Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Taylor's POV

"Uhm...." I stammered, not exactly sure that I had an answer to that so I had to find my last brain cell. "I'm sorry, Asher. My boyfriend has an emergency illness. Later."

"What...?" They both chorused and I sent an awkwardly apologetic smile that did not reach my eyes and stiffly left their company.

Realizing the mistake as my walking away was enough chance for the two rivals to stare each other daggers, I hurried back to gently snatch Hunter, blushing and whispering why he needed to follow me.

And beneath everything physical? I could feel that delicious throb of his alpha muscles beneath my palms but I didn’t dare to squeeze.

Asher had not followed us in. Hunter had made sure of that by stepping in front of the door and blocking it with his broad shoulder until Asher gave a small warning and walked away. Asher's eyes had also met mine one last time before he disappeared into a corner.

Now, the nurse's office smelled like drugs, antiseptic and scary syringes and it made me sick. But I endured it, flinching and silently gagging every now and then.

I sat on the chair beside the bed where Hunter lay, his knee wrapped in a cold compress, his green eyes fixed on the ceiling.

I didn’t speak and neither did he.

Meanwhile, my heart was beating heavily as I shamelessly stole stares and imagined crazy things, completely immersed with affection.

I pressed my hand against my aching chest and looked away.

"Stop doing that, Taylor." Hunter said suddenly and I blinked, jumping.

"D- doing what?"

"That thing with your chest." He was still staring at the ceiling. "You keep pressing your chest like you stored something there or something.... Suffering from chest issues?"

I quickly dropped my hand into my lap, blushing the more. "Nothing hurts."

He looked at me this time and those green eyes were so sharp, like he could see straight through me.

"You felt it too...." He said quietly. "When you touched his hand.... didn't you?"

My breathing stopped. I looked at the floor's spotless, white tiles.

"I don't know what happened." I whispered.

"Yes you do."

I swallowed in fear as he sat up slowly, wincing as he shifted his knee. His jaw was clenched and his hands gripped the bed.

"A wolf cannot have two mates, Taylor." He said like I didn’t know anything. "It doesn't work that way."

"I know that."

"So explain it to me. You don't even have a wolf."

"I don't...." My voice came out small and shook. I looked up at him, my eyes stinging with tears at his disdain. "I didn’t plan this. I never wanted anything to happen."

He stared at me but I stared at the ground.

He looked away first.

"The bond...." He said slowly, as if talking to himself. "The mating bond is rare but it happens." He rubbed his forehead. "A she-wolf with no wolf?"

"That's not possible though." I said.

"Neither is any of this." He gestured between us with a flat hand. "You and I in the same room. And yet."

I looked down at my hands folded in my lap.

Two mates.

Hunter Nightclaw who rejected me on the ice and made me cry.

Asher Sinclair who I had spoken to exactly once.

This was my life now....

"Three hundred and sixty five days." Hunter said. "That's all we need. As long as neither of us falls in love the bond breaks clean. We go our separate ways." He looked at me. "Simple."

"And Asher?"

His jaw tightened. "Don't worry about Asher."

"You-you.... You, uhm, said he's your brother, Hunter."

The word sounded like an abomination to me even.

THEY WERE LITERALLY ENEMIES.

Hunter didn't say anything for a long moment.

"Half brother." He corrected flatly. "And that changes nothing. Don't share that with anyone. Do you understand, Taylor?"

"Yes, I understand...."

There was a knock at the door.

The school nurse walked in, a small woman with reading glasses perched on her nose and a clipboard tucked under her arm. She smiled warmly at me before looking at Hunter's knee.

"Let me take a look at that, dear." She said.

I stood to give her space, moving to the window.

Outside, students crossed the courtyard in small groups, laughing, talking and living their normal lives.

I pressed my forehead against the glass, falling deep into thoughts.

Me. Two mates?

I thought about Asher's grey eyes. The way he had said knock it out guys when his teammates laughed at me. The warmth of his hand before I pulled away.

Thinking this made me shiver softly, closing my eyes.

Then I thought about Hunter defending me in the hallway this morning. His muscular arm heavy and warm around my shoulders. The way he had cupped my face so gently in front of everyone when he kissed me.

Even if it was fake.

Now, I couldn't erase the feel of his lips pressed against mine.

My heart was already heavily pumping for nothing and it had only been two days.

Three hundred and sixty five days, where are you?

"You can go Miss Whitman." The nurse said kindly. "He just needs rest. No practice for three days, Hunter."

Hunter groaned a complaint.

"Three days, Hunter. Please, bear with the school's authority." She repeated firmly with a soft smile and walked out.

I picked up my bag from the floor. Hunter was already looking at me when I turned around. He had that expression again.

"Taylor."

I stopped.

"Don't talk to Asher."

His voice was low. "Not alone and not where people can see. Nothing. Do you understand?"

I looked at him for a long moment.

"Yes, Hunter. Goodnight, Hunter." I said quietly.

And I hurried out before he could say anything else.

The hallway was empty now. My sneakers squeaked softly against the floor as I walked.

I turned the corner and immediately stopped.

Asher was leaning against the wall, arms folded, no longer in his hockey gear. It seemed like he had been waiting and that only made my heart jump.

Was I afraid that he'd not be different? That he'd just waylaid me?

But....

When he looked up and saw me, he smiled.

Yes, it was a small, quiet smile. Nothing like Hunter's cheeky, confident grin that he performed for cameras. This one seemed real and it was a shock.

I stared in disbelief and then looked around in case I was just being deceived.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked softly and swears to the moon, I felt the jitters run up my spine. I blinked and stopped in my tracks.

And then, I remembered Hunter's words and my fists shook, my palms dampening with sweat.

"Don't talk to Asher. Not alone and not where people can see. Nothing. Do you understand?"

Now, my heart began to beat heavily this time.