60
"Life is so confusing."
Amelia's POV
I watched as a black motorcycle parked in the driveway and my heart drummed as Noah got off and looked around. I stepped out and as soon as he saw me the young man came striding toward me.
His eyes met mine as he closed in and concern laced his features. Soon he was standing in front of me.
His eyes studied me for a while before he sighed.
I didn't object as Noah wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against him. We sat behind the tree and he held me to him. He kept his mouth shut as I laid my head on his chest. He didn't talk as I broke down in his arms. He just held me and combed his fingers calmingly through my hair.
"It's Kaden isn't it?" Noah asked and I buried my face in my hands.
"What'd he do this time?" Noah asked and an aggravated growl played against his words.
"He had a mate before. She died... He doesn't want me." I said and sobs escaped me before I began crying.
"He hates me Noah, and I don't know what I'm doing wrong." I gasped and a wave of sadness washed over me.
"Shh. Don't cry baby. I'm here." Noah said and wrapped a strong arm around my waist. I snuggled closer to him and he growled in approval.
"Thanks." I sighed and the young man hugged me tighter.
"I can't believe it... You do realize he's insane right?" Noah said and I shrugged softly.
"You better. What man in their right mind would give you up? Especially since you're his mate, hell his second chance." He sighed.
I cuddled closer to him and he sighed and gave me a tight hug.
"Don't pay him any mind." Noah said softly and I gave a stiff nod.
But I would pay him mind, because no matter how hard I tried to ignore him, he'd always have an effect on me.
I was in love with Kaden and it would be very hard to just forget about all that.
Ryan's POV
I walked down the hall and abruptly Dusk was whining for me to go outside.
He paced inside me and pawed around. I raised an eyebrow and started going towards the front door.
I opened the door and glanced outside to see a black motorcycle parked in the driveway. I frowned in confusion and walked outside towards it, shutting the door behind me. The scent masking the bike was strangely familiar and I followed it quietly and paused when I smelled Amelia's scent also.
"I just don't understand." My alertness shot up at Amelia's sorrowful voice.
I carefully went around as I heard a male's gruff voice go, "I'm so sorry Lia. You'll be okay."
"How? My mate hates me. It's not going to be okay." I watched as the two came into view from the shelter of the shadows.
Amelia was wrapped in a man's arms and crying heavily as he ran his fingers through her hair.
"Leave him." The guy growled and I suddenly realized who he was. It was the guy Amelia hung out with when she'd left: Noah.
"He's my mate." Amelia cried.
"Stop using that as an excuse. He told you he doesn't want you. He doesn't deserve you." Noah growled and my eyebrows raised. What was Kaden thinking? What the hell had he done now?
"It hurts so much Noah." Amelia sobbed and inside me Dusk whined for his Luna.
Find Alpha now. We need to find out what happened. Dusk growled and I backed away.
I turned and hurried toward the house careful not to draw attention, leaving the two alone to go through whatever they needed to. Hopefully, Amelia'd be better and everything would work itself out.
But right now I had a bone to pick with my so-called leader.
"That's what friends are for."
Kaden's POV
I sat at my desk and went through the paperwork I'd been given. The packs were growing agitated because of continuous rouge attacks. Multiple papers were agreements to stop the attacks at all costs.
"What the hell did you do Kaden?" I looked up from my seat and tilted my head as Ryan came barging into my office.
"What?" I asked and he growled.
"Why is Amelia crying?" He asked and stomped toward me. I raised my eyebrows and growled as he grabbed my shirt and wrenched me out of my seat.
"Get off. The fuck?" I snarled and pushed him away.
He let out a gurgling growl and without a word pushed me back and I hit the wall with a thud. Anger flower through me and I huffed.
"You're pushing your luck Ryan." I spat and he scoffed.
"What you gonna do, fight me? I'm counting on it. I'll beat your ass." Ryan gritted out and his eyes flashed.
I let out a deep authoritative growl, but he didn't back down and only bared his fangs.
"What'd you say to her?" Ryan growled and I frowned.
"She wanted to know about Emma." I said and the Beta's eyes widened. For a while he was quiet.
"Em?" Ryan said in a shocked growl.
"You brought up Emma to her?" He frowned at me and disgust marred his eyes. Suddenly he grabbed my shoulders and slammed me into the wall.
"Your mate's out there crying because of you. Because you talked about some girl who's been dead for years. Years Kaden! You're twenty-two; that was seven years ago! She wasn't even your full mate. She wasn't yours." Ryan snarled and fire burned in his eyes.
"But I--"
"Shut up! Don't say anything! I swear I don't even know who I'm looking at right now. I don't see an Alpha and a friend of mine; I see a stupid bastard who doesn't know what he has." He spat at me and let me go. His chest heaved and his eyes glowed with his wolf's.
"Ryan--" I tried.
"She loves you! She fucking loves you! What the hell is wrong with you?" Ryan snarled and glared at me.
"I don't care." I growled.
"Oh you don't? Okay then. So when she goes out with someone besides you, don't be mad, because you 'don't care.' It's a shame because unlike you, I know men would kill to have a woman like Amelia." Ryan said and looked away from me.
His nostrils flared as he took in a deep breath and looked at me once more.
"Emma's gone Kaden. She's never coming back. Amelia loves you. She wants you and you're just pushing her away. You wanted her back, or have you forgotten? Why do this now, after all you've been through? Why?" Ryan growled and locked eyes with me.
I didn't have a concrete answer.
After a few moments of silence Ryan's face scowled in a horrible look of pure anger, "You can't even answer my question, can you?" I looked away from him and he gave a humorless laugh.
