Chapter 97
I didn't eat much at all. A few strips of bacon but I didn't touch my waffles. Couldn't stomach them. I couldn't stop thinking about Carter.
I sent him a text but he didn't reply.
"Babe?".
"Hm?". I pushed my plate to the side picking up my coffee.
"What's wrong?". He asked.
"I feel terrible for snapping at Carter and now he isn't texting me back".
"You snapped big deal. Do you think I haven't lost my temper at them before?".
"Yeah but that's different. You're their Alpha. You can-...".
"And you are their Luna". He cut me off. "We all have bad days princess. Stop overthinking it and eat that damn waffle".
"Not hungry".
"Then no cake".
Our eyes locked. Was he serious? I wasn't a child. If I wanted cake then I was getting cake.
"Please eat more of your breakfast and then I'll get you the biggest slice they have".
"Okay". I smiled just as the chimed. My stomach dropped when I clocked who it was.
Rocco.
He was with Reign and Ryan.
"Yo shorty". Ryan grinned as he walked over to our table. "How you doing?".
Felt like I hadn't seen Ryan in ages. When Jake left I kinda kept myself to myself. Focused on school, focused on graduating. "Hey". I smiled.
"Jake". He nodded. "You keeping her all to yourself?". He laughed.
Oh god.
Glancing at Jake I noticed his jaw was clenched, his hands balled into fists. He didn't find it funny, I could already feel the tension rising. "Well, she is mine". He glared as my foot connected with his shin under the table.
"Aye alright". Ryan made a face before diverting his attention back to me. "You coming to my last ever game before we graduate?". "Wouldn't miss it". I grinned.
"That's what I like to hear". He winked. "What about prom, you going?".
"She is". Jake answered for me. "Last big game. You ready for it?".
"Born ready". He smirked. "2 scholarship offers but I haven't decided what one to take".
"I got 5". My foot connected with his shin again. This wasn't a pissing contest. "What schools?". He glared his eyes piercing through mine. "Michigan and Ohio".
"Tough choice". I smiled.
"Sadly it's not Yale". He grinned. "We could have been roomies. When do you leave?".
Kill me now.....
We hadn't spoke about Yale yet. It was a conversation we didn't need to have. I knew I wasn't going, I made the decision to stay here.
I chose Jake.
I could feel his eyes burning a hole in the side of my face. "I'm not going, I didn't accept the offer".
"What?". He frowned. "You're going to stay here after graduation?".
"I don't need to go to Yale for my degree". I glanced at Jake. "Besides everything I want is already here".
A laugh fell from his lips. "I dig that. Wish I didn't need to go". He glanced at Rocco. "I gotta run I'll see you at school on Monday for our last week". "I'll be there. Bye Ryan".
I still didn't touch my waffle. My appetite was well and truly gone. Taking a sip of my coffee I sighed. "Why are you staring at me like that?". I asked. "I thought you accepted the offer?". He frowned.
"I did".
"But you're not going?".
"Do you want me to go?".
"Fuck no". He growled.
"I was never going Jake. Do you honestly think I would up and leave you for uni?". Finishing the rest of my coffee I pushed my mug to the side.
"And you never thought to tell me this?".
"Would you really let me leave?". I asked.
"Over my dead body". His eyes darkened.
"Exactly". Rolling my eyes I reached over placing my hand on top of his. "You already know why I applied and you know why I accepted. I-...".
"Because I hurt you". He cut me off pulling his hand away from mine. "I fucked up, I fucked you up and yet you're still willing to stand by my side". He pushed his chair out getting to his feet.
My heart launched into my throat. I was unsure of what was happening or what he was doing.
"Damn baby. What did I ever do to deserve you?". He reached out for my hand which I gladly gave him and placed a kiss on my knuckles. "Cake and then we can go back to mine and chill out?".
Oh!
"Or we can do whatever you want". He added.
"I really want to take a shower and change my clothes but cake first". I grinned.
"I'll get the cake, you go to my truck". He handed me his keys as I got to my feet.
"Can I drive?".
"Absolutely not". He smirked placing a kiss on my forehead.
"A-Alpha?".
It was Reign.
"Reign is everything alright?". I asked.
"S-sorry to disturb you it was just to see if it was okay for me to do the late night run tonight with Jack?".
"Is Jack okay with it?". He asked.
"He told me to check with you". She whispered.
She couldn't even look at him. I felt bad for her. He had no idea how much power he held over everyone.
"That's fine Reign". I smiled. "It'll do you good to get to learn the process. Isn't that right Jake?". I glanced at him my eyes narrowing when I saw that his top lip was pulled back into a snarl. He was not going to shout at her. She already looked like she was going to burst into tears.
"I guess"....
"Thank you". She bowed her head lower before scurrying away through the back of the coffee shop. Poor girl was obviously working again.
"Are you-...".
"What the hell was that?". He asked cutting me off.
"What?". I frowned.
"You know what". He grabbed my hand leading me outside to his truck.
I guess I wasn't getting cake.
"I wasn't going to let you shout at her". I unlocked the door before throwing him his keys.
"I wouldn't have".
"Yeah right". I rolled my eyes. "The poor girl was nearly crying". I clipped my seatbelt into place.
"I'm not that bad". He glared. "But don't do that again". He started the engine before pulling away from the side of the road.
"Do what?".
"No one answers for me, don't make me look stupid Leah".
Was he being serious right now?
Folding my arms over my chest I shook my head. Me make him look stupid? I so badly wanted to punch his face in.
It wasn't taking long for us to fall back into old habits.
"Can't have people thinking I've gone soft". He laughed.
"Yeah, soft".
We didn't speak the rest of the drive home. I could already feel the tension between us. It wasn't my intention to make him look stupid.
Did I make him look stupid?
I thought it would be easier if I answered Reign. I knew how he felt deep down about them being here. He didn't like it but he was coming to terms with them staying.
"You're anxious again baby".
"Just tired". I turned my head so he couldn't see my face. I wasn't anxious, I was annoyed at what he said.
"You still want to come over?".
"Maybe later. Can you drop me off home please?".
"Okay what's wrong?". He turned into our street slowing down as he neared my house.
"Nothings wrong I just want to shower and change my clothes. And my gran will be home soon so it's best I'm here when she arrives".
"Can I see you later?".
"I have to study".
"Okay cut the bullshit Leah. What the fucks going on?". He drove up my driveway stopping behind my car.
"My exams start this week. It's not bullshit". He knew this was my last week, my most important week.
"Then I guess I'll see you when you can fit me in".
Rolling my eyes I unclipped my seatbelt. "I'll give you a text later".
He didn't say anything so I took that as my queue to get out. It's not that I didn't want to spend time with him I just wanted him to know I was annoyed.
I didn't lie to him. I was sat in my
room with my laptop and every book
I had open on my bed. My gran had called early. She was staying with George over the weekend but assured me she would be back Monday.
Great isn't it. My gran had a better love life than me. Reading over my chemistry notes I pushed my book off the bed until it hit the floor.
I was stumped. I couldn't seem to take anything in. I knew it but every time I read a question I couldn't think of the answer.
The nerves were eating away at me.
This was the exam I feared the
most. Grabbing my phone I went onto my contacts tapping Alanna's name. Hitting the FaceTime button I hoped she answered.
I needed to clear my brain and take 5 minutes.
"Hey girl".
"Where are you?". I frowned. I didn't recognise her surroundings.
"In the forest". She rolled her eyes. "I swear if we weren't related I'd have strung him up by now".
She had lost me.
"He has everyone running these bloody woods. I thought he had changed. Wishful thinking". She sighed.
"Why?".
"Because he's an asshole". She laughed. "Seriously though, are you two okay?".
Chewing my bottom lip I made a face. "I'm annoyed at him okay".
"I knew it". She grinned. "Every time you two argue he comes down on us like a ton of bricks. Care to share?".
"No". She would just find it silly. I for one didn't and I had every right to be annoyed with him.
"We're out here all night aren't we?".
"That's up to your brother not me".
She groaned before wiping her forehead. "If you love me, if you love any of us you'll text him and sort this shit out. Great it's started to rain".
"Deja Vu".
"Eh?".
"Remember the last time I texted him trying to get you out of morning runs?". I asked. "He left the next day".
"Fine". She sighed. "Leave your best friend out in the rain in the freezing cold".
"Don't you dare try and make me feel bad Alanna".
"Kidding baby". She laughed. "He's coming so I have to go"...
"Alanna". I heard him growl.
"Bye love you".
A laugh fell from my lips. It was true what she said. He worked them to the bone when he was pissed off. Phone still in hand I tapped his name bringing it to my ear.
It rang a few times before going to voicemail. Just as I suspected. Ending the call I fell back against my headboard.
I wasn't letting us fall back into old habits. This time was going to be different. I should have told him how he made me feel, we could have talked it out.
I would not go back to the way we used to be.
Changing out of my pjs I pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Wrapping my hair up into a bun I grabbed my jacket and my phone before heading downstairs.
The were in the forest which I'm assuming was behind the training ground. Grabbing my car keys I left the house hurrying to my car.
Alanna wasn't wrong when she said it had started to rain. Clipping my seatbelt in place I started my engine reversing out my drive and headed for the training ground.
My nerves were shattered. I couldn't stop thinking about the last time I drove here. How he acted, how he made me feel.
But things were different this time,
he was different. He wasn't going to
tell me to leave. We were in this
together. What I liked about the training ground was it wasn'that far
from home.
His truck was parked, being the only car outside the gate. I just hoped the gate wasn't locked. Parking next to him I geared myself up before heading inside.