Inevitably Yours

After we went out to eat, we all went bowling. I kept sneaking glances at Aubree the whole time, who always had his eyes on Christy. My best friend seemed to be having the time of her life, so I decided it wasn’t so bad to endure a haunted house to see her smile.

Jaxx went to get more drinks, and Christy was messing with the scoreboard, leaving Aubree and me sitting in the hard plastic seats.

“I don’t mean for this to sound conceited, but I know you keep watching me. I hope you don’t think you like me or something,” he said quietly, surprising me. I turned to him to see he was giving me an appraising look. I just shook my head.

“No, but do you like Christy?” I asked him pointedly.

He chuckled softly. “Is it that obvious?”

“Well, a little. Every time she’s close to you, your eyes get happy. Every time she holds my arm or hand, you look disappointed,” I commented. His mouth perked up in a half-smile.

“Can I tell you a secret?” he asked.

“Why would you tell me a secret? You just met me tonight,” I said.

“Because Jaxx knows, and I haven’t been able to tell anyone else. You seem pretty trustworthy, and I can tell you care about her. You wouldn’t have forced yourself through the haunted house if it wasn’t for her, and I suspect it has something to do with her breakup this week,” he explained.

“You’re pretty perceptive,” I said. “I did agree to come because it seems like the only thing making her happy right now.”

“Well, I want to make her happy too,” he said. “She’s my mate, after all.”

“What!” I gasped.

“Shhhh!” he said quickly. “Secret, remember? I haven’t told her, and I don’t think she can feel it.”

“Why haven’t you told her?” I asked.

He sighed and looked back over at Christy, who was changing all our names on the scoreboard.”My parents hated each other before the mate bond. They grew to like each other eventually, but I could always see that little bit of resentment between them, like they were angry at the bond for forcing them together. I want Christy to want me. I have a couple of months before her birthday, so I have time to make her fall for me.”

I sat quietly for a moment, thinking about what he said. Finally, I responded, “That is really thoughtful but be careful. She could get mad that you didn’t tell her. That girl has been ready for her happily ever after forever. I think she is waiting for a mate for more than just love. She needs someone to love her for her, mistakes and all; Stuart wasn’t capable of that.”

“We’ve known each other since we were kids,” he said. “I’ve always thought she was great. She called me crying when Stuart found out about her sleeping with that Alpha guy. I wanted to punch both of them in the face. When I saw her a few days ago, and she told me about Stuart dumping her, I knew I finally had my chance. I just want her to want to be with me and not because of the bond.”

“Good luck,” I told him. “I’m rooting for you.”

“Thanks,” he smiled.

“Why does my name say ‘Deceased’ on the board?” Jaxx said, joining us.

“Because I am going to bury you,” Christy said, turning to give him a dark smile. Aubree and I burst out laughing at her.

MICHAEL

Tyler was helping my mom and Melvin pack the remaining things in the house. I sat in our bedroom in the dark, staring at the taped-up boxes labeled with our names. The witch would come in the morning to help my mom; she had been visiting over the past couple of weeks. My mom had been taking some potion to prepare her for what was happening in the morning. I didn’t particularly care for the witch, and the magic made me apprehensive.

Eros was ignoring me. Ever since I told Quinn she could do what she wanted, I’d been spiraling. Saying it was far worse than thinking it. Part of me wanted to train and learn to be the Alpha I was supposed to be. But a larger part of me didn’t give a s**t right now. I wanted Quinn; I wanted to get her from Stary and run away with her. I didn’t need to be Alpha, but I needed her.

I had to get out of this room. I had to get out of this house. It was too small, and I would be confined to a vehicle with my mom, brother, and Melvin for the next few days. I had to blow off some steam, and running wouldn’t cut it.

I went to the stack of boxes with my clothes, pulling out a jacket from the open one on top. I grabbed my wallet and headed out of the room. My mom tried to ask where I was going when I headed out the door, but I waved her off.

I pulled my jacket on, shoving my hands into the pocket as I walked along the road into town. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but I would find something to distract me.

Buildings cropped up around me as I got closer to the town center. The sun was almost set, so it wasn’t busy. Music sounded from a small building at the other end of the main road, and most of the cars out seemed to be in that direction.

When I got closer, I realized it was the only bar in town. This town had basically one of everything: one restaurant, one grocery store, one park, one bar. It made sense that it would be a busy space on a Saturday night.

I headed inside with no real plan. I barely knew anyone here, and I was leaving anyway; what was the point in making any friends? There were a few tables with people sitting at them, as well as a few sitting around the bar. There was a small crowd on the dirty-looking dance floor, and colored lights flickered around the room.

I had no intention of drinking alcohol, but I was here, so I went to sit at the bar. An older lady with tanned, wrinkly skin came over. “Never seen you here before,” she said flatly.

“Probably won’t again,” I replied. She nodded, giving me an appraising look. “Soda.”

She didn’t let on anything else as she grabbed a glass and poured me a soda. I made sure to sit a few seats away from the nearest person, not necessarily interested in speaking to anyone. I just couldn’t sit there in that small bunk and think about Quinn. It was going to drive me crazy.

I watched the bar patrons from my spot, sipping my drink. It looked like some birthday party was going on for someone among the groups at the tables. My phone started to ring in my pocket. It was Melvin, but I ignored it; I didn’t feel like talking to him.

“You look lonely,” someone said from my other side. I turned to see a middle-aged woman leaning against the bar next to me. She smelled human.

“I’m fine,” I said.

“Go home,” Eros grunted.

“You’re too cute to be sitting here all alone,” the woman said, taking the stool next to me.

“Is that so?” I replied.

“This is a bad idea,” Eros tried to reason.

“I have no ideas,” I told him.

“Do you live around here? I don’t think I’ve seen you. You look a bit like someone I know, though,” she continued.

“Not for much longer,” I said. I knew she was coming onto me; it was pretty obvious.

“That’s a shame. I could see us getting real close,” she pouted. She took a swig of her drink, and I caught sight of a wedding ring.

“No,” Eros said. “Stop this now.” I sighed. I reached into my pocket and grabbed my wallet. I left some money on the bar and stood up.

“Sorry, this isn’t a good idea,” I told the lady. She reached up and grabbed my arm.

“You don’t come to a bar on a Saturday night for good ideas,” she said. I looked down at her manicured fingers gripping my forearm.

“And what did I come here for?” I prompted, raising an eyebrow. The woman was pretty enough. Long blonde hair, fair skin, brown eyes. Her demeanor told me she was used to getting what she wanted.

“Why don’t I show you?” she said, standing as well.

“You’re a f*****g i***t,” Eros said.

“I told the girl I love to date around as she pleases. Don’t think it gets much worse from here,” I replied, pushing him to the back of my head.

–

I had numerous missed calls and texts when I slipped out of the woman’s house and started trying to find my way back home. All that had served to do was dull the edge of my anger, not rid me of it. I looked around for a familiar street to head me toward the house I would spend one more night in.

Scrolling through my messages as I walked, I saw Quinn had texted me an hour ago. It was so late, I was surprised she was texting me, and I worried she couldn’t sleep again. Last night, it seemed she couldn’t get off the phone with me fast enough.

I replied quickly to her message, not sure if I wanted one back. I didn’t exactly deserve to talk to her after what I just did, but I wanted to make sure she was okay.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I finally figured out where I was and headed toward Melvin’s house. It was still nighttime, but the witch was supposed to be coming early in the morning to get the mark off my mother and break her bond with Lawrence. All the other messages and calls were from my mom and dad, so I knew they were looking for me.

My phone lit up with a message from Quinn.

BLUE

| can’t sleep

| what are you up to?

I didn’t want to tell her I just slept with a lonely, soon-to-be divorced woman and then snuck out after she fell asleep. Lying to her didn’t feel much better.

“This is what you get,” Eros said.

ME

| late night stroll. are you feeling okay?

BLUE

| other than tired, yea

ME

| i would use my magic if i was with you

BLUE

| i wish you were

I let out a heavy sigh as I turned onto the last road. Melvin’s house was in sight now, and I could see my mom sitting on the porch, a trail of smoke disappearing above her. When she saw me, her eyes narrowed but her shoulders relaxed.

“You had us pretty worried,” she said as I came up the driveway. “Where did you go?”

“Nowhere I should have been,” I said, stopping in front of her. “Can I just go to bed?”

Her nose scrunched as the wind blew behind me. I probably smelled like that woman’s cheap perfume. “You can’t start acting out now, Michael,” my mom said. “I know this sucks right now, but it will get better. You chose this.”

“Yea, well, maybe the ill-informed 17-year-old shouldn’t be making our major life decisions,” I shot at her. Her glare hardened.

“Take a shower and go to bed. You only have a few hours to sleep anyway,” she said, standing up and dropping her cigarette to stomp out on the concrete step. “Don’t push my patience, Michael.”

“Yea,” I said, striding up the stairs past her. I was beginning to care a lot less about what my mom or Melvin thought. I wanted Quinn and my home back, but it was starting to feel like I would never get either of those things.