Dylan’s POV
The room was filled with awkward, uncomfortable silence for minutes with Avery lost, looking like she was having an internal argument.
I would have said she was arguing with her wolf but I don’t think she’s had her first shift.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” my wolf asked
“Well, what are you expecting me to say… hi?”
“Anything would be okay to be honest. Just make sure you fix things with her. This is probably your only chance.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“I know I am” my wolf said, pride filing his voice.
I rolled my eyes at my wolf’s ego then finally spoke up
“Avery” I said the exact same time Avery said “Dylan”
I smiled, knowing she was ready to talk
“Are you mad at me?” she asked “I mean… Yeah it pretty obvious you’re mad… but why” she asked sounding different, she sounded hurt, yes, but she sounded more uncomfortable. She’s not the touchy touchy feelings kind so this situation was something else for her.
I didn’t know what exactly to say
“A-re we still… best friends?”, she continued questioning me. “D… did you ever actually even love me?”, her last question ended with break in her voice then was assisted by an awkward gulp.
“I did.” I gave my answer almost immediately, shocked that she even asked that.
“Then why did you throw everything away when you met Tessa?”, she asked.
I was quiet, picking the words I should use to answer her question
“Do you really think I should be put on a leash?” she asked
“Avery…” I trailed, sitting on her bed. She let out a weird sound, playing with her fingers, not hiding how uncomfortable she was feeling. She didn’t even look at me, she looked anywhere else while chewing her gum and humming a random song.
I could bare the awkwardness though. I didn’t see it as a problem honestly. I really just wanted to talk to her but she didn’t seem ready. Even if she was, she wasn’t sure how to start talking.
Letting out an annoyed sigh, she stood and like the obsessed puppet I am, I did the same.
I just want to be close to her
I took slow steps towards her, while she took slow steps away till her back finally hit the wall softly.
I kept moving forward till we were only inches apart.
She looked down at her feet, letting a low groan out before finally saying something, “What’s up with you?”
“What… I mean… I… Uh” I could say nothimg to answer a question. I sounded like some idiot trying to speak to his crush. It annoyed me how nervous I felt around her because of all that had happened. I needed to fix things quickly. Letting out a calming sigh, I finally gathered myself then spoke up. “I guess we’re no longer used to each others presence” I chuckled a bit, but not out of humor.
I just wanted to lighten up the mood.
She didn’t move, smile, frown… she didn’t do anything . She just stood frozen, but I didn’t let that discourage me.
“I missed you so much” I said, reaching for her hand. Tried of keeping it in and trying to take baby steps. Even if we didn’t end up as mates . I still needed her company even if as only friends. Even if it’s one sided I was still ready to love her till my last breath.
It’s sad how I’ve fallen so deep without realizing early enough
“You did huh…” she said, her voice filled with no energy and lack of interest. She didn’t believe me. “Sure didn’t act like it”
“Let me explain.”
“I missed you too” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She sounded so uncertain, like she wasn’t sure if telling me was a good idea. She wasn’t sure about me anymore. I couldn’t bla, e her though. So much has happened.
It didn’t matter how it came out, hearing those words come out from her cause so much relief. I couldn’t help but smile.
“So you don’t hate me?” now she had a warn smile on with watery eyes. My heart ached
” I can’t even if I tried” I grinned watching her smile grow, the atmosphere was different. I couldn’t call it comfortable but it wasn’t the worst.
“Then why did you make it seem like you did” she asked
“Maybe we shouldn’t talk about this.”, I said, letting out a heavy sigh, taking a step back and breaking eye contact.
“Are you kidding?” she frowned, sounding like she was ready to throw a punch at me. What I said was pretty stupid.
I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to figure out how to answer that.
“You suddenly start acting like the opposite of my best friend and torturing me… for no reason?” she frowned
“No-”
“Were you just toying with me?” she though it wasn’t much, her tone was harsher. She held back so many emotions.
I frowned at what she said.
Toying with her? She thinks I could toy with her?
I basically glared, looking deep into her eyes noticing as her gaze softened when she realized I’d picked offense.
“Why would you even think that?” I asked, basically scolding her with my tone.
” I wasn’t thinking when I said that… I shouldn’t have made that kinda assumption. I’m sorry” she mumbled, hating that she had to apologize “We just started talking and I’m already messing things up. Typical” she criticized herself, looking away but quickly regaining eye contact, probably trying to avoid looking like the weak one.
It’s funny how she always wants to look tough
“So how are you gonna tell her that you assumed that she was playing you” My wolf questioned me
“I’m so sorry” I let the words flow through my mouth without really thinking too deep into it.
“Why’re you apologizing?” she titled her head a bit to the side, thrown aback by my sudden apology.
“For being a complete dick.”
She didn’t say anything, just watch me. Obviously signaling me to carry on.
“If I’m gonna say this, I better make sure I’m safe” I said taking five steps back, hoping that’d be enough space to keep me safe from a slap.
She rose an eyebrow but didn’t question me. She made it obvious by her movement that she
“Remember the day you found your mate? Liam and I were about to fight in the middle of a crowd.”
“Yeah, that was the day I woke my wolf up”
“What?” I rose an eyebrow
“Just continue”
“Umm… you remember what people said about you playing me?”
She frowned, shaking her head no “I don’t remember that”
“You… were looking directly at me…”
“Maybe… Oh I remember… I was lost, trying to wake my wolf”
“What”
“I have a wolf in my head I’ve been trying wake up so I can finally shift”
I starred at her for seconds, trying to process what she just said “It doesn’t work like that”
“It does for me…” she shrugged
“So… you weren’t listening to what they were saying?” I asked
“Yeah” she shrugged
“Wow” I said, feeling ultimately stupid “I thought they were saying the truth ab-”
“So you assumed I was playing you… then decided to start hating me all of a sudden?” she frowned “I thought you knew me Dylan”
“Avery-”
“Dylan, you made me feel like crap… you made me doubt myself… you made me cry, made me-”
“Avery, I just wanted to get over you” I groaned “I felt you’d never leave your mate for me so whets the point… loving you without you loving back. I was heart broken. I wasn’t thinking right”, I explained, I felt like more of an idiot with every word that escaped my mouth.
“So you decided to hurt me”
“No Avery” I ran my hands through my hair, not knowing what else to do. I was panicking at the moment. I didn’t want Avery leaving still mad at me.
“Cause that’s what you did to me” she said, softly, leaning on the wall and sighing. She closed her eyes, breathing steadily probably trying to let everything sink and calm herself down. She wanted to force herself into forgiving me but nah, I needed genuine forgiveness. I really messed up.
“I was being stupid… I’m sorry” I apologized, looking down in defeat “I don’t wanna loose you again Avery. I don’t wanna hurt you or make you cry… I just want everything back to normal.”
She starred at me with an unreadable expression plastered on her face then she grinned “I can’t be mad at you when we just got back together” she said then walked up to me
I smiled
“Besides, everyone makes mistakes and I made one by pushing you away like that, trying not to repeat my mom’s mistake… Thinking I would learn to love my real mate but… I realized I couldn’t… I ended up losing the both of you “she stopped. leaving barely any space between us
“Losing?” I rose an eyebrow, letting my hope grow, silently praying she meant what I thought.
“We realized rejecting each other was for the best” she explained
“Really?” I grinned
“Really” she giggled
“Good.” I smiled, pulling her to me by her waist. “So I’m your mate now.”
She gasped at my speed but I didn’t mind
I leaned in, wanting to close up the space between us
I was impatient
This is something I’ve been wishing to do and now I can… I’m not holding back
She avoided my lips
I frowned, confused at her movements
“Tessa” she mentioned her name “You marked her”
I smiled, shaking my head, no “Her mark was fake. I don’t even love her… why would I mark her”
Avery smiled, resting her forehead on mine “Well, that’s a relief” she whispered to herself
“So we’re both mateless” I pulled her closer again, letting her sweet scent consume me
She wrapped her hands round my neck “I guess so”
“But we can fix that”
“Hmm?” she tilted her head in confusion
I was too excited to talk. It took me seconds to get back together
“Avery…” I trailed, slowly closing up the face between us
My eyes sunk into her curious ones.
“Will you be my mate?” I finally said, already forgetting all that happened in the past. The thought of Avery as mine already had my mind clouded that’s all I want and to me, that’s all that matters
My smiled grew when her face flushed red “It doesn’t work like that.” she giggled a bit.
“It does for me” I whispered, finally closing up the space between us
I relaxed when our lips met, feeling her pull me closer by second. She moved her lips slowly against mine, gliding on me, teasing me and not giving me room to complain.
Her movements made me heat up completely, but before I could take our kiss to another level, the door flew open, making Avery attempt to break the kiss.
The door flew open
She was about to break the kiss but I held her waist tight and leaned in more
My dad chuckled
“Hmph.” was all she was able to say.
“We have a guest though.”, my dad said, moving to the side, revealing the fuming tomatoe stomping behind him, failing to earn anyone’s interest.
“DYLAN, YOU ASSHOLE” the pitch of the pest’s voice made me break the kiss. The sound had Avery and I irritated to the core. I reflected clearly on our faces.
If my dad was a second late, I would’ve marked Avery. She’d have officially been mine.
Why’d you spoil the fun?! Buzz kill
We both glared at Tessa, waiting for her to say whatever she had to and get out.
“Tessa”, we both called out her name after seconds of silence. We needed her out.
“HOW DARE YOU REJECT ME THEN KISS… THIS THING?” she yelled, glaring at my mate.
Yeah. That’s right. I said my mate
We just starred at her, still panting from the short, consuming kiss
“You don’t deserve me.” she hissed “I Tessa accept your rejection and rejects you, Dylan” she said bluntly
I shrugged then turned back to Avery, tilting her head up slightly by her chin while I leaned in.
“ARE SERIOUSLY DOING THIS?” Tessa yelled.
I ignored and sealed the kiss, grinning at the feeling of Avery’s soft lips smash against mine. She kissed back immediately
We both smiled when we heard Tessa scream, storming off while my dad released untamed laughter, taunting her the more.
When I was sure she was gone, I broke the kiss, then pulled her into a hug, inhaling her intoxicating scent and enjoying the feeling of her body against mine.
She listened to my pounding heart, smiling.
“I love so much” I whispered
She smiled “I love you too”
“Uhh… I exist” my dad spoke up
We both rolled our eyes, laughing.
My laugh seized when a short vision hit me… A scene from my nightmare of my dad dying