. We were finished and I was never changing my mind.
***
“Oh, hi, Chloe.” Dan’s mother greeted me warmly while holding the door open for me to walk through. “Dan is out, but I’m sure he will be home soon. You can wait in his room if you like?”
“Thanks.” I smiled freely at her before skipping up the stairs, the smile falling as soon as my back was turned. I couldn’t even pretend to be happy, but I knew a little bit of pain was better than a lifetime of it.
“Well, if it isn’t the dumbest girl I know.”
“Hi, Alec.” I opened Dan’s door, not really in the mood for to spar with words with Alec. But before I could walk through the door, a large arm was across it, blocking my way. Sighing, I didn’t even bother to look up at him.
“Move your arm, Alec.”
“No smart comebacks. Are you sick or something?”
I glanced up at him. He actually looked mildly concerned. “Sick of shit. Now move.”
“Having a fight with your mate again, are we?”
My head snapped up at those words, and I glared into Alec’s cold, calm eyes. “What do you mean?!”
“Chloe, Dan’s walls aren’t the thickest. Plus I have the best hearing possible.” Alec’s gave me a weak smile. “If it makes you feel better, I can’t be with my mate either.”
“You shouldn’t be listening to our conversations. And don’t lie to me about your mate. The only reason you can’t be with yours is because you want to sleep around with anything that walks.”
Alec’s eyes turned deadly, the fun and concern wiped from them. “You know, Chloe, you’re more of a bitch than I actually thought you were.” Alec turned his back on me and stormed across the hallway. He stopped at his door and turned to look at me, his eyes still narrow and cold.
“And stay away from my brother. Just cause you can’t have your mate doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have his.”
Alec slammed his bedroom door, and I was left in the doorway of Dan’s room feeling like a lowlife. Maybe Alec was being serious when he said he couldn’t be with his mate.
***
I couldn’t take the feeling of guilt that roared through me as I sat in the darkness of Dan’s room. Finally not being able to take any more, I sat up. But the bedroom door opened at that moment.
“Dan?”
“Chloe?” Dan looked over at me with slight shock as I sat on his bed in the dark. “What are you doing here?”
“You asked me to come over?” I frowned. “This morning?”
“I did” Dan spoke slowly, sounding like he was speaking to himself more than me. He closed the bedroom door behind him before walking across the room and sitting on the couch, his eyes glued to the ground.
“What’s wrong, Dan?” For some reason I felt like I shouldn’t move any closer to him, as if he needed to be on his own.
“Maddison. She’s dying.”
“You mean that she is getting weaker?”
“No, I mean she is dying. Right now.”
My body stiffened. I just couldn’t believe that fate believed that my life didn’t suck enough. Not only was I losing my mate. But I was about to lose my best friend. But this wasn’t about me. In this moment, everything was focused on another girl, who was dying in a hospital bed at this moment.
“Go.” My voice was low. I knew I didn’t have to shout at him. “Go save her!”
Dan looked up at me, tears dripping down his face. “I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” I got up from the bed and went to stand in front of him. “Dan, if you let her die, you will never forgive yourself.”
“I love you.” Dan’s stood up and placed his hands on my hips. “This is the only way we can be together, if I let her go. She’s human after all. The pull is less.”
“Dan, I love you too. But I could never love you as much as she can, and you can’t love me as much you will love her.” I placed a hand on his cheek, wiping away his tears. “Go save the love of your life.”
“I can love you just as much.” Dan shook his head. “I want to be with you.”
“Dan.” I pushed his hands away from my hips. “Maddison is your mate. I never was. We…aren’t meant to be together.”
“We are.” Dan reached for me, but I took a step back. “Chloe, please?”
“So you’re telling me you are going to let your mate die?” My voice hardened. “She only dies once, Dan. You can’t make her come back. Once you lose her, that’s it.”
“I…” Dan’s words dropped off. His face was painted with heartbreak.
“If you can tell me that you don’t love Maddison right now in this moment, then I’ll support your decision.”
Dan’s lips didn’t move, and his eyes couldn’t look into mine. I knew I had my answer and he had his.
“Go, Dan, before it’s too late.” My voice was breaking and I couldn’t keep the tears masked for much longer. Slow
ly Dan made his way across the room and opened the door. He looked at me and I smiled weakly at him before he closed it.
I heard his footsteps run down the staircase, and I slowly fell to my knees hugging myself. Alec was right. I had no right to keep him from his mate, his happiness.
I hugged myself tighter and began to wonder, why me?
***
I don’t know how long I cried on the floor, but I knew it must have hit the hours mark. My legs were dead, and I couldn’t move. And though I had cried for hours, it didn’t seem like the tears would be ending anytime soon.
Every tear I had ever held onto was now falling, and I couldn’t help it. I felt broken.
“You’re going to get dehydrated.”
I looked up through tear-stained eyes to see Alec leaning against the door with his arms crossed. I hadn’t even heard him come in, let alone close the door.
“Sorry.”
“For crying? You’re ruining Dan’s carpet, not mine. Though the noise is starting to get on my nerves.”
“For before, for what I said,” I sniffed. “It was heartless. I’m sorry.”
Alec shrugged his shoulders, but I knew he was still angry about it. If someone had downplayed my breakup with Xavier like that, I would have killed them.
“Come to my room,” Alec blurted out and I frowned up at him, surprised by his sudden outburst.
“Why?”
“Dan will be home soon, and I’m guessing you wouldn’t want him to feel any worse for choosing his mate.”
“Are you having a go at me?” I honestly couldn’t tell if Alec was being kind or nasty.
“Chloe, you did the right thing and, even though it is against my nature, I’m actually being nice to you in this moment. So get up and come to my room before my brother walks in and finds you like this.”
Alec opened the bedroom door and I smiled weakly at him. The hallway light lit the room up a little.
“Alec?”
“Mm?”
“Could you help me up? My legs are dead.”
I saw the dim hint of a smile on Alec’s lips before it vanished. His strong arms lifted me to my feet but my legs were numb. Before I had a chance to see if I could walk on them, Alec had me up in the air and off the ground. Shocked, I wrapped my arms around his neck.
