My Best Friend, My Second Chance Mate

Chapter 3

LUCY

It was raining heavily as I raced out. I could hear Blake's voice thunder through the storm but I ignored it. Raindrops mingled with my tears blurred my vision making me slow my pace.

"Lucy! Lucy!!" I ignored the summon in my head and kept walking, increasing my pace.

A hand grabbed my arm, yanking me back. I stumbled, falling backwards but the grip on my arm steadied me, pulling me to a stop.

"You're drenched and you don't know where you are going in this storm'," his voice was hoarse as he pulled me closer to his body. “Let’s get back in the house.”

"No,” I hissed, trying to wrench my arm from his grip. “I won’t go back there. Not with you.”

He sighed, his breath warm against my face. "Don't be stubborn. We can talk about this inside the house."

I shook my head, my heart beating painfully against my chest. "I'm not going back there. I'm just going to keep walking— far away from here, far away from you."

"Lucy, please. Come inside the house, I don't want you out here by yourself."

I whipped my head up, squinting my eyes against the rain to see his. What was he thinking? That I needed his pity? The very thought infuriated me.

"No.” I groaned out. “I don't need your pity.”

His lips quivered. "What will happen to Ma? What do I tell her? You know she worries about you."

The thought of Mrs. Sophia, of her kind face, made my resolve waver for a split second. But I couldn’t let myself feel weak. “Tell her whatever you want. Tell her I went on a sudden trip or something... I don’t care.” My throat tightened. “I’m not spending another night under the same roof as you.”

His grip on my arm tightened, his voice thick with emotion. “Lucy, you don’t mean that. You can’t just walk away like this.”

“Yes, I do,” I said, shaking my head, more tears threatening to spill. “I can’t watch you love someone else. I can’t stand it. You... you had her scent on your clothes when I picked them up.” My voice broke as my fists landed against his chest, the sobs wracking through me.

He caught my wrists, holding them tightly, stopping me. “I couldn’t ignore the bond. I can’t reject her, Lucy. I can’t. It would make me weak, and the pack... the pack needs me.”

I heard the truth in his words, but it didn’t make the pain any less. He was right. But I wanted to deny it because my world was falling apart.

He was my world— has been— since the first day I walked into the house and I saw him sitting on the stairs. He had run up to me that fateful day and asked if I wanted to play catch and I just stared at him.

Lightning struck through the dark sky, illuminating Blake's face for a fraction of a second giving me a clearer view of his agonized face. His brown eyes were a shade darker as he focused them on me. I could feel the tears gathering

“Do you remember the promise we made to each other yesterday?” I said, my voice soft but raw. “I thought... I thought what we shared last night would make a difference. But I was wrong.”

His face softened as he reached out to touch my face, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “I wanted it to be you, Lucy. After everything that happened between us... I was willing to risk it all for you. But now she's here, and everything’s changed.”

He dipped his head towards mine, our lips barely an inch away. My heart pounded with fervour as his lips replaced his thumb, tracing my face slowly and finally settling on my lips. He teased it open with his tongue and kissed me. I didn't resist. I held onto his shoulder, kissing him back with so much fervour.

“Will you stay, Lu?” he asked, his breath framing my face.

I could hear the plea in his voice but I was too riled up to acknowledge his anguish. I pulled away from his grip and stepped back.

“You can’t have me and her at the same time,” I stated matter of fact. “You've made your choice. I'm going to leave for my sake. I've loved you for the longest time and now, it is over.”

"I feel the same towards you but my duty is to my pack first. I've defiled her, her father will not let that slide lightly."

His words stung like a slap to my face. "You defiled me too, remember? Who is going to fight for my honor now?"

"I.. I'm… I'm sorry Lu. I am." he stammered through his words, making me mad.

I closed my eyes, taking in deep breaths. “You kissed me just now,” I said quietly. "Why?"

He didn't respond. His silence cut through me like a blade and it left my heart bleeding. I tried to reach my wolf for comfort, but she offered none. Her silence broke me completely.

“I guess this is goodbye then,” I said, turning away from him.

"Lu… where are you going?" he shouted over the rumble of the thunder.

I ignored his question and kept walking. My mind screamed at me to stop, but my heart wouldn’t let me. I couldn’t stay. Not like this.

How could I stay in the same house with him and not feel this ache every single day? How could I watch him love someone else while I... while I just stayed here, broken?

"Stop walking!" Blake's voice in my head uttered my thoughts.

"Stay away from my head!" I replied, increasing my pace to create more distance between us though I knew it was useless.

I headed towards the bus station. The cold wind bit at my skin, making me shiver. My wet clothes clung to me, offering no warmth, no comfort. I was a mess—physically and emotionally.

I collapsed onto a bench at the station, my head resting against the glass, exhaustion flooding over me. I wanted to sleep, to escape from this unbearable pain, but all I could think about was Blake. His touch, his words, his absence.

“What now?” I muttered, my voice cracking. *How do I survive this?*

I closed my eyes, my breath shaky. I just needed to rest... just for a moment.

But even as I drifted off to sleep, his voice still echoed in my head, a distant whisper.

“Please don’t leave me, Lucy.”