Chapter 63: Mixed Emotions.

Johns pov.

“They aren’t cutting it, Karl!” I growled out angrily, my fists clenched tightly at my sides with barely contained rage, “you call this an army? They can barely fight! How are they supposed to win against rogues and vampires? It’s already been an entire week of training and they haven’t shown any improvement. Just snarky comments and slack. I don’t know how much longer I can handle this.”

My brother groaned while rubbing a hand down his face exasperated.

“I don’t know what happened to them all. Most of our stronger warriors are injured in the healers hut. Since father hasn’t been doing the training they’ve taken a fall in strength and precision. I’m praying to the goddess that they start to get stronger with your guidance. Don’t give up on them now, John. Just give them more time, please,” he said desperately, his eyes filled with hope as he stared at me, waiting for an answer.

“I don’t know what to say, Karl. Two more days. That’s it. I will not train anyone else after that. I told you I’d stay for two weeks, that’s it. It’s already been a week, I wanted to spend the time I had here with our father, not training egotistic, arrogant fools who think they don’t have to listen to my orders,” I grumbled, rolling my eyes at the thought of the ‘warriors’ I’ve been training.

“I know, I know,” he sighed heavily, smiling a little sheepishly at me, “I appreciate everything you’ve been doing for me, little brother. We couldn’t do it without you.”

I nodded my head once before turning around and waking away without a word. Not having anything else to say.

I needed to call Bella. I haven’t had time to call her but I can’t wait any longer. I have to hear her voice.

I walked into the courtyard just behind the castle, it was empty, leaving me alone for once.

I quickly sat down on a bench and pulled my phone out of my pocket, dialing Bella’s number before pressing my phone to my ear.

It rang and rang… I had almost hung up, thinking she wasn’t going to answer when her soft voice spoke on the other side.

“Hello?”

“Hello…” I said back softly, already feeling a smile take over my face.

“John? It’s you. I’ve been waiting to hear from you everyday since you left,” she said quietly, making my smile drop slightly.

“I’m sorry, Bella. I’ve been extremely busy, I’ve been meaning to call you. How are you? How’s everything in the pack?” I asked, hopefully distracting her from her questions.

“I’m fine, the pack is good. Nothing that you need to worry about,” she chuckled softly, my stomach flipping at the sound of her laughter.

I could only imagine the way her heartbeat raced, the way her skin tingled with goosebumps.

“Did you miss me, Bella?” I asked suddenly, hearing nothing but silence on the other end of the phone.

“Obviously…” she mumbled, making me grin…

I love making her squirm… I wish I could do a lot more to her, say a lot more to her… but not yet.

“I missed you too. A lot actually. You’ve all I’ve been able to think about these last few days, Bella. Even while I’m training these mutts… you are the one thing I can’t stop thinking about. Your soft, creamy skin, your beautiful smile and contagious laughter. I can’t wait to see you when I get home. Just one more week of being here, that’s it. And then I'll be back there, and I’ll be able to hold you again,” I whispered into the phone, smirking as I imagined her reaction.

Her breath was uneven, just sharp inhales that could be heard through the phone.

“John… will you really be back in a week?” She asked. You could hear the eagerness in her voice, how much she truly wanted to see me again…

“Yes. I’ll be home in a week, I promise,” I answered her instantly, sensing her sadness from here.

“I will see you then. I have to go get Megan from Teeran, can you call later? I wouldn’t mind talking again before I go to bed tonight,” she said softly, the hopefulness in her voice made me answer before thinking.

“Of course, I’ll call you later, just message me when you want to talk, okay?” I said, hoping she’d message me soon…

“Okay,” she said, her smile the only thing I could see in my head before she hung up the phone.

Goddess help me.

I rubbed the back of my head, looking around while my thoughts ran wild in my head.

What are you doing to me Bella?

“John!” Angel’s high pitched voice screamed from across the courtyard. Making my heart drop into my stomach.

“No, not now, not ever. Get the fuck away from me, now!” I yelled back at her, not wanting to lose control, I couldn’t deal with that right now.

“No, John! You have to take me back, I’m sorry, okay? Just understand that when I was younger back then, I didn’t always make the best choices… just forgive and forget it all! I beg you, John. Please. Give me another chance, let me show you that I changed!” She begged, dropping down onto her knees desperately.

My hands clenched beside me, my eyes narrowing in disgust.

“Get. Out. Of. My. Space. I don’t ever want to see your face again. You don’t deserve a second chance, no. You only want me now that my brothers realized the type of person you truly are. Now that he’s thrown you out, like you are nothing, you decided I was your last choice, that you should come crawling back to me. Well forget it. I don’t need you, not anymore. I don’t ever want to hear your voice again, Angel. You deserve nothing but loneliness, sadness and fear. Maybe some pain mixed in there, just like you gave me. Goodbye, don’t come near me or anyone I care about again, or you’ll regret it.”