Fall to Winter

Chapter two

    It never occurred to me that I could actually find my fated pair. It definitely never going to occur to me that my fated mate would already be paired.

    To some twisted miracle I see the Alphas head whip around from the corner of my eye.

    I can't say anything to that. Instinctively I reach for the door knob which is only inches away. I hesitate to reach out for it.

    I hesitated. Me, RJ....hesitating. 

    Never have I been the one to hesitate. I've always been the one jumping at every opportunity I get. 

    I want to escape here.

     I can't listen to these two going at it anymore but...why? Why does my heart pull me back?

    None of this makes sense. I need to leave.

    "Stop." His gruff and deep voice strains me to the point it makes my body freeze in place. Such an alluring voice. 

     My hand on the doorknob loosens in response. Why must I feel obliged to stop just because he says so? "Why do you want me to stop? You are clearly busy." The words slip through my lips as cold and harsh as the blistering cold weather just outside. It isn't intentional but I can't see myself apologizing for it.

    His body had stopped from his previous actions. Those eyes of his somehow look even darker than they did earlier. His fit figure well exposed because his shirt from earlier must have been tossed somewhere. Surprisingly he still had on his pants that were simply tugged down a little. That bottom of his must look as great as his top does.

    His husky voice tearing me from my gawking. "Don't talk to me that way, boy. This is all your fault. Everything was perfect before you showed up." Surprisingly his tone changed from angry to something sounding almost a little distraught.

    "I'm sorry, Alpha. I never wanted something like this to happen. Forget about all of this. Forget me." For the first time in my life I can feel my once whole heart breaking in two. 

    Without waiting for a response I rip the door open and run. Running without a destination. I fumble with everything in my arms. My bag, my sweater both swaying around with every step I take. 

    Tears streaking my cheeks. 

    The sound of my name being yelled as I pass by a group of people. The voice of a friend not loud or strong enough to bring me to a halt. He is in this school. My name dulling in the distance.

    There is no way I can have a proper conversation right now. I can try to speak to them later, maybe. 

    Against my will I feel a body colliding into me from behind. Their arms tightly wound around mine so that moving would be a hassle. A struggled gasp escaping my lips as I avoid looking in their direction.

     'I should have known that escaping her would be a total no-go.' The thought managing to pass through my clouded mind. Marissa is like that.

    "What the hell happened to you!? You're crying like hell! Who the hell hurt you!?" Her usually high and cheery voice is now dark and intimidating.

     I forgot how scary she can get. "Nobody hurt me. I promise you Marissa. I am perfectly fine. Don't worry about me." I try lying and playing it off as nothing but since when have I ever thought she would be that gullible?

    "Don't f**k with me. Rosemary-Jack I swear to god if you don't tell me ho hurt you, I will hunt them down myself and you know that I don't make empty threats when it comes to you." Her voice cold and serious. Her own suppressed Alpha nature rising to the surface to protect the only Omega she actually cares for.  Not in the lovers sense but more like a familial type of love.

    s**t. I hate when she calls me by my full first name. My head is pounding after running like that. I take a deep, shaky breath before breaking down in the Alpha females arms.

    "I-I met him. I always believed that it was a myth but I f*****g met him! My fated pair exists. My fated pair loves somebody else." My voice shook as it left my throat.

    Her warm body soothing me. God, she must think I am absolutely unsightly while dampening her shirt with my wretched tears. 

    Instead of her telling me to toughen up, she sat where she was and kept me tightly locked against her. 

    "That bastard! I will f**k his ass up! Just you wait, I will make him beg for forgiveness!" Her logic isn't always solid but it's only because she really does care.

    I have always been weak to Marissa and she knows it. Always exploiting it but right now I know that she is very concerned. Very...angry. 

    "It isn't his fault...I exist and it causes other people problems."

   Oh s**t- this is Marissa. Maybe I should have just shut my trap.

    "What did you just say?!" She ground out her question. Instantly pulling me up to our feet.  

    Before I can answer I feel my body being dragged back down the direction I was just trying to escape only minutes earlier. Oh HELL no!

    "Marissa, seriously! I do not need you to go talk to him! Jackson is definitely busy with his Omega and I don't want to see that again." I plead with her and instantly her body comes to a sudden halt. Shock written all over her face as she turns back towards me. 

    "RJ. you mean to tell me that your Alphas name is Jackson? AND he has a marked Omega?" She asks for verification.

    I give a hesitant nod.

    "Hun...I think I know your mate."

    "What...? Out of all the guys named Jackson, you think you know which one he is?"

    "I will be ignoring that attitude, but yes. He-"

    "That is impossible."

    "Shut up for a second! If I am thinking of that Jackson then I think you must live under a rock!"

    Instantly she whipped her phone out of her back pocket and went onto the school blog. She then shoved the device into my face for me to look at a picture of two men. One large, one far smaller. 

    I can feel my face drop at the sight of what appears to be a loving couple. That affectionate gaze they have for each other says it all. 

    "He doesn't need me, Mar. I don't need him. I have Keiko and she is all I will ever need." I truly do love that precious little girl, so why? Why is it that my voice broke? Why is yet another stray tear rolling down my cheek?

    "Who in the loving hell is this Keiko?" The voice was deep and sent shivers down my spine as I turned to the towering body. This time fully clothed and the smaller male from the picture stood right by his side.

    "I am sorry for Jackson, we don't mean to pry like that. He is just a little on edge because you are...well, you." His voice kind and understanding. I don't even know his name, they don't know mine but here we stand.

    "I am sorry, Toka. This situation must be complicated and painful." Marissa spoke as she pulled my body back into her embrace. 

    The growl was sharper and way deeper. Jackson looked insanely pissed. And I felt...insanely terrified.

    "Jackson! Stop, why do you keep growling?" Toka clutched at his Alphas shirt. It was clear how confused and determined he is to keep him to himself.

    It breaks my heart to see the pain in Toka's eyes. I know how hard he is trying to hide it but there is no doubt in my mind. Toka is insanely in love with this giant of a man. 

    "Jackson, was it? You have to leave. Leave me. Forget me. Please! You have him!" My heart clenched and I feet as if my heart was breaking into a million little pieces for the umpteenth time.

    "I-I hate this! I hate you! I f*****g hate you!" My words are spat through my teeth. My tear stained cheeks are burning.

    Marissa wraps her arms firmly around my body but that normal warmth I get isn't there. Cold. Her body feels cold. No, maybe its me. I am cold. Hollow.

    "Honey, I am here. Maybe I should take you home." Her hand pressing against the small of my back as she guided me away from the other two but they followed.' 

    "Wait. I don't know your name but I know for sure that none of this is going to be easy for any of us. I love Jackson. I do not want to let him go. He is incredible, I will never give him up...but for some reason fate bound the two of you together.

     "I know that you didn't ask for any of this. I also know that you don't really hate Jackson. My parents were fated mates. They said it was love at first sight. Nothing made sense. It became tunnel vision. It is neither of your faults." Toka is in visible pain but he still holds strong.

    This is the type of love I always dreamed of as a kid. The kind that would stick together through thick and thin. No matter how complicated things could get. 

    All of this drama is taking a toll on everybody. Marissa isn't exactly involved in this but that doesn't mean it does not hurt her too. 

    Then, it all stopped. I was pulled to his firm chest. I was in Jacksons arms. His loving arms. Alongside Toka of course but this sensation takes my breath away.

    "I...love Toka. I will always love Toka, but I still can't let you go. I can't lose you."