Chapter 48: Mishaps

They had just landed in Alaska and waited for Elise's father to pick them up.

They claimed their luggage and headed out front just when his car pulled over. Elise smiled before he even stepped out of the car.

She walked ahead of Ryan toward the car as he opened the door. She halted immediately when he came out. Her heart completely dropping to the hard floor as the air in her throat clogged.

She wanted to turn around and run until she wasn't seeing him again but she'd look obviously crazy. And she didn't want to act crazy in front of him. She didn't even want to act as though he still had an affect on her, but she couldn't deny the fact that everything about Hunter made her heart skip a beat.

He was staring back at her. He was even smiling at her, or trying to. Because he was still standing by the car and observing her. He was clearly afraid to approach her also. So, he stood there and stared back while she peered at him in shock. He knew she did't know he was coming.

"I swear I didn't ask him to come. Anakin told me he was the one picking us up," Ryan said when he caught up with her. Elise just nodded her head, her eyes never left Hunter sight.

He cleared his throat and approached them. He took his eyes off them and placed them on Ryan. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Ryan. Welcome home," Hunter said calmly as he helped them with their suitcases.

Oh, his deep and rich voice... His husky voice that made her knees go weak. How could she not miss it?

She missed everything about him. She missed how he looked at her calmly. She missed how his hands would touch her and make her feel safe. She missed how he called her name and how he laughed at her cheesy jokes. She missed him entirely.

"Your father had to run a last minute task so, he couldn't make it," he said, loading their suitcases in the trunk. She didn't answer him. She opened the back door and hopped in. He closed the door before she could get the chance to.

Ryan entered the front seat as Hunter walked to the driver's seat.

This was going to be a long ride home. She was definitely going to enjoy it because she was sitting behind Ryan and she could stare at his sideburn while he drives.

They hit the road as the car fall silent with only Ryan answering calls at intervals.

Hunter would casually turn to catch a glimpse of her and she'd turn away. He knew she was looking at him by her intense stare.

"I'm hungry. The airplane food was nasty and I didn't eat much for breakfast. We should get something before we head home. Are you hungry?" Ryan turns around and faced her.

She briskly took her eyes off Hunter but Ryan saw she was staring at him. He chuckled and brushed it off even though it stung him in his heart.

"Yeah, I could eat."

She watched when Hunter shoulder shrugged and swirled around the steering wheel, heading to a shopping mall Hunter attempted to get out of the car when they reached the shopping mall but Ryan urged him to wait while he got them the snacks.

Elise's lips quivered up when Ryan stepped out of the car and left her alone with Hunter. She didn't plan to talk to him but her hopes of having a conversation with him before Ryan returns were high.

She watched as he brings out his phone and typed away on it. It slightly made her annoyed because it seemed like he was avoiding speaking with her.

She can't blame him though. She shut him off the last time and told him to stay away from her. She told him she never felt anything for him when they were together which if he told her that, she would've died of misery.

It hurts to love someone and they don't return that slight gesture to you. It hurts to be in love with someone that wants nothing that has to do with you.

His phone chimed and it made him to stiffen and clear his throat. He's too calm and it annoys her to see him not bothered about her.

She sounds selfish but she never expected him to act this way.

She came back because of him...

"How are you feeling?" He mutters when he placed the phone on his ear. His voice lowers a few octaves but her werewolf ears could hear everything.

"I'll be back in a couple of hours. I just have few things to do at Scuris and I'll be back before it's dark."

Maybe it's his mother... or Lily.

It couldn't be Lily. She couldn't question him about his whereabouts. And his mother didn't even have a phone.

Maybe he had moved on and he already had a new mate...

There was a piercing sting in her heart and she tried to ignore it but she couldn't. She furrowed her brows as she swallowed the bile that congested her throat.

She just left for couple of months but he had already moved on? He already had a new mate and she was probably sleeping in her room. She probably cooks in their kitchen. She probably used the swimming pool she used together with Hunter.

They were probably stargazing...

That was their thing and he was not supposed to do that with another woman. He was not supposed to move on so quickly...

Come to think of it, he didn't even seem that happy to see her. Maybe he just smiled because she wasn't expecting him to be the one to pick them up. Maybe he just smiled to show her he wasn't holding grudges and he has moved on.

Maybe she was overthinking everything, but what was taking Ryan too long in there?

He ended the call but didn't return his phone in his pocket until Ryan returned with their snacks.

He turned to hand Elise hers when he noticed her facial expression. He didn't say anything because he thought they might've had an argument or something she wasn't satisfied with happened.

The rest of the drive home was a silent one. No one said a word until they were at the gates of Scuris pack.

Elise dropped off the car when she spotted her father standing by the gate waiting for their arrival.

She was mad at him for making her sit in a car with Hunter for an hour. She was mad at him for not telling her he wasn't going to make it to the airport but she went ahead to run toward him and jump on him.

He laughs and hugged her back, patting her back. "You're gonna have to explain yourself for not showing up," she said when they broke the hug.

He chuckled softly, brushing the locks of hair off her forehead. "I know, sweetheart. I'm sorry, something came up and he was the only one I could trust with you."

Elise rolled her eyes and walked into the pack. Not much has changed but there's so much development. Her lips quivered upward as her heart swells up with excitement.

"So much has changed. Scuris pack has grown twice as much as you knew it." Anakin was walking beside her while her eyes wander around.

"What about the farms? Oh God, we have a new bakery? There's also a park now?" She was already leaping with enthusiasm.

"Wait until you see the water fountain we built," he said and she squealed, squeezing his arm.

They reached home just as Hunter and Ryan finished offloading the suitcases.

"Thank you, Hunter," Anakin said, stretching out his hand for a hand shake. Hunter took it and nod his head.

"Please join us for lunch, it's already set on the table."

Elise head snapped towards her father's side but he didn't even notice her expression. Hunter noticed but ignored her. He wasn't planning to stay either but he'd do anything to tease her.

He had noticed how upset his phone call made her so, he didn't hesitate to accept Anakin's invitation.

She walked past them and sauntered into the house. Shannon and Jim were in the living room together with Ryan. She exchanged quick pleasantries with them as she made her way to the kitchen.

The house was filled with her mother's chicken soup aroma, making her stomach to growl. She remembered the snacks Ryan gave her but she couldn't eat due to how annoyed Hunter's ignorance and phone call made her.

"Mom," she says with a grin and hugged her mother.

"I never thought you'd come back to me, honey." Azzura hugged her tightly and moved back. "Oh my love," she cooed, copping her face in her palms. "You look amazing," Azzura commented and kissed both her cheeks.

Elise laughed heartily at her mother's dramatic remarks. "Thank you, mom and I've missed you too. I'll take a shower and join you guys at the table shortly."

She hurriedly went to her room and it was just as she left it. It was spotless and she knew her mother did the job of keeping it clean for her.

She didn't waste time to take off her clothes and head to the shower. She scrubbed off the stress and jet lag from her skin and soaked her body with the hot water. It felt so good to have access to her shower again. It's felt so good to be home. Just not the part where Hunter may or may not have someone.

She stepped out of the tub and wrapped her towel around her chest.

One of her suitcases were brought in so, she lays it on her bed and unzip it.

It was her underwear. She took her bra and panties, and wore them. The rest of her suitcases must be in the hallway and there was no way she was going to walk out this way. And the clothes she left might not fit her anymore because she'd gained some weight.

"This is great," she mumbled, making her way to her drawer to rummage for anything that'd fit her. She wasn't ready to wear those tight jeans and shirt she had on all they again.

She only had few jeans and shirts she was definitely going to give out left in her drawer. She spotted a knee length pink dress and grabbed it.

Hunter got her that dress. Wouldn't be as if she was missing him if she wore it? Wouldn't she look desperate in them?

She unzips the dress hesitantly as she contemplated. It's the only dress that might fit her.

Her back was facing the door when it swings open. She gasped and turned around, hugging the dress to her breasts.

"Fuck, I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to," he said. His eyes were shut close as he pushed her suitcases in. He didn't spend another second in her room before he left.

Her heart was still pacing even after he had closed the door behind him.

How crazy life is—just half a year ago she could stand naked before him and don't feel anything. But she now, couldn't stand him seeing her in her underwear.

She hates the new norm that she created between them.

there isn't a word in the dictionary for how much he loves her.