“My apology was real. What I said was the truth. I love you, despite my actions showing you otherwise. I will make it up to you, Angel,” he promises.
Chapter 16
The following morning starts with hustle and bustle around the house as the pack makes sure the house is perfect for when the Alpha and Luna return home. My parents are having a family dinner this evening, and since they consider the twins and Jacob family, they’ll be sitting at the table. They arrive tonight at eight thirty, so it will be a late dinner. Thankfully the sun goes down early this time of year, so I’ll still be able to meet up with Phoenix for my first training session around six.
Jacob told me there’s a pack mate coming in to cook and serve the dinner. I don’t know what’s up with all the formality, they must have something to tell us. I wasn’t even allowed to ask Nixon to join us, so the thought of being left alone to deal with the twins causes an uneasy feeling in my stomach.
After doing my usual morning run, I spend the rest of the day doing laundry, cleaning my room and sitting by the lake reading yet another romance novel.
Nixon is aware of my arrangements with Phoenix. He wanted to come with me but he has to be at the school tonight, they have a football game and he’s on duty. I have promised to call him though if I have any trouble, that seemed to reassure him enough to let me go without the moaning I expected from him.
After getting ready to meet up with Phoenix I head down the stairs, I wanna head out before anyone spots me. Pulling on my leather jacket, I walk down the passage looking through the doors to see if there’s anyone home before suddenly bumping into someone.
“Oh sorry, didn’t see… Oh.” Tyler must have just come up from working out in the gym downstairs. His hair is all wet, he’s shirtless with a towel hanging over his shoulder, and his muscles shine with sweat.
“Angel.”
“I’ve gotta get going,” I say, pointing my thumb to the door behind me as I back away. His body looking the way it does, all glistening and shit is temptation enough. The fact that I know I can’t run my hands over him, that he has a girlfriend that does all those things has the rebel inside of me wanting to jump him like a horny fucking jack rabbit .
I gotta get outta here…
“Please wait,” he says, grabbing my hand softly. His gentle caring behaviour has me confused.
“I thought that staying away and avoiding you would help me make a decision about this whole mate thing, but I can’t do it, Angel. The more I’m away from you, the angrier and frustrated I get. My wolf is driving me crazy because he wants to be near Faith. I need to spend more time with you, I want to trust you and I want you to trust me enough to tell me everything. I know we can figure this all out together, but no more secrets.”
I look down at his hand that is holding mine, his thumb rubbing back and forth. Even though it’s rather calming, the fact that he assumes things between us can just go back to how they were before aggravates me.
“This mate thing?” I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion. I know I’m letting the little things irritate me, but the way he continuously says mate-thing as if it’s not of any importance has me all riled up.
“You know what?” I let out a deep breath and pull my hand from his and point my finger at him. “I told you the truth. I told you about Drake, but you didn’t believe one word I said! I get that I hurt you, I’ve apologised countless times. For God’s sake, Tyler. I didn’t mean to string you along, as you and Talon continuously tend to put it. I loved you, both of you. I went back to Point Bright ready to break up with Drake, but he wouldn’t have it. Who do you think hurt me?” I’m yelling so loud, I really pray no one is around.
“What?” I hear Talon’s out of breath voice behind me, as if I just punched him in the stomach. I turn and find him wide eyed. I really wasn’t going to have this conversation now, but since both boys are right here and they’ve pushed me to my limit, I allow the anger to flow, along with the words.
“He threatened me. Told me he’d hurt the friends I had back in Point Bright, that he’d hurt you two as well as Alex and Johnny. He was crazy, he’s fucking lost his mind! He made me tell him every day that I loved him, so much that I even started to believe the lie. I would isolate myself from everyone when I came back home because I was so afraid that he could somehow see what I was doing and who I was with. I was paranoid and seriously afraid.”
“Ohmigod, Angel. I…fuck…we didn’t believe you.” Talon’s face is full of sorrow and pity as he reaches for me, pulling me into his arms.