Chapter 7

I was quite surprised to see Xavier, to say the least.

Worst part about it, the idiot actually helped me.

He didn’t notice me leave the room to get my phone, since he was on a call.

I noticed my phone wasn’t on the couch where I left it, but it was on the table. The most recent call I had was from Jake. Had he called again?

“Xavier!” I yelled. He came out holding the tray and moved down the stairs.

“Yeah?”

“When did Jake call?” I placed my hands on my hips, waiting for an explanation. Just because I was cursed to have him as my mate and we were getting married did not give him the right to involve himself in my life, and I needed him to know that.

“Oh, yeah.” He said, walking into the kitchen. I followed him. “He called to apologize. And he said to tell you that he loves you.”

“Oh.” I smiled softly. I could tell that Xavier was watching me for a reaction.

“So…” He trailed off, doing the dishes. “Who’s this Jake guy, huhn?”

I laughed softly, glancing at the two empty plates of spaghetti on the tray. He’d eaten my portion. “Look Xavier, stay out of my life, I’ll stay out of yours.”

He bobbed his head, nodding. “But what if I don’t want to stay out of your life?” He turned to look me in the eyes.

“I don’t want to marry you, heck, I don’t want to be your mate, but that didn’t work out, did it?”

“That’s it.” He said, dropping the plates then drying his hands. He walked up to me. “I get it, you’re pissed. You’re upset. But you’re blaming the wrong guy. I’m still an Alpha, and even my mother dares not speak to me like this-”

“Well your mother didn’t train you right, Xavier.” I spat out. “I was in that pack for sixteen years! Half of them, I spent being tortured. You’ve been in that pack for what? Twenty one years?” I stepped up to him, poking my finger on his chest. “How many times did you see me getting bullied and walk past me like I didn’t matter? How many times did you see Thalia beat me to the ground, Alpha?”

“Look, Evelyn-”

“It’s Eve!” I burst out. “My name is Eve! You don’t get to call me Evelyn, okay?! You don’t get to!” My body started tingling and I felt heat all around me. All I could see was red.

All I could feel was red.

“Look-”

“What’s my name?” I asked, my voice dangerously low. Skylar was taking control, and I didn’t want to stop her. “What is my name?” My teeth were gritted.

“Eve. Your name is Eve.”

Fire started to surround me, and I knew that Skylar had taken control. This time, so did Xavier’s.

“Adrian, what a lovely surprise.” Skylar said, smiling.

“Skylar, you have to calm down. We’re still mates-”

“To hell with you!” She yelled. “For years, I couldn’t transform. My human was beaten and tortured like a slave, and you want me to calm down? I’ll burn each and every one of you.”

“You know you can’t hurt your mate.”

“I may not be able to hurt you with my powers, but don’t think I don’t have something up my sleeve.”

I knew exactly what she was talking about, because it was my plan.

“What are you talking about-”

“Bye, Adrian.” She said, and faded into the background. There was still fire around me, but I remembered to control it. Xavier came back too, and he kept staring at me. Slowly, I breathed in and out like Andre taught me. Little by little, the fire went out. And all that was left was a puff of smoke.

I went up the stairs without a word and got all my suitcases downstairs, while Xavier finished the dishes. I couldn’t take my bike with me so I pulled the BMW out.

We were all set to go, and Xavier had gotten into his car, when the problem started. The engine started, then failed. He tried it again. It started, then failed.

“Ah, crap.” He muttered. He got out of the car and popped open the hood, looking at it. After about half an hour, he muttered something about the plugs being disconnected. I simply stood there with my arms folded.

I weighed my options. I could leave him on his own, to fend for himself. The he would have a taste of his own medicine. Then again, I could be a good little wolf and let him ride with me.

I looked up at the sky and sighed. “Just come in my car.”

He looked at me so quickly I was surprised he didn’t break his neck. “You’re letting, me, ride with you? In your car?”

“No, in my ass.” I sarcastically replied. “Are you coming or not?” I twirled the key on my finger.

“Yeah, sure, thanks.”

“Wow, three confirmatory words in just one take.” I rolled my eyes. He closed the hood of his car and moved to the drivers door at the same time I did. “Uh… what are you doing?”

“Actually, I always drive.” He smiled sheepishly.

“Is that supposed to mean something?” I rolled my eyes, again. I seemed to be doing that a lot. “I drive my car, no one else.”

“Please.” His tone turned serious. “I have to drive.”

I looked at him with disbelief, but I couldn’t deny that there was something off about it. Sighing, I tossed the keys to him. “Yeah, sure.”

I moved to the other side of the car and got in. Xavier did the same and started the car. Then we were off. Trees passed by in a blur, and the car was completely silent.

Xavier didn’t know that he was making the plan so much harder for me. Little distractions like these were exactly what I didn’t need. I rested my head and watched the familiar roads come to view.

“So… we have to get to know each other and all that…”

“Why do we have to?” I asked, not looking at him. “It’ll just be like we’re room mates. We don’t need to speak to each other.”

He sighed. “Can we at least try? Like genuinely? I only have my mate for a year and I want to make the best of it.”

My heart skipped a little when he said that, so I tried to keep my breathing in check. I turned to look at him, and he was glancing at me, and watching the road at the same time. “Yeah, whatever.”

“So… who’s Jake?” I could hear the slight edge in his voice, and I liked it.

“Jake is…” I sighed dramatically. “Jake is Jake.” I can see his veins pop as he grips the steering wheel tight.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“He’s like… I don’t know. The literal best person in the world.”

“Really?” His voice was tight.

“Yeah.”

“So do you love him?”

“Of course I do.” I laughed softly. “One time, for my birthday, he got me-”

“Okay, I’m just going to come out and say it.” He interrupted me. “Is he your boyfriend?”

“Oh, do I wish.” I teased him, enjoying his jealous reaction. His fingers were almost white, and even in the dim light I could see the red hue splashed across his neck. “But we do have our… benefits, if I may say.”

“What type of benefits?”

“Oh, he does this thing with his tongue-”

Xavier turned to me with a sharp glare, his eyes blazing. “You guys are…”

“We’re friends. Just with benefits. Reaally good benefits.” I winked at him. “Just like you and Thalia.”

His eyes softened and his expression became soft. “What are you talking about?”

“I have super hearing, Xavier. I heard your phone call loud and clear.” His eyes turned back to the road. “But I’m not mad, don’t worry. I just wish you’d told me first.”

“What would you have done? You’d probably have called off the deal.”

“No, I wouldn’t have actually.” I said, looking at the silver gates as they parted.

“Really?”

“Yup.” I smiled. “I would simply have called Jake and Ana over with me.”

“Who’s Ana?” He asked, parking the car.

“My partner in crime.” I smiled when he killed the engine, and we got out of the car. He popped open the trunk and helped me with my cases.

“So all three of you…”

“Yup.” I cheekily grinned and grabbed one of the cases, as we headed to the front door. “It’s pretty spicy.”

“Really?” His voice is husky. He leans in and pushes the doorbell beside my head. “Tell me more.”

“Well, we usually meet at my house on Saturdays…”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. And then we get changed.”

“Yeah?”

“Mhm. And then we get the ice cubes…”

His eyes widen a bit more, and he leans in closer. “Yeah?” The lust in his eyes is practically dripping out.

“Then we eat spicy Indian food and watch TV.”

“Wait… what?”

“Yeah. What did you think I was talking about?”

“I just thought you meant…”

“Jake is sixteen, Xavier.” I laugh a bit.

His mouth forms an ‘o’. “Oh.”

“Yup.”

We simply keep staring at each other. He glances at my lips. His hand is still on the wall, beside my head. Ever so slowly, he leans in, and when we’re just a hair away-

BAM! Then the door slams open, to reveal a face and black eyes I never thought I’d have to see again.

“Tyler?” My voice came out as a whisper.