Six:
1048 Words
Rhyder's POV.
"I've been waiting, hoping that you'd come by to say hi..."
I turned around to find Alexis leaning against the door frame with her arms folded in front of her.
She had a scowl on her face and something that looked a lot like resentment in her eyes.
"All this time away at Alpha training camp," she continued without missing a beat, " and not a single response to any of my letters... no phone call... nothing."
I opened my mouth to respond, but she cut me off and stepped into my room, slamming the door shut behind her.
"And now, I find you packing a bag about to run off without so much as a see ya later."
"Alexis, I'm sorry. But this is something that I have to do. I was going to find you before I left..."
"You're going after her, Grace... aren't you?"
It sounded more like an accusation than a question. Her amber eyes were shooting daggers at me.
I sighed heavily, dragging my hand through my hair and rubbing my neck.
"I have to, Alexis. I need to talk to her. I need to explain what happened - what she saw. I have to at least try. I can't just let Grace think that I don't care - that we don't care."
"And what about me?"
She demanded, taking another step toward me and throwing her hands up.
I just stared at her for a moment as I searched for the right words to use - the right thing to say to let her down easily.
"You're my friend, Alexis. And you know how much I care about you. That will never change. But Grace is my mate - the one I love. The only one I want to share my life with."
"So, I'm nothing more than some drunken one night stand to you?"
Tears sprang to her eyes and her bottom lip began to quiver slightly.
I stepped forward, reaching out to rest my hands on her shoulders.
My tone was gentle when I spoke, almost like I was trying to calm a scared child.
"No, of course not. But you and I both know that what happened between us that night was a mistake... a horrible mistake. It never should have happened."
She jerked free from my hold and stepped around me, once again folding her arms in front of her.
"But it did happen, Rhyder!"
Her voice broke slightly. I wasn't sure if it was due to anger or sorrow.
I sighed again. I didn't want to hurt Alexis, but I needed to be honest with her - she deserved better than being strung along.
And my heart still belonged to Grace - so did my wolf. Even if Grace rejected our bond.
"I know, Alexis. But it never changed the way I feel about Grace. Nothing ever will. She's the one I love - the one I want by my side. The only one I've ever seen a real future with."
Alexis rounded on me, cheeks flushed and eyes blazing.
"She rejected you, Rhyder! She rejected your bond and she ran away!"
"That doesn't mean that I should just let her go. She deserves an explanation. An appology... from both of us."
She just stared at me. Her jaw set and her usually plump mouth drawing into a thin white line.
I exhaled a sharp breath.
"I'm not trying to start something with you, Alexis. And I don't want to upset you. But what we did to Grace was wrong. We need to make things right with her. It's the right thing to do - it's the only thing to do."
She just continued to stare.
"And that's what I'm going to do. I know it's not what you want to hear, but it's the truth Alexis. I don't feel that way about you... I'm sorry, Alexis."
A heavy silence settled between us. A silence that seemed to stretch without end. I was just about to reach for my bag and walk away when she finally spoke.
Her face was softer again, her eyes possessed an almost child-like innocence as they filled with fresh tears. Her shoulders slumped as she sat down on the edge of my bed, twisting her fingers in her lap.
"I know that what we did to Grace was wrong and no one feels worse about it than me."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Grace was like a sister to me. I hate that I hurt her like that. And I know that this isn't easy for you, Rhyder. But it hasn't exactly been easy for me either.."
Tears began to roll over her cheeks, spilling onto her trembling hands.
"What do you mean?"
She didn't look at me.
"You left, Rhyder. You left me here all alone. And everyone blamed me for what happened - they blamed me for Grace leaving. The entire pack hates me. They barely speak to me. And they all look at me like I'm some evil home-wrecker. Even your mother - she looks at me like she wishes I was dead."
"I had no idea. Why didn't you say something?"
"Because I didn't want you to worry. I wanted you to be able to focus on your training. Because I love you, Rhyder."
I didn't know what to say. I knew that Alexis felt that way, but actually hearing her admit it out loud - something inside me shifted.
I sat down next to her, steadying her hands with one of my own.
"I'm so sorry, Alexis."
I was sorry for what she was going through. Sorry for what she had to go through because of what we did... but mostly, I was sorry that I couldn't give her what she wanted - that I didn't feel the same way about her.
She looked up at me, her eyes big and bright and sad.
"I know that you are. It's not your fault - we did what we did and I accept responsibility for my part in it."
She began to cry and before I could stop her, she burried her face in my neck.
"But I had to shoulder that burden alone, Rhyder... and it cost me everything... it cost us everything."
- Writer
