Chapter 50: Ada's Mate

Blake

“Ouch,” Keanu squirms. “It stings that she’s so eager to wash off our scent.”

“Yeah,” I sigh as I rip the condom off. “But it’s for the better. It would be cruel for Reese to smell it instead of us telling him.”

Keanu only snorts and curls up into a ball. But I understand his mood. June’s betrayal was worse on him than on me. To help me, he absorbed most of the pain when I was bleeding on the floor. And just as Reese believes Ada is his mate, so do I and Keanu.

There is an attraction to her that grows stronger every day and I know Keanu feels it as well. He does not want to jeopardise that. And if it includes kicking dust into Reese’s eyes, so be it. But Reese is my best and oldest friend and no way in hell do I want to deliberately hurt him.

I grab my things and jog to my room. I hurry to rush through the shower before I hurry outside to talk to Reese. I will not tell him exactly what happened, but he must know that I think Ada is my mate. He must be prepared for the worse.

Ada

I am all jittery and flustered by the time I reach my room. I lean with my back against the door and I press my hand on my racing heart. I replay every moment and sigh contently. It was everything I ever dreamed of. Passionate and fulfilling.

“Taima, I wish you were awake for this,” I say out loud. “It was absolutely mind-blowing.”

But as the hot water runs over my skin, reality seeps to the surface. Oh no! Reese! He has been so patient, and kind and he does not deserve to be blindsided like this.

“Goddess, please have mercy,” I mumble as I dry myself. “Don’t let Reese be my mate. He’s such a good person, but he’s not my person.”

The more I think about it, the worse I feel. I have tossed all the reasons that I gave Reese why we shouldn’t start a relationship aside when I thought that I might lose Blake. I have unconsciously made a choice between them and I do not regret my decision. Blake is the one I want, but that is no guarantee that he is my mate.

I dress in similar clothes as earlier and redo my hair before I haste outside.

Blake

“I got you a beer,” I hold out the bottle to Reese.

“Thanks,” he smiles absentmindedly as he scouts the crowd. “Have you seen Ada?”

“She’s around here somewhere,” I avoid eye contact. “She’s the alpha, after all. She can’t go anywhere unnoticed.”

“Blake, I’m sorry,” he looks at me with concern. “I know June hurt you, but I truly believe that Ada is my mate.”

“Unfortunately, I think she’s mine,” I sigh. “But we won’t know until her wolf wakes up.”

“I’m taking her on a date tomorrow,” he says determinately. “And I’m trying to persuade her to accept me without her wolf.”

“That’s harsh,” I swallow my anger. Here I am, feeling guilty about making love to Ada at the expense of my friend and he just blatantly tells me he is planning the same. Well, maybe not exactly bed her, but wanting to convince her to accept him is worse. If she accepts him, it is over for me. I wanted to walk away on behalf of our friendship. I was willing to give Ada up for his happiness. It did not work out the way I planned it, but I did put our friendship first. He does not.

“I know and I’m sorry,” he sounds unapologetic. “But I cannot help how I feel. I’ve never felt like this about anyone before and I’m selfishly putting my happiness in front of yours. I know it’s a dick move, but you would’ve done the same if you felt the way I did.”

I do not reply to that, because I do feel that strongly about Ada. But what he is planning, I have already done a moment ago. In my defence, I did not plan it.

“You’re right,” I say after a moment and look him in the eye. “You should go for it and do what’s best for you. But don’t fool yourself and think I don’t have feelings for Ada.”

“What about me?” Ada asks next to us.

Ada

The moment I see Blake, I smile but my heart jumps to my throat when I see him talk to Reese. Oh please, please don’t tell him, I beg silently. Not before I had the chance to explain myself.

I try but I cannot make out what they are talking about and only hear my name when I am next to them.

“I told him about our date,” Reese smiles warmly at me when he drapes his arm around my shoulder. I quickly look at Blake, but he does not show any emotion as he takes a sip from his beer.

“Reese,” I say hesitantly as I turn to him. “We should talk about that. I …”

“How about the three of us talks a walk,” Blake interrupts me.

“I think this is between me and her,” Reese gives Blake an irritated look.

“It is,” I sigh and smile softly at Blake before I take Reese’s hand and lead him to a secluded part of the garden. My guts are in turmoil. It honestly does not matter who is going to say what, I just know that after this, nothing will be the same anymore.

“Reese,” I look at him and intertwine my fingers. “I took a moment to think, and I decided that we shouldn’t go on a date. You’re one of the best people I know and I don’t want to hurt you or string you along, but my feelings for Blake are stronger.”

“Is he your mate?” Reese asks through stiff lips as he crosses his arms in front of his chest.

“I don’t know,” I throw my hands up in the air. “And I’m starting to worry that my wolf will never return. We were all in the same room and my wolf is the only one that is still dormant. There’s no guarantee that she will wake up or that she’s even alive. And we can’t continue like this any longer. You and Blake are both putting your lives on hold because of this and it’s not fair. You’re alphas and need to return to your packs.”

“I don’t care about that,” he looks pleadingly at me as he rests his hands on my shoulders. “I will wait as long as it takes and I will show my affection daily until your wolf returns.”

“No, Reese,” I step away from his touch as tears painfully accumulate in my throat. “You deserve better than this. Just the fact that you’re willing to sacrifice everything proves it. You deserve someone that’s equally invested and that’s not me.”

“Ada, with time …”

“Please listen to me,” I cut him off as tears start welling in my eyes. “I don’t want you to.”

He takes a step back as if I physically punched him in the gut and it breaks my heart.

“Reese,” I wipe the pesky tears off my face. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I’m sorry. You have done nothing but support and help me since I met you. You’re perfect in every way, and I honestly do care about you, but what I feel for Blake is stronger.”

“I get it,” he says angrily. “You want him.”

“I’m sorry,” I whimper as I look at my feet.

“Just tell me one thing,” his words are slow and calculated. “What happened between our dance and now that changed your mind?”

“We had an intimate conversation,” I whisper before I look at him. “He wanted to leave and that’s when I realized how I feel.”

“So, he threatens to leave and immediately you pick him?” He looks at me in disbelief. “And if I tell you I’m packing my bags this instant, you’ll change your mind again?”

“No,” I explode as his words anger me. “This is not a game to me, Reese. I didn’t choose him to make him stay. I realized that I can’t let him go.”

“The old you only know what you had when you lose it, clever,” he smiles sourly. “It’s the oldest trick in the book and you fell for it.”

I grind my teeth to stop myself from replying. He is hurt and is only lashing out, and as much as it angers me, I will not hold it against him.

“I truly am sorry, Reese,” I sigh as I turn around and go back to the party.