Lessons in Love

Chapter 23: Crystal Lake College

POV: Beta Ben Westlake

When Riley had mentioned training in the gym, Rick had yelled ‘no’. He’d stopped pacing and just stood there shaking his head, saying no over and over again. I couldn’t breathe or move at first, like I was trapped in his panic with him. Riley had Sam grab a chair and set it right behind Rick. She gently guided him into the seat and pushed his head between his knees.

The mate bond was screaming at me that my mate was touching someone else, caring for someone as she leaned in and whispered to him to breathe. I pushed it down easily. Riley seemed to know what to do, and I wasn’t going to let a need to possess a mate stop Rick from getting the help he clearly needed right now.

“I …” he was gasping at air, but none seemed to reach his lungs. “I can’t …” his voice got strained. “Help me.” He whispered so quietly I almost missed it.

I moved without thinking and put my hand gently on his back, crouching down next to the chair. “I’m right here,” I whispered back. “I’m right here.” He leaned a bit toward me, and I heard an almost silent sob choking him. He pulled his hands around his head, forcing Riley’s hand away. He laced his fingers on the back of his head and leaned a bit closer to me. I put my arm around him silently and waited. His breathing started to level, but he didn’t move.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Riley asked softly. Rick shook his head, but otherwise, he didn’t move. “Do you mind if I talk for a bit?” She asked him gently. He shook his head again. Riley stood up and moved away from him and I. She looked at me and her emotions disappeared. Whatever she was about to say was going to be hard to hear, but it was going to be harder for her to say. She was trying to protect me from it. Or hide it from me, but the look on her face suggested the former.

“I mentioned the other day during training that I’d been at Crystal Lake when the m******e happened.” She said quietly. “My friend Alice and I, we were a lot like the two of you. Friends since we were kids. Tighter than any two non-mated people should be.” She gave me a smile.

“We had finished our last exams and were supposed to head home. The car was packed, we were ready to go, but we had this tradition.” She wet her lips and broke eye contact. “We’d go to the quad, and we’d promise each other that no matter what happened next, we would stay firm on our paths. We were both terrified that we’d meet our mates and that would be the end of our careers. We didn’t want to become the trophy mates our mothers were.”

Riley ventured a look at me, and I hoped she understood from the brief look, I would never ask that of her. “It had rained all week, but that day the sun was shining, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and the quad was packed. Kids studying, playing games, and lounging in the sun. She took my hand and she started to recite this little pledge we’d made up when the attack began.

“I don’t know how much you’ve heard or read about it, but 16 Rogues took out 22 students and faculty in about ten minutes. There was no warning, one minute we were giggling and the next, we were on all fours, side by side, just the way we’d been trained to be.” Riley pulled her arms around herself, and my heart squeezed. She was afraid, feeling that moment on the quad. I tightened my grip on Rick knowing that was how he’d just felt.

“They’d all had student ID’s and had camouflaged their scents. Alice and I took down four Rogues, just the two of us. We would have taken more, but Alice and I smelled silver. She turned while I was killing the Rogue I had. She shifted out of her wolf, and I heard this loud pop. Alice screamed. It was like nothing I’d heard before. This earth shattering, pain-filled sound.” Riley shuddered at the memory. I felt Rick shudder at the comment, too.

“I turned around and killed the guy holding a gun that reeked of silver. I shifted out and dropped down on the grass next to her. She was screaming, begging me to get the bullet out of her stomach. I …” she let out a ragged breath. “I stuck my fingers into the wound. I felt my fingertips burning, but I couldn’t get a hold of it. I couldn’t grip it to pull it out.” Riley’s face crumpled, and she closed her eyes. I felt like my heart was being ripped from chest.

“She grabbed my wrist and looked at me. She was gasping for air. She was dying and we both knew it, and she said, ‘finish it’. I was sobbing uncontrollably, but I managed to finish the vow for her before she died.” Tears streamed down Riley’s cheeks faster than she could swipe them away.

“When I got home, I couldn’t sleep without hearing her scream. The sound of her voice begging me to pull out that bullet. I was helping my mother in the kitchen once, and I got some jam on my fingers and the next thing I knew, I was curled up on the floor sobbing. It took a long time and a good deal of therapy for the dreams to stop, for the panic attacks and flashbacks to end.

“To this day, the smell of silver makes me sweat, and the smell of cherry blossoms makes me nervous. It’s been almost two years.” Riley moved back toward us and knelt down next to Rick where she had been to start. “I don’t know what happened here. I don’t need to know. But I do know what this part is like. If you want to talk, Rick, I’ll listen.”

Rick stood up abruptly with a growl. “Don’t hold your breath.” He moved decisively toward the door.

“Rick,” I called after him, but he was already out the door.

“You should go after him.” Riley said gently, still wiping tears from her face. There was no good choice here. Sam read the room easily and gave my shoulder a squeeze.

“I’ll take a look at the gym. Riley, you can meet me there when you’re ready.” He smiled at her.

She gave him a nod and looked back at me. “I’m sorry, I thought it might help him.” She said, looking toward the main doors.

“No, Riley you did the right thing. You reacted before any of us. He’s been burying how much he’s struggling. I’ve been trying to reach him for months. Thank you for trying.” I said sincerely. “I’m sorry about Alice.” I said softly.

“She was … the best.” Riley smiled as fresh tears filled her eyes. I took two involuntary steps toward her before catching myself. I rammed my hands in my pockets with a growl of frustration.

Riley gave me an understanding smile. “I appreciate the sentiment.” She said. “I’m okay, you really need to go after him. Make sure he’s okay.” She was still wiping tears off her face. I couldn’t bring myself to walk away from her. “It’s only been four months for all of you. It’s still fresh. He needs time, and probably needs to talk to a professional. You were there for him, and it really helped him today.” She smiled at me and dropped the guard on her emotions. “You should be with him. I’m fine, I promise.”

I felt she was telling me the truth. I gave her one last smile and headed for the door.