The call got disconnected twice till he finally answered the call. “Ryan, what’s wrong? I have been trying to…,” Emily’s words were suddenly interrupted.
“Sister-in-law, his phone is with me,” she heard Scott’s voice.
“Please give the phone back to him,” She urged him. Scott almost told her that it was the first time she is asking for something politely but he held himself back in time.
“Okay,” Scott disconnected the call and went in search of Ryan.
***
Ryan picked up a beautiful green leaf that had fallen out of the tree in front of him. This place is the reason why he loves Jeff’s mansion so much. It’s even got a beautiful garden that he loves so much.
He sighed and sat down on the grassy ground. He then looked up at the sky and mumbled out loud, “Ray… Are you available to talk?”
The wolf didn’t respond so he used the mind-link, “Ray… Are you there? Do you want to talk?”
‘I think it’s you that wants to talk instead not me but I have a question,’ Ray responded.
Ryan nodded, ‘What is it?’
Just as he expected, Ray asked, “Are you finally going to shift?” Ryan smiled and gave him the answer he has been hoping to hear for years, “Yes… I won’t miss the opportunity to go for a run before heading back.”
Ray leapt for joy and soon quietened. ‘You want to talk about Emily, don’t you?’ Ray’s question surprised Ryan. But he admitted it, “I… I kind of miss her…”
Ray almost winked. ‘Kind of or you actually miss her?’ he teased Ryan who groaned in frustration. ‘I’m so confused Ray… Why am I feeling like this? The opposite sex used to repulse me remember? But when she appeared, she just…,’ he paused not knowing how to describe how he felt.
‘She just fit right…,’ Ray finished his unfinished sentence and he nodded. ‘Why do I feel like this towards her? What’s wrong with me? I… I don’t know why I proclaimed her as my girlfriend but I know… I know I don’t want this to end. Whatever this is,’ Ray was stunned by Ryan’s confusion.
He wondered what had prompted the dummy to speak out his inner feelings. Is it because he misses her or because of Scott’s pranks? But regardless of that, he is relieved that he’s starting to admit his feelings.
To prompt him even more, he asked, ‘Ryan… What do you think? Why do you think you are feeling this way towards Emily?’
Ryan thought of it for a while. His eyes widened when a thought slipped into his mind. ‘I can’t be… I’m not… I’m not in love with her, am I?’ he stuttered.
Before Ray had a chance to speak, he immediately interjected, trying to convince himself, ‘That can’t even be possible cause it’s not possible to love someone so fast… I’ve only known her for days not even weeks or months. How can I freak be in love with her? Besides she’s rude…’
Ray stopped him from rambling, “Love doesn’t care… Love doesn’t think about days, weeks, months or the person’s behaviour. It just happens. Do you understand that dude? Love just occurs!’
Ryan was rudely shocked that he kept opening his mouth and closing it without a word slipping out. He felt confused but his heart was racing fast like he knows that what Ray is insinuating is true.
But he still protested, ‘How do you even know that when you have been single your entire life?’
Ray rolled his eyes. ‘ Why wouldn’t I when she’s our mate dummy?’ But he didn’t say this for Ryan to hear. He only said that inwardly making sure Ryan didn’t hear it.
That’s his price to pay for refusing to shift for months! How could he be cruel to his own wolf!? ‘All I know is that you are in love with her!’ Ray shouted back and then left.
‘Ray… Ray! Damnit! What do you mean in love? Do you even know what love means?’ Ryan tried to call him back but the wolf just blocked out his voice and went back to sleep. He is trying to preserve his strength for when they have to shift.
“Love? Who is in love with who?” Ryan turned around when he heard someone else’s voice. He didn’t realize that he said that out loud.
A smile appeared on his face as the redhead approached him with a cute pout on her face. “Pearl! When did you get back? Look at you… You are almost as tall as I am!,” He exclaimed, catching her unaware by pulling her into a tight hug.
Pearl wrapped her hands around his waist and breathed in his scent deeply. Her wolf felt oddly at ease after inhaling his scent. “I’m fine… You didn’t even notice me in the dining room. Why were you so angry?” She pretended to be oblivious.
Ryan sighed and then remembered that he left his phone with Scott. He has to get his phone and call Emily.
“It’s nothing. How have you been?” Ryan subconsciously removed the hands she wrapped around him as he spoke. Pearl noticed this and was obviously displeased.
“I’m fine… What about you?” She fished for more information.
“I’m fine also. Pearl?” Ryan called her name suddenly and her ears perked up. “Yes.”
“You didn’t bring a hot guy home this time around. Have you finally grown mature or none of the hot boys at the college has caught your eyes yet?” Ryan’s question threw her at bay.
She looked disappointed. When she was younger, she had done a lot of stupid things to catch his attention. Whenever she came back from school, she would bring different guys home. Act cosy with them in front of him but that didn’t win her his attention.
It only created more distance between them and more trouble for her. She had to face disappointment from her family members.
But now… She’d try another tactic. No more bringing stupid hot guys home. She would strive to be a successful woman he would eventually fall in love with.
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….