Chapter 4

I felt awful, embarrassed, hurt, and idiotic. How could I have let myself believe that he would still like me? After all, what did I even have to offer him? Still, part of me had hoped and prayed that nothing would have changed. Yes, the Alpha and Luna were against our relationship but so was every other adult! It had never stopped him before! I aggressively turned over in my bed snuggling myself tighter into the blankets letting my tears flow freely. The stares from my other classmates haunting me, their looks of pity drilled into my conscious. With the deep glare from that stranger mixing in with them, suddenly they started laughing… a course of horrendous laughing and pointing.

“What a pathetic excuse for a wolf!”

“Of course he doesn’t want you!”

“Stupid girl!”

I tried to run away from them but fell over my own two feet. Their laughter got louder, even Ellen stood over me sniggering.

“As if an Alpha’s son would lower himself to be with you, a shy unloved girl.”

My heart sunk at her words, my best friend how could she be so cruel? Domini appeared a look of disgust and disappointment on his face.

“You couldn’t even do the basic boot camp, you're weak!” I cried trying to hide my face not wanting to hear him of all people torment me.

“Look at you trying to hide!” He laughed with the rest of them grabbing my hands and pulling them away.

“Wake up!” I blinked rapidly as the laughing cruel face of Domini vanished only to be replaced with a look of concern. I gasped looking around my room realizing I had fallen asleep. I hung my head in embarrassment not wanting to look at him, not wanting to see him be disappointed in me for running.

“Are you okay?” His voice was soft, gentle even as he let go of my arms. “You were screaming…”

I mumbled that I was fine as he breathed out a long and heavy sigh before sitting on the side of my bed.

“Laura, do you want to talk?” He asked a little uncertain making me smile a little at his kind gesture. I knew he knew what happened and it seemed like it wasn’t a big deal, but I wanted to make sure.

“Are you mad at me?” I asked after a moment of silence, I felt his body freeze with a surprise for a moment before he spoke.

“No, mad? Why? Why would I be mad?” I stole a glance to see his confused expression before sighing, ready to talk.

“I thought you would be mad that I… ran off…” I bit my lip stopping for a moment to assess his reaction, he gave me a reassuring smile so I continued. “I just… well… I couldn’t deal with him…” Domini’s eyes instantly changed from understanding to concern.

“You don’t have to worry about him, I promise you! I will keep him away for as long as I can Laura. I will keep you safe, even if no one else wants to.” I raised my eyebrows in confusion as he looked at me strangely.

“Why… Why would you do that? I mean Xander blew me off but I don’t think you have to keep me away from him…” I started blabbering trying to figure out why Domini had reacted the way he did when his expression changed again. Too quickly for me to figure out but something was there like he knew a secret.

“Oh!... Xander… I… Oh…” He seemed to mentally slap himself before patting my leg and getting up. “Well, he can be a bit of a… confused kid… I wouldn’t let it get to you okay? I mean next month you will know if he is your mate or not you know?” He smiled at me before leaving the room, poking his head back in to say “and don’t worry about today, you just try and relax” before shutting the door.

I sat back, confused, perplexed, and kind of angry. I felt like he completely dismissed my feelings, and that he was keeping something from me? Who is he trying to keep me away from? Who did he think had upset me if not Xander? It’s not like I had other guys in my life… well I was friends with Micheal but surely he wasn’t talking about him? Although he wasn’t at training this morning… I swung myself out of bed determined to figure this out. I hated being left in the dark.

“Are you heading out?” Domini asked me as I was reaching for the front doorknob, I looked back at him with a glare. He shifted uncomfortably under my stare causing an instant feeling of remorse.

“Sorry, should I… Ummm… should I ask for your permission? Or…” I asked trying to be kind but still trying to hold onto my own independence, I’d never lived with someone like this before.

Growing up the Alpha and Luna didn’t really care what I did as long as I didn’t leave pack territory. Domini’s eyes went wide as he raised his hands in a no gesture.

“Oh no, nothing like that… I guess I’m just a bit nervous having someone else here, and you have me a little worried is all. I don’t like seeing you like that.”

I looked down at the floor feeling a wave of embarrassment overcome me thinking back to how gross I would have looked before when he woke me up. I was an ugly crier, snotty, with red shot eyes and messy hair… I shuddered at what he saw.

“Oh hey now, come on Laura… I just meant… look it's fine. Just… come back before midnight okay?” He sounded exhausted talking, for a moment I wondered if he too was embarrassed or if he just wanted me safe. His earlier statements rang back through my ears as I looked at him expectantly.

“Who were you talking about, you know, before?”

I was surprised with myself that my voice was even and secure, more surprised I had actually asked the question out loud as Domini shifted again. He looked anywhere but at me as he answered.

“Ah, you know… just anybody that would try and hurt you… you know big brother sort of stuff…”

I felt a scowl form on my face knowing he was lying but let it go, I didn’t want to cause an argument.

“I’ll see you later.” I left without a second thought, my mind focused on finding Ellen. She would know what to do.

It took me a lot longer to find Ellen than normal, I finally found her half-dressed by the tree line. Her ashen blonde hair seemed to glow under the night light reminding me of my own white hair. The idea that she could have been my long-lost sister swelled in my heart as I approached her.

“What is that big grin about Laura?” She asked smiling back at me her normal chirpy self.

“Oh, just taking in the glory of your gorgeousness” I answered back pointing to her uncovered toned legs.

She blushed before hurriedly putting on a pair of jeggings before speaking again.

“No seriously, what brings you out here Laura?”

I scowled, crossing my arms and fanning hurt.

“Can’t a girl seek out her best friend just to catch up?”

She rolled her eyes, “not if that girl is you, what do you want Laura?”

I stopped for a moment picking up a hint of agitation in her tone, “what’s wrong?” I asked quickly immediately kicking myself for being so self-absorbed.

Ellen looked at me deeply, searching for something as she bit her lip.

“You can tell me, Ellen, I tell you everything! I would never judge you.”

She nodded before taking a deep breath, “I’m not sure where to start…” I smiled encouragingly sitting down on the grass giving her my full attention.

“So, Micheal wasn’t able to turn last night…” I gasped as she grimaced as if waiting for a jab, I mimicked a zipper going across my lips and waited for her to continue. “Okay” she sighed again, “so he didn’t turn, but I did so he got really mad and I guess jealous. He spent most of the night ranting about how he was the man and it wasn’t fair that I was able to take a wolf form before him. After I had transformed I waited for him, by his side hoping that he was just a late bloomer but as time went on and nothing changed… well he stormed out. And no one has heard or seen him since.”

I bit my lip with concern as I started to play with the grass.

“I spent all day today after training trying to track his scent but Alpha Clide told me to stop, that he is safe but needs to be alone for a while. It sucks too, I mean we're twins we share everything together. I should be there, with him.” She let out a deep sigh as I held her hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

“That’s not even the best bit.” She chuckled her expression turning dark, “I found my mate, and he doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“He rejected you? WHO is he?” I felt hot raw anger flare inside me at the idea of some jerk not accepting Ellen as his mate. She gave me a strange look before laughing again.

“He didn’t technically reject me… he just kinda… ran away from me saying no, no, no”

I was stunned, still not understanding how ANYONE could say no to her? She was tall, blonde, perfectly proportioned, kind, caring, and just absolutely perfect? She laughed at my expression a mix of confusion, anger, and shock.

“Laura, it’s okay. I’m just moping about it is all. I guess it was a real shock to him, I know that I’m his second chance mate and he probably never gave that a thought.”

I patted her hand trying my best to be supportive even though I really, really wanted to find out this guy’s name so I could yell at him or something. But I could see she didn’t want to reveal his identity yet, maybe it was because she knew I would yell at him, or maybe she just wasn’t ready to. I wondered for a moment if it was an older man, I mean it was rare but there were a lot of single men in our pack. That would make sense as to why she didn’t want to share.

“So, what did you want my advice about anyway?” She asked me sighing.

“No, it’s okay Ellen we don’t always have to focus on me.”

She rolled her eyes again elbowing me playfully, “come on Laura, I’m sorry I was snappy before but it helped to get it all out.”

I took in a deep breath before letting everything that happened out, the conversation with the Luna, how Xander had treated me today, and how weird Domini was being. She nodded and gasped through it all, sharing the anger I had before at how Xander had acted.