Is It You

Adira POV 4

Malachi gave me his back.

While he was in his own turmoil I slunk away to the kitchen again. Telling him the truth was the most painful thing I could have done, admitting that his mate, my sister was dead. I leaned against the counter and tried to catch my breath. Any moment now he’d probably send me back and I’d be grateful to return home. My parents were the only solace I had left.

I looked at the flowers that wafted a sweet scent around the kitchen. The windows were still open and a few fireflies trickled around them. As I walked toward the vase at the window, the door squeaked open with his entry.

“How is this possible?” He asked.

His voice was angry and calm at the same time. I knew his wolf would be angry and it would have been directed at me. I kept my back to him and caressed the vase.

“She was depressed for the last fifteen years, waiting for you. Every chance she got, she was drinking. I tried my best to keep her positive but it didn’t work. Two days ago, she was drinking at the bar and I tried to drive her home. She grabbed the steering wheel out of anger and I lost control. The car flipped and her wolf shifted to protect me...”

He remained quiet behind me. I knew it was a lot to take in.

“Why did you come here then?”

I breathed deeply. “My parents convinced me to come here, to pretend I was your mate so that you could be happy. Alpha Hendrix ordered them to concede and its not like we could disobey a direct order. They said I could pick the right moment to tell you and I just did. Better now than later”

I could feel the bile rising to my throat and I tried to keep my hands from shaking.

“And what about the rest of it? About your mate?” He asked a bit calmer this time.

“I don’t have a mate. I don’t have a wolf. My sister was the werewolf. I’m only immortal thanks to the Oracle.”

“So you’re going to spend eternity alone?”

“If I have to, yes...I may look young but my mannerisms aren’t. Not many men are interested once they realise I behave like a 40-year old.”

I could hear his feet shuffling behind me and the scrap of a chair. He said nothing else so I continued.

“I don’t blame myself for Adair’s death but I wish I could have done more for her. The last thing on my mind is to take her mate so I told you the truth now.”

I stopped fiddling the flowers and decided to be brave. I faced him now and saw him at the table. His shoulders were slumped but his attention was focused on me. His eyes were calm and I sensed his wolf had been contained.

“I’ll discuss with Wildon tomorrow on taking you back to your parents. For tonight, you can stay”

I thanked him quietly. Now with the awkward I’m not your mate air around us I was more unsure how to behave around him. I stepped away from the window and walked past him but his arm grabbed mine. He pushed to his full height and twisted me to face him. He gripped my hip with one hand and the other circled around my neck. His lips crashed to mine and I pushed him back instantly.

What the hell

I touched my lips horrified at his actions. He groaned in pain.

“I had to be sure....you’re not”

I wrapped around myself and gave him a death glare.

“I already told you! I’m not her, why can’t you see that!?”

“Because I still feel connected to you!” He boomed.

His voice echoed off the walls and I could see his frustration.

“Whatever you’re feeling...it’ll pass,” I murmured. “We’re not mates, we owe each other nothing. But that doesn’t give you the right to steal my first kiss!”

The words were out of my mouth before I knew it. I couldn’t take them back as the look of shock and...appreciation? came over his features.

“That was your first?” He asked incredulously. “I didn’t mean to”

“Whatever,” I countered. “What’s done is done. Tomorrow I’ll return home and this will all be a distant issue”

He looked at me and reluctantly nodded. I bid him goodnight and turned on my heel. I hurried up the steps in case he wanted to try more. Why had he kissed me and why would he be connected to me? There was no way that we had any connection. I refuse to believe that...

I slammed my room door shut and collapsed on the bed. I needed advice. I found my phone on my night stand and dialed my parents. My dad was usually up late and as I hoped, he answered the phone on the fourth ring.

“Stone residence” His unwavering voice hit me.

“Dad, I’m coming home tomorrow”

I could hear him choke in the background and a shuffling of slippers.

“You told Alpha Carson that you’re not his mate?”

“Yeah...I couldn’t do it. He wanted to...kiss me and...I just couldn’t do it” I confessed.

“Sweetheart...He’s been waiting for this moment for half a decade, just as your sister...how did he handle it?”

I recounted his questions and his expressions. My father sighed into the phone.

“Seems he handled it well but if he has a connection with you, you can’t just leave. It seems his wolf has already grown on you and he may not want you to leave”

“Dad, no, I’m not staying. He’s not mine!”

I knew my dad was trying to figure out a way to convince me to give him some more time but I wanted to leave before my heart got involved. This was the furthest I could go and I didn’t want to have my heart stomped on in the end.

“Alright sweetie, we’ll see you tomorrow”