Reed comes out first and royally ignores me, followed by Dereck who gives me a smirk. I'm up to one smile a week from Dereck, which is a good average, isn't it? Then comes James.
- I'm sorry about this morning...
- I don't blame you... I blame him...
- You mustn't, you can't imagine how much it hurts him not to be able to say anything to you, not to be able to touch you...
I have the impression that he's speaking for himself too, and that makes me a little uncomfortable.
- Here," I say, handing him the ring. It was in the pocket of my sweater.
- Keep it," he says with a knowing look.
- And what do I tell Mathis?
- That it's a gift.
I give him a kiss.
- Thanks for everything and have a nice evening.
- You too, Princess," he says, hugging me.
- I'll see you tomorrow.
He kisses me on the forehead and runs to catch up with Dereck.
- Sorry to have kept you waiting, sweetheart," Mathis tells
James, Reed, Mathis and Aglaë are in front of the gym entrance, which has been decorated for the occasion with a red carpet and a flower arch. They seem to be waiting for us, but Mathis and Aglaë are already shouting at each other.- I'm talking to you! You could at least have the decency to look at me!" she yells at him as he stares at us.But he doesn't pay her any more attention.- You know what, fuck you!" she adds, shoving him to leave.- Princess!" exclaims James. Ugh, you're gorgeous!" he says when he sees me.He hides his face in his hands for a moment, then comes to hug me.- I'm not going to get over this," he says.Then Dereck slaps him on the back of the head.- I told you, man, when you got one girl on your mind, don't invite in another," I hear Reed say to Mathis.- I've got a present for you," says James.- You know it's my birthday tomorrow, don't you?- It's not for your birthday... It's to
It's been a tough week. The increasingly frequent headaches eventually turned into a migraine. I tried to focus on exams and dance practice.My parents came home on Tuesday evening, initially relieved that things were back to normal, but when I started asking questions about my mother's pregnancy as Mia had suggested, the anguish returned to haunt their faces.They still haven't told me anything, and this morning I'm determined. Exams are over, tonight's prom and tomorrow's my birthday. So I'm not giving up until I get an answer.- Hmm, baby... Why are you up so early?" complains Dereck, trying to keep me close to him.- I have to pick up my dress for tonight with Celia and I want to talk to my parents before I go.- Okay," he says, kissing me. But not before I've had a chance to satisfy our carnal desires," he adds as he slowly disappears under the comforter with a trail of kisses, massaging my breasts and tugging on my nipples.The reactio
The dream is over, I open my eyes in my room, I'm in tears, sitting on my bed. Dereck comes running. I must have screamed in my sleep.- I'm here, baby, it's all right! he says, taking me in his arms.He rocks me until I calm down.- How did you do that? I thought I was going to die.- I ran away countless times to find you. I swore to myself I'd do it and run away with you when I succeeded. But... When I arrived at your door one morning, several months later, our parents told me they were making you forget by giving you medicine. Your she-wolf had gone back to sleep. My father told me that for your own safety, I had to let you go and find you again. But I wanted to see you every day I was in front of the house, so they started letting me see you at night. When you had your first nightmares in my presence, I took you in my arms, reassured you and you calmed down. It did me a world of good, it meant that a part of you hadn't forgotten me. Magnus relaxed an
- Ah, at last I can play with my princess," said James, coming over to stand beside me.- Congratulations, sweetheart, well done!" says Mathis, coming over to shake my hand.Which makes me laugh a lot. He kisses me on the cheek and goes back to Aglaë, who looks at me with a hint of jealousy, but I return it and it hurts my heart. I don't want to feel this way when Dereck's out there. Fortunately, Jack and Reed take their places opposite us. The latter, always true to form, pulls a six-foot-long mug.- Does he ever lighten up?" I ask James.- You wouldn't like the answer," he replies in a low voice.- You've piqued my curiosity...- No, Princess, don't look, I won't tell you.- You'll pay for this, Jamy...- I don't care, I won't say anything, you'd have to make me drink more than that to get me to talk.- Do you realize I've got just the thing?He looks at me with big eyes while I smile mischievously.
- Come on lovers, we've got a party to go to," says James, bringing us back to reality.I've barely touched the ground when my best friend, as excited as a flea, comes screaming in my ear that we've got to get ready.- I'll meet you there," I tell the boys, letting Celia pull me along.I collect my things from the bleachers before joining her in the parking lot.- At this rate, you'll be banging the whole team by the end of the year!" says a voice behind my back.I turn around, hoping I've got the wrong person.- Max? Please reassure me it's not me you're insulting?- Me, James, Mathis, and now Dereck... Yes, it is," he says proudly.I'm seeing red.Tear this brat's head off," says Mia.- You asshole, you and me never existed. You're just pissed off that I took an interest in Mathis. James has always been my friend and you know it. As for the rest, don't you dare judge me without knowing my life!- What, th
- I've got a question though," I say to James as we eat our hot dogs by the lake.- And that is?- Why did you let your feelings get the better of you when you knew exactly what was going on?- Tanya... I didn't recognize you until we were fighting. When I saw you, your beauty overwhelmed me. The whole thing threw me for a loop. Dereck never told me you went to our school. That moron let me believe he was infatuated with a human...- What do you mean, "infatuated"?- You may never have seen him, but he's never missed a single one of your workouts since the day he passed you in the halls.- Why is he always so tense?- Are you serious? You don't have a clue?- No, I haven't. I can't imagine why anyone would be so icy. Seriously, he's given me three smiles in eight days!- Tanya, you're infuriating! Dereck turned eighteen in January and ever since, his wolf has been pushing him to claim you and claim you! But with your sit