Chapter 23

Neither Alpha Colton nor Beta Lucas moved, both seemingly frozen in time.

Laila on the other hand was making a big show of trying to get back on her feet after plopping down, I couldn’t help but laugh and she rolled and grunted. Trying to roll her furry fat bear ass over.

“You better stop laughing at me or I’ll leave you naked in front of these two. You prude little weirdo, you’d die of embarrassment.” She grunted.

“I was just in bed with both of them and Willow, at this point I’m pretty sure the cats out of the bag and they’ve seen it all.” I chuckled.

Laila stopped rolling, stretching out flat on her back. “Wait there was a four way, where was I.”

I debated on lying to her and making up some things that happened but decided against it. “You were sleeping, and it wasn’t like that. They were all in our bed watching over us. We almost died and they made a whole thing out of it.”

“Go back. What do you mean we almost died?” She asked.

I could feel her grip slipping and our form starting to change. Maybe if we weren’t a giant bear the guys wouldn’t be so freaked out.

“You don’t remember?” I asked her. Feeling my skin on the hardwood floors.

Alpha Colton and Beta Lucas still looked like status. I looked at both of them and made a clicking sound before heading to the door. I grabbed my towel from in the hall, wrapping it around me and headed back to my room to finish my shower.

“What do you remember?” I asked her.

“Blaine going nutso on us then we were bleeding really bad, and I couldn’t stay shifted.” She said with a yawn.

“Alright, I’ll fill you in later but right now I have to know what Sarah has to say.” I said.

“I still can’t believe she punched me.” Laila huffed.

“She punched us, and I have a feeling she knew exactly what she was doing.” I told her.

“Oh, you think so. Did you deduce that all on your own. Maybe you should be a detective.” She said sarcastically before yawning again.

“You’re an ass.” I told her.

“But I’m your ass.” She said happily before rolling on her side.

“Guess you’re taking a nap?” I asked. Throwing the towel in the dirty clothes hamper and grabbing a clean one.

“Yah, tell me all about it later. Being a bear is exhausting.” She said with a big stretch.

I stood in front of the mirror while the water warmed up. I could hear Laila drifting off, before Laila I felt alone, and even after I felt like an outsider. Running from the world, but now a sense of calm washed over me. I knew Laila and I are strong enough to get through anything.

As I walked closer, I could see why Alpha Colton had run his hands down my chest the way he did. Although the wounds were healed scars remained, claw marks down my chest and puncture wounds on each side of my neck were barely visible. They looked like parts of my skin that had never seen sun, long white lines down my chest and small to large dots around my throat.

Getting in the shower I felt for Colton, Beta Lucas said I was blood bound to him, but didn’t that mean that now he was bound to me? Was he now my slave? I giggled to myself at the thought.

Alpha Colton’s emotions hit me like a brick. All his sadness, loneliness, anger, hatred and lust hitting me all at once, knocking me off balance. Searching through what I could feel from him, I was worried he might be afraid of me. The look on their faces when I left Beta Lucas’s room concerned me. More than anything I was consumed by toxic, rancid hate and anger.

My newfound confidence was quickly overshadowed by sadness of my own. Standing there with the water falling over me I searched for any feelings for me. Finding nothing from him but the need for revenge and to sooth his physical needs.

We didn’t have to stay here, I reminded myself. They said I was free to leave anytime I wanted. There’s nothing keeping me here except to find out what Sarah knows about me but after that we should just leave. Get out of here and away from all this mess. I did feel bad about leaving Willow; besides Laila she’s been my only real friend.

I got dressed quickly, more excited than I had realized. Being a werewolf would have been cool and all but if I’m not one than what am I?

Rushing out the door I slammed directly into Beta Lucas. He greeted me with a warm smile, holding his arm out for me to take as though the last few hours hadn’t happened.

As soon as my skin brushed his my mind jumped back. I could feel the heat of his tongue on my neck, his groans and the way his hands ran down my body.

Opening my eyes again, he stood there looking at me, his smile now looked forced. Running my hand down his arm I laced my fingers with his. A half smile on my face as an idea had come to me. I quickly leaned down while forcing his hand up and bit down into his arm. Wiping the blood from the corner of my mouth with my thumb.

“There, now we are even, and you don’t have to feel bad about it.” I said in an attempt to make him feel better.

“Why would you do that?” He asked. Seemingly not concerned about the bite at all. He rushed forward and grabbed me as my knees gave out.

His life flowed over me, I saw Alpha Colton save his life, Qwen and Willow running barefoot in the woods laughing. Feeling his guilt for what happened earlier, his absolute disgust with himself over earlier.

A memory hit me so hard I threw up. I watched as he meets his mate, she was beautiful and happy. I understood the mate bond as I never thought I would have. Her laugh like music, her smile chasing away any darkness, her touch soothing him and making him feel complete in a way I had never known. My heart felt full for the first time. The joy I felt through him made me long for something I would never have.

Dark clouds and dread rolled in, his heart broke, ripped out of his chest and suddenly I watched his mate die.