Chapter 19 – Trust Issues.
1504 Words
Trackers POV
I saw Karma going visibly red and worried at the implication from Ivy that this was a date and ran with the idea of teasing her. What I didn’t expect was that she would run. I tried to hide my panic and paid Ivy, saying thank you and saying bye to Jasper. I walked out of the diner slowly and no sooner had I moved out of sight of the front windows, did I run for my bike. I was fully expecting to have to chase Karma down.
I thought things had been going well, she seemed to be at ease with me and we were having a lovely time. How could I have blown it so big by just teasing her? It wasn’t until I got to the bike, panting and scrambling for my helmet that I heard the giggling.
“You should see your face right now!” Karma was laughing from the other side of my bike. She had crouched down behind it so I couldn’t see her. I was so panicked I saw red; I immediately threw my helmet down and ran around the bike grabbing her. I slammed her against the wall with all my strength. Growling menacingly.
It was only as I heard her shout in pain and start trembling that I regained my composure and let her go.
“I’m…I’m sorry… Did I hurt you?” I asked, not making eye contact with her. She was rubbing her arms where I had grabbed them. I looked down and went to grab her arms to rub them, but she flinched away from me. She was looking directly at me. I locked eyes with her and saw tears threatening to pour out of them. I did the only thing I could think of. I grabbed her to me and hugged her. “I really am sorry Karma, Kismet… I thought you were running again…”
I only felt her nod into my chest, but she wouldn’t speak. I rubbed her arms and saw the marks of my claws starting to fade as her wolf healed her. I checked them over again and made sure no where else was hurt. Then I raised her chin to look at me. Her tears had gone, and she looked determined. She looked directly into my eyes and I saw anger and hurt there but also a determination.
“Tracker…” She said, very slowly, a fire igniting in her eyes. I panicked. “I know you have trust issues, I completely get why, your mum, your dad not being around, not being part of the pack and even your own mate trying to reject you. But you can’t fix everything with a heavy hand!” She said everything extremely calm, no shouting but a venom in her voice. Her eyes had glazed over, they were dark grey but there was a spiral of silver in them too. The silver was something I had never seen before.
“Kismet?” I asked, grabbing her shoulders.
“Yes! If you genuinely want Karma to love you as her mate you need to stop with the hot and cold act. She needs to be shown you are the boy she liked as a kid. The one who would torment her to hell but always fiercely protect her.” I was taken aback by this comment.
“How do you know that?”
“I’ve always been around Tracker, I know everything Karma knows, whether she remembers it or not.”
“But a wolf doesn’t materialise until you’re ready to do the first shift.” I said looking deep into Karmas now grey eyes.
“Not me, I’ve been around all the time, she just couldn’t hear me.” Kismet grinned. “Show her how caring you can be. She’s hurt right now with everything, but I’ll try to bring her around. She won’t run. Yes, she still loves Chase, but she feels things with you too, she likes you despite your trust issues. I’m letting Karma front again now.” Kismet was so matter of fact, not unusual for a wolf, but she was older than her years. Suddenly Karmas eyes went back to their usual blue-grey colour and she looked scared again.
“Tracker…” She squeaked.
“I’m sorry Karma, I’m so sorry. I will work on my issues. Please give me another chance.”
“Why do you do that?” She asked, tears threatening her eyes again.
“What?”
“Be mean, force people to do what you want, jump to conclusions.” I just shrugged. I couldn’t just straight out admit I didn’t want to lose her, but I also hated everything Silver Rose related due to my past and I needed to stay focused on my overall goal.
Yes you can! Break shouted in my head. Tell her, stop being such a hard ass.
I closed my eyes, willing him to shut up, but he was right. But I wouldn’t tell her about the Silver Rose pack just yet. I didn’t want to hurt her or make her part of my plans.
“There are things you don’t understand, but I also… I don’t want to lose you…” I admitted.
I let go of her and walked to the bike. I handed her the helmet and hoped she would put it on. But instead of being afraid I saw a gleaming hint of mischievousness in her eyes.
“I won’t get on the bike…” She said, her head held high. “Unless…” I groaned rolling my eyes. I knew exactly what was coming and after what I had just done, could I really say no?
“Fine…” I answered with a growl. I put her helmet under the seat and attached mine to the back of the bike. I could see her smiling from ear to ear. She didn’t hesitate to jump on the bike and patted the seat in front of her for me to get on.
Jaspers POV
I watched as Tracker grabbed Karma and slammed her against the wall, he always had a temper, but he seemed to be controlling it a lot better with her. So, he had found his mate finally? Good.
I heard Ivy shouting me and yipped letting her know I was outside. She stopped shouting and carried on with whatever she was doing.
My beautiful human saviour, I’d hoped she would be my mate but so far, I didn’t get the uncontrollable urge to make her mine. I still felt the tingles of her hands shooting through me when she stroked my head. I needed to see if I felt the sparks in my human form, but she still didn’t fully trust me as a human.
I had mind linked with Tracker and he had told me a little about him and Karma and their problem with Chase. It made me wonder. If I were getting sparks with Ivy, but not having the full-blown possessiveness that male wolves normally felt, could we be mates? I needed to up my game, this was our last year at school, and I needed to decide my future. I would formulate a plan.
I sighed and saw that Karma and Tracker had made friends as Tracker climbed in front of Karma on the bike and she wrapped her arms around his waist. She spotted me looking at them and smiled at me. I nodded and walked back into the café to Ivy.
Karmas POV
“THIS IS AMAZING!” I shouted, holding tightly onto Tracker.
Glad I suggested it? I hear Kismet chuckle as Tracker laughed in front of me.
It doesn’t mean I’m happy with him.
No, but at least he’s proving he isn’t just temper and tantrums. Right?
Yeah, I guess, he does have a soft side… Doesn’t mean I’m going to fall for him. I giggled as I heard Kismet grumble and block me out.
I loved this, the feeling of the wind in my hair and being pressed into Trackers back. Wait, did I seriously just think that? I pulled my head away but kept holding onto his waist.
“Everything ok?” Tracker called back.
“Sure is! I’m just enjoying the wind!” I shouted, holding my head back and closing my eyes. I thought about my sudden outburst of thought. I did mostly feel safe with Tracker despite everything he had done so far. He was always hot then cold, but I didn’t ever feel like he would actually hurt me. Even after the first time he laid a hand on me, he was visibly shameful. And let’s be honest, I was hysterical. I was beginning to feel the mate bond, a little too much sometimes, and I enjoyed that we were talking more and finding things out about each other. I snuggled back against his back and felt the warm tingles. Should I give this mate bond a chance?
- Writer
