“Just let her go.” Ace said as his smirk flattened out while staring at Harley who stared straight towards the ground. “Anna is a really nice girl and she’s very into you. She falls in love too fast, I know and you’ve noticed. But she’s really loyal and she won’t hurt you in anyway, you can trust me on that. Just as long as you treat her well, Anna will be yours for the rest of your life.” He explained as he watched Harley bit onto his lower lip and clenched his fists. “I love Hope, and I want to get serious with her. Not just because she’s an alpha, but because of the same reasons you said you loved her for.” Ace explained as he relaxed his shoulders and shifted his gaze towards the ground. “she’s just completely different from all the other woman I’ve been with. Far much different from the women from my pack. Just like Anna, the women from my pack are mostly concerned with families and taking care of how they look. They rarely transform and when they do, they feel a lot of pain.” He sighed out, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. “Hope is… someone you wouldn’t find anywhere. I need her. So please, pretend that you love Anna so she can stop worrying and focus on me.”
Harley glanced up to meet his eyes with a deep frown as he relaxed his clenched fists. He sighed out as he licked his lower lip and tan a nervous hand through his hair, glancing up to the sky.
“I really love her…” Harley said as he stared at the countless stars. “she’s the only person who understands me. She knows what I eat, how I behave, what I like and don’t like… she knows me inside out. While Anna doesn’t know a single thing about me. I’m just nice to her because I can’t hurt women.” He shrugged his shoulders as he glanced back at Ace. “I’ve been in love with her ever since I was fifteen and she was thirteen. I’ve never had eyes for another woman since I’ve known her and all I could think about was her. I endured all the times she could talk about other guys and even marry someone who’s not me. Even when I thought that maybe I could fall out of love with her eventually, my feelings only grew worse and I never thought anyone else would be good enough for me other than Hope. And I believe it.” He shrugged his shoulders as he galmced elsewhere. “and you just came a few days ago and you think you need her a lot more than me?” he asked as he stared at Ace disbelievingly.
Ace sighed out and pressed his lips together as he clenched his jaws in annoyance.
Harley was right, he had to admit.
Harley had waited for her for a very long time and he simply walked in and grabbed her from his life within seconds.
“Harley, I’m just asking you as a friend.” Ace sad with a deep frown as he glanced at Harry who furrowed his brows at him. “I really love her. Sheet the first woman I’ve ever fallen in love with. So… please Harley.” He begged, getting Harley to frown deeply and glance away in a bit of anger that Ace was still being selfish over Hope.
“Friend?” Harley forced out a laugh as he glanced up at Ace who frowned. “we’re friends now?” he asked as he clenched his jaw. “if we are, why don’t you want to understand that Hope means a lot to me and I can’t let her go that easily, not after I confessed to her.”
“…. You’re far much stronger than I am. I don’t think I would be able to live the life you did. I admit I’m strong with muscle but I can’t cope with emotional pain. I’m weak on that. That’s why I got very silent after you insulted me about being an outsider.” Ace admitted as he glanced towards the ground. “I know I’m being selfish. It’s like I don’t want to listen to your feelings, but that’s only because I’m failing to get over the fact that I might lose Hope within seconds. I’m scared and this is the first time I’ve ever felt fear. It’s horrible and I don’t want to see what comes after fear when you’ve lost. That’s why I just had to ask you directly like a man to let go of her and have Anna. She won’t hurt you. You can trust her.”
Harley stared into Ace’s honest eyes as he spoke, knowing too well Ace was saying the things straight from his heart and not just so he could tease him about it later.
Ace was truly scared of losing Hope.
And so was Harley.
“please?” Ace asked as he stared with an anxious expression, dearly hoping Harley woul eventually agree and let her go to him. But knowing Harley a little too well, Ace wasn’t going to get his wish granted.
“Fine.” Harley sighed out as he reached up and rubbed his brows as he faced the ground and shut his eyes. “I’ll let you have her. That’s only because she doesn’t look at m the way she looks at you. If I ended up separating you two, she would even reconsider being my best friend. Like I already noticed, the day we kissed she…. And you mated, then the day after I pretended I don’t know anything she went ahead and mated with you. So why should I keep trying to force her to see me differently…. I’m just her best friend. To her you’re more than that. So, I’ll pretend to like Anna, like you said.” Harley cleared his throat he glanced away and bit onto his lower lip.
Ace smiled out in relief as he sighed out with a small chuckle.
“oh thanks…” he chuckled out as he walked over to Hrley and forcedly wrapped his arms around his neck, causing him to gag and chock for a moment. “you’re not bad, we might actually become best friends too.” Ace chuckled as he rubbed his knuckles agaisnt his head, causing Harley to flinch in pain and shove him away.
“You don’t have to do that.” Harley rolled his eyes as he glared towards Ace who grinned out. “what the hell is wrong with you?”
“just relieved.” He chuckled as he licked his lower lip. “I swear I’ll repay you.”
“by giving birth to an identical Hope?” Harley asked with a sarcastic look only to have Ace laugh out sharply.
“I wish I could.” He chuckled then pointed with his head towards the direction of the van. “lets go, we’ve taken more than we should have for just a toilet break.”
“We probably have.” Harley smiled as he noticed Ace’s brightened up face, knowing at least despite himself being very unhappy, someone else can be.
It hurt him knowing he can’t change Hope’s feelings for him, so at least Ace can’t go through the same pain he was.