Only Omega

Chapter Fourteen.

The next day I was up early along with Hugh and the rest of the group. Caine was arriving with Brice and Drake to discuss the truce with the Helix pack as well as the Lacus pack’s arrival on his territory. They left Liam behind to take care of the pack, being Third in Command to Caine. 

Holden was fast asleep upstairs and Carla was busy in the kitchen with Jordan and Jake, who was left behind because of his Rogue scent while everyone else was waiting on the Southern border. I hadn’t talked to Caine in a total of three days.

“This is going to be interesting” Tyler smugly said leaning back against a tree trunk with his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans.

“The Alpha’s coming to town, princess” Tate nodded in agreement shooting me a sly smirk from where he was leaning his own shoulder up against a tree beside me. Hayden looked between us for a moment then turned his attention back towards the border.

“Let’s hope he’s in a good mood then” I said with a smirk of my own, crossing my arms over my chest. Hugh chuckled deeply.

“You do know it’s Caine we’re talking about here, right?” he asked while Tyler folded his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, trying to get comfortable.

“He’s got a soft spot when it comes to Rachel over here” Tate explained motioning towards me as I shot him a warning look. Dwain stepped forward purposely bumping shoulders with me.

“That’s cause she’s daddy’s little girl” he teased shooting me a sideways smirk. I playfully shoved his shoulder causing him to stumble forward chuckling.

“Don’t tell me you’re jealous, Dwain” I mocked and he just grinned shaking his head from side to side “Jealous of having a scary big daddy? Don’t think so, sweetheart” I rolled my eyes at his nickname and felt Hayden shift uncomfortably beside me, stuffing his hands into the pocket of his baggy green hoodie.

“What about you Hayden? What does big daddy Alpha think about his daughter’s mate?” Dylan asked seeing Hayden’s mood shift from his place perched on a bolder nearby. Hayden tensed then shot me a look, turning to face Dylan.

“He’s coping…I think” came Hayden’s reply as he turned away to look at the ground. Tyler scoffed, pushing off the tree to retort his reply “Yeah like he’d ever cope with an Omega trying to be an Alpha” I shot Tyler a warning look when Hayden flinched.

“Tyler” I threatened lowly as Tate looked on with a clenched jaw and an expressionless face. Tyler sank back, bowing his head in submission.

“Luna” he apologized just as a new scent hit our noses, carried from the South along with the wind. I glanced in the direction of the border.

“Their close” I stated and Hugh nodded his head in agreement, stepping closer to the edge of his land.

“A few miles out, they’ll be here any minute now” he notified glancing from me to Hayden then to everyone else but he froze when he felt the vibrations through the Earth. Turning back to the border he was met with the sight of three huge wolves, bigger than any I’ve ever seen, bolting towards us. Caine came to a stop right in front of me, breathing out a gush of air through his nose.

“Hay dad” Tyler greeted the dark brown wolf who stood near him while the more blackish brown one stood by Tate’s side.

“Caine” Hugh greeted the pitch black wolf standing in front of me with its silver, grey eyes looking over me as if trying to make shore I was okay.

“She’s well taken care of Caine, no worries old friend” Hugh’s words seemed to calm Caine down as the Tyrant Alpha bowed his head in understanding.

“We better head back to the pack house so we can discuss things properly” no one objected to Hugh’s suggestion and we all started walking in the direction of the pack house. Caine stayed close to my side like a protective father, making shore that no male got close to me.

“You don’t have to be so protective, you know I can take care of myself” I said matter-of-factly glancing around at the scenery surrounding us. Caine glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes.

‘I know you are but you’re my daughter as well’ he replied through the mind link as if me being his adoptive daughter was enough of an answer. I looked at him and subconsciously breathed a laugh.

“Protective much?” I teasingly asked, causing Caine to turn his big head and look down at me. For a minute I forgot that I was talking to the strict Alpha of the Tyrant pack.

‘I have reason to be’ he muttered shooting a glance towards something behind me. When I turned to see what he was looking at, I was met with Tate talking to his adoptive father “Who Tate? He won’t hurt me” Caine shook his head and rolled his shoulders back to help with his aching muscles from the long run.

‘I’m aware that he won’t hurt you Rachel, it’s something else I’m worried about’ I furrowed my eyebrows up in confusion but let it go when he suddenly changed the subject nodding towards Hayden walking a big distance away from us.

‘You and the runt haven’t mated yet’ he stated more than asked, clearly able to sense that we haven’t mated yet because his scent wasn’t that strong on me.

‘There hasn’t been any time, the problems at hand are of more importance’ I replied back through the mind link, suddenly back to my stern Alpha tone. Caine nodded his bulky head.

‘A true Alpha is one who-.’ he began with the wisdom of a thousand years clouding through his eyes ‘Places the importance of their pack and well-being of others before their own selfish needs and desires’ he continued as his big paws came down onto the forest floor, crushing leaves and twigs beneath his heavy weight ‘You are a true Alpha, Rachel’ he finished shooting me a glance as old as time. I bowed my head to show my respect and gratitude.

“Thank you, father” I thanked out loud just as we reached the back yard to the Titan territory pack house. I glanced around, finding it completely empty as we headed inside. Caine, Brice and Drake stayed behind to shift using clothes Carla had left out for them. The rest of us headed towards Hugh’s study where Jake was already waiting for us. The moment Caine walked in, he paused with his eyes landing on Jake beside me.

“Who’s the Rogue?” he asked glancing from me to Jake and eventually deciding to look at me.

“Jake? He turned on his pack” I said trying to defuse the bomb but Caine clearly didn’t like me being near Jake so I went to stand beside him.

“So he’s a traitor to his own kind then?” Caine asked looking down onto me then glancing up at Jake in disgust. Jake backed away and bowed his head in submission.

“He did it to protect me father” I tried to explain but Caine didn’t believe me and instead turned to Tate asking “Is this true?” Tate nodded his head and crossed his arms over his bare chest from his place beside his none blood related father, Brice.

“Yes Alpha, the Rogue turned on his pack to protect Rachel” he confirmed causing Brice and Drake to share a look as their Alpha glared at Jake.

“A traitor turns on his pack Rogue, betrayal is not something us Alphas take lightly” Caine noted as Jake stepped forward all the while keeping his head down to show his respect clearly “Excuse my input Alpha but I understand as such, my father was the Alpha of my former pack” that meant that Jake was an Alpha as well, a Rogue Alpha. Caine glanced between me and Jake again his jaw tightening as he looked at Jake.

“A Rogue Alpha, your kind should be exiled” I winced at Caine’s words looking down at my hands before fisting them and dropping them back down to my sides.

“But father he’ll no longer be a Rogue if we initiate him into the pack-.” I was cut off when Caine suddenly turned on me, growling in a dominant way that instantly silenced me “And what? Allow a potential threat into my pack that could one day challenge your mate’s title? He may be a Rogue Rachel, but he’s still an Alpha” I was silent because I didn’t know what to say, Caine was right, Jake could easily be a threat to our pack but I didn’t believe it for a second.

“Then adopt him-.” I trailed off as soon as the idea formed inside my head. Everyone, including Jake, stared at me with wide eyes while Caine glared through narrowed slits.

“What?” he asked in a deep warning tone. I stood up tall and held my head high as I met his eyes “Don’t take away his Alpha title if he’s going to be such a big risk, adopt him” Caine immediately shook his head, balling his fist on the surface of Hugh’s wooden oak desk.

“No, Rachel” he sternly said locking eyes with me to show how serious he was about it all. I stepped forward “But-.” he cut me off with a snarl that shook everyone else in the room apart from me “No buts Rachel, my word is final!” I closed my eyes taking deep breaths to calm myself since getting into a fight with an Alpha wasn’t something I wanted to do.

“Look father, one way or another you have to accept him into our pack” I said meeting his eyes even though he stood a head taller than me and I only reached his shoulders.

“Why?” Caine asked after a few moments of thinking. He knew as well as anyone that I always had a reason for doing things.

“Because Jake knows his father, he knows his pack and he could be a valuable asset in winning this war” I explained motioning towards Jake who stood completely stunned. Tate, Brice and Drake seemed to realise what I was talking about.

“And what if it’s just a trap? What if the Rogue has planned this from the beginning to get to our pack?” Caine asked and Tate nodded seeing the point in his argument as well. I glanced at Jake, clenching my jaw before I turned to Caine.

“Then I’ll kill him myself” I confidently announced trusting in Jake not to be a spy or anything because I really didn’t want to kill him.

“Rachel-.” Caine began but I cut him off by wrapping my arms around his waist and burying my face into his chest “Please” I begged “Not just for me, for the pack, for Rebecca” I breathed thinking about how excited Rebecca would be to have a sixteen year old boy as her son, he still had his whole life ahead of him. Caine sighed, the sound rumbling up from his chest as he hesitantly wrapped his arms around my shoulders and waist.

“Alright” he said lowly into my hair, tightening his hold on me in a protective gesture. I smiled, pulling back to look up at him.

“Alright?” I asked causing him to shake his head from side to side, running a hand through his black mess of hair.

“Why the Hell are you so damn stubborn?” Caine asked causing Brice to laugh for some reason and catch all of our attentions.

“Rebecca was right, she does have you wrapped around her finger” Brice said and Drake breathed a laugh while Caine glared at the two of them but he stiffened when I wrapped my arms back around his torso.

“Thanks daddy” I muttered into his chest as he stood shocked. After a while he slowly wrapped his own arms back around me, pulling me close.

“Anything for you, angel” he whispered to me just loud enough for everyone else to hear. Brice and Drake shared a wide eyed look, Tate chocked up, Tyler stumbled and nearly fell, Hugh’s jaw dropped, his sons froze, Hayden was silent and Jake didn’t understand a thing.

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After that we all spread out and took our seats. I sat on the arm rest of one of the couches in front of the fireplace while Tate leaned up against a nearby wall and Jake sunk down into the armchair.

“The truce-.” Caine began standing in front of Hugh’s desk. Hugh was staring out his floor to ceiling window with his sons on either side of him.

“You have to make it” Hugh said without hesitation and Caine froze looking at Hugh as if he was crazy then he turned to me.

“You knew about this?” he asked motioning towards Hugh as if to put all the blame on him. I glanced between the two but Hugh wasn’t looking at me.

“It was my idea” I replied causing Caine to suddenly freeze in realisation.

“Why?” he asked his jaw set and hands fisting at his sides. I looked at the wooden flooring.

“Because Cowen needs to be protected” I muttered while Caine was trying to keep calm but I could see that he was struggling. His pack is his life, it is for any Alpha.

“Explain” he ordered locking eyes with me and for a moment I saw them turn pitch black. Sighing I stood up from my seat.

“Cowen has something that Reign wants, that he needs to pay off the Rogues with, Reign is controlling the Rogues by bargaining which means he needs whatever Cowen has. The Rogues have been going around trying to take over pack territories in the name of the Raptors” I explained leaning on the back of the couch with my hands propping up my weight on either side of me. Caine’s jaw twitched at my words and he took a few deep breaths.

“By protecting Cowen, I’ll only be putting our pack in danger” he said again considering what’s best for the pack. I nodded, agreeing that it wasn’t the safest of move.

“Yes but if Reign doesn’t get his hands on whatever Cowen has that he’s after then the Rogues will turn on Reign and we might have a shot at winning this” I continued to try and convince him that making the truce was for the well-being of the pack but he looked torn.

“If? Might?” he asked his hands coming down onto Hugh’s desk hard. The sound echoed through the room as he leaned his weight over the desk.

“Rachel, you’re taking risks here and I won’t jeopardise the pack ridding on a fifty-fifty chance” he insisted not looking at me as he shook his head from side to side. I pushed off the back of the couch and stepped forward arguing.

“I’d rather risk it all instead of being a slave to the Raptors” Caine finally turned to look at me his eyes filled with doubt. Hugh joined in looking at one of his few most trusted friends “It’s this or an era of s*****y Caine, your choice” there was a moment of silence in the room as Caine thought over everything. He eventually met Hugh’s eyes then stood upright.

“This truce could tear apart the pack, it could leave hundreds dead in an instant” he whispered lowly to himself. Hugh only watched as Caine tried to make a decision on what to do and I stepped around the couch towards the fireplace.

“I don’t know about the pack but if I’m going to die, I’d want to die trying” I said glancing back at Caine from over my shoulder before turning to the painting above the fireplace of an old log cabin in the woods.

“She has a point, be a fighter and die with honour or a coward and die in shame” Tate put in his eyes locked onto my form as I traced the golden detailed frame of the painting.

“The chances of us dying without making the truce is less than that of dying and making it” Caine pointed out when Hayden suddenly stepped forward and spoke up catching everyone’s attentions “But we’re all going to die eventually, right? So why not do something meaningful in life for a change?” Dwain and Dylan shared a look and Dwain nodded in agreement while Dylan asked “Like stop a war?” Hayden looked at him then back at Caine’s tone back that was turned towards him.

“Exactly, stop a war and save lives” Tyler was stunned at Hayden’s all of a sudden take action attitude but nodded along with everyone else including Hugh. Caine turned to face Hayden with his jaw set in stone and eyes as cold as a winter storm.

“But loose them as well” Caine noted his hand gripping the edge of Hugh’s desk tight enough for his knuckles to turn white. Hayden took a deep breath then met Caine’s eyes.

“War means that lives are going to be lost, it’s up to us how many” he countered causing Dwain to smirk at his confident tone and straight face. Caine stalked closer to Hayden, towering over him with a build much bigger than the Omega’s.

“And if Rachel’s one of them?” Hayden froze at Caine’s question, bowing his head to hide his face with a tightened jaw and fists balling at his sides.

“I trust her not to die on me” he muttered lowly through clenched teeth, tearing his gaze right back up into Caine’s. I took a step towards them, catching both their attentions along with everyone else’s.

“Just like I trust him not to die on me” I said shooting Hayden a glance. Caine looked between the two of us then settled his eyes on me asking “Are you shore about this?” I was surprised that he was asking me for a change of what I thought instead of just making his own decisions.

“Yes” I replied nodding my head confidently. Caine sighed deeply, running a hand over his face as he too nodded “Alright, I’ll make the truce” I let out a breath of relief but knew that the tough part was just beginning. I bowed my head in submission.

“Thank you, father” I muttered meeting his eyes that softened at the sight of me. I smiled lightly up at him while Tate looked on with a knowing smirk.

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Later on that day I was sitting in mine and Hayden’s room playing with Holden on the small living room floor while Hayden was at training. Caine walked in, knocking lightly on the doorframe to announce his presence.

“Hey” he greeted going over to take a seat on the couch opposite me and Holden.

“Hey” I mumbled smiling as I caught Holden who was crawling away and set him down in my lap, handing him his chocolate brown teddy bear “He’s growing fast” I nodded tickling Holden and making him laugh, hitting me with his teddy bear as I placed a quick kiss to his chubby cheek.

“Yeah, he started crawling a few days ago and I’ve got him off the bottle” I said proudly while Holden babbled happily in my lap. Caine watched him, something flashing through his stormy grey eyes.

“You want to hold him?” I asked scooping Holden up off the ground so that I could move to sit down beside Caine on the couch.

“I uh-.” Caine tried but before he could finish I had already handed Holden over to him saying “Here” Caine looked at the kicking bundle that he held at a distance not shore what to do. I laughed grabbing onto Caine’s bicep and gently pushing his arm down and back to lower Holden into his lap.

“There, he won’t bite, you know” I taunted as Caine looked down onto Holden with a tender gaze. I’d never seen that look on Caine before apart from with me, Holden and Rebecca.

“He’s so small” Caine muttered barely holding onto Holden afraid that he’d break him. I picked up Holden’s teddy bear that he dropped up from the ground and held it out to Holden.

“Play with him” I assured causing the hard exterior of the Alpha wolf to crumble and confusion to take over his features.

“H-How?” he asked looking down at Holden then back up to me.

“Like this” I said lightly pushing the bear into Holden’s face before pulling away and cooing at him which made him babble loudly.

“See? It’s easy” I insisted holding the teddy bear out to Caine for the second time. He cautiously took it and hesitantly stuck the bear into Holden’s face. When he pulled back Holden was laughing up at him which had Caine smiling. I looked on in awe at the happiness and joy mixed together in Caine’s gaze as he looked down at his grandson.

“Hey, kid” Caine whispered to Holden as he continued to play with him. I stood up and reached for Holden’s sound toy that had different animal heads that when pressed made the sound the animal did.

“Here, try this” I offered kneeling down beside Caine with the toy pressing the cow. It made the sound a cow makes then I handed it to Caine. He pressed the tiger and the sound made Holden babble joyously.

“Tiger huh?” Caine asked looking at Holden who didn’t do anything when the other sounds were made apart from only reacting to the tiger.

“You like the tiger?” I watched as Caine pressed the tiger again and Holden laughed.

“Grandpa’s little tiger” Caine breathed when Holden started hopping in his lap at the sound the tiger made. I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight and catching Caine’s attention.

“What is it?” he asked and I shook my head, leaning it on the couch near his knee, staring up at him.

“Nothing, just wondering what Brice would say if he saw you now” I replied unable to stop my smile from widening. Caine stiffened but relaxed and actually chuckled.

“He’d most likely make fun of me for being ‘soft’” I hummed and reached out to poke Holden’s side when he started yawning. Caine stopped rocking the knee Holden was on and mumbled “I think he’s tired” getting up off the floor, I nodded and took his toys, setting them down on the coffee table before taking Holden.

“Looks like it’s nap time huh?” I cooed straightening Holden’s blue baby grow then stared lightly rocking him as I hummed along to a tune I heard somewhere. As soon as his blue eyes fell shut I headed towards my and Hayden’s bed where I laid Holden down, wrapping him in his white blanket and kissing his forehead before heading back to where Caine was sat. I plopped down on the couch beside him.

“Where’s the runt?” Caine suddenly asked drawing my attention away from a sleeping Holden and onto him.

“Hayden’s at training with Dwain” I answered pulling my feet up to sit cross legged on the couch facing Caine. He nodded and leaned his head back on the back of the couch when I asked “Why?” opening his eyes Caine turned his head to look at me, his legs were crossed and arms stretched out on the back of the couch. 

“Just thought he’d like to be here when we discuss the Lacus pack’s arrival yesterday” I could sense Caine’s relaxed posture going rugged again and his emotionless façade jumping back into place.

“I heard about that and apparently the Rogues have too, my father-.” I was cut off by Caine who suddenly stood from his seat and went over to the fireplace “Your father wasn’t the one that showed up on my land, your brother was” I uncrossed my legs and turned to face Caine’s tense back. The memory of my brother flashed through my mind as I thought about him “My brother?” Caine nodded his head once in reply to my question not bothering to look at me.

“Your brother is a very skilled and well-respected future Alpha but every Alpha has a weakness-.” he trailed off and I wasn’t shore what to say as I stood from the couch and took a single step towards him.

“What do you mean by ‘weakness’, father?” turning sideways to face me, Caine met my eyes seeming to stare right into the depths of my soul.

“You’re clearly your brother’s Achilles-heel Rachel, he was in a state of panic, urgent to find his little sister whatever the costs may be” I froze not shore what to say as I moved my gaze down to the carpeted flooring at my feet. Once I didn’t reply Caine went on.

“When I asked him about your father he said that Nicolas wasn’t looking-.” something flickered in his eyes when he paused and I knew the same look had flashed in Dalton’s eyes when he spoke the words to Caine.

“He isn’t looking for you because…you aren’t his” I felt light headed and slumped back down on the couch, I knew I was a Hybrid which meant one of my parents weren’t my actual parent but the blow was still painful. Caine didn’t move from his place when he spoke.

“Rachel I know it’s hard but-.” I cut him off before he could finish and whipped my head round to lock my crystal clear eyes with his stormy grey ones.

“I’m a Hybrid” I blurted out needing someone to talk about it with someone other than Jake. I also trusted Caine more than anyone apart from Hayden but he couldn’t know until I knew what exactly I was.

“A Hybrid?” he repeated with his jaw set and fists clenching. I only realised then that I could’ve ruined my and Hayden’s future in the pack by being a Half Breed.

“Y-Yes, but I’m not half human…I don’t know what I am” I stuttered in a whisper, my voice shaky as I pulled my feet up onto the couch and hugged my knees protectively to my chest.

“I-I’m only half Alpha, I-I don’t know what I am or even who I am and-and it scares me b-because I’m a freak” Caine came over and knelt down in front of me, grabbing my face in both his hands when I suddenly felt tears streaming down the side of it.

“Rachel, look at me” he ordered when I refused to meet his eyes and shook my head in protest.

“Rachel” he said but this time it was more dominant, almost forcing me to look up into his eyes through my foggy ones.

“You’re not a freak, you’re the future Luna of the Tyrant pack, you’re an Alpha” he paused rubbing his thumbs along my cheek bones to wipe away the tears before he continued.

“You’re my daughter” he finished his eyes searching mine as his jaw tightened and his one hand pushed the hair back out of my face. I sniffled for the first time, feeling the weight of the world pressing down onto my shoulders as Caine wrapped his arms around me and pulled me tightly into his chest.

“You’re my daughter” he repeated petting my hair as I hid my face in his shoulder, gripping at his white T-shirt. I felt safe and protected in his arms like a little girl would feel in her daddy’s embrace. My eyes started drifting shut as I laid my head down on his shoulder.

“And you’re my daddy” I breathed feeling him stiffen but pull me closer as I thought of how much of a father he’s been to me, more than the person I thought was my father for so long but Nicolas wasn’t my biological father.

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I hadn’t even known that I fell asleep until I woke up wrapped in someone else’s arms. Hayden’s arms were wrapped tightly around my waist with his face buried in my hair and mine hidden in the crook of his neck. Looking around I found that we were in bed with Holden fast asleep on the couch and a fire burning in the fireplace. I needed to get some fresh air so I untangled myself from Hayden’s arms and pulled on a pair of Hayden’s boxers since I was already in one of his oversized T-shirts. I placed a quick kiss to his cheek then made my way outside. It was just past midnight and the back yard was dark as I went to go sit on one of the benches.

“Couldn’t sleep?” someone suddenly asked leaning against a nearby tree. I jumped and whirled round in the direction of the voice.

“Just needed some air, you?” I replied when I found Tate staring up at the starry night sky. He shifted to look at me, rust coloured eyes standing out against the darkness.

“Thinking” he answered glancing up at the sky one more time before he pushed off the tree and strode over to the bench.

“We’re going home tomorrow” he announced out of the blue, taking a seat beside me in only a pair of sweatpants.

“Good, I really miss Rebecca” I muttered thinking about the petite blonde. After what happened with Caine I really wanted to see Rebecca again since she was like a mother to me.

“I think she’s been driving Caine crazy about how much she misses her ‘little girl’” Tate mumbled. breathing a laugh as he bumped shoulders with me causing me to smile at the thought.

“That’s Rebecca for you” I said and Tate laughed nodding his head in agreement as he glanced down at the ground “Yeah, she can get a little protective at times” I scoffed looking up at the stars in the sky asking “A little?” this got Tate smiling and for a minute I wondered what would’ve happened if I’d stayed on Lacus territory and married Tristan.

“Okay, a lot” Tate agreed as I was lost in thoughts about my old life with my old friends and old family. Vicky, Bridget, Travis, Kyle…Rose and Blake, I really missed them all including Tristan and my brother. I sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Tate asked when he noticed that my shoulders were sagging and that my head was down. I fiddled with my fingers.

“I just really miss my old friends, that’s all” I breathed and Tate stiffened as if he knew we were going into a tender subject that guys weren’t any good in when it comes to girls.

“Hey but look at the bright side, if you hadn’t left then you wouldn’t have met me” Tate joked trying to lighten the mood and it worked since I laughed lightly. His words made me think of everything I’ve gained since I left Lacus territory.

“You have a new life, new people in it and a family that loves you” he continued leaning back on the bench to stare back up at the sky again. I thought about everyone I’ve met since I left home and the new home I found away from it.

“Rachel we may not be able to replace those people you knew but we can be there for you like they were” Tate paused glancing down at me with a wishful gaze as his eyes roamed over my features. I was still focused on playing with my fingers.

“I can be there for you” he finished causing me to turn my gaze to him and lock eyes for the first time since I brought up the topic.

“For Holden” Tate added which had me stiffening at the way he said those words like he was trying to tell me something through them. His eyes were sincere but filled with so much sadness, why I didn’t know.

“Tate-.” I began but he cut me off by rising from his seat and stretching out his aching muscles.

“It’s late, we should probably head inside, we have a long trip ahead of us” he said jerking his head in the direction of the house before he held out his hand out for me to take. I took it and he helped me up but I tripped and stumbled right into his chest. He tensed with my hands resting firm on his bare chest for support and when I looked up I met with his rust coloured eyes. He was staring at me with something in his eyes that I couldn’t put a finger on.

“Uh…um-sorry” I apologized taking a step back to put some distance between us. Tate snapped out of it and waved it off.

“No problem” he insisted waiting for me to lead the way back to the house. I only realised this after a moment of staring at each other.

“Oh! Yeah right, okay” I mumbled and started walking towards the house with Tate trailing behind. For some reason I couldn’t get the feel of his hands gripping my waist when I stumbled out of my mind, the tingles were still there. I was so deep in thought that I hadn’t even noticed we’d reached the second floor hallway.

“Well this is it” I said stopping outside my and Hayden’s room, jabbing a thumb in the closed door’s direction. Tate stopped too breathe a laugh at my announcement.

“Good night, princess” he breathed leaning down to press a quick kiss to my cheek before he disappeared into his room across the hall.

“Night, Tate” I whispered touching my cheek where his lips were just a second ago.

'What's happening to me?'