Chapter 51: Desperate Cries.

John’s pov.

They’re almost here. I can sense them.

No matter what I try to do I can’t think about what I’ll say to them. What they’ll want to say to me.

Bella is always at the front of my mind.

Making it hard to form a plan in my head.

I clench my fists as I fight to focus, I need to, I have to.

No matter what, I need to know what to say. I have to be calculated, calm, and smart. I can’t fuck anything up. Mine and Bella’s lives depend on it.

Before I knew it the sounds of engines rumbling pulled up outside of the gates.

I could hear them. I wasn’t too far from the border, waiting and watching for them to arrive.

I smell my brother's scent first, and then the one smell I never thought I’d smell again.

Her, my mate. Or… ex mate.

Angel. Her cocoa and coconut scent is still the same as it’s always been.

I rubbed my face before getting into that too much, never wanting to see her face again. Or smell her scent again.

I started running through the woods, trying to get back to the pack house before they could.

I saw their car through the trees and locked eyes with none other than Angel.

She smirked as she saw the anger etched onto my face.

She doesn’t get to look at me like that, she doesn’t get to feel smug.

Titan growled as he pushed us harder, my legs running faster than ever before.

I came to a stop in front of the pack house, turning around and spotting Bella, walking up to her quickly.

“Where have you been?” She whispered harshly, her hands visibly shaking, probably feeling extremely nervous.

“I’m sorry, I’m here now,” I said, my arm brushing against hers slightly before she pulled away just as fast.

I wanted to feel upset about it, I wanted to be angry even. The way she’s avoided me, the way she’s kept her feelings to herself, leaving me in the dark as to why she’s been acting this way.

I still wonder, every night. I lay awake in bed, thinking of where I went wrong. What could’ve made her pull away from me so quickly.

But every time I come up empty, not sure what happened.

My head looked up at the sounds of doors opening and closing, my eyes locking on my older brother… Karl.

“Well, well!” He said while laughing, a wicked grin on his face as he walked towards me with his arm locked around Angel’s, “if it isn’t John. Little brother! It’s been too long, seven years to be exact. Why don’t you visit me anymore? What did I ever do to you?”

I clenched my hands at my sides, my teeth grinding from the anger I felt at his questions.

He doesn’t know. It’s not his fault. But it doesn’t help the rage simmering beneath my skin.

Bella’s hand finds mine, her fingers wrapping around mine tightly, a silent anchor, letting me know it’ll be okay and to calm down.

Karl and Angel both look down at our conjoined hands, Karl’s eyebrow shooting up questionably.

“And what is this?” He asked while frowning at me, “a mated woman? What is wrong with you, brother?”

“I’m going to have to stop you right there!” I said angrily, Bella’s grip on my hand tightening warningly.

I took a deep breath, looking down at her before looking back towards my brother.

“Karl. This is Alpha Bella. And she’s ‘mated’ but is having a rejection ceremony within three weeks. She’s spoken to the higher elders and it’s been scheduled, her ex mate cheated on their bond for years and even had a pup from the affair. Not to mention he poisoned her with wolfsbane and when that stopped working she felt the excruciating pain of the mate bond betrayal. She has every right to reject him,” I said, gritting my teeth as he searched my face.

He clicked his tongue before waving his hand around, “very well. Show us inside, I’m hungry and you don’t want that to last long. Olive might just burst out of me and eat what he wants,” he said sarcastically, making me roll my eyes.

Titan whined at the name. Olive. His ‘brother’.

I sighed in my head, knowing how close they were.

‘I’m sorry, buddy, it’s for the best, and I know they don’t know Angel was our mate but it doesn’t make it hurt any less,’ I whispered to him, but he didn’t answer.

He whined before curling into himself.

“So this is where you’ve been all this time,” Angel’s voice said softly from behind me, making my entire body tense up.

“Don’t come near me again,” I whispered angrily, not wanting her anywhere near me, not after everything she's done to us.

“Oh, come on! Don’t be like that,” she said casually, flicking her blond hair over her shoulder as she smirked at me, “I missed you, John. Did you miss me?”

Her breath fanned against my neck, but instead of the feelings she used to make me feel.

Hot, aroused, animalistic… aren’t there. All I feel is disgust and anger.

I look around and just as Karl and Bella walk around the corner I slam Angel up against the wall, gripping her neck so tightly her veins started bulging from her face and neck.

Her eyes widened in shock, her hands pushing at my own, trying desperately to get me to let go.

“I said, do not come near me again. Is that clear enough for you, Angel? I don’t want you in my life. I don’t need you in my life! I’ve moved on, you clearly need to. Don’t talk to me again, got it? You betrayed me already, you don’t need to betray my brother too,” I whispered the last part, letting go of her quickly, wiping my hands on my pants as I sneered at her and walked away.

I heard her panting and crying from behind me, but I didn’t stop. No, I kept walking.

Towards Bella and my brother. To see whatever it is they are doing.