SWNOVELS Chapter Say It Isn’t So
"Ember?"
I heard their voices but I couldn't open my eyes. It was like I was under some spell preventing me from moving or reacting.
"Ember? Wake up!"
The second I felt her hand in my shoulder I jumped and my eyes flew open.
"What the..."
I looked at Kam who was staring at me like I was a mental patient and then realized I had fallen asleep outside on the porch swing, naked. Not only that but a few nosy spectators had gathered around the area trying to figure out what I was doing there and why.
"Nothing to see here folks, move along." Mik waved her hands at the curious people sending them on their way. "Geez, it's like they've never seen a naked woman sleeping outside on a swing before!" She snorted.
"Ember are you ok?" Kam asked with worry in her voice.
"Yeah. I must have slept walked or something." I said as I grabbed the blanket Kam was holding out for me.
"Sleepwalking? Since when do you sleepwalk?" She said with one eyebrow raised high on her face.
I narrowed my eyes and shot off the swing into the house trying to avoid any more of the conversation but they both just followed me as I stomped my way up the stairs. When I reached the top I turned towards my bedroom but I was stopped my Chase who was blocking the hallway with his large body and arms crossed over his chest.
"Mind telling me why you were outside running around the property last night, alone?"
"I don't have to tell you anything, Chase, or any of you for that matter. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm cold and tired and I would like to go to my room."
He remained in place while Kam and Mik looked anywhere but at us before they slowly slinked back down the stairs. Thanks for the back up! He took a few steps towards me, closing the gap between us, and glared at me.
"As long as you're on my territory I have the right to know where you are at all times."
"I went for a run!" I said then stormed past him into my room and slammed the door shut locking it before he could follow me in.
All my life I've done whatever I wanted to, my parents didn't care what trouble I got into at my pack because they knew I could handle myself no matter what, after all, that was the greatest thing my father could have ever done, let me train. He may have been against females in politics but he wanted me to always be on guard. I guess deep down he always knew I would need to protect myself someday. Either way I was grateful for doing it.
I jumped in the shower and let the water run down my face. I still couldn't understand why he reacted the way he did but I was even more determined now to figure it out. If he was indeed my mate we needed to either complete the process before my heat came or...I didn't want to think about the other possibility. There's no way someone could reject their mate without even knowing them, could they? And why would they want to? Mates have been engrained into wolves DNA since the beginning of time and once you found them you rarely ever let them go. So my new mission was to find out why he walked away and to prove to him I could be a worthy mate, if that was what he was worried about.
After my shower I climbed into bed but the images of his beautifully tortured eyes stared back at me. He was the epitome of a strong mate, well built, dominant in all ways, and somewhat tender, even if he had torn a little of my heart out in the process. But even through those troubled eyes, I could see it, hope. I just pray that I can find him again and this time keep him around long enough to find out his story.
I closed my eyes and fell asleep immediately surrounded by the comfort of my bed and let the rest of my troubles float away.
A few hours later I woke up to Kam and Mik in my face with mischievous grin from ear to ear. I groaned and picked my pillow up, placing it back over my head.
"Go away."
"Nah, ah, ah! Not until you tell us about this "mate" of yours."
Panic and anger raced through my veins. Got dammit Chase, why did he have to go and open his big fat mouth! I played it off, hoping they would leave it alone but something inside me knew better. They liked to nag and this wouldn't end the way I wanted it to.
"What mate? Don't believe anything my lying cousin had to say."
They both scoffed then the pillow was ripped off my head as Kam gave me her don't-you-lie-to-me-bitch look. I rolled my eyes and sat up hoping I could come up with some lie to tell them that would be believable.
"First of all, Chase didn't tell us anything, we heard the argument outside yester, remember. Second of all, you must forget that I'm a tracker and that I have certain abilities, like the smell of mates!"
Kam was right, how could I have forgotten? She must have smelt him on me this morning before I took a shower. I face palmed and leaned back against the headboard.
"He ran away from me." I said with sadness in my tone.
"Oh Em! What happened?" Kam said as she sat down next to me.
Mik came to the other side and sandwiched me in, as if I were going to jump up at any moment and try to disregard the whole situation, like I always do. I guess it was the runner in me, don't let your emotions get the best of you or people will take it as your weakness.
"I don't know really. I figured it out the night Chase and I went for a walk. He came out of nowhere and I just felt this magical draw towards him but he ran off before I could get close. Then last night I wanted to see for sure what I thought I felt and when he touched me it was clear but he warned me to stay away from him and took off. I've never felt so humiliated in my life. Like who doesn't want their mate."
Mik raised her hand quickly causing me to burst out laughing, lifting my mood immediately. I knew there was a part of her that was serious but deep down she wanted the type of love that only a mate could give, she just didn't realize it yet. She might have been tough on the outside but her heart was huge and longing for someone to capture it, but only when she said he could.
What do you think Chase would have said if he knew what she was really doing?
Her friends are the best aren't they!
Will Mik ever admit her feelings for Cole and will Ember be able to convince her mate to give her a chance?