Hey everyone, I'm sorry this took so long but it's been a really crazy past few days for me. I'm trying my best to get the next chappie out ASAP. Enjoy!

-Roxy

Chapter 22

Crack! The sound was faint but my heightened hearing noticed it effortlessly. I peered out my window; straining to see what it had been. This was my fourth night in Jen and Ethan’s house and every night since I’d gotten here I always felt like someone was watching me from outside my window.

The idea of someone spying on me during the night gave me the creeps but I would rather endure it than go back and face Logan while he lived his life happily without me. The thought of my mate had my heart aching immediately. My wolf whimpered every morning when I’d just woken up and every night before I slept; begging me to go back to him.

She wasn’t the only one who wanted to go back; it felt like every cell in my body pulsated with my need for him, but I had made him a promise. It wasn’t just any promise; it was one made for the sake of his happiness and there was no way I was going to risk any chance I had left of mending our bond by trying to force myself into a part of his life he didn’t want me to fill.

So, for the past few days I’d struggled to keep my distance; narrowly managing to resist running back a few times. I listened out for any sounds from Jen or Ethan’s rooms but both were quiet. I tiptoed over to my bag and pulled out the torn shirt that I had been wearing the last time I’d woken up in Logan’s house.

Blood; my blood, was still on the fabric below the holes where he’d cut me, the splotches already brown as they had already dried a while ago. I hadn’t washed it since I left because I couldn’t risk compromising whatever bit of my mate’s scent that still clung to that piece of cloth. I knew it was pathetic but I had no other choice.

That was all that helped to lessen the constant ache in my heart that was always present every second I was away from him. I slipped back under the covers of my temporary bed and buried my face in Logan’s shirt; holding it tightly to my chest as I did my best to pretend that it was actually him that I had in my arms.

***

I woke up the next morning to the sound of knocking on my door. “Chels, breakfast is ready!” I heard Jen say from the other side of the door; her voice muffled by the wood. I folded Logan’s shirt and slipped it back into its hiding place before I washed up; pulling my hair into a loose ponytail.

I jogged downstairs; the smell of waffles and orange juice wafting out of the kitchen making my stomach rumble. I walked through the doorway to find both Jen and Ethan; who was shirtless despite my presence, at the kitchen island. I took a waffle from the steaming stack beside the stove and poured myself a glass of juice before taking a seat beside him.

“Morning,” I muttered as I drowned my poor, unaware waffle, in a river of maple syrup.

“Luna, no offence, but that’s a plate full of diabetes.” Ethan replied before scooping a piece of his own waffle into his mouth.

“I prefer it this way.” I retorted; not heeding his words as I slipped a piece into my mouth, taking an extra spoonful of syrup from my plate just to spite him. He just sighed before he gulped down the rest of his juice.

“I’ve got to agree with my brother on that one Chels.” Jen muttered as she stared at my plate in disgust. I just ate another piece in response. She opened her mouth to say something else before a message vibrated through her mind. Based on the dazed look on Ethan’s face; who had frozen with his head tipped up and his glass still pressed up to his lips, he was getting the same one.

I couldn’t hear it so I assumed it was from Logan. That one thought of my mate had my heart wrenching for what felt like the hundredth time since I’d gotten to the Beta house, my wolf whimpering in response to my emotional distress. I began to stand when I noticed the juice that ran down Ethan’s chin to his chest from his still tilted glass; which he hadn’t bothered to put down.

I immediately began giggling; the sight helping to make me forget the pain I felt from my separation from my mate a little. A few seconds later, they both snapped out of their daze, Ethan noticing his juice. He choked as he realised it; spraying the juice in his mouth back into his glass, turning my giggling into full on laughter.

My laughter began to die as I noticed their grave faces. My wolf was immediately alert; ready to protect me from anything that would come. What Jen said next was something I never thought I would ever hear in my whole life and had my wolf’s tail wagging in excitement. “Pack your things. The Alpha wants you back, right now.”

***

I had all my things together and was back at the house in under fifteen minutes; both my wolf and I ecstatic that we could finally see our mate again after what felt like an excruciatingly painful century apart. Jen dropped me off; helping me get my bag out of the trunk of the car before telling me that Logan was in his office.

I left my bag by the door and slipped inside; following his scent as I located his office. The moment I stepped in front of the door it opened; revealing my mate on the other side of it. The moment I caught sight of him, my heart began beating erratically, my wolf urging me to get closer and make some kind of contact.

He didn’t say anything as he just stood in front of me; unmoving. I noted his wrinkled clothes and the stubble on his jaw; which did nothing to affect his usual good looks. His shoulders looked slumped with exhaustion and disbelief was written clearly on his face as he studied me before him; like he couldn’t believe I would actually come back. Of course I would.

I further studied his face; noticing the dark circles around his eyes, like he hadn’t slept for the past few nights and immediately began to worry. I couldn’t resist touching his cheek; the urge to feel his skin against mine too overpowering to deny as I spoke. “Is everything alright?” I muttered; watching for any sign of displeasure from my actions, in his face.

He closed his eyes for a moment. He needs you. My wolf muttered; the joy in her voice evident as Logan’s wolf called out to her. He seemed to catch himself as he pulled away; much to my disappointment and stepped aside to give me some space to come in. “I need you to clear something up.” He muttered. His words crushed the hope I felt at him wanting me back in his life almost immediately but I didn’t let it show as I kept my face impassive.

I took a seat in one of the chairs in front of his large mahogany desk; the top covered in various stacks of neatly organised papers and folders. Behind it was a large window that overlooked the forest, the walls at both ends of the room was taken up by bookshelves; filled completely with various books of different sizes.

He sat in the armchair across the desk from me. “Clear what up?”

He picked up the phone from its position on its console at the corner of his desk beside his brand new-looking Mac book and held it to his ear as he dialled a number that seemed familiar to me. “I need you to explain things to your brother; he called a while ago, pissed as fuck.” At the thought of my brother, I immediately felt guilty as I remembered that I had not contacted him in such a long time.

I knew that it was mainly Logan’s fault for smashing my phone but I still should’ve called him. He was probably worried sick that my mate had done something to me. Logan passed the phone to me as my brother answered; my heightened hearing able to detect his voice on the other end of the line. I stood up and moved around as I spoke; trying to get rid of the nervousness I felt at what my brother had to say.

“Hi Jake, how’ve you been?” I said; my voice dripping with fake happiness as I hid my guilt.

“How’ve I’ve fucking been?! Is that what you’re going to ask me?! Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?! You haven’t talked to me in over a week and that’s all you have to say?!” He said; my words acting as a trigger to the ticking time bomb that was his anger.

I held the phone away from my ear as his yelling assaulted my sensitive ears. “Geez, calm your tits! You’re starting to sound like my mom.” I chastised; trying to lighten the mood.

“Don’t fucking tell me to calm my tits! And for all intents and purposes; right now, I am your mom!” He yelled back; his response making me giggle. “You know what I mean!”

“Seriously, calm down! My phone broke and I forgot to go get a new one okay?! I’m sorry I didn’t call you, but I was a little busy with my own problems, alright?!” I snapped; agitated at my brother’s yelling. I kept my gaze away from Logan when I said the last part.

“What problems could be so big you couldn’t spare five minutes to call me?!” He growled back. I could almost sense when he came to his own conclusion. “Did Logan do something to you?!” He demanded.

“No!” I lied.

“He did, didn’t he?! What was it?!” He persisted. I was about to reply when the phone was ripped away from my grip.

“She said she’s fine!” Logan snapped; his tone sharp as his eyes began to darken.

My brother sounded even more angered as he spoke next. “Don’t fucking talk to me on her behalf! I told you not to make me regret my decision when you took her but now I have. I’m taking her back!” He snapped.

“You’re not taking her anywhere! If you step even one foot onto my territory, I’ll have you ripped to pieces! Do I make myself fucking clear?!” Logan said; his grip on the phone tightening.

I growled and snatched the phone back. “Don’t speak like I don’t have a choice in the matter Jake! I’m staying with my mate!” I yelled. When my eyes darted to Logan’s face for confirmation that he was okay with it; I found him looking incredulous. Wonder what that’s about? I muttered.

I forgot it when Jake began yelling again on his end of the phone line. “What is he doing to keep you there, Chels?! I can bring the pack; we’ll rescue you if it’s necessary!” He said; his tone pleading.

“I told you before Jake, I want to be with my mate!” I replied.

“Leave it alone you paranoid little shit!” Logan snapped from behind me.

“Shut the fuck up, you ass! This has nothing to do with you! This is between me and my sister! I’m busting down your door if that’s the only way I’ll get to her!”

“I will murder you before I let you touch her!” Logan retorted.

“Hey!” I yelled; gaining his attention. “You’re not allowed to kill my brother!”

“I will if he tries to take you from me!” He said back. His words warmed my heart a little; to know that he didn’t want to let me go. That’s just because his wolf wants you around. I said to myself bitterly.

I took a step closer to my mate and put a hand over one of his clenched fists; using my other to cover the receiver of the phone. “Logan, it’s alright. I’ll deal with my brother, okay?” After I spoke, he seemed to calmed down a little; enough to unclench his fists. When he nodded; I returned to my phone call, unwillingly releasing my mate’s hand. “Listen Jake, there’s no need for you to come, I’m fine. You told me that you would trust me. Were you lying?” I said; calmly this time as I tried the softer approach.

“Can I at least come to visit Chels? I do trust you, you know that. It’s your mate I don’t trust!” He said; his tone back to sounding pleading. At that last sentence; Logan growled. I turned to him and gave him an apologetic look. “And I miss you, I really do.” He finished. Those words had some of the anger I felt towards him melting from my heart.

“Logan won’t budge on that Jake, you already know that.” I replied; my tone solemn this time.

“Can you try to convince him?” He muttered.

“I can try, I guess.” I said, truly meaning it as the thought of seeing my brother had me perking up a little despite the current situation with my mate. “You’re just lucky I miss you too!” I said happily; a genuine smile playing on my lips. I turned to Logan; who seemed to have been staring at me as I was talking to Jake, his red, tired looking eyes focused on my face. “Logan, can Jake please come over for a visit?” I pleaded.

He only narrowed his eyes in response. I didn’t know what would happen, but I hung up on Jake after telling him that I would call him back after Logan’s made his decision and made the best puppy-eyed look I could manage as I took a step closer. “Please?” I muttered again; stepping so close our chests were almost pressed together.

I leaned up and noticed that every muscle in Logan’s body tensed when I did. I whispered my words to him as I put my lips as close to his ear as possible; hoping that the close proximity of our bodies would increase the influence my wolf had over his so he would agree with me.

“If you agree to let him stay, I don’t think he’ll doubt you anymore and all I have to do is call him regularly so he doesn’t worry. It’s a win-win for everyone. Jake’s worry over my safety will be nonexistent, you won’t have to have him threatening you every second of your life and I won’t have him trying to drag me back. Everybody’ll be happy.” I explained.

When my green eyes met his again; his face was completely dead-pan, looking at me with an unwavering gaze. Finally he nodded; redialling Jake’s number as he held the receiver to his ear. “I’m allowing you in.” Logan said brusquely, hanging up as soon as he did.

I sat back in my chair as Logan sent out a message; my mate returning to his seat behind his desk as he did before he rubbed his eyes a few times. I leaned forward and brushed my fingertips against his hand. He looked up immediately; the shocks I always felt at the contact of our skin, making my skin tingle. “Thank you.” I muttered.

He nodded as his grey eyes met mine; the look he gave me as he spoke next filled with remorse. “It was the least I could do.” He said; his tone apologetic. I nodded as my eyes drifted down to his table, his stare getting a little uncomfortable. I began to pull away, but before I could get an inch between my hand and his; he gripped it tightly, trapping it in place.

I was surprised but I couldn’t really say that I minded as the warmth immediately began to spread through me; my wolf howling happily at the contact. I kept my eyes on our hands; too afraid to look up at the expression on his face, knowing that I couldn’t take it if I met his eyes to see hatred or any kind of disdain towards me.

I didn’t dare make a move as he released my hand so he could slip his fingers in between mine; my own fingers gripping his as our hands laced together. “Chelsea.” He murmured. I kept my gaze where it was. “Look at me.” He whispered. My eyes moved up to meet his, slowly, as I complied to his request. I found him staring at me with the most intense stare I’d ever seen on his face; his eyes full of longing. For me? I wondered silently.

I couldn’t move a muscle as he began to pull me forward by my hand; his own body leaning closer as he did. My heart was beating so hard that I was surprised that I wasn't shaking. When our faces were but an inch apart, Ethan burst through the door. “Alpha, Alpha Jake is here from the Delaney Pack and he isn’t alone.” He said.