Chapter Two

-Austin's POV-

I knew Adalina would be shocked to see me after so long, but I never expected her to be so upset. She couldn’t even make eye contact with me. In fact, she looked anywhere but directly at me.

Adalina stuttered when she talked to me, she only does that when she is extremely uncomfortable. I was really hoping she would be excited to hear the good news. I am home now, for good. There will be no more traveling and being gone for months or years at a time.

I know she was trying hard to hide it, but I swear I saw tears forming in her eyes. That is probably why she ran out of here like someone was chasing her. Actually, Jace did chase her, what the hell was that? Why did he run after her like its his job?

When did they get so close? Have they always been this close? No, I don’t think they were. Me and Adalina were inseparable until three years ago before I went and fucked that all up. Did Jace take my place in her heart? I sincerely hope that is not the case.

“What was up with that? Why was Adalina so upset?” Zarakai asks with obvious concern, looking at me with narrowed eyes.

“I honestly have no clue.” I say shrugging my shoulders, and really that is the truth. I am just as confused as he is by her reaction.

“Maybe she’s on her period.” Tyler says jokingly.

“Don’t let her here you say that.” Spencer says chuckling.

Zarakai looks at me with disbelief as if he doesn’t believe my answer. But that is the best answer I can give him, because I really don’t know. Maybe I can talk to her later when we are alone.

Spencer and Tyler say their goodbyes and leave to do whatever work they have to do for the day. Leaving me and Zarakai alone in the kitchen. “Why do you keep staring at me like that?” I ask Zarakai as I feel his intense stare watching my every move.

Zarakai stares at me for a few more seconds before finally answering my question. “I just feel like there is more to the story that you aren’t telling me.”

“Well, I really don’t know what to tell you.” I say, looking away from him and leaving the kitchen.

The day passes by agonizingly slowly before night finally falls and I have the best idea I think I have ever had. Adalina spent the entire day locked in her bedroom giving absolutely no chances for me to talk to her. So, we are going to do this the hard way.

I waited impatiently for midnight to roll around before sneaking up to Adalina’s bedroom. Opening the door quietly I look into the dark room, the faint light from the bathroom is outlining Adalina’s body sleeping on her bed. “Adalina! Wake up!” I whisper close to her ear, as I shake her shoulder gently. “Wake up baby!” I say a little louder and she slowly opens her eyes.

“Austin!” She exclaims loudly pulling the blanket up to cover her body. “What the hell are you doing in my room?”

“Do you know what time it is?” I ask with a mischievous grin.

“No!” She shouts annoyance clear in her voice. “Get out of my room.”

“It’s midnight.” I say excitedly, ignoring her shouting.

“And? I don’t care. Get out of my room.” She yells loud enough I’m sure everyone in the house heard her.

“You have two minutes to get your shoes on and get out the door. Or you lose.” I say pulling the blanket away from her.

“No, Austin. I’m not playing. Get out of my room!” Adalina says pulling the blanket back over her body.

I chuckle to myself as I walk towards the door. “Two minutes.” I repeat before leaving her room.

Zarakai, Spencer, Tyler and Jace are all waiting for me in the living room with big grins. “Sounds like you pissed her off.” Zarakai says laughing.

I laugh, “Oh well, if she doesn’t come down in two minutes she loses, and we all get to make her do whatever we want.”

A minute later we hear Adalina running down the stairs and the back door opens and slams closed. “I guess she’s ready to play.” I say with an amused grin.

“Let’s go!” Jace says as he heads for the back door. We all follow behind him. Once we make it outside, we can see Adalina crossing the line from our yard to the woods.

“Game on!” I say running towards the woods. God, I love this game. Jace, Tyler, and Zarakai follow close behind me as we all take different paths through the woods chasing after Adalina.

-Adalina's POV-

I fucking hate this game. It is cold, and I can barely see where I am going. There is a full moon lighting the woods, but the naked tree branches only cast creepy shadows making me want to run even faster. Running as fast as I can I jump over the roots protruding from the ground, and dodge low, hanging tree branches and limbs.

The cold air whipping against my exposed skin is causing goosebumps to spread across my entire body. The deeper I breathe to try and catch my breath the more the cold air burns. I feel a limb slapping gently on my face as I push myself faster and faster.

I have to get to the cabin, and I have to get there fast. The guys must be close. The howling wind, and sound of crunching branches and leaves make me feel like I’m in a real-life horror movie. As much as I love scary movies, I have never wanted to be the star in one.

I hear a loud pop from what I assume is a branch snapping, and part of me really hopes that is a wild animal. Not waiting to find out I push myself harder, forcing my weak feeling legs to run faster. The cabin shouldn’t be much further ahead, I repeat to myself over and over again as a kind of motivational speech.

The crunching leaves and branches stop and for a second I feel like maybe I’m in the clear. Maybe it was just a rabbit or deer or something. Right as a sense of relief washes over me I feel two large hands wrap around my waist. “Ahhhhhh.” I scream at the top of my lungs. What the hell is going on? One second, I’m running the next thing I know I am being snatched off the ground by two strong hands and we are spinning from the sudden impact.

“It’s just me.” I hear the familiar voice as we land on the cold hard ground. The body under me helped cushion my fall, but the impact still knocked the air out of my lungs. Of course, it’s Austin. Why wouldn’t it be Austin? The universe hates me. He was the last person I wanted to win the game.

As the adrenaline from running and being caught slowly wears off I realize I am still laying on top of Austin. My soft body is pressed against his hard body, and I feel a rush of heat to the sensitive spot between my thighs. Shaking my head to clear the dirty thoughts forming, I push away from Austin to try and stand up.

Before I can even push myself to my knees Austin snakes his hands around my waist pulling me firmly down on top of him. “Austin, let go of me.” I say pushing against his chest, but he only pulls me closer. Not that it is even possible to do that.

“Austin seriously let go of me.” I say a little more firmly this time. In the light from the full moon, I can see Austin’s devilish smirk. After a few long seconds of fighting to get out of his hold, Austin’s grip around my waste loosens. Finally, I can get up.

I push against the ground again to try and get to my knees, and suddenly I’m on my back. Austin is on top of me. A loud squeal escapes from me as I try to process what is happening. Why wont he just get off of me?

“You won the game just get off of me.” I try shoving as hard as I can against his chest, but he isn’t budging.