Ever Lasting Love

5) Guilt and Ice Creams

    So my mates knocked me out. I've only known them for half a day, and they knocked me out. At least they had the decency to not change me, although I feel grimy and disgusting.

    Wiggling my toes, I sit and look around the comically large bed. The bed was so big I could've shifted into a dragon, and there would've been room to spare. Okay, well, not me shifting into a dragon but maybe one of the others.

    Crawling on all fours until I reach the end of the bed, I let my sense roam. The house is void of living things besides the plants, and my naughty side says that I need to explore.

    But first I need a shower. Going to the slightly opened closet, I snatch one of the many silk button-up shirts, a pair of boxers from an unopened pack, and thick work-boot socks.

    Trying to find the showers, I accidentally open the doors to the hallways and an empty room.

    Cleansing myself of the dirt and grime from the running and sleeping in the forest as I surround myself with the scent of my mates. Honestly, there isn't a better sensation at this second than seeing the murky water of the dirt swirling around the drain as it was slowly replaced by clear water.

    After the shower, I go to the door that I first thought was the bathing room and start opening random doors as I walk through the ways. On this floor, there were only two other closets that were bigger than an average bedroom.

    Climbing down the stairs, there was an open layout. A family room with a fireplace, a living room with the largest play-box I've ever seen, a fancy-pants dining room, and a beautiful kitchen that makes the cook in me squeal with delight.

    Quickly rushing over to the freezer, my body droops in disappointment at the lack of ice creams. Pilfering through the cabinets and fridge, I grab the ingredients I need to make the homemade chocolate ice creams.

    After finishing mixing up the ingredients, I still need to freeze it. Using my newfound powers, the mixture freezes, and I happily munch down on the eight servings of chocolate ice cream as I set out to conquer the cartoons.

    Hours later, there are no more ice creams, and my stomach is stuffed full with my chicken alfredo. My eyes droopy as I stare at the cartoon figures of wolf pups going on adventures in a world of magic. Giggles escape me as I settle into the couch with the blanket from the bed covering me.

    Being too far gone in tiredness, I imagined myself being surrounded by fresh scents of my mates. My hallucinations made me see Angeli shaking my shoulder as she tells me to wake up. She bends down and kisses my forehead, causing a sparkle to race through me, effectively waking me up.

    The others look around the room and chuckle. I'll admit that my exploration mainly consisted of the kitchen and couch and a trail of a big mess.

    Glancing up, as innocently as I could muster, "What?"

    The guys shrug, chuckling and Angela sighs, rubbing her forehead probably wondering what happened here.

    "Did you guys find what you were looking for? That missing piece?"

    "She wasn't our mate. But I don't know why I feel like we are missing one of our puzzle." Angeli mutters.

    Relief courses through me- at least I won't have to share with her. "Well, maybe out there in the world, there is someone meant for us." 

    "Yeah, maybe." She doesn't sound too sure; I hope that I will be enough for them while finding that missing piece.

    "So was knocking me out worth it." My anger back with a vengeance. I can't believe I almost caved. As much as I wanted my mates more than anything- knocking someone out should be considered a red flag. 

    Chuckling nervously, the others leave the room, saying it wasn't their fault and they were hungry, leaving only me and Angeli in the room. She glances at me before looking down like a hurt puppy.

    "I'm sorry. I know that I shouldn't have, but the prospect of another mate out there made me want to keep searching. I know that knocking you out wasn't the best solution but leaving you while you were awake somehow seemed worse at the time."

    "You know what I felt when I met you?" Angeli tries interrupting but was shot down by one glare. "I felt like I was safe like I finally found a home, some people that would protect and loved me as fiercely as I loved them. I felt complete.

    "You know what I felt when I woke up. I felt betrayed. Yeah, it was better than having to watch you leave, but it still hurt me just as deeply. You leaving told me that by myself I wasn't good enough. That I wasn't all, you needed. If the situation were reversed, I would not have gone out searching for some phantom if I had a scared rouge covered in cuts and bruises and was my mate in front of me.

    "No, I would have protected them. Showered their kindness. Built-up the mate bond that we had. Built-up trust. Then maybe when they felt like they had enough trust in our bond, I would have revisited the concept of another mate is out there."

    "Angel, I am sorry."

    "Sorry isn't enough. And you are not the only ones at fault. You may have knocked me out, but you all left. Not one of you staid, not one of you." Feeling like my piece was said, I left the living room and climbed the steps to the top of the house. 

    Reaching the third and final floor, I walked to the farthest door with the sole intent to getaway. Not run away, but just more space. The door leads to spiral steps of the empty attic and my new room.