Chapter 12: The wove

Tyson POV

It was such a magical moment, so perfect and right… at least until that jerk came along and stuck his nose in our business.

I didn’t want to leave her alone with him, but when she asked me in her sweet and gentle voice, I reluctantly gave them some space, but I would be damned if I went far away and left her all alone with him.

I didn’t trust him, and I think that was obvious enough. As much as it pained me to know that he would only bring her hurt and pain, I wanted her to be set free from him and their bond. It wasn’t fair that of all creatures, he was her mate.

Looking up at the moon that shone up in the sky, silently I asked at it, Why, Moon Goddess, why did you give her to him? Why couldn’t you hear my silent plea and grant me my biggest heart’s desire?

It wasn’t fair…

I knew some said life sucks and is unfair, but we were talking about forever. A precious bond between two souls that fit together like perfectly shaped puzzle pieces.

Screw it! Screw the bond and mates and all that shit!

I knew what and who I wanted, and I wasn’t giving that up without a fight, even if that was the last thing I did.

I had known Ollie for a long time; I knew what she liked and what she didn’t. We’ve shared our secrets with each other for as long as I can remember. Can he say any of these things?

I had to make her realize that she deserved better than him. I needed a plan as to how to beat their bond and have her for myself.

From where I stood under the willow tree, I saw Marcus take a step towards her with his fists opening and closing.

If he tries to touch her, I will get involved. I don’t care if she gets mat, but I won’t stand still and let him charm her with his lies.

I knew him; I knew him really well. Not only did we play matches against each other, but I knew him outside the school and the field. I knew what his reputation was like, and if he thought Ollie would be okay with accepting a mate like him—oh, he was dead wrong.

I’d never been more grateful for the Elders and the law they put in place that didn’t allow mixed species to mate than I was right now.

I can’t let anyone hurt her. His rejection will hurt her, but I will be by her side and help her heart heal. Yes, I will make her fall in love with me and claim her as my own. This was the silent vow I made to win over Olivia.

I saw Olivia pointing her finger at his chest, and I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but she looked furious.

That’s interesting. Maybe she will reject his sorry ass and I can get on with wooing her.

Marcus looked like he was shocked… or maybe surprised. I couldn’t tell because the jerk was fast with schooling his facial expressions.

I was pacing up and down under the willow tree, waiting for Olivia to shout for help, or call my name, or run to me… hell, I was restless. I growled with impatience. I just wanted to take her away from him.

A moment later, I stopped pacing when I saw Olivia turning around and storming away from him.

“Olivia!”

I heard Marcus calling after her as he made a move to run after her. I jumped ahead and stood in front of him, stopping him.

“Move!” He growled at me with so much fury that it would have made even the trees pull out their roots and run away.

“No! You are not going after her, nor you will ever again come near her, got that?!”

“If you try to stop me, I will kill you.” He narrowed his eyes at me, but I didn’t care.

I wouldn’t let him near her, even if it killed me.

“If you think, Marcus, I would let you use her and then treat her like trash, then think again. I know how you are and everyone knows you pick them up then ditch them. And I don’t fucking care if they say that you’re a gentlemen who treats them right! You are not going near her again.”

He took a step closer to me as he menacingly said, “Why? Don’t tell me you want her?”

“You know damn well that you two can’t be together, so be smart, Marcus, and for once, be fair.”

“Fair?! I didn’t fucking ask for a mate, nonetheless one that is not even my own species!!”

He tried to push past me, but I quickly stepped back in front of him.

“No one can pick their mate. The only choice we have is in rejecting the ones given to us, but Marcus, be reasonable here. The law forbids you from mating. You know very well what would happen if you both go that way! Is that the future you want for her?”

He stopped as he thought about my words.

I held my breath as I waited for his response.

“No.”

“Then you know what you need to do. For her, but also for yourself too.”

I turned and walked away from him to leave him with his thoughts. I knew he was processing what I had said. He didn’t call me back or try to run after Ollie. I was glad for that.

I followed her scent through the woods and it led me back to my car. She was standing at the edge of the cliff, just looking at the forest below with her arms were wrapped around herself.

Slowly, I walked towards her. “Ollie?”

She didn’t turn around. No movement, no sound. She just stood there, deep in her thoughts.

Walking closer to her, I placed my hand on her shoulder and quietly said her name again. “Olivia?”

“Hmm?” she said, barely audible as she softly sobbed.

Not willing or able to stop myself, I turned her around towards me and wrapped my arms around her tightly. For the second time that evening, I let her cry into my chest. I didn’t know how long it lasted, nor did I care; I was content to have her so close and in my arms. I was happy that she needed me and that I could be here to collect the broken pieces of her heart so I could glue them back together.

After a few minutes, her sobs started to slow and she started to calm down.

“I am sorry.” I heard her muffled voice and my heart tightened at the sadness and pain I heard in it.

Pulling her just far enough away so that I could see into her beautiful eyes, I placed my finger under her chin and lifted her face to look her in the eyes. “You have nothing to be sorry for, princess.”

My eyes drifted to her plump lips. I wanted to kiss them so badly, to feel how soft they were under my own.

But then she wiggled out of my embrace.

Shit, I needed to be patient and go slow. I could feel she was restless because of my intense energy, and I knew what to do. I took her hand and tugged at it, gently pulling so she would follow me.

She looked at me surprised, a question in her eyes, and I smiled and said, “Come with me.” She followed reluctantly.

I smiled because I knew she would love my idea and walked faster because I couldn’t wait to get to my car. As we walked—okay, I was fast-walking and she was more jogging after me—she spoke. “Tyson, slow down, please.”

I stopped abruptly, making her almost crash into my back, and picked her up bridal style and carried her to the car.

“Tyson, put me down!” She squealed.

I just shook my head and continued on walking. She tried to wiggle out of my arms, but to no avail.

We finally got to my car, and I unlocked the door and opened it as I gently placed her in the passenger seat. After I made sure she was safe, I walked around to the driver’s side and slid inside.

As I slid the key in the ignition, she asked me, “Where are we going?”

The engine roared into life, making me smile. I answered, “To the beach.”