Chapter 10: Chapter 10

She stared at the ceiling as though it had suddenly developed a new feature. If there’s anything, she couldn’t actually tell the color. There was an aura of grey around her. It was a fog that wouldn’t rise or fade. A single tear rolled down her temple.

She spun to her side and faced the window. It has been raining all day and Alice has been in bed for as long as she could remember.

Soon, her face felt terribly wet, as though she was standing in a blowing gale. Her eyes were puffy from crying for the last five days. She was dehydrated, and her entire body was sore. She had tons of good memories that she could never forget even if she tried to. But, how was it that the pain outweighed the treasured memories?

She hates how she was feeling. She hates what she was going through and why she was in that position. The pain was unbearable. The tears rushed down nevertheless, non-stop even after she tried to stop it. No one should be able to cry as much as she had done for the past five days.

She had so much in her plate. She got grounded by her father on her eighth birthday, Aaron hates her and she might end up being forced to mate with Dominic.

As more tears came, more thoughts whirled through her head, causing more pain to her sorrow.

She’d rather get her heart torn out with bare hands than to be with someone who doesn’t value her or what she retains. He was only after his desires and nothing else. He didn’t care about who he’d hurt or the harms he’d cause. He was so selfish and she hated him for that.

She heard a soft knock from the door but pretend as though she didn’t hear it. The door creaks ajar and the intruder comes in nevertheless.

“You can’t hide in your little world forever… you’re already making your parents feel miserable.” She heard him say. She knew the owner of the voice before she even turned to look at him.

She shoved her head in her pillows and curled up in a ball. “I’ll have to try harder I guess,” she mumbled, enough for him to hear.

He chuckled softly and took the pillows off her head. She looks up at him and smiled through her tears. “I’m a mess, I know…”

Ryan motioned her to sit—she did and he plumped down beside her. She hugged her knees and buried her head in them. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into a nice and tight side-hug. She pouted and laid her head on his shoulder. It felt so nice to have someone like Ryan. He was so kind and sweet.

For the past five days, he has been there for her despite shotting him out every time he came to her. This was the first time she actually endorsed him to stay because she needed someone to talk to. She needed someone to know her problems, help her go through it… understand her.

“It’s so hard to say goodbye to someone you’re not ready to lose…”

Alice raised her head up and looked at Ryan. She knew she hadn’t told anyone anything about Aaron, not even Ryan that she trusts…

“I know it’s about a boy, you can’t be sad because you’re grounded. Come on, the Alice I know isn’t that weak,” he said, smiling. She returned a smile and laid her head back.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she mouthed, closing her eyes and relishing the moment. She does want to talk about it. She does want to tell him how much she liked Aaron and how she hates that he’s upset with her.

“Why?”

“Because mom might hear us. That woman’s ear is working better than her eyes does.”

Ryan chuckled softly, stroking her arm. “No one’s home. That’s why I decided to join you,” he said to her.

She heaved a sigh, releasing some of the stiffness built up in her chest.

“He’d never do what I did to him,” she began. Her heart was so heavy and all she wanted to do was gush her eyes out.

“What did you do?” Ryan asked her. He knew Alice to be sweet and kind. He couldn’t imagine anything bad she could do.

“I lied, I pushed him away, I hid secrets I shouldn’t have. The absurd part is, I don’t even know whether I love him or not. But all I know is whenever I see him, I just want to be in his arms, feeling his warmth. I smiled more and laugh more when I’m with him. With him, I can drop the fake smile and put on a real one. I don’t feel hurt and alone when I’m with him, instead, I feel safe and loved. He’s so, so easy to talk to and he listens to me. I’m not sad anymore because of him, he really cares and I know he is not pretending because I can hear how his heart beats so fast whenever he sees me or touches me. His eyes are so pure and innocent, but I dared to ruin a perfect love…” A flood of tears gushed down her redden cheeks. She swiped at her eyes but the tears came anyway.

Ryan hugged her closer, stroking her arm to help her calm the grieve. It worked—she felt safe in his arms. His touch helped her feel less pain she was in.

“That’s called loving someone, Alice. You’re obviously in love with him but something is holding you back or you’re just scared of getting hurt…”

“He’s human,” she blurts out. She knew Ryan has no idea Aaron was human. And as she expected, his entire body jolted to a halt suddenly. “He’s what?!” He bellowed, letting go of her.

“I knew you would make a fuss about it…”

“I’m not against it, Alice. But how do you think your father would react if he finds out about your human boyfriend?”

Alice ducked her head, fiddling with her fingers. “He’s not my boyfriend, Okay? And even if I choose to be with him, I don’t think the Alpha or anyone could stop me from being with the mate I chose,” Alice affirmed, her heart boiling up with anger, knowing her father would do anything to stop her from mating with Aaron.

“Okay but… is that even possible? You know, you and Aaron…”

She rolled her eyes as she chuckled softly. She knew exactly what he meant. “I don’t care, Ryan.”

“So, you do want to be with him?” He asked, sitting back down beside her.

She stares at the blank space for a couple of seconds. She didn’t know exactly what to say to Ryan because she wasn’t even sure of how she felt about Aaron. All she knew was she loves being around him because he brings out the better in her. He was always positive and she liked being around him for that.

“I don’t even know what I want…”

“Look, the day you find yourself smiling for no reason, dreaming about one person all the time and wanting to become something in life, you’re in love. And love never ends if it’s provided by the right person.”

He got to his feet and kissed her temple before leaving her to her thoughts.

She still had her eyes on the blank space even after he left. She heaved a sigh, letting his words to sink in. Ryan was right, she smiled whenever she remembered him, when she gets a recurrence of their moments together. He made her feel so different in a good way.

All she wanted now was to see him, make things up and finally come clean. she wasn’t sure of how he’d react, but she had a feeling that Aaron wouldn’t leave her just because she wasn’t his kind. He loves her enough to be with her no matter what she was or who she was. He told her he loved her—she felt the chemistry between them even before they touched. Whenever he kissed her, she could feel how much he wanted her and how much he didn’t want to be far away from her.

Alice got to her feet and sauntered out. She headed towards the door.

“Where are you going?” Ryan questioned jolting up from the couch.

“Oh… I… I just need some air. I won’t stay long,” she told him. He nodded his head and she left.

It was a Sunday evening, everyone seemed to be so busy as they prepared for a weekend get-together. Alice had attended a couple of times. It wasn’t bad but she preferred being in her small circle of friends—just her and Miley, and Daniel.

She looked at the sky—the rain seemed to have stopped and the sun was out already, making her surrounding look all upbeat and exultant but deep down she didn’t feel the same way.

She strolled towards the pack exit, unsure whether she’d be left out by the pack warriors or not. She knew her father had warned them not to let her out. Her father had told her she was allowed out but the gates were out of her boundary. She didn’t care. She was still going to do as she wished. She was eighteen now and she was sure she could make her own decision without consulting any of her parents.

She headed out into the woods without being interrupted by any of the gatekeepers.

She walked through the woods, the dappled sunlight amid the boughs and strong risen roots. She could feel her spirit weave itself into nature, as if for this time she was one with this place and all the life that was there.

She made it to their favorite spot, the rock by the lake and perched on it. She hugged her knees to her chest, trying to relish the moment, but it was hard to do that. She could barely think straight because of how she had so much going on in her head. She wanted everything go away.

“Oh… I… didn’t know you’d be out here.”

She snapped her head towards him just as her heart dropped. She hurriedly got down from the rock and approached him. “Aaron,” she mouthed, walking towards him.

He moved backwards, shaking his head. “I’ll leave.” He turned to walk away but she grabbed his wrist. “Please don’t go,” she pleaded.

He didn’t argue—he stood before her, looking down at her as he shoved his hands in his pocket.

“Aaron, I…” Her voice falters. This was all so weird. Her chest was constricted and her was flipping. She didn’t know exactly where to start. Apologize for being a jerk or just rip the news that she wasn’t human like he was expecting.

She ducked her head, fiddling with her fingers. She had so much to say yet didn’t even know where to start with. She could feel his breath fanning her and then he scoffed. “I have to go…” he mouthed and began to walk away.

“No, please don’t leave me. I love you…”

He halted but never turned to look at her. His heart dropped to his stomach as her words hit his ears. Did she really meant what she said or she just said that to stop him from leaving? Or she just said it to make him feel better and less guilty? Whichever it was, he doesn’t think it was considerable to him now.

He finally turned around and faced her when she didn’t say anything but cried inaudibly. “Why should I believe that you aren’t just saying it to feel less guilty?” He asked, his words were a demand and an accusation.

She shook her head briskly as she wiped her face—the tears still rushed down nevertheless. “There are times my brain fries up. It’s no excuse I know; I own my behavior and I’m so, so sorry for treating you like you didn’t mean the whole world to you.” She sucked in a huge breath, shocked at herself. The pain just came like a wave. She swiped at her tears as she walked over to him.

He held in an expression that she couldn’t read but she knew he wasn’t impressed with anything she had told him. She tried to release some of the tension she was feeling, but it was really hard when everything about him made her feel so tensed.

He could hear how her heart was hammering against her chest. She was hurt… in pain. She was remorseful, he could see that in her eyes. And he knew whatever she had told him was true. She really meant it.

“Just because I don’t say anything, that does not mean that I don’t feel the way you want me to. I was skeptical at first but the past few days I spent without you and knowing you’re so angry with me had made me realize that I am so in love with you. Yes, Aaron I can’t stay without you even a single moment of my day. Because you have become my life’s only role and my only way. I love you a lot…”

He kissed her. Without warning, without permission. Without even deciding to do it, but simply because he couldn’t have done anything else. He needed that breath she was holding. It belonged to him, and he wanted it back.

“That’s all I needed to hear from you,” he mouthed, his thumbs caressing her cheeks. She bites down on her lip, relishing to his touch. “And I can’t just give up on you that easily. I love you too much to let go of you. I love you with everything I am, everything I’ve been, and everything I hope to be. I love you with my past and I love you for my future, and for the years we’ll have together. I love you for every one of my smiles and even more for every one of yours.”

She allowed a sweet, mocking smile to curve her lips—his words causing a warm feeling deep inside her. The pure joy in his eyes when he looks at her was almost overwhelming.

“There’s something I have to tell,” she began, her smile almost fading. His eyes grew long as he strained his ears to listen.

“I don’t know how you’re going to take this but I just hope it won’t change how you feel about me. And no matter what, you’d be with me like you’ve promised to be…”

He sharply looked over her shoulder, something drawing him forward. He scanned the place, waiting to see where the intruder would come out from.

“At first, I was afraid to tell you. But you’ve given me the assurance and confidence that I can tell you everything…”

He kept looking over her shoulder, until an unfamiliar man stepped out from the trees. He smiled from afar, his hands in his pocket as he watched the two of them.

Aaron’s brown orbs darken, as he got a firmer hold on Alice. She swiftly turned her head around to the familiar man behind her. Terror sucked the very breath from her mouth as she stared back at Dominic approaching them.

She also gripped on Aaron as though life depended on him—it did.

“This is the man you really want to be with, Alice? You should know better,” he stated, approaching them. She could see the disappointing look on his face. He somehow looked pained that she was in Aaron’s arms. He breathes out to let the anger out but it didn’t work. He felt the urge to grab Aaron by his throat but he restrain himself.

Alice narrowed her eyes, as she sent a distrustful look towards him. “Dominic, don’t you dare!” She warned. It was as if she just gave him a go ahead to trying something insane.

“Oh, come on. I don’t have time to make a fuss. I am actually sorry for interrupting you from telling him that you’re a werewolf and your father is the Alpha of your pack…”

Aaron looks down at her, her eyes blooming with fury. “Dominic…” she said through gritting teeth.

“What is he talking about, Alice? Is that true? You’re a werewolf?” Aaron asked in a low tone.

“Oh, come on you’re as shamefaced and deceiver as she is, Aaron Cooper. I can’t even believe you chose this weak, pathetic little whelp over me. He’s just lying, scheming tramp who’s trying to use you! Believe me, Alice, he’s up to no good.”

Alice looked at Aaron that was trying his best not to shift. He could feel his claws exposing and his chest burning with anger. He has no idea who Dominic was but he knew that he has an idea of who he was and what he was.

“Oh, you also haven’t told her? Well, let me save you the stress then, your so-called forbidden mate, Aaron is a werewolf.”

Alice pushed Aaron aside and pounced on Dominic as she shifts to her werewolf form.

“Alice!”