Cold and Absent

LAKE

“So, how was your day?” Jake asks.

I stare down at my feet, trying to get my emotions under control.

~I should’ve painted my toenails or something.~

~

“Lots of stares and whispers. You know, usual pack pariah stuff.”

“It’s Delilah and her followers, isn’t it?” he growls.

I look up at him, and his expression is suddenly intense. There’s a deep frown on his face, and his eyes have darkened.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” I say. I feel the Betrayal Mark throb on my shoulder. “It sucks seeing her flaunt her mark in front of me...but I’ll be fine.”

Jake brushes some of my hair away from my shoulder, and the slight touch sends tingles down my spine.

He leans closer toward me, taking a closer look at the Betrayal Mark. I feel so exposed under his gaze.

“Does it still hurt?” he asks softly, his breath fanning over my mark.

“It still stings.” I wince. “Feels like acid on my skin.”

“How could someone be so stupid that they would reject you?” Jake leans forward and presses his face into the crook of my neck. “You’re beautiful, Moonlight.”

His lips brush against my neck, and my body goes hot.

“Jake,” I gasp. “Wait…”

Lynne howls, urging me to give in. She can sense our mate’s desire. Jake’s touch feels amazing.

But something feels off.

Jake’s hands wander down my arms and slowly wrap around my waist. There’s a weird urgency to his actions.

A hunger that scares me.

“Wait a minute,” I say, pushing against his chest. “Jake?”

He leans forward, shifting his weight to push me down into the bed. Panic blooms in my chest.

~No, I’m not ready for this!~

~

~He said he would wait until I was ready!~

~

“Jake!” I say, shoving harder. But he doesn’t seem to hear me. He drags his lips up my neck, inching closer to my lips…

“Stop!” I push him as hard as I can, and he finally gets off me. I scramble backward, putting some space in between us.

For a second, Jake doesn’t say anything.

His eyes are dark with desire. He doesn’t look like the sweet and handsome guy I knew.

He looks…scary.

But the expression is gone as quickly as it came.

“I’m so sorry, Moonlight,” he says, his voice sincere. “I couldn’t control myself for a second there…”

I don’t say anything. I wrap my arms around my legs and stare at him, waiting to see if he tries to jump me again.

He sighs and stands up, walking toward my window. “I meant it when I said I would wait for you,” he says. “That won’t happen again, I promise. Will you forgive me?”

I sigh, relaxing a bit. “Okay.”

He flashes me a brilliant smile, and I hate how it immediately gets my heart racing.

“Want to have lunch together tomorrow? I want to show you something cool.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a surprise.” He winks at me. “Goodnight, Moonlight.”

He jumps out my window and disappears into the night.

I let out a relieved breath and get up to close my window. My room still smells like him, and it’s making Lynne restless.

My mind wanders, wondering about what the surprise is going to be.

“Great,” I mutter to myself. “How am I supposed to sleep now?”

***

The day goes by agonizingly slowly. I keep bouncing my knee up and down impatiently as I repeatedly glance at the clock. It’s only 10:33 a.m.

Lunchtime for me is at 12:45 p.m., and it’s barely third period as the bell rings for students to settle down and get class started.

I’m flipping through my math book to find the page assigned on the board, and someone taps on my desk softly. I look up to see the future beta, Kyle Locke, looking at me with a tightly knit brow.

“Mavris.” His voice is stern and low. I know Kyle is trying to intimidate me with his authority. I can’t help but feel annoyed. “Willow tree during your lunch.”

And with that, Locke gets up and stomps over to his seat on the other side of the classroom. ~I swear, these males in my pack are so arrogantly irritating and seem to only have one brain cell.~

~

I can’t focus on anything in any of my classes all morning. There’s a faint throb in my chest that grows as the time crunches closer to lunch.

My phone keeps vibrating with messages from my brother and Riley. Both keep asking about how I’m feeling and if I need anything. Rightfully so, and I understand their concern.

My Betrayal Mark has been healed for a while now. There are white spots in the shape of a crescent bite mark. It mirrors that of Delilah’s but is completely and utterly different.

The only way for it to disappear is for another male to mark and…

I put my head into my book and die of embarrassment at the thought of a process of mating. Sure, it’s natural for us werewolves to be openly sexual beings, but I’m not so used to the idea.

“Ms. Mavris, are you all right?” My psych teacher, Mr. Thimble, asks. “Your face is fairly red.”

“I’m all right!” My voice basically squeaks the words. “Just a bit warm in here.”

Mr. Thimble nods awkwardly. “April, open a window for Lake.”

“Oh no. It’s all—”

April, a human girl, happily opens the window next to me to let a nice breeze in before I can finish my words.

“Thank you,” I tell April. She gives me a smile and a nod before returning to her seat.

A few hours later, the bell rings just in time. I’m first out of my seat and into the hallway. Just outside the classroom’s door, Jake is waiting for me.

I can’t help but smile in my shock. “Are you trying to scare me to death?”

He laughs and shrugs. “If I am?” I playfully punch his arm and push my backpack up. Jake swiftly takes it and slings it over his.

There’s something different between us. A comfortable and content feeling.

“Lake!” Landon raises his hand as Jake and I come outside. “Over here!”

I step toward them, then something feels off. Jake keeps moving forward as I stand there. Something cold and absent fills my mind. Lynne stirs uneasily.

“Lake?” Riley looks at me, puzzled. “Are you okay?”

I blink a few times before grounding myself, and Jake puts his hand on my back. He rubs it softly as Landon comes over as well.

“You guys go ahead and sit down,” I tell them flatly. “I need to check something.” I walk away before any of them can protest.

I sniff the air, and a familiar scent fills my lungs. My heart skips a beat painfully as I skid across the large schoolyard toward the old willow tree that stands in the middle of it.

As I push past the drooping branches and leaves, a very prominent figure is leaning against the trunk.

“Lucas…”

I look at him breathlessly. My ex-mate is standing right in front of me.

“Lake.” Lucas smiles. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

His scent surrounds me, and I’m helpless to do anything. My eyes are fixed on those emerald greens. His blond hair flows loosely over them.

“Lucas…,” I sigh. Trying to keep my composure, I take a step back and put my hand up for distance. “What do you want?”

“I want you,” he says, sending my mind spinning with confusion. “I want you back.”