Chapter 21

Being in love is a beautiful feeling, but when that love is broken by that special someone, it hurts so bad.

I did not shower when I arrived home, nor was I able to eat or sleep that night.

The following day, I chose not to attend school. Crying the entire night had made my face very puffy.

Yesterday evening, when I left Connor in the schoolyard, I thought I'd come to my apartment to see him to end the unbearable pain in my heart by promising that he'll never leave me for some mate the moon had destined him to be with. But he didn't, nor did he call or text.

I should have known that someone like me being with Connor would never last, for he was too good for me.

I awoke from my bed to a noise at my window, upon which I realized I had fallen asleep. My eyes crossed the large clock on the wall as I sat up in the bed, seeing it was 12 pm.

I thought it was a bird poking at its own reflection in the glass window, but then I saw a pebble hit it, and then another.

Still in my clothes from yesterday, I came out of bed to see Connor about to throw another pebble; he stopped when he saw me. The sight of him was so breathtaking that for a moment, I forgot that I was ever mad at him.

I angrily drew the curtain and walked back to bed.

My phone began to ring. I didn't answer it, knowing it was Connor, just trying to call me now after yesterday. He rang me three times, and realizing that I wasn't going to pick up, he texted me.

I didn't want to read it, but I was so curious to know what he'd texted.

I was disappointed when I read it.

I won't come in until you permit me to, he texted.

I got angrier that he didn't send instead an apology for not telling me about a fated mate he'll one day find.

Shortly after, I received another text message: I'll be waiting for your call or text to enter.

I tossed the phone onto the bed and turned my back towards it.

I cried at how little he was taking the news that I'd found out about his destined mate. I wanted him to care how much I was hurting. But he doesn't seem to.

The rain came down and started to shower outside. I remained in the same position, listening to the rain. When I eventually sat up, it was the late evening, and the rain had slowed down, now falling lightly. I walked over to the window to sit and watch the rain.

As I parted the curtain, my eyes widened to see Connor standing in the same spot I last saw him. His head was held towards my window, and he was so soaked in the rain.

I dashed down the stairs, grabbed an umbrella, and hurried towards him.

"Why are you standing in the rain?" I asked.

My hand is stretched high by his tallness, sheltering him from the rain.

"I texted that I'll be waiting for you to allow me inside," Connor responds, staring down into my eyes as we both stood beneath the umbrella in the rain.

I realized that he had not moved from the time I'd seen him.

His very dark hair, lying in his face, drips with water.

"I didn't know you'd planned to wait outside my apartment for me," I said, and I began to cry, loathing what he'd done.

"I'll wait in the fire for you, Amara, not caring if I get burned." He wiped away my tears and then cupped my face.

"Don't ever do that again for me." I held one of his hands, touching my face.

My entire life longing for my mom to love me; it felt like standing in the cold rain, waiting for her to let me in, for her warmth—her love—but she never did. Seeing Connor doing this for me it hurts me, for I don't want anyone to undergo what I've been through.

I immediately take him to my room, and I run to the closet for a white robe and a towel. I was now shivering from the cold outside, so I had to grab a sweater for myself.

Connor's wet body was now leaving small puddles on the bedroom floor.

"Dry yourself and change into the robe. I'll dry your clothes in the dryer while you're in the bathroom," I urged him.

"Werewolves don't get cold." Connor held my hand, giving him the towel and robe.

Halted by his touch, I no longer felt the need for my sweater.

Seeing that I was feeling the warmth from his touch, he smiled and took only the towel from me, drying himself.

When he was no longer dripping with water, he went to sit in my study chair.

I stared at his hair, now shaggy from being wet. Even when he wore wet clothes, he still looked amazing.

"Kara told me everything," Connor spoke, and I felt the pain of knowing that he'll never belong to me awakened in my heart.

"Yes, it is natural for a werewolf to find their mate under the full moon once they're 18, but it rarely happens again, and no one wants to wait anymore," he explained.

I immediately sat down on my bed, feeling heavy with the pain.

Connor lowered his head with the saddest look.

His now shaggy hair hangs over his face, and though I'm hurting so badly, I want to hug him, to comfort him, loathing the sadness on his beautiful face.

It hurts to be sad, but whenever I see someone who is, I just want to take it away, for no one should ever feel that way.

"But I never lie to you, Amara, that you're mine. I love you and everything you loathe about yourself." His head turns to face me.

"I love you too," I said with tears flowing down my cheek.

"But what will happen to us if you do find her?" I asked.

Connor comes closer to me, and he places a hand against my wet cheek, staring deeply into my eyes.

"I'll never accept her, for this heart was made only for you, Amara." He wiped away my tears.

I was crying so hard, and I wanted to believe he would do so when it does happen, but I have doubts that he won't.

"What do you want me to do to make you believe that I'm yours?" Connor asked earnestly, seeing I didn't believe him.

"Just go, please, for loving you anymore will just make me feel more pain, knowing I can never be yours only." I got off the bed and away from him.

He doesn't want to leave and holds onto my arm.

I continue to beg him to leave. Though I did, I don't want his arms to leave me, never, for I loved him so much.

"Come with me," he said.

"Where?" I asked.

"If you don't believe you're mine only. I want you to know I am yours only," he said.

I climbed onto his back, and then he leaped through the window with me, flashing through the wood.

At how fast he was moving with me, everything felt like a blur to my normal sight. When he finally stopped, I realized we were standing in an empty school hallway.

I slowly came from his back, wondering why he'd brought me here.

Connor spun around to see the confused look on my face.

My eyes immediately went to his hand going into the pocket of his khaki pants, and from it he fished out a tiny black box.

I was surprised when he went down onto his knees.

My eyes widened. Was Connor proposing to me?

"When I first walked the hallway and laid eyes on you, Amara Lively, I knew I didn't want a mate that was already chosen for me, but you as my wife, a human." He opened the box, and I saw the largest diamond ring shining from it.

"So will you make me the luckiest werewolf by accepting me as your husband?" he begged.

I was speechless. I never thought someone would ask me to be his wife.

Realizing I've said nothing yet, Connor went on to say, "I know this may seem too fast, for we haven't been together for more than a month, but for us werewolves, it is different. Moving too fast within a relationship is never too—"

"Yes," before he could finish what he was about to say, I gave him my answer.

"I want to be your wife, Connor Flaxbrought," I said in tears.

Gleefully, he lifted me into the air and slowly brought me down to his lips, kissing me.

"I am yours, Amara, and forever will be," he spoke softly as our lips parted, and I kissed him again, truly believing every word he had said this time.