I found a way to write, but don't ask cause I'm tired. It's 4 in the morning. So enjoy.

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Chapter Eight

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He’s stalking me. He has to be stalking me, I thought as I caught Tristan’s scent. It had been a month since I’ve moved here and I thought I had gotten away from my past…but it looked like one person followed me to my future.

Before the Circle even signed the treaty and the war ended, I had seen Tristan literally every time I went outside. He was relentless. I didn’t know what he saw in me. Was it just my looks that attracted him? It couldn’t possibly be anything else. Every single time he asked me out – which was a lot – I rejected him. I was close to even punching him this one time. How could he still want to go out with me after all that?

I looked back over my shoulder to see Tristan. He didn’t seem to have noticed me yet. He was talking to an older man in front of a garage, a smile on his face. I looked away from him because there was something about him that reminded me of Xavier. Even though they looked nothing alike. I breathed out softly and began to walk towards my apartment. It was twenty minutes away, but I didn’t really mind the walk.

The apartment itself was very simple. It had two bedrooms, for when Michael visited, a balcony, kitchen, one bathroom and a couple closets.  The living room was decent sized – nothing too big. And my apartment was on the second floor. The view wasn’t that bad either. My balcony looked out over the forest. It was perfect for a late night run. The two bedroom windows gave a perfect view of the woods as well. There was always fresh air coming in. 

But I had kept it all simple. There wasn’t much. In my room, there was a bed, my closet was full of my clothes and in the corner, there were books and CDs piled on top of one another. Michael’s room wasn’t that different either – it was just a simple bed with some of his clothes in the closet. When he came over, we were always outdoors. Either I took him to an amusement park, zoo or to train him deep in the forest.

It was strange going to the gym to teach kids about self-defense and coming home to an empty apartment, but I was beginning to get used to it. Jebadiah had helped me settle in, opening a bank for me and putting a few grand in there, but I wanted to do this on my own. Pay my own bills, buy my own food, clothing, everything. I was twenty – it was time I stopped living off of others. 

When I arrived at my apartment, I opened the door and walked to my kitchen to get a drink. It was the only part of my house that actually had some color. There was food everywhere. Meat, fish, fruits, dairy, snacks. I filled a tall glass with water and downed the whole thing, quenching my thirst. With a sigh, I went to my room and crashed on the bed. It only took a minute for sleep to crash over me.

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The next day, I wasn't surprised when I ran into Tristan after I was walking home from the gym. I held in a sigh and ran my hand through my hair, accidentally taking it out of its ponytail.

"I know you're probably going to think I'm stalking you, but I swear I'm not. I just bought a garage here - my friend Tim told me about it. Honestly, I never though you'd be here, too. Shit. Don't you think this is a sign?" he asked, his words tumbling together.

"Sign for what?" I asked because he had confused me.

Tristan looked at me with gorgeous, hopeful blue eyes. It reminded me of Michael, when he wanted something. "That maybe you should give me a chance?"

"I've said no for the past year, Tristan," I replied, trying to move past him.

He blocked my way. "Please. Will you at least give me your name?"

I paused and looked at him. Like really looked at him. "Why do you want me so much, Tristan?"

Tristan paused, too. But only for a moment. He took my hand and drew me away from the sidewalk because we had been standing right in the middle of it and people were beginning to get mad. "You're literally the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life, way more prettier than girls I see on TV like Megan Fox or Jessica Alba or any one else. And you have the fiercest punch ever and you're so mysterious and...the hurt in your eyes. I want to get to know you because I recognize it and I want to erase it."

His words took my breath away. Was I that easy to read? Or did Tristan just see right through me? What was the infamous quote again? 'It takes one to know one.' Did Tristan go through the same kind of pain I had gone through?

Releasing my breath, I stepped past him. "Cade," I replied softly.

"Huh?" he asked, turning to watch me.

"My name is Cade. And I-," I couldn't believe I was going to say this. "I'll go out with you."

I lost my breath for the second time that day. Tristan was beaming. His smile could light up the entire universe. "Holy crap. Wow. Cade," he breathed. "Damn. I promise you won't regret it," he said. He was about to turn around but then he faced me again. "Can I have your number now?" I recited it to him. He was still smiling. I started to regret giving him my number because I didn't know how could a guy want me so much even after I'd shot him down countless of times before? "Thank you, Cade. I'll call you, yeah?"

Silently, I nodded. He said good-bye and walked away, blue eyes twinkling. I headed home and instantly called Sierra. She was Darren's twin sister. Darren was my best friend, but he had died in the battle.

"Do you know what you're getting into, Cade?" she asked me.

"No, Sierra. But I already said yes," I said.

"He's human."

I sighed. "I know, Si. But I couldn't get him off my back. He's been repeatedly asking me out for a year," I said, trying to defend him.

Sierra was quiet for a minute. "He must really like you," she finally said.

"I guess so."

"Don't tell Jebadiah, Cade." 

Pulling the phone away from my ear, I looked at it puzzled. Then I put it back to my ear. "Why not?" 

Sierra laughed. "You're so oblivious. Jeb will kill your human if he finds out," she explained.

"Why?"

"Because he loves you."

"No, he doesn't. He loves Lily." I was confused.

"I don't mean that, silly. He won't ever love you like that, Cade, because Lily is his mate and he will follow her to the ends of the earth. But he still does love you - more like a best friend or a sister way, I guess. He's protective, not to mension possessive. Plus, Jebadiah is an Alpha. He'll flip out on anyone who tries to take what's his," Sierra explained to me. 

"Will he?" I asked.

"Yes, Cade. Jebadiah sees you as his."

"But I'm not."

"Doesn't matter. He's always going to love you and want to protect you."

That made me feel warm. I loved Jeb, too. He had given me everything. "But what should I do about Tristan?"

"There's nothing you can do. Just see if you like him and go on from there," she said.

"That's not much help."

"I know, sweetie." There were voices in the background. "I have to go, my dear. Ryan says hello."

Sadness crept up in my heart. "Tell him I said hi back," I said softly.

"Bye, Caden. Take care." Her good-bye made me realize how much I missed her and wanted her back. I couldn't help, but dislike Ryan the slightest bit for taking away my other best friend.

"You too, Si." I cut the call and put my phone down. I went out to the balcony and looked up at the evening sky. "Hi Xavier," I whispered and sat down on a chair I had set out there. "I'm going to go on a date with a human. If you were here, you would've been hurt and mad. I'm sorry." I sighed. "I miss you. But I'm remembering what Lily said - I could have a child with a human. And I'm not a Beta anymore. Is Tristan my second chance?" I asked.

The skies opened up and it began to rain. "Is this a sign? Should I not go?" I asked. I laughed sarcastically. "Why did you die saving me, Xavier? I feel like I'm nothing. It hurts so much."

"I wish you were here. I wish you hadn't died that night." I bowed my head and began to cry. 

"Why were you taken? Why you?" 

"I still loved you after everything you had done to me. But you let me down again, Xavier."

"When do I get my happy ending?"

I took in a shuddering breath and got up. My clothes were damn from the rain. I walked inside, shutting the door to the balcony behind me. I needed to forget Xavier for now. His memory only brought me pain. 

I was so tired of pain.