chapter 9

“Why did you really miss school? Was it because of us, or me? I haven’t been able to sleep or do much of anything this entire week and it’s driving me insane, and what are you wearing? Devon wants to seriously rip every wolf apart on the field right now because they are all staring at you.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend so let them look” I duck the jab he throws at my face. If it would have landed my nose would be bleeding for sure. I throw an uppercut catching him off guard and it causes him to stumble back slightly.

“Ya, but you have a mate right?” He successfully lands a cross and as I spit out some blood he grabs my arms sending the familiar shivers through me.

“Ellie, I’m sorry! My emotions have been all over the place since the woods and you haven’t been here to talk it through, please give me a chance to just talk to you. Alone” Genuine concern and sadness is plastered all over his face and it makes me just want to pull him in for a kiss. With the mate bond and our wolf hearing we can both sense the feelings inside us. We can also hear our hearts beating faster with each second. Still holding my arms, Colin gets closer to me and whispers into my ear, making me grab onto his arms and close my eyes to keep my knees from buckling.

“Please meet me in our spot at lunch today, give me a chance. Hear me out and afterwards I’ll leave you alone if you want me to.”

My dad blows the whistle letting us know that training is over. It is time to hit the showers and head to school. I pull away from Colin and nod in agreement without saying a word before walking away.

“Our spot, did you hear that Ellie” Leia is full on prancing in my head, I roll my eyes and she flicks her tail at me.

Our spot, I did hear it and my thoughts keep going to what could happen there again today.

Walking into first period a few minutes early I notice that only the teacher and one other student are present. I sit in the back of class and pull out my book. It's from a guys perspective and reminds me that Colin has his own emotions and reasonings. I really should hear him out today.

I look up from my book slightly when I hear the other students coming in. Colin walks in and promptly looks in my direction. He sighs in relief that I am really in class and then heads for his desk. Victoria is the last to come in and looks as if she hasn’t slept in months. I almost feel bad for her, but since we haven’t had the best history I really don’t. She sits down in her seat, which of course is next to Colin. She gives him a pleading look while I let out a low growl. Colin dismisses her, but I can tell it pained him to do so.

The rest of the class and the next few went by per usual and then the bell rang for lunch. I am done with whatever limbo we are currently in so I decide for sure to meet him.

I go to the clearing in the woods with my lunch that I have no actual intention of eating. My stomach is going haywire right now and it wouldn't be such a good idea. I get to the spot and he is already there, pacing back and forth so much I am sure he’s worn the grass out. He looks up at me in disbelief that I actually came and then exhales like he’s been holding his breath since the training this morning. I walk up to him until we were only a few feet away from each other and discard my bookbag.

“I’m really glad you came Ellie.” His voice is so soothing and I desperately want to just have him hold me, but I stand my ground, just smile and listen.

“Look, I don’t know what made you run off last Monday, but Devon and I have been wracking our brains trying to figure it out. Was it something I did or didn’t do? Was it something I said? We were having what I thought was a great time and then you just freaked out and left without a word. To top it off you just disappeared for a week?!” he slowly is getting closer and I am letting him. The memories of what we did are still very fresh in my mind, but so are the words he said. This all is making my head and my heart hurt. I sit down and put my head in my hands. He cautiously sits down next to me and puts his arms around me. He deeply inhales my scent and calms himself down before lifting my chin up for me to look at him. My eyes are now puffy and tears are threatening to leave them at any moment.

“I don’t know what you want from me Colin. I have thought a lot about it this week. I want you more than I have ever wanted anyone in my life and I have all of these feelings and I wish I could just scream to the world that we are mates, but then I think about you and Victoria. Like you said, you’ve been together for four years. I heard you broke up with her, but what if you decide you want her back? I want you to know that I’m not going to just wait forever for you to figure it out, but I think I need to give you space to think about it.” I can tell he is thinking and trying to figure out what to say but can’t form the words. I lean up and kiss him on the lips without realizing what I am doing. I pull back and start to walk back to school giving him time to think.