Chapter 20

Flora’s P.O.V

“Clay?”

I looked around surprised at the empty classroom and then back towards the entrance to find Clay just standing there with his hands tucked into his pockets like he had no care in the world.

Seeing him again felt surreal. I knew I would run into him sooner or later and I might as well have to be alone with him, but I hadn’t thought it would be this soon. The impact of him just standing there felt like a punch to the gut. He was just as handsome...just as beautiful. And my whole body ached for him. I wanted nothing more than to run to his embrace and hold him to me forever.

And that’s why I had decided to stay away…

He wore a teal coloured shirt with black dress pants and a black tie. His hair was combed back with a few stray strands falling onto his forehead. From this far, I couldn’t read his expression; his face was cold, impassive. But when I looked into his eyes, they were a whole new story. A storm barely contained.

“Why did you call me here?” I asked, tucking my bag closer to my side as I dropped the folder on to the table.

“Because you’ve been avoiding me for the past week like I’m the plague or something.” Clay snapped at me.

Startled, I took a step back and I heard Clay curse under his breath. I’ve seen Clay angry before and I knew how bad it could get. But that anger has never been directed towards me.

“It’s for the best, Clay.” I told him. “If we don’t see each other.”

“Says who? Riley?” He asked incredulously.

Again, I shivered at the tone in his voice.

“We’re not mates.” I stuttered out before clearing my throat. “And I don’t need anyone to tell me that, Clay. That realization is bone deep and it’s what made me come to this decision.”

“So you just decided to give up and left me hanging?” Clay gave a humourless laughter. “And when was I supposed to know about this decision, Flora? When you felt like it or when you suddenly decided that you wanted to come back for seconds?”

“It’s not like that and you know it!” I snapped, my voice coming out harsher than intended and it surprised Clay as well. “Stop trying to guilt trip me into a relationship, it’s not going to work.”

“Oh, was that what I was doing?” Clay barked out another laugh, but this time I could feel his anger. “So you fucked me because I forced you into it?”

“Stop it! You know it wasn’t like that!” I shivered as his words reverberated inside my head.

“Then how was it, Flora? Did you take pity on me for wanting you like crazy or was it just to fool me into believing we could be something more? What was it, Flora? Because it sure seems like I was the greatest mistake of your life!”

“Stop it, Clay! Enough!”

What was he doing? Why was he doing this? How could he degrade us and what we had shared by his anger? Why was he trying to hurt me like this?

Because I hurt him.

It was a realization always present at the back of my mind; I just didn’t want to acknowledge it. It would’ve been easier if he had just gotten the message and moved on…then I wouldn’t have to deal with the guilt of hurting him, of having let him down.

No matter what the rumours about him were or what Riley told me, he was a man with a beating heart and feelings. And Clay had always been very clear with me on what he wanted. He had bared his heart out to me but instead of cherishing it…I had trampled on it instead.

I felt my eyes haze over as I slid to the ground. I wanted this agony to stop. But when tears started rolling down my cheeks, I felt large hands wipe them away.

I looked up into Clay’s golden-emerald eyes and felt like I could breathe again. Being away from him had been the most agonizing feeling I had ever felt but I had to do what was right. I couldn’t disappoint Riley or my parents. But I couldn’t stay away from Clay either. How was I supposed to deal with this? How was I supposed to walk away from him?

“I’m sorry…” I whimpered. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I’m so sorry.”

“I know.” He nodded. “You were trying to protect yourself. I don’t blame you.”

“You should!” More tears spilled as my whole body trembled. “I thought if you gave up on me then everything would go back to normal…that I won’t feel so horrible inside. But I can’t…I can’t see you with anyone else…I can’t let you go.”

Clay immediately wrapped me into his arms and I broke down crying like I had never cried before. All the anger, the frustration, the pain and the emptiness that I had felt in my heart for the last week just came bursting out as I wrapped my arms around his middle and let go. This was exactly what I needed…he was exactly what I needed.

Clay picked me up easily by wrapping his arms around my waist and hauled me up to sit on the teacher’s desk where I would be easily able to face him. He let me shed my tears, sacrificing his shirt as he kept his arms wrapped around me.

I don’t know how long I cried, wrapped in the comfort of his arms, but Clay’s shirt was soaked through and I could hear his steady heartbeat with my ears pressed against his chest.

“I can’t do this, Clay.” I whispered hoarsely. “I don’t have the strength to stay away from you. But I don’t want to get hurt when you turn twenty eight and find the one you are supposed to be with. What happen to me then? How will I be able to survive when I see you with someone else, madly in love?”

“That’ll never happen.” His voice was firm and steady. “I know it in my heart. No matter what the universe has decided, I will never feel for anyone else what I feel for you.”

“You don’t know that.” I looked up into his gorgeous eyes. “You don’t know what will happen nine months from now, on your birthday.”

“We burn for each other, that’s a fact nothing can change.” He told me clearly. “I don’t care if it’s not the pull of the mating bond, but if the Goddess really hasn’t chosen us as mates, then she couldn’t have been more unfair about her decision.”

“Hush!” I gasped. “We aren’t supposed to speak ill of the Moon Goddess.”

“And yet she is allowed to control our lives.” Clay caressed my cheeks with the pad of his thumbs, wiping away any remains of my tears. “I would’ve chosen to be human any day if it meant I could choose to be with you. In fact, if I was given a choice, I would always, always choose you, no matter what the consequences.”

“I would too.” The reply was instant, needed no thought. “I will always choose you. No matter what form we are in or how far apart we are. I will always choose you.”

Clay brought his face closer to me before lightly pressing his lips to mine. But no matter how gentle the contact, it ignited a fire in my veins that only Clay could quench. Clay was right, we burned for each other and I haven’t heard of anyone else who felt the same way we did for each other; at least anyone else who weren’t mates. Was this love? Was I falling for Clay without noticing it?

If it was, then I didn’t want anyone or anything to break that fall. I’d take any plunge possible, if Clay would be waiting for me on the other end.

However, at that moment, as I pulled Clay closer to my body, letting myself get lost in his caress, I had yet to know just how dire our consequences would be as fate played her hand and the Moon Goddess watched from above.