Lily’s POV
I glance back at Ralph and follow Caleb back to my room.
Will I even have a chance to talk with Ralph before I leave?
We reach my room and Caleb opens the door for me so I can walk in, and to my surprise, follows me inside.
“Would you like some help?” He takes a step towards me after he closes the door and grabs my upper arms, sliding his hands down them until he reaches my hands and grasp them against his chest.
I shiver slightly and feel tingly from his touch. A tingle that never leads anywhere because he does not want to be with me.
A lump forming in my throat, I shake my head and withdraw my hands from his.
“You don’t have to.”
I want him to though. His touch is calming, and I know he feels that way too, since he has been holding my hand ever since he returned from the Blue Moon pack getting attacked.
Caleb runs his hands through his hair, looking hesitant.
I don’t know what to say to him, feeling like there were too many things left unsaid for too long, so I turn around and grab a suitcase off the floor and throw it on to my bed to start packing.
I can feel Caleb watching me in silence as I make my way around the room picking items off the floor, grabbing my nice dresses from the closet, and folding them neatly before I pack them in to my suitcase.
I have seen how Lycan women dress, and I want to look my best while I am staying there, for however long that might be.
I pause while folding a pink fuzzy cardigan, feeling overwhelmed that I am about to leave my home and everything I know, and knowing that my pack might not be the same afterwards…everyone might not survive the attack...
Caleb’s strong arms are suddenly wrapped around me and his face is at my neck, kissing it before inhaling deeply.
Leaning back into his hard chest, I close my eyes, soaking in his touch, feeling some of my stress leave.
Never wanting him to let go, I grasp his arms tightly with mine.
“Lily…” His voice is rough, heavy, as he loosens his grip and turns me around to face him.
My stomach plummets to the ground as I slowly turn.
This is it.
He is going to reject me right before I leave.
I cannot hold the tears back any longer, letting them fall down my cheeks as I look up at my mate’s handsome face.
My mate who does not want me. He only wants my sister.
He looks slightly surprised and lifts his hands to my cheeks, using his rough thumbs to wipe away the wetness.
Sniffing, I tilt my chin up.
“You do not want to be my mate?” My voice is squeakier than I would like it to be, but I try to keep my head up high regardless.
His eyes go wide for a moment before they narrow as he stares hard into mine.
“Lily, I…”
A huge part of me that I have tried to keep buried for weeks comes roaring out. I have tried to repress all of my mate bond feelings, but not right now…not when I am about to never feel this amazing feeling again.
I lift up on my toes and wrap my hands around his neck to pull him towards me, pressing my lips hard against his, closing my eyes and enjoying the bolt of lighting that flashes through my body, trying hard to hold onto it.
He doesn’t move for a moment, but then wraps his hands around my waist and deepens the kiss, making me gasp.
It has been a long time, and it feels more intense than before, every touch sending sparks and pleasure throughout my entire body.
I push my body against his hard chest, trying to be as close to him as I can.
He groans and lifts me up so I can wrap my legs around him and carries me to the bed where he lays me down gently, positioning himself on top of me.
He pauses as he looks at my face, running the tips of his finger down my cheek.
He leans down, kisses me gently, tenderly…almost lovingly…but then he is gone.
I sit up and look over. Caleb is at the door, his hand already on the doorknob.
“Caleb…”
He gives me a hard look as he holds up his other hand at me, his eyes getting that faraway look for a moment before he looks back at me.
“I have to take care of something really fast.”
Then he is gone.
It is as if someone has ripped out my heart, tore off a piece of me that I didn’t even know I needed so badly.
Waves of crushing pain roll over me and I roll over face first into my pillow to cry.
The moment came and went. I had my chance to make him want me…maybe change his mind…but he could not even stay. Would not stay.
I am still trying to catch my breath when there is a knock on the door.
Ralph?
I wipe my face with my comforter and make my way to the door to open it.
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Ava’s POV
I feel the hairs on the back of my neck raise as we start to leave the dining room, feeling scary guy’s eyes on me.
I’ve been debating whether or not to tell Cameron about his threat to me, but I figured if I was leaving, it wouldn’t really matter anymore. No need to cause even more trouble right before he is going off to battle.
My stomach clenches again at the thought and I press my eyes tightly closed.
I do not want to leave. I want to be here. I want to be near Cameron.
He squeezes my hand as he guides me from the dining room and back up to our bedroom.
When we reach the room, he leads me to the sofa where he sits down and pulls me on his lap.
Cameron smiles at me as he tucks my slightly damp hair behind my ear and holds my face with both of his hands, his eyes taking me in.
“You are so beautiful, Ava. My mate.” He kisses me softly on my cheeks, forehead, my lips…
Mmm. I have no idea how I am going to go without this, for however long I have got to be away from him.
My heart thuds hard against my chest and Cameron pulls back. He looks down at my chest and places his hand over my heart.
“Are you worried?”
I nod, my mouth dry.
“Don’t be. I will be fine. You will be safe. The Red Night pack will be taken care of.”
I nod slightly.
He runs his hands up and down my arms and sighs.
“I do not want to leave, but Chris is saying he needs me for something.”
I grab his shirt and look at him in panic.
“Is there another attack?”
He smiles.
“No. Nothing like that. Just a patrol issue and Darius is unavailable. It should not take more than ten minutes, and I will be right back up here so I can give you a proper goodbye.”
He smiles as he brings his lips to mine before he lifts me and sits me back down on the couch.
“I will be back very shortly.” His eyes scan the room. “Feel free to pack while I am away.”
Then he is gone.
I sigh and look behind me at the somewhat messy room. There really isn’t that much to pack, since some of the bags that I packed from my house I haven’t even had time to unpack yet.
I sit up and walk towards the closet to get my bag when there is a knock on the door.
My heart leaps for a moment, thinking that Cameron has come back already, but then I realize that he wouldn’t knock.
It's probably Lily.
Sighing, I walk to the door, looking around the room at as I do, thinking of what I should bring, not even looking as I open the door.
“Hello Ava.”
I freeze. It’s Rachel.
It feels as if someone has thrown a bucket of ice down my back as I look at her in horror.
She grins maliciously at me and puts her arm on the door as I try to shove it back shut.
Suddenly, I remember I can mindlink with Cameron, I need to tell him…
“Uh-uh!” Rachel waves a finger at me and gestures beside her.
My eyes widen in horror as a Lycan that I have never seen before comes into view, his arms wrapped around Lily, a knife against her throat.
“Let anyone know we are here, and she’ll die before they arrive.”
Rachel grins at me and I have no choice…I let her in.