“Kyan hates me; he already said he doesn’t want me, remember?” I reply.
“Did he reject you?” Dad counters.
I shake my head, and Kora whines in my head. She has been listening intently. Kora doesn’t know what to think of the whole Kyan and Jonah situation. However, she agrees with my dad about needing Kyan on board.
“Then he doesn’t hate you, or if he does, he still loves you anyway. Just remember, wolves are mated to the human side, not the werewolf side, so even if Kyan has an issue with you doesn’t mean his wolf will. I think, just like his father, he is perceived in a certain way, one that isn’t in his best interest. Sometimes what we see and what is, aren’t the same,” my father says.
That feeling, I know all too well, I too am good at hiding things. Maybe Kyan and I aren’t so different after all. Kyan’s text message has me worried, and I wonder what he meant and what will happen the next time I see him.
My mind also drifts to Jonah and how it will affect Jonah and Kyan’s friendship. All of a sudden, I realize how foolish we were.
Looking down at my phone, I finally reply pathetically. Sorry – that is all I type. I have no idea what to say, but saying nothing and not acknowledging his message suddenly feels wrong.
And then, it’s just a brief moment until another message comes in from the devil himself.
Kyan: Not yet, but you will be.
I stare at his message, trying to figure out what he means by it, yet I feel nothing from him since I haven’t marked him and vice versa.
Kyan: I will see you Saturday since apparently, you will be coming back to the casino for Rose’s seventeenth.
Shit, I forgot her birthday is this week. My stomach drops, and my mood plummets further. I promised I would go, but honestly, I would say no from the get-go, if only anyone had told me where the party was planned to happen.
My father looks over at me.”Kyan?” I nod to him when another text message comes through.
Kyan: Don’t make up some excuse not to go either. I will come and get you if I have to, and you don’t want that. Kaif is not happy, and neither am I.
Me: Kaif is your wolf right, Jonah mentioned his name.
Kyan: Jonah mentioned many things to you; just remember Marabella, he can only tell you what I allow, nothing more.
Me: Then tell me, Kyan, because if you don’t want me, at least reject me. I won’t just be your doormat.
Kyan: You have been a doormat all your life, Marabella. Maybe when you see that, you will stop letting people walk all over you.
Me: People like you?
Kyan: The world, yourself. You are scared of yourself. If you are afraid, why wouldn’t everyone else be? You hide behind your brother. Maybe it’s about time you stop hiding.
Me: You’re a hypocrite. You tell me not to hide, but that is exactly what you do. You are the same, always hiding behind the image you built, so what’s behind it, Kyan? Don’t tell me not to hide when you hide better than I do.
Kyan: I hide to protect those around me. You hide to protect yourself from those around you; there is a difference.
Me: You are wrong.
Kyan: No, I am right and you know I am. I will see you on Saturday and leave those ridiculous gloves at home. You don’t need them with me around and don’t think I won’t come and get you if you try to bail out.
“That would have to be our longest conversation yet,” Kora says, and I roll my eyes at her. “What it is, progress. Say it with me,” she adds.
“You’re delusional. He still hates us.” I mutter, rather annoyed.
“At least he is talking to us,” she rolls her eyes at me this time.
“Talking at us, not to us, AT!” I snap again. I love her, I really do, but the poor thing is delusional.
“Talking is talking,” Kora shrugs, wandering off. I shake my head, turning back to the window. I dread to find out what it will feel like to see my mother after our argument.
Kyan
My skin itches and burns fiercely at her betrayal. Anger courses through me, making my blood boil. She is mine, and I never expected her to do such a thing. And with my best friend, of all people. It makes me even angrier, like she is trying to take the last person I have left from me.
“You mean your only friend? I told you to mark her,” Kaif snarls in my head.
I expected more of her; we are mates. Jonah. I know he has feelings for her. It is evident in the way he never shuts up about her. It honestly doesn’t shock me. However, what does shock me is how strong are Marabella’s feelings for him. I never thought there were any.
I am more shocked that she still has feelings for him. How can she feel anything now that she knows I am her mate?
I thought it was just a crush she had. She has always been rather shy, and I knew there was something there, but it astounds me that she still has those fucking feelings after she found her mate.
Jonah did warn me he wouldn’t stop pursuing her, but the fact she reacted to him still really grinds my gears. Jonah, however, is full of happiness and bubbly as fuck. I know he will be annoying as hell when he gets here. I can feel him getting closer, and he isn’t the least bit apologetic about kissing her. Kaif growls, feeling Jonah’s emotions so heightened.
I stare down at my last message. She better show up and be brave enough to confront me. For once, she has to. Or, I will drag her ass here, kicking and screaming, and lock her away in my basement.
“No, next time. You will mark her and keep her before Jonah takes her from us,” Kaif snarls.
Kaif stirs angrily under my skin when Jonah’s car pulls up outside, and I stalk out of my room to jog down the steps. Kaif wants to kill him, and so do I, though I know that isn’t an option since he is tied to us.