HERS

16. Accept Me

Danica sat around the lunch table with Avery who was now attending school again on a regular basis. Avery was telling Danica about something she had blocked out going back to her own thoughts, which were on one thing: Mason.

"Danica," Avery snapped reviving her from her thoughts. "Are you even listening to me?"

"No, I'm not." Danica sighed truthfully.

"What's wrong?"

"I've heard stories about how the bond between two mates grows stronger and how they mate within a month and blah, blah, blah!"

"So what's wrong?"

"My feeling towards him haven't grown stronger, I know he started off the whole thing by the first physical contact, but that's just it." Danica explained. "Avery, I know it's personal and gross since you're with my brother, but have you guys mated and you know..."

Aver grinned at the memory, "What you described are two different things, one's accepting even though you are mates and the whole process has been set off you still have an option to accept or deny your mate and that ultimately leads to heartbreak or the strengthening of the bond though it rarely occurs the denial and when it does happen it is a regrettable mistake which later they take back. With me and Chris, he accepted me when he claimed me as his that night in front of everyone and mating is a complicated process, but the purpose of that is the marking which has been done for me."

"So what you're saying is that we need to accept each other."

"Accepting each other will make the bond stronger and with that both of you will be able to feel the bond between you two as well as feel whether if the other persons moody and what not."

"Ave, can I see your mark?"

"Sure," she said revealing her right shoulder, the mark was like a tattoo in red ink, it was fairly bigger than the typical wolf marks, on her collar bone Danica could see the faint teeth marks where Chris had set his canines in.

"Only a Jackass wouldn't accept his mate," James added to the discussion as he set his tray down.

The bell rang signalling the end of lunch, Danica avoided going form for the afternoon registration since she didn't want to see Mason, he had been sending off mix signals which were beginning to annoy her, as much as they were confusing her, instead Danica headed to her double period art class early.

Danica worked on her exam folder, her mind filled with unnecessary questions and thoughts. The last bell of the day rang, somehow those two hours felt longer than usual. Slowly packing up, Danica left the class room making her way over to Mason's class.

Danica walked in without hesitation, not bothering to knock.

"Danica, nice to see you," Mason greeted from the back of the class room.

Danica took his seat on his swivel chair, without acknowledging his greeting. "I suggest you shut the door." Danica said her voice distant.

"Where were you during afternoon registration?" Mason asked trying to keep the conversation casual.

"That is none of your concern."

"Of course it is, you're my-"

"I'm your what?" Danica cut him off.

"You're my student." Mason finished, not seeing where this was leading.

"Exactly, student," Danica spat, getting up from his seat.

"Danica what's wrong?" He asked slowly prowling towards her.

"This," she gestured between the two. "This is what's wrong. Mason, what am I to you?"

"You're my mate." He said taking her hand in his. He took her hand to his lips brushing them over her knuckle.

Danica watched him, uncertain. "Is that so?" She asked.

"Yes," he said gently cupping her cheek. "You are my mate." He spoke softly into her ear, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear leaving a butterfly kiss on her jaw. He leaned back taking her in, the uncertainty evident in her eyes. The look in her eyes pierced his soul, tearing at his wolf, he leaned down slowly capturing her lips with his. It was the least he could do for his wolf. To sedate him for now.

The kiss was soft and gentle.

Danica pulled away looking up at him, her had cupped his cheek, caressing his stubble covered cheek for a moment before dropping her hand and pulling away. Her heart raced with the way he looked at her but her mind wasn't convinced.

"Danica," her name left his lips, the way it just rolled off his tongue made her shiver, she liked it when he said her name, it just sounded right. "You are my mate," he said reeling her into him, her body pressed against his. His hands on her waist and his head low, resting against her forehead. "And I am yours." He assured her, brushing his lips over hers again and again, barely touching.

She stood on her tiptoes and captured his lips in a toe curling kiss. This wasn't like the first kiss, this was fast and heated and bruising. Danica pulled him closer, she couldn't get enough, her fingers weaved into his hair, pulling at it almost painfully.

They pulled away, breathless his head rested on her forehead. "You're mine," he whispered breathless. His kissed her once more a slow burning kiss as he hoisted her up, her legs wrapped around him as he walked them against the wall. His lips trailed across her skin, leaving hot open mouth kisses against her jaw and neck. "Mine," he growled lowly against her skin,

"Yours," she whispered back.

He stopped looking at her, She cupped his face in her hands, "I'm yours." She reassured him. She could feel his wolf coming forward, just a scratch away. "Just say the words and I'm all yours."

His eyes betrayed him before anything else could and just like that, Danica was wide awake, no longer in a haze of lust and love. She tore away like his touch burned, it did, it was like silver. It was like acid was being poured on her.

Mason watched her with a pained expression but she wasn't having at cold bark of a laugh left her. Shaking her head she stood and watched him from afar, disgust coursed through her.

"You see, it's simple to say that I'm your mate and you're mine when it holds no meaning." She shook her head. "Don't play dumb, we both know it, you haven't accepted me," The truth was in his eyes clear as day. "I can't feel it, they say when you're accepted the bond grows stronger and so do your feelings." Mason froze in place as Danica took a step closer to him, laying her hands on his chest looking up into his eyes. "Mason," she whispered "accept me."

He starred down at her, she thought he was going to say the words she was waiting for but that idea, glimmer of hope was crushed when she saw the change in his expression she couldn't put her finger on it but she was sure it was the opposite to what she wanted. "I-" he struggled to bring the words out, he wanted to say what she wanted to hear but couldn't, it wouldn't be fair to her or him or any one. "I-I can't..."

Danica stumbled back, stepping away from him as if she caught a virus, putting as much space as she could put between herself and Mason. Tears began to form in her eyes, Danica hadn't expected it to hurt as much, she had prepared herself to be let down, yet a part of her hadn't expected it, she had hoped even with the prep of a letdown he would look beyond everything and accept her. Danica ripped away from him, roughly, when he had gotten too close. She let her tears fall freely, staining her cheeks with mascara. "You-you can't or you won't?" Her voice trembled.

"I-I," He moved his mouth mutely. "B-both," He finally got out, he could see the betrayal clearly on her face.

Stepping away from his as he tried to near her, she exited the room, he hadn't accepted her nor had he denied which left her in limbo. In her haste to get away as far as she could as fast as she could, she bumped into someone causing her to fall flat on her butt.

"Sorry, there." The stranger pulled her up.

Her eyes travelled up to see the last person she had expected to see in a long time, her heart jumped to her throat. "B -Bruce."

Before her stood the last person she wanted to see or even think of and yet here he was in the flesh watching her rooted in his spot just as she was. She knew he was back but it just never sunk it. He had heard of his return, she had been told about it and yet she was shocked to find him standing here right there and then in the flesh and blood as she was and it was as real as it got.

The news of his return hadn't exactly sunk in, the news was still tiptoeing on the surface of the skin waiting to be processed.

"You're back," She stood defensively taking him in.

"I see you still remember me, Nic." He used her old nickname, he had given her long ago, this had triggered a forgotten yet familiar feelings to stirred rising to the surface causing a fresh set of tears to surface, spilling.

"I never forgotten," she said defensively jutting her chin out. "You're the one who left without a word I'm surprised you even remember me."

"I left without a word?" He asked appalled, "Me? Darling, I'm not sure whether you hit your head with that fall but you were the one who locked me off, heck you wouldn't see me, I've tried and tried but nothing, I didn't even catch a glimpse of you for months on end before I left I did everything in my power to see you." He told her not bothering to sugar coat starring her in the eye; his eyes had her falling remembering their cherished friendship.

"Why did you leave?" She whispered, fearing his answer.

"I felt like leaving so I did." He said without batting a lash.

"Then why are you even back?" She snapped.

"It's time, the true alpha has returned." He stated with pride.

Danica looked at his as if he had lost his mind. "Well, not talking to you is a good thing, count your blessings." She all but shouted.

Mason came out hearing the shouts, "What's going on here?" He asked concern covering his face as he realised the tear streak face, of his mate. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"None, of your business, thank you very much," she told him in a harsh tone, never taking her eyes of Bruce. Turning to Bruce she said, "I suggest you leave while you have the chance and before your life is on the line-again," and stormed off.

She ran out of the deserted school, it's eerie being in an empty school. Danica stepped straight out into the rain, it was pouring to Danica's dismay she cursed mentally. "Out of all the days,” She exclaimed. “All week it was nice a sunny now it decided to take a piss." She muttered to herself crossing the road.

Danica plugged in her headphones as she ran down the street, ignoring everything around her trying to drown her sorrows in her music, bewildered leaving nowhere to go, Avery was her first choice but it just so happens she's the future alpha's soul mate leading to her unavailable status however there is James but he doesn't have a clue as to what was going on. Danica stopped taking in her surroundings, she was quiet far away from James place as well as her own, she soon realised James was out the question too, what kind of friend am I? She thought, with a frustrated huff she sunk to the ground taking a seat on the curve letting the rain pour down, matting her hair against her skin, and clothes getting drenched sticking to her body like a wet suit.

Danica rested her head in her hands with her elbows leaning on her lap. Closing her eyes, she zoned out her surroundings listening to the not so helpful music blaring in her ear.

"Danica," the stranger shook her, getting her out of her trance. Turning around she came face to face Bruce who was crouching to be eye level, getting her attention he pulled her up swiftly, engulfing her in a bone crushing hug.

A hug to Danica never felt so right, everything was in place as usual. It was just like the old times everything was the same, his scent hadn't changed using the same cologne after all these years caused the corners of her lips to twitch upwards seeing as it was the perfume she had brought for him on his birthday and had ever since worn it.

Pulling away Bruce studied her face, taking in her features frowning as he spotted smeared black mascara that been running because of the crying and the rain, frowning he wiped them away.

"Why did you come after me?" She asked almost forgetting the reason she had put the distance between the two.

"I didn't, you were simply in my path." He said harshly. Danica looked up scowling at him, his eyes twinkled with amusement. "You know I love helping damsels in distress."

Oh she knew very well how much he loved helping. "Yeah, so you could get laid."

"Bingo!" He winked in her direction. Danica scrunched up her face in distaste. "But that's not happening anytime soon is it?"

Danica shook her head vigorously. "Thought so," he chuckled. "Who was the guy?" He asked sobering up.

Danica obviously knew who he was on about and wanted to play dumb, but opted against it. "A teacher," She told him in a 'duh' tone, as if it were the obvious thing.

"I figured that, who is he to you?"

"Him, He's...err my..." a lump grew in her throat as she struggled to tell him what Mason was to her, she wasn't ashamed just wistful, only if he had made his intentions clearer whether she is accepted or denied then she could have simply tom him.

"He's your mate isn't he?"

"Yeah, he's my friend." She agreed, twisting the meaning to his word.

"Danica, you know that's not what I mean."

"Well, what else could you mean? I'm normal but in your perspective I'm a non-shifting freak."

"Danica, is he your mate as in soul mate?" He asked again elaborating his question. "Don't you dare lie." She nodded confirming his suspicion.

"That bastard," He growled. "Just wait 'til I get my hand on him!" His hands clenched forming massive fist.

"But...but, he hasn't done anything," Danica tried to reason because knowing Bruce he sure was going to cause some damage.

"Obviously he has, why would you leave his room crying? He denied you, didn't he?" Bruce continued growling.

"No," Danica shook her head.

Confusion crossed Bruce his face, "Accepted?"

"No," she shook her head again.

"Then..?"

"That's the problem he hasn't accepted me nor denied me!" She snapped.

"...Because he can't or won't?"

"Both!" She snapped.

"That son of a...” at that moment, a car honked pulling over to where the two were talking.

The window rolled down to reveal a worried Mason. "Danica," he called. "Get in, you’re soaking wet." Danica shook her head refusing. Mason impatiently sighed, eyeing the man behind her, then back to her. "Danica, come on you're going to get sick."

"No." She let out forcefully, standing her ground; she took a step back leaning into Bruce who protectively wrapped his arms around her.

Mason let out a menacingly protective growl, his eyes changed colour out of jealousy. Bruce growled back not backing off, pissed off Mason speeded down the road.

"Take this," Bruce handed her his jacket, without waiting for her response he put it on her, zipping her up pulling the hood up as well.

A low growl came from behind them, Danica spun around looking into the forest, "what was that?"

Bruce stiffened realising someone was present with them, "Don't worry it's nothing," Bruce swiftly assured her.

She knew that was a lie as they both were looking into the same direction and at the same thing more like same creature, the wolf from the meadow stood in the forest semi camouflage.

"Come on; let's get out of this rain."