CHAPTER SIXTY TWO - MARICELA
CHAPTER SIXTY TWO - MARICELA
“Erhmm.”
I blink, opening my eyes. I don’t know when I fell back asleep but, despite the fact I only got a few hours, it feels like the best sleep of my life.
Adriel’s arms are still around me. He’s spooning me. But I can feel he’s awake. I can sense it.
And Ryker is stood staring at us both with the biggest, goofiest grin.
“What…?” He begins but his eyes glaze over and I know they’re communicating.
And then, what I’ve been dreading happens. Adriel lets me go. He slides his arms back from how they were holding me, and he gets up, out of the bed and my soul feels utterly bereft.
I don’t look at him. I know he’s naked and though he doesn’t seem embarrassed, I’m pretty certain you could fry an egg on my face.
“I have to go.” Adriel says before heading out the doorway, obviously avoiding eye contact with me now.
I follow his back with my eyes but there’s already that stab in my heart. I knew this would happen. I knew it, and yet I’d fooled myself anyway. I have no one to blame but myself.
“Mari?” Ryker says.
I shake my head, biting my lip so hard. “I need a moment.”
“What happened?”
I sink back onto the bed and my tears are already streaming.
“Mari?” He murmurs, sitting down beside me, wrapping his arm around me. “Talk to me.”
“I don’t understand.” I reply, palming my face with my hands.
“Tell me.”
“He, his Lycan all but smashed into my room. He was in a state. Wound up about Lia.”
His face changes. “What about Lia?”
“We spent the day together.” I say like he doesn’t already know. Like the entire Pack doesn’t know by now. “I think Lia was mad about it.”
“So he came here?”
I nod, swallowing.
“That’s not a bad thing. If he’s coming to you…”
“No.” I say clenching my fists. “I don’t want to be that person. I don’t want him to seek me out when he needs me and then drop me the rest of the time.”
I’m shaking, I realise. I’m trembling because it’s hitting me how my mate sees me. I’m the backup option. The fall back. Whatever yesterday was about, he was clearly just reeling me back in and now he thinks he can just drop me again.
“Let’s get some food.” Ryker says.
I shake my head. “I need to shower.” I need to wash his scent off me. I need to mentally slap myself too, because I let him in, dropped my walls, and all I’ve done is hurt myself more.