Hold Me Closer, Hate Me Harder: He Loves My Mate

Chapter Five

It seemed like every time Dominic pissed me off I had to take a run. I had stripped my clothes off before entering the woods and formed to run away. I wasn't sure where I was going but anywhere away from Dom was good for me. My paws sank into the mud as I ran, not stopping at the sight of another wolf in the distance. Right away I knew it was Jake but even he wasn't going to stop me from running. I didn't want to hear his thoughts but both being in wolf form I had no choice. "Where are you going?" He hollered into my head.

"Away!"

"Nell, you can't keep running from your problems."

"And why can't I? No one cares what I want to do with my life.”

"You're acting immature! Slow down!" He yelled back. I hadn't noticed I had picked up speed, out running Jake by a long shot. It was anger that fueled me and had me running so far or Jake would have easily caught me. I slowed to strut, my paws making a tap tap tap against the ground. My legs still ached from last nights run but I didn't feel like laying down just yet. I was still in the woods but I could hear the waves crashing to the shore in the distance. That's where I wanted to go. "I understand why you chose to do what you did." Jake finally said when he was next to me. His blue eyes glanced at me but he kept his head forward.

"Yeah but no one else does! Mom and dad think everything I do is wrong and Dom thinks he runs my life all because he's my mate."

"You have to see it from his perspective too.”

"I have! I know it's wrong but you only live once. This time in life is the most important time. After that you grow old and have to work." Jake chuckled at me.

"We don't age as fast as humans. You have every right to want to live your life before being with your mate but that doesn't mean messing with his feelings." I let out a loud sigh.

"It's too late for that. It's not like I mean too.” He c****d his head to the side.

"Huh?"

"Nothing." I wasn't about to tell me brother I had slept with another wolf. I just slowed my pace and kept my head down. "Jude invited me on a trip to California." Jake snorted, making me snap my head to him.

"No way mom and dad are going to let you go to California with a few boys!" He laughed. I growled at him, showing my teeth.

"Exactly why I want to go! I think I deserve to get away for a bit and clear my head." Jake shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Nell but I'm going to have to agree with mom and dad on this one. I don't think its a good idea for you to be going so far away with a few boys you barely know." I stomped my front feet into the ground and turned to him, whipping my back side the opposite way.

"You sound just like them! Why can't I do anything for myself?" I showed my teeth to him but he didn't seem fazed. He sat down on his hind legs and yawned.

"Well, how ever you feel, we have dinner tonight with the family. I'm sure mom and dad are expecting you there." He brought his right paw up and started licking it. I held my position for a few more minutes before sitting back and letting out a low howl. The wind blew through my fur and I could still hear the waves in the distance, beckoning me. There was a howl far from us and we both knew it was mother. Jake turned to me, getting back to his feet and lowering his head. "See you at home." He said and took off in the dark.

**

I rolled around in the sand, the feeling massaging against my skin. It felt amazing. This is how I wanted it to be; living my life the way I want it to be, not how a pack says its going to be. I felt free out here alone under the moon and the waves was like a blanket as it towered over me. I jumped to my feet and shook my fur. The water was freezing at night. I snapped my jaw and decided it was time to get home for dinner. It was going to be a long night. I strutted along, taking my time before I hit the entrance to the woods, when a human caught my eye. It was male, shirtless and walking towards the water. He didn't notice me at first but the moon seemed to shine down on my white fur, catching his attention. I froze as his eyes averted over to me. There was a moment of fear that blew off of him with the wind and filled my snout. It made me sneeze. After another moment of staring between us I darted into the woods for the house. Humans usually didn't venture all the way out here and that's why I froze. I had to make sure he wasn't human but the stench was overwhelming and any wolf could tell you from miles away he was human.

***

"Humans at the Pierre?" Jake asked after I had told him about the human boy.

"We should go tear him apart!" Kaleb said, one of our cousins. He hated humans so much he went to an all wolf school. Anytime a human would step foot on wolf territory he would get defensive. Humans don't know about wolves so we couldn't just go attack him.

"Did he see you?" Jake asked, sitting back in his chair. I nodded. We were already sitting at the dinner table, which was as long as a semi, waiting for the rest of the family to finish cooking. Dad was in the sitting room with his brothers and a few friends while mom and the wives were in the kitchen. Jake and I sat at the table with twelve of our cousins and a few of the guests children. It was a big family and we usually have a few friends over in the mix so it wasn't surprising that mom invited David.

"David!" I yelled jumping from the table as he walked into the house. I threw my arms around his neck and squeezed.

"Sheesh Nells, we seen each other last night!" He laughed, touching my lower back lightly. My expression went cold when an unwanted visitor walked in after David. John shot me a quick wink and sat at the table next to Jake. He wasn't usually invited to these dinners but dad insisted he come to meet the family. Of course this was the side of the family that hated him. All besides the two twins, Jackie and Jenelle. They were both at his side, smiling sexily and twirling their fingers in their blonde hair. I rolled my eyes and let David go. He looked around our large house in amazement. He has never been to the house and is the only person here that didn't know of us.

Kaleb gave a low growl, showing his teeth and glaring at David. David didn't notice as he walked towards the kitchen where mom was bringing dishes out and placing them on the table. "David dear! So good to see you again!" She exclaimed. She took her apron off and gave him a quick hug then returned to the kitchen to help grab the rest of the food. Dad and the guys must have noticed the food because they were quick at making their way into the dining room and taking their seats. Unfortunately John had taken my seat next to Jake so I was stuck between him and David. I moved closer to David to avoid all contact with John.

"All right! Dinner is served!" Mom said, placing the last dish on the table and sitting next to dad. The room was filled with chattering making it hard to hear myself as I talked to David. The night seemed to be going well until Dominic entered over two hours late. Being in the same house as John and Dominic was bad enough...

What he was about to do next, as he sat down to enjoy his dinner mom had brought him, was the worst possible thing he could do to me.