Chapter 31

When I opened the door to our apartment, Bethi was in her chair with her fork in her mouth and all the pie missing from her plate. The scent of her melancholy had filled the room.

"So you want to be alone, huh?" I said, stepping in. "A bit rude, don't you think?"

"No more rude than you running off in a drama queen fit so 'Little One' follows you," she said.

I moved to stand before her. She tilted her face up to glare at me. I couldn't help but feel amusement.

"You're jealous."

"No kidding. Look, either want me or don't, but stop playing the middle ground. I'm tired of waiting for you."

That killed my humor. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I had to suffer through a dream where I was drowned as a baby. If you would have let me Claim you, I'd have more control over the dreams. If you would have stayed by me, I wouldn't have dreamed that at all."

"Bethi, I'm sorry about leaving you. The Elders had questions and wouldn't be ignored."

"I won't be ignored, Luke. Decide."

She continued to glare at me, her anger and frustration boiling in her scent and her gaze.

"There is no decision. We are meant to be together." She had to know that by now. "We just need to be patient for a little while longer. When you turn eighteen—"

"Just stop," she yelled. "Do you hear yourself? Do you even know what you're saying?" She changed her voice in a poor imitation of me. "'Bethi, I want to be with you, but first I need you to suffer for three more months. Being killed another ninety times—minimum—isn't asking too much so I can feel virtuous when I allow you to Claim me."

I crouched before her and took the plate from her hands. "Bethi, I swear. I will not leave you again. I won't allow you to suffer another death." Brushing the loose hair back from her face, I tried to comfort her. Her dreams were too much for someone her age, and I hated that she suffered them.

"I already suffered one too many," she said, knocking my hand aside to stand. "If you add up all the years I've lived across all my lives, I celebrated my one thousandth birthday a couple of decades ago. You're not cradle robbing, you're grave robbing. Think on that."

I couldn't understand why she was so determined to rush into Claiming me when sleeping beside me solved the problem. Sighing, I stood. Her angry gaze held mine. She was everything and more to me. The heart to my existence. Waiting wasn't easy. It wasn't fun or entertaining. But, it was what she deserved.

I stepped close and brushed my finger over her skin, tracing her right eyebrow and then running my fingers into her hair. Her eyes softened and the hue changed ever so slightly.

"You have the most amazing eyes," I said.

"I've heard that before." The anger was absent from her voice. I wanted her so badly. Leaning forward, I inhaled her sweet scent and listened to her pulse pick up speed. Her lips begged for my attention, and I ached with the need to give in. How could she not understand?

"I will do anything for you," I said. "Even wait." I gently kissed her cheek.

"Get out," she said as she pulled back sharply, her face flushed. "Before I hurt myself trying to hit you."

"Bethi—"

"No. No more. Go." She turned her head away.

Her body shook with her anger. I straightened and left the room, giving her some time to cool down.

In the hallway I listened as she moved around in the room. When she left the living room, I hoped she might sleep some more. Before enough time had passed for me to try to join her, I heard her reenter the living area, her determined steps approaching the door.

Moving down the hall, I closed myself into an unoccupied room and waited. She left her room and started down the hall toward the commons. I followed.

There were more males gathered in the commons when we arrived. Most of them were Mated and helping their wives and cubs prepare for the Charlene's dinner feast. I found a quiet seat in the corner by the door and watched Bethi. She didn't notice me as she prowled the room.

When Mary and Gregory's cubs entered, Bethi quickly approached them.

"I need help," she said softly. "Would either of you be willing to let me Claim you? Just for a little while?"

My gut clenched. What was she thinking? Claiming wasn't just for a little while. It was permanent unless severed by death. She was asking the cubs to die for her because I wouldn't give her up. Ever.

Henry was quick to excuse himself. Paul wasn't as smart. Bethi took his hand and led him to a set of chairs. The hair on my arms stood up. The cub should know better than to listen to her nonsense. Or touch her. When she sat with her back to me, I grinned. The cub would be facing me.

Paul glanced around the room nervously and caught my eye. I slowly shook my head. He swallowed hard and focused on Bethi.

"He'll kill me just to have you back."

"It won't come to that," Bethi said.

Yes. It would. And I'd hate myself for killing a cub, but I'd do it to keep her.

"Yes, it will," Paul said echoing my thoughts. "You don't know our ways. He'll challenge me to the death. I really want to help you, but I won't have a chance."

"Please," Bethi begged.

"If there wasn't anyone else interested in you, I would agree. But if he doesn't kill me, my mom will."

One of the other males in the room laughed softly. His Mate elbowed him.

"Yeah, yeah," Bethi said in response to Paul. "If he were really interested, why am I still unClaimed?"

"I'm really sorry, Bethi."

"Whatever," she said, standing. When she turned, her gaze locked with mine. Her eyes narrowed. I looked at Paul and winked at the cub. He'd made the right choice.

Bethi staggered suddenly, and I quickly moved to her side and held her arm to steady her.

"Are you all right?" I asked. She should have stayed in our room and tried to sleep.

"Peachy," she said, tugging her arm from my grasp. She looked up at me, her expression tense. "I just need something to drink."

"I'll get it for you."

I quickly went to the kitchen and took a clean glass from the shelves.

"Did she like the dessert?" Charlene asked from the other side of the room.

Turning off the tap, I faced her. "She did. Thank you."

"Let me know if she's hungry. The rest can wait for the meal, but I don't think she should. Running has taken too much out of her already."

I nodded.

"Keep an eye on her, Luke. She'll need extra care."

That she knew my name shouldn't have surprised me. Whether pack bound or Forlorn, Charlene didn't discriminate. She treated everyone like one of her cubs. That was probably why she was worried about Bethi, too.

Leaving the kitchen, I looked around the commons. Bethi was gone. Damn it. I left the commons, following her scent down the hall. After two turns, I found her on the floor twitching, her mouth open wide in a silent, pain-filled scream.

I fell to my knees behind her.

"Bethi, wake up!"

She bolted upright, her arm swinging wide. Her palm connected with my face in a stinging slap. I quickly captured her hand and studied her eyes. The pupils slowly constricted and tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. She'd had another dream. She'd only been gone from me for three minutes.

"Get away from me," she said, her voice shaking.

"Bethi, I'm sorry—"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Try being something else for a change. Like on time," she said, getting to her feet.

Hurt and guilt stabbed through me.

"Here's the drink you asked for." I held out the glass of water she'd sent me for so she could run again.

She took the glass, and I turned away. I didn't know what to do to help her anymore.