Avery’s POV
He didn’t bother asking further questions about Dylan but I could tell he wanted to.
The ride home was quiet and long. It was exhaustingly awkward.
I got out of the car and I followed.
Put your mate on a leach!
The thought of that he said disgusted me. Even if he never really loved me. I know he still considered me a friend. So why say that.
“Dylan fight every time when it comes to you. Why?” Liam asked, glancing at me. “Why’s he always trying to pick a fight when you’re involved. Don’t tell me you don’t know”
“I-”
“He’s in love with you isn’t he? Has something happened between you two? How much are you hiding from me? Do you feel the same for him?” he asked “Is that why you fought with Tessa?”
“No-”
“I can’t believe you” I frowned, going up the stairs and ignoring me.
I sighed, watching him climb the stares.
So he’s mad at me now.
I groaned.
He can’t know everything… Yet.
I can’t imagine his reaction if I told him everything he needs to know.
The truth behind my mom’s death… his mom’s death… him being Alpha.
I followed him upstairs, to his room.
He was sitting on his bed.
“Liam…”
“You loved him… Right?”
I nodded.
“You guys… Kissed”
I hesitated but nodded after wondering how he was guessing all these.
“You felt something for him”
“Yeah”
“Then what… The fuck was he saying” he muttered.
I rose an eyebrow
He pat a space beside him, signalling me to sit.
I did
“Tessa was just an excuse to fight me… Over you”
“Hmm?”
“He said I ruined everything”
”
Dylan?”
“Yes”
“When? How?”
“He sent a mind link while we glared. I doubt he even realized.” Liam chuckled “Love struck”
“You still love Dylan… Right?” He asked
I didn’t know how to answer that.. Considering I was talking to my mate.
“Just say it” he frowned.
“I do” I admitted.
“Can you stop?”
“I’ll try”
“But you can’t” Liam smiled.
I let out a sigh
I felt shaky
“You’re trying to sacrifice your love for him… For your mate… Me” he turned to me.
“Yeah”
“But you shouldn’t… You can’t”
“I can”
“It not as easy as you think”
“It’s my duty”
“Its not”
I sighed, not liking where this was going.
“Look at my neck” he tilted his head to the side, revealing his mark.
“I’ve been marked” he said. “I belong to someone else …. permanently and I never want to move on. I still love her”
“Then why did the moon goddess pair me with you?” I frowned.
He’s been marked…. That means there’s no hope that were ever gonna have the normal relationship mates have… We’d remain just friends… And that’s honestly… Not enough.
He belongs to someone else not me even if we are mates.
“You’re one of the best people I’ve ever met Avery” he smiled “You’re basically my… Safe place… Sitting next to you… Talking to you…” He trailed.
I smiled.
“You remind me a lot of Veronica… You guys are a lot alike… But… You’re not her” he sighed ”I love you… That’s why I’m ready to fight for you. We’ve only spent less than two days together and I’m attached.. I don’t think the mate bond is in charge of this” he shrugged.
“You’re personality is everything…. And that’s why I love you.. As a friend… I can’t love you more cause of…” He trailed then pointed at his mark.
“I understand where you’re going with this” I sighed.
He smiled “Go ahead… It’s for the best”
I took me a lot… But I said it.
“I, Avery… Reject you Liam George and my mate and Alpha”
Guess he escaped being Alpha of an extinct pack.
“I, Liam accept your rejection and rejects you, Avery as my mate.. and Luna”
We both sighed and closed our eyes… Waiting for pain to take over.
Breaking the mate bond fully… Is a big deal… It causes a lot of damages emotionally but can be controlled.. it takes a lot though
After about thirty seconds of waiting.
I felt nothing.
I’m guessing he felt nothing too.
We opened our eyes at the same time then turned to each other and smiled.
He hugged me “I’m lucky to know you”
I smiled them hugged back
“Why aren’t we in pain?” I asked as we broke the hug.
“I guess our wolves are attached to others already… So it didn’t really affect them… Our mate bond was weak”
“Oh…” I trailed.
“Yeah”
I guess I’m dieing alone… Mateless wolfless.. Yippee.. I’m so happy I wanna cry (note the sarcasm)..
“This doesn’t affect us being friends… Right?” I broke the silence.
“We’re not ‘just’ friends… We can’t be ‘just’ friends” he kept emphasising on just.
“Then what” I titled my head.
“I can’t take Dylan’s place as your best friend” he shrugged “He’d have my head for it” he slightly chuckled.
I giggled a bit, standing while he laid.
I can’t sleep in his room anymore… We’re not mates so..
I went to ‘my’ room.
This place was built to be like Dylan’s house so I chose the room I called mine in Dylan’s.
As soon as I got there, I locked the door, took off Veronica’s clothes, washed them, had my bath, put on the robe I found, jumped on the bed and took out my phone.
I got some texts from my… Dad.
Piss off: Home in 10 minutes.
Me: Lol
I threw my phone to the side then sank into the bed, closing my eyes.
////////////////////////////////////
I found myself next to my wolf
I didn’t bother trying to wake her… I was already loosing faith.
I sat next to her then closed my eyes, resting on her soft fur, wishing Dylan would show up and make me wake her… Or maybe just kiss me.
Cause I really need that.
I groaned when I remembered he has a mate.
“Dylan…” I sighed, hugging myself.
“Hmm?”someone replied.
I opened my eyes and stood immediately.
“Dylan?” I rose an eyebrow.
“Wha?…”
“What are you doing here?”
“Don’t act like you’re not glad to see me” he smiled.
This is probably just a dream
“It’s not ‘just’ a dream Avery” he held my hand then pulled me close.
I was too confused to react
He smiled then cupped my cheeks “Can’t explain how much I missed you” he leaned in.
“Dylan… You have a mate” I said, leaning away.
He rolled his eyes “Don’t say that”
“It’s the truth”
“Then you’re my mate”
“No… Tessa is”
“She’s not” he frowned “Avery, I’m yours” he held my waist slowly.
I froze at his touch.
It felt too real.
“And you’re mine… Mate or not” he leaned in “And no one can change that Avery” he whispered then forced a kiss on my lips.
~
~
I woke up then sat up immediately, panting.
I looked around.
Was just a dream… Obviously.
I wish it wasn’t.
You’re mine.
His voice echoed in my head.
“Ugh, what woke me up” I grumbled then laid back down and closed my eyes.
I wanted to go back to the dream.
But I couldn’t sleep.
I tired to get more comfortable.
Mate or no mate.
I felt myself tear up, remembering how every night and morning, before I go to bed, I’d imagine my sixteenth birthday… How I’d react when I find out Dylan’s my mate.
But… My dream never came true…
Dylan basically hates me now he’s found his mate… He doesn’t give a shit anymore.
Tears rolled down
Why… Why’d he suddenly stop… Even if we weren’t mates… Why’d he suddenly start hating me.
Did he ever even love me?
I hugged myself “Dylan…” I sobbed, missing literally everything about him.
I cried myself to sleep.
**************
My sleeping wolf was the first thing I saw.
I frowned “Asshole” I muttered, remembering when I woke her up.
Can’t believe she went back to sleep
I took my attention off her then turned, searching for Dylan.
“Dylan?…” I basically whispered but my voice still echoed.
No one showed up.
“Dylan!” I yelled.
“You’re mine Avery… No one else’s” I heard his voice, but couldn’t see him.
I couldn’t even tell where his voice was coming from.
I took slow steps forward.
“I love you with everything and anything in me” I listened and kept moving forward, partly smiling at his words knowing they weren’t his… They were just my imagination.
Besides…. It’s a dream. Isn’t it?
I sighed.
“You love me too right?” The voice continued.
I looked down, hugging myself and took faster steps, not knowing were I was heading.
“I love you”
I closed my eyes and kept moving till I bumped into someone…
I stumbled back but he held my waist to support me then cupped my cheek.
I blushed when I opened my eyes.
“Say it back Avery” Dylan whispered.