Chapter 4 Fun with A Friend

Claudius's POV 

We both laugh as we grab our bags and run behind a tree to change. I don't know why, but the anticipation of running and diving into the water was so high. Maybe it's Noah's silly nature, that jokester part of him. Or maybe it's because our wolves played the whole way here. Niko was beyond thrilled we didn't lose our friend.

Noah and I giggle as we try to change as fast as we can into our swim shorts. 

This little stinker gets into his shorts faster than I can of course, and I take off sprinting hot on his heels.

Noah laughs as he races down the dock before leaping into the water. A few moments later, I do the same. My knees bend, and I push off and leap into the water.

As I swam underwater I saw his foot. Unable to resist, I grabbed a hold of his ankle and tugged as hard as I could. 

I almost choked in a lung full of water, wanting to laugh at the shocked look on his face. He recovered quickly and came back for revenge.

I never laughed so hard in my life, as Noah and I took turns tackling each other and dunking each other underwater. Noah was trying to get out of the water. Just as he thought he got away from me, I grabbed him by the waist and pulled him back in, effectively dunking his head underwater again.

His head rose out of the water in a giggling fit, and grabbed a hold of my head, dunking me underwater.

Noah almost made it away from me again, but I tackled him once more and he collapsed laughing, pulling me with him. I collapsed on top of him trying to catch my breath and stop laughing.

I rolled off of him and pried myself off the ground, trying to stop laughing.

"Stop laughing!" I said. There was no way I would be able to stop laughing, if he was still laughing.  I held my hand out to Noah to help his giggling butt off the ground. Noah grabbed a hold of my hand and I pulled him up to his feet. I'm not sure what happened, but as I pulled Noah up, he almost fell backwards.

I reached out, my arm wrapped around his waist and I pulled him forward. Noah's bare chest collided with mine, and I heard his breath catch as he looked up at me with wide eyes.

I couldn't breathe, his face was so close to mine. I could smell his breath, almost taste it. His mouth was literally inches away from mine. I smelled him before, but not like this. I couldn't believe how amazing he smelled, so incredibly sweet.

My heart hammered in my chest as his warm ragged breath fanned my face. His breath smelled so good, I could almost taste it, I wanted to taste it. 

I thought for certain my heart was going to leap out of my chest as it beat against my ribs, while my face moved closer and closer to his. 

My lips almost brushed against his, but he turned his head, and Instead, my lips touched his cheek. Noah let out a shaky breath and gripped me tighter. This gave me the confidence to not pull back afraid. Especially as I watched his eyes slowly close and lean into me.

The feelings I've been trying to ignore for him, come forward with force. I've never liked anyone before, I've never wanted anyone so bad as I do Noah. 

I felt Niko forward with me, just behind the lens looking at Noah, trying to feel him. He wants him too, he wants him as our claimed mate. Both of us have slowly been falling in love with him. 

I can feel Niko's hope. It's so high, just like mine.

I felt my lips on his incredibly soft cheek and watched as his eyes closed. 

My lips trailed down his cheek. My tongue came out and licked his chin, tasting his skin, and laying open-mouth kisses along it as I went lower. 

I could feel Noah's chest rapidly rising and falling as his head went back, allowing me access to his throat. His hand gripped my side tighter as I licked, sucked, and kissed his neck. My lips made their way up the other side of his neck and over his jaw. My heart stuttered in my chest, hoping he wouldn't turn away. 

I thought I died and went to heaven the moment my lips touched his. His lips were like those of an angel, so soft, so plush, so sweet.

Niko and I took a sharp breath in, as Noah's hands hit our chest and forcefully pushed us back. 

I was confused, unsure what was going on until I saw the look on his face, as he held his hand over his lips. It took me a moment to realize what that look meant, he didn't want me. That cut deep for both me and my wolf. It felt like someone sliced me down the middle, straight through my heart.

"I'm so sorry Claudius, I can't, I can't do this with you. Even if I do like you, I can't do this… I don't want to be another couple that I've watched time and time again, where they find their mate and the other person gets hurt. Because that person's going to be you, Claudius! You found your mate but I haven't. You've already been hurt so badly. I don't want to be that person that hurts you like that!" Noah said.

I felt my world crashing down around me. It felt suffocating, almost claustrophobic as the walls closed in on me. My eyes burned as they filled with tears. I felt my lip tremble as I struggled not to cry.

I hear what he's saying, but I want him, I love him. Why can't I have him? Why can't he want me back? 

I feel the tears running down my face, and I can't stop my heart from speaking as the words spill from my mouth.

"I love you, Noah, I have for so long!"

His eyes immediately filled with tears and he choked them back as he turned to hide his face from me. 

My heart broke even more when he turned to face me and I saw the tears running down his face. Tears I never want to see from him. I just want to hear him laugh, and watch him smile, and never cry.

But my heart bled more as he began to speak again.

"I can't return your love Claudius, I just can't. I've never wanted a relationship, and I haven't met my mate yet. What if I found him a year from now after we've lived together, and you've fallen even more in love with me? Could you imagine how bad that's going to hurt when I have to walk away from you for him? Because I will, no one can walk away from their mate."

My heart was shattered, it hurt so bad. My head dropped as I began crying. I just couldn't hold it back. My shoulder shook as I broke down crying.

Noah moved forward and pulled me into his arms. My forehead dropped against his shoulder as I wrapped my arms around him.

"I'm so sorry, I wish I could give you what you want, I really truly do! But I can't. I hope you find your happiness, I hope you find someone who can give you what I can't."

Noah said. But I don't want anyone else, I want him, I love Noah.

Noah grabs the back of my head, pulling it toward him and I feel his lips on my forehead. He holds them there for a moment before pulling away from me.

I can barely see his beautiful blue tear-filled eyes through my own.

"I'm sorry!" Noah said before letting go of my arm. I watch as Noah turns around and runs toward the tree line. Halfway there he leaned forward, shifting to spirit, before disappearing into the tree line.

I fell to my knees, my head dropped as I broke down crying again. 

....

The weeks go by, and he's so distant, but I don't blame him. He doesn't completely ignore me at least. When I need help on the training field, he still helps me. But that's the extent of it. Not only did I lose any hope of having a relationship with him, but I also lost a friend.  

To make it worse, Niko has been quiet, and distant. He stays in the back of my head for the most part, curled in a ball. 

His feelings and thoughts are blocked. I can't help but wonder if he's mad at me. If he blames me. 

I've never felt so alone…