Chapter 18

And once again I was up in my room, smoking cigarettes and just staring aimlessly with only one thought in my head. Claire.

I wondered how she was faring after last night. Just like I was in pain, I was definite she would be facing the same fate too. Ever since we've encountered several arguments, Lupus has refused to properly communicate with me. I can't even change to my Wolf form at this point.

My thoughts drifted to my mother. A part of me had imagined she would show up last night, but it was only a dream. One that never came true. It's times like this I more than ever needed one of her talks. She would have probably encouraged me to do better to my mate.

I heaved a heavy sigh whilst heavy smokes toured out of my mouth. My door quietly opened, and I expected Rose to usher in with her usual breakfast plate.

"Good Morning, Kevin." Gabriel's voice pierced through the chill air. I glanced at his smiling face uninterestingly. He was going to chatter about work and stuffs my entirety isn't inclined to.

"Just so you know, I'm not down for any duties today." I responded before returning my cigarette to my lips.

"I can tell." He chuckled while he joined me on the bed. "I actually came to talk."

"Talk?"

I let out a puff.

"Your speech last night really touched me you know. Coming from someone who professes his hatred for Greenville every day." He held my gaze with a tiny smile.

I scoffed whilst reminiscing on those sweet words that escaped my lips. Days ago, I would continuously chatter about my hatred for Greenville but now my thinking was different. Looking at my mate last night, made me realize that tiny sincere love I had for this Pack. For once, I spoke from my heart.

"What changed?" Gabriel's voice tousled my thoughts. "The Kevin I know is not so soft hearted to say those words."

My eyes lowered to the marble floor. I stared at the designs like one who was enchanted.

"I hate to admit this but the more time I spend with my Pack, the more my hatred withers. Perhaps being Alpha caused this change."

"It's a good change." Gabriel tapped my shoulder with a wide smile complementing his face.

I feigned a smile in return too even though it didn't last the next second.

"So, tell me, what's the new stunt you're pulling. First you release Jerry and now, you and Rose are some kind of a couple."

I took another whiff of my cigarette.

"Fake couple." I corrected, he frowned. "Rose has a mate," I paused. "Jerry."

His mouth went agape as his eyes exclaimed in horror. A reaction I expected.

"So, let me guess, Jerry obviously rejected her. And you, you're in some kind of fake relationship with her so you can make him realize how much he loves her?"

I nodded.

"When did you become a matchmaker?!" Gabriel pitched with a chuckle following suit. I glared at him, but he continued his laughter regardless.

"Mock me all you want but I'm simply doing this for Rose and nothing else." I took another puff.

"I know." He answered, this time with profound seriousness. "Thank Goodness you didn't kill her mate. Why did you even stop?" He queried.

"Stop what?"

"You never told me the reason why you showed mercy on Jerry the other day."

I heaved a sigh whilst tossing my finished wrap to the floor. Memories of Claire flushed into my head like a flood again. I stared deep into Gabriel's eyes till my lips parted.

"My mate."

His jaw dropped and his eyes widened as his breaths ceased for a second.

"You have a mate, and you didn't tell me?! When?! How?! Who is she?!" He chirped like a bird as he gestured his hands frantically midair. This was the exact reason I didn't want to tell him, his Drama.

"Her name is Claire." I mumbled, feeling guilty as last night memory played in my head.

"Claire? That beautiful lady who saved your life?"

"Yes." I affirmed with a tiny hint of jealousy. "We had our first acquaintance when I killed Alpha Jason. Ever since, our relationship has just been awfully bad." I paused thinking he would say something, but he was obviously trying to listen. To hear me pour out my pain.

"Last night, Just when I had the chance to mend things between us, Rose appeared. Now my mate probably thinks I'm a flirt who doesn't give a shit about her."

"You love her?"

"I love her Gabriel! I want her to be mine and mine alone. I want to be the man who tells her the sweetest things, I want to be the man who cares for her more than my own life, I want to be the man who holds her tight like my life depends on it. I want to wake up on my bed with her by my side! So yes, I'm crazily in love with my mate."

"Then why are you here?" He queried with a smile. I frowned. "Why are you here smoking cigarettes like a hopeless being when your mate is out there, waiting for you."

My eyes exclaimed while fear rigidly shook my spines. I remembered how our conversation entailed the last time, this time it would be worse!

"Don't hesitate Kevin. Don't lose your one chance of getting true love. Be the Alpha you are and go claim your Luna!"

Those were the words that rang in my head all through as I journeyed to Claire's apartment. So here I was, standing by her door greeted by the scent of Rose flowers from her garden. I had visited the school, but she wasn't there, I dearly hoped she was home. And so, without further thoughts and with trembly hands, I knocked.

My heart raced like sport cars while my head entertained several negative thoughts. Fortunately, it all came to an end when her door quietly opened only to be greeted by her face. Her smile vanished instantly, and her face morphed into a frown. She slammed the door immediately.

"Claire open this door." I ordered.

"Leave!" She yelled back.

"As your Alpha, I command you to open this door!"

"And I refuse to yield to that command!" She retorted.

"I'll break this door down, Claire!"

"Break it if you dare!"

"Will you keep on staring like an idiot or should I close my door?!" Her soft voice jolted me back to reality. It was all an imagination; my head was playing tricks on me again.

##############

CLAIRE

As opened my door, I had expected Imogen or any other teacher from Greenville high to be the visitor not my Mate. There he was standing by my doorstep, staring like he was lost in a memory. He was the last person I wanted to see right now! But Aubrey wouldn't let me slam my door against him.

She thirsted for him and I did too. Last night was the perfect time for us to unite, I was finally ready to accept him but then again he demonstrated his craziness. Flirting with another lady right before me. I was such a fool to have considered giving him a chance but in the end, it's me suffering the pain and heartbreak!

"H-hi." He stuttered as he wore a nervous smile. I didn't even bulge, I still retained my stern look even though all I wanted to do was hit him till I cry on his shoulders.

"Can I come in?"

I glared at him for seconds before leaving the door open. I noticed he took deep breaths as he ushered myself into my cozy apartment. His sweet scent once again storming against my entirety, but he couldn't muster enough courage to even look at my face. I pondered what was brewing in his mind or why he was even here in the first place.

"What do you want Alpha?" I queried in a harsh tone. Staring straight into his eyes with crossed arms against my chest. I found it hard to waver from those hazel irises neither could I resist gushing over his body.

"We need to talk." He finally found courage to say.

"About?"

"Last night."

"There's nothing to talk about." I icily quoted even though my eyes said otherwise. I'm sure he could see faint sadness hinting in them.

"Claire, we are mates for goodness sake. Thi—"

"I haven't accepted you yet so technically you're still a nobo—"

"Stop staying words you don't mean!"

"Then stop flirting with other ladies when you know you're already taken!" I yelled back, this time tears slowly soaking my eyes. The thought of that night alone, broke my tough wall even as hard as I tried to keep it up.

His lips parted but he couldn't find the right words to say neither the right thing to do. He just watched me break down in tears.

"I asked you to be responsible, to be the proper Alpha you are. I never said I didn't love you nor did I say you could flirt with other ladies."

"Claire there's a reasonable explanation for that." He muttered as he inched closer to me, but I pushed him away. I wanted him to hug me, to comfort me but at the same I needed him to be far away from me. Maybe my tears had drowned me in this confusion.

"There's always a reasonable explanation when one cheats!" I retorted. "Right before me Kevin! I was a fool to think you've changed!" I hollered while his face morphed into extreme worry.

"Claire, just listen to me." He pleaded in a soft tone, but I shut him off with my hand.

"Leave!" I ordered but he tried to inch closer again. "Don't even think of wooing me with a kiss! Leave!" I yelled causing him to stop midway. We stared at each other for minutes, tears soaking our eyes.

"I just needed you to trust me." He whispered before going for my door. I heaved a heavy sigh, cursing myself for being so weak in front of my mate. I cared about him, but I didn't want to show it.

I was about to crash to my couch and sob in silence when a knock sounded on my door again. I wobbled towards it and as I turned the doorknob open, my eyes exclaimed.

"Jerry?!" I muttered in surprise. He flashed a devilish smile and the next thing that hit me made me collapse to the floor, I tried to struggle, to fight this impending darkness but I failed horribly. My vision turned hazy as pain bloomed in my head and that was the last I remembered before the darkness came.