Chapter 72

I started jogging up the street, retracing my steps until I saw the ice cream parlor that we had gone to before. I ran to the house to check on Ben, see if he was hurt.

“I’m baaaack!” I said in a singsong voice as I plopped down on the couch closest to me.

They all ran in, “Are you okay?!”

I nodded slowly, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Cause I got punched. Twice!” dren pouted, sitting down beside me.

“Sorry.” I smiled and patted his head.

He glowered and pushed my hand away, “Stop that.”

I poked his forehead, “I’m good.”

“Cora!” Jimmy yelled, jumping into my lap and hugging me.

“Jimmy…” I groaned as I shifted under him to adjust his weight on me.

“I missed you.” He mumbled into my neck.

“Okay.” I patted his back. I gasped when I felt him bite my neck.

“That hurt, Jim!” I glared as he pulled back.

“That’s what you get for scaring us.” He smirked, getting off me. I kicked his leg and he buckled into the ground.

“Jerk!” He yelled, standing up.

“That’s what you get for biting me.” I mocked him with my eyes.

He glared at me before attacking his usual victim; an unsuspecting Kyle.

One week.

One second is enough to kill a man.

Yet I've been dying for one week.

Seven days. That's how long my mate had been away from me.

A week. Seven days. One hundred sixty-eight hours. That’s how long Cora had been away from me and I'd been dying slowly every single minute that passed.

My wolf also keeps gnawing at me from within to get with her. Such a needy bastard. I miss my Cora but he didn't have to keep rubbing it in my face and reminding me every minute that I messed up.

It was also his fault; his neediness that made me think that female was our mate.

The deadline was also fast approaching. I had just three days left until the end of the deadline.

I had no idea what to do at the moment. She was definitely not going to talk to me anytime soon and there was no way in hell I was going to personally hurt her. The deadline was fast approaching and if it does come, my wolf would rape her; and I had no control over that.

I needed help. If I could lock myself in the room, I wouldn't be able to get out and hurt Bev.

But nobody was willing to help me. Nobody was even willing to talk to me. Nobody had even spoken a full sentence to me ever since that day. I knew very well that Cora felt bad about the fact that everyone picked her over me; I felt it.

I was seated beside my door, with the door wide open, waiting for Benjamin. He could definitely help. When I saw him walk by, I quickly stood up and walked into the hallway.

“Benjamin!” I called out carefully.

He immediately turned stiff and froze in his steps. I took this as a chance to talk to him.

“Can you help me? Please?” I begged, because I knew he wasn't even going to reply to me.

He scoffed and turned around, giving me a blank look which I translated to "What?"

“The deadline. It’s coming up. Three days. I-I can’t hurt her. Can you just secure the locks on the outside of my door?” I asked, pleading with him to say yes.

He glared and nodded. He was only doing it for Cora and that was enough for me.

“Thank you.” I smiled slightly.

He glared at me and motioned for me to get in the room. I had already put the locks there. I just needed someone to lock them.

I walked in and he slammed the door shut. The sound of the countless locks on my door clicked and I heard him walk away. I pushed my dresser in front of the door.

Sitting down on my bed, I started to cry again. I hadn't cried like this since I was 13 years old. I always put a shield up so nobody can get close and hurt me. But now? I didn't even care. I’ll probably die of dehydration from all the crying but I didn't give a damn.

Suddenly, I had the urge to puke. I ran into my bathroom and leaned over the toilet. Dry-heaving. I hadn't exactly drunk or eaten anything in seven days so I had nothing to throw up.

I leaned against the wall and wiped the sweat off my forehead. This has to be the worst seven days of my life.

I buried my face into my arm and stayed in that position for the rest of the day.

A knock sounded at my window. I got up and slumped into my room, looking at my window. My Dad was sitting there, right outside my window.

I walked over and unlocked the window, “Yes?”

“Your Mom made you some food. You need to eat.” He said, pushing a plate to me.

I grabbed it, “Thanks.”

I went to close the window when he stopped me, “Make the right choices.”

Then he jumped down, running into the back door. I slowly shut the window. What could I even do? I was sick. I could barely walk with how sick I was. Make the right choices to what?

I locked the windows and walked over to my bed. I decided to stay in the room until Cora forgives me. I decided that if she didn't forgive me, I would stay in the room for the rest of my life. Childish, but I meant it.

I pulled the aluminum foil off of the plate and grabbed a biscuit that was on the plate. I munched on it, sulking into my bed.

My stomach churned and I hopped off the bed, throwing the biscuit aside quietly as I ran to the bathroom to puke again.

I leaned against the wall, feeling too exhausted to keep my eyes open. Letting the exhaustion take over, I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep almost immediately.

I woke up to a literal migraine. My neck was so stiff from sleeping against the wall. I slowly got up and staggered over to my bed, hugging Cora’s pillow to my chest as I cried into it.

Her scent drove my wolf crazy but only made me cry. The sound of locks being clicked made me jolt up. I stared at the door as the door knob turned.

The person pushed on it but it wouldn’t move because of the dresser.

“Move. The fucking dresser. Now.” Cora growled.

My eyes widened and my wolf made me jump up, practically running towards the door. About half way there, I fought for my body. And won.

“Kaden.” Cora hissed, pushing against the door.

“What?” I whispered, clenching my fist so I could stay where I was and not move the dresser.

“I will slice you.” She said slowly, threateningly, “Move. The dresser. NOW!”

I jumped, startled by the anger in her voice. I slowly walked forward and moved the dresser weakly, jumping all the way across the room when she pushed the door open, making it fly into the wall.

“What do you want?” I asked quietly as I looked at my feet.

“Get dressed.” She ordered.

“Why?” I frowned.

“Do I have to have a reason? No, I don’t.” I could feel her glaring at me before I even saw it.

I shook my head, “No.”

“Good. Shower, brush your teeth. Do that first cause your breath stinks. Get dressed and I’ll be back in 30 minutes.” She said walking out and shutting the door behind her.

What could she possibly want?

Cora's POV

“Shut up, Ali! You know it’s not fair!” I glared at Ali as she took the last vanilla cookie.

“You got all the rest! It is fair for me to have one!” She snapped back.

I stared at her for a moment before tackling her back, “Give. Me. The. Cookie.”

“Never!” She struggled beneath me.

“I’m stronger, wimp!” I laughed, “Cookie. Now.”

She arched her head, trying to get the cookie from her hand to her mouth. I grabbed her hand and tried to pry the cookie out of her grip.

“It’s mine!” She whined.

“Nuh-uh!” I hissed as I bit her hand but she still didn’t release my cookie. What the hell is wrong with this girl?

I decided to voice my thoughts, “What the hell is wrong with you?! It’s mine!”

“I touched it first!” She glared.

“I looked at it first!” I retorted, biting her hand again.

“Stop biting me, freak!” She winced.

“I’m not a freak!” If looks could kill, she'd be six feet under by now.

Suddenly, it felt like I was being lifted into the air. Ali smirked as she stuffed my cookie in her mouth.

“Don’t think that’ll stop me.” I growled as dren threw me on the bed.

“Calm down.”

“She took my cookie!” I yelled, glaring at him.

“You ate all the other ones.” He rolled his eyes in return.

“So?” I pouted.

He sat down beside me, “I think you should forgive Kaden.”

I stared at him for a full three minutes because where the hell did that come from, “Um… What the hell? Why?”

“The deadline is in three days. I-I didn’t tell you this before but…if Kaden has no access to you on the last day, when the wolf is suppose to rape you or whatever. You guys…die.” He frowned.

I stared at him again then blew up, “You didn’t think it was important to tell me that?! That we’ll die?! Why didn’t you tell me?!”

He whimpered, “I didn’t think it would happen. I thought you guys would’ve already finished the bond by now. I’m sorry.”

I sighed, losing my anger. “Do you really think I should forgive him?”

He nodded, “Yeah, I kinda feel bad for him. Being away from your mate for a week can hurt you. He looks horrible and he's sick too.”

“Horrible? Sick?” I winced.

“Yeah, he has bags under his eyes. Deep ones. He is so pale that he looks like an alien, he’s dirty, and his breath stinks.” dren frowned in disgust.

I laughed at the look on his face, “Okay. I’ll go talk to him. Hey, Ali?”

She looked at me, “What?”

“Imma get you.” I glared before walking out the door.

Kaden’s door had about twelve locks on it. What the…? I unlocked them and pushed on the door. This fool put something in front of the door.