26. Dean Arcuri

The shock of finding out that I was Damon Arcuri's mate had still not worn off. I refused to leave my bed for four days after finding out. Time was precious but I could not wrap my head around everything and just continue with the investigation.


Kay always stopped by after school hours is the hope of cheering me but it was useless. I was confined to my bed and even Damon tried to call me but I was ignoring his calls. There are many things I needed to take care of in the school as well but I decided to ignore it for a while.



My mum was convinced that I got my heart broken and that's the reason I was moping in my bedroom. On the second day, my sister got us concert tickets in the hope of cheering me but I declined it. Even though it was my favourite band I couldn't get myself to enjoy anything.



I had no idea why it was a slap in your face kind of truth. Damon was actually trying to tell me from the first day itself but it did not work out. It's like you stop trying after the first try and that irked me. So many things could have been avoided if he told me before about everything. There might be a reason why he tried to hide though.



On the fifth day, my father had it enough. I could see that he was trying to be as polite as he could and not involved in my drama. When I refused to join them for dinner on 3rd day I could hear him yell from downstairs.




It was obviously annoying everyone in the family that I was hiding something and moping for reason unknown to them. How was I going to tell them that the reason I decided to lock myself was that I was scared? Someone was out there to kill me just because I was Damon's soulmate. Here I thought that concept didn't even exist.


"I have no idea what you are so upset for and if you don't want to tell me I can totally get on board with that. Hiding like this in your room is not going to do you any good. It's not going to do any offers good. You are worrying us and it has to stop today."



I felt small all of a sudden. Guilt swarmed my body because I worried everyone. I was being selfish and thinking about myself.



"I'm sorry dad but-"


His voice got softer, "I know you are but hiding away like this is not going to solve your problems. I thought you were stronger than that"



"I am" I met his eyes. He was sitting too close for me to notice the worry lines on his forehead. Granted that he worked most of his time but he always tried to spend time with us. That was something I could proudly say about him.



"I know that but you need to let others know it too. Hmm?"


"Yeah" I cooed, folding my hands together in my lap.


"Good now go get ready. Kay is waiting downstairs for you"

"Is she?"


"I think she's missed you a lot."

"I missed her too"

"Tell her that" He patted my shoulder and then he was out of my room. For the first time in that week, I could finally feel like looking forward to something. The heaviness in my chest eased a bit. Maybe that's all I needed. To talk to someone and get motivated to keep on fighting no matter what.
***

Sitting in the English lecture proved to be difficult than I thought. Everyone was staring at me like I had committed some sort of crime. Maybe the reason they were surprised was because of my absence. And here I thought no one would care.



Gloria nudged me from behind as usual, "Is it true that Damon dumped you?"


My eyes widened at that question and I turned to glare at her when I noticed Erica smirk in my direction. No wonder people were staring at me as soon as I entered the class. Not because they cared but because of the stupid breakup rumours.



"Who told you that?" I questioned even though I was sure that it was Erica. She hated me with a passion and would absolutely thrive on my misery.


Gloria shrugged, "People talk Anya"


I rolled my eyes at her answer. There was no way that I could say anything to her without revealing too much. Before I could even think about an answer I noticed him entering the class. Everyone got still and quiet as soon as he entered the class. I shifted in my seat as he came forward to sit beside me. All the hushed voices went quiet.



His scent made me almost cry. Even though he hid things from me and made me wallow in my room I still missed him. There was no way I could pretend that everything he says doesn't affect me. I tried not to stare too much in his direction, feeding into the false rumours because most of them were already staring in our direction.




He pushed his seat more towards me and I reached immediately. My breathing quickened as he leaned forward, "Can we please talk?"



"Uhh..." I trailed feeling eyes on me and when I turned around everyone was pretending like they weren't listening.




"Please?"



"Sure"
***

As expected Mr Thomas wanted us to submit the assignment as soon as possible. So I had no choice but to go back to Damon's house. Only this time he wanted to take me along with him. Yay! Not. His uncle already doubted there was something going on between us and this will just add fuel to fire. Why did he insinuate that unless he knew? Maybe he did know about me being Damon's mate.



"After you" Damon politely said with a smile as he opened the door of his car. I blushed at the gesture but sat inside anyway.



"Damon?" I called him as he strapped his seat belt. He hummed, not really looking at me but adjusting his rear mirror.



"Your uncle... does he know about me? I mean about me being your mate?"



Damon halted at my question and turned to look at me, "Yeah. Kinda everyone knows."



I face palmed myself. I thought that maybe it would be easier to pin point on his uncle but this just opened another wide possible suspect.




"But why?"



"I am future Alpha of the pack so everyone should know about my mate"


I shut up after that, slumping against the seat defeatedly. There was nothing more I could think worth asking him.
***

Thankfully no one was in his house as we entered to which I was thankful. There was no way I wanted to meet his uncle again. Damon locked the door behind me and I should be worried. It was a house filled with werewolves but I didn't feel any more nerves than I normally do.



"Let's go," Damon said with a cheerful grin on his face and I followed him like a lost puppy.



"Anya-" He started as soon as we were his bedroom- "I am sorry"



At his pitiful smile and shoulders slumped in defeat my chest was filled and there was nothing more I could think of than just moving forward and hugging him a bit tighter. The thought of doing that made me chew on my lips.



He looked me into my eyes and continued, "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about the mate thing. It was awful of me but truthfully I got scared. We were just getting along and the thought that you would despise me and run away after finding out about my true self held me back."




Nervously tugging on his locks he continued, "I know I don't deserve it but can we just start over again? I do not want to lose you."



At his words, my eyes widened and I stared at him without blinking. I had no idea that our relationship meant that much to him. When he didn't address that kiss I was sure that I must be just some other girl for him. Hearing him say all these things made me realise that it was all in my head.




"Seriously?" I whispered



He hummed and before he could say something his phone rang loudly interuppting the moment between us. Annoyed he hurriedly tugged at his pockets and tried to rip it out but his fingers slipped. The action caused the phone to slid out of his grip but I was quick to catch it. He thanked me but before I could hand him back my eyes flashed towards the screen on the phone.



"Dean Arcuri" It read above and I stilled for a while not believing that his big brother, the same one who was declared dead everywhere was calling him.




"Who is it?" Damon asked, his eyes on the phone as I held his phone in my hand, staring at it like a mad man.



"Your brother" He gulped, shakily taking the phone away from my grip and avoiding my eyes. Guess he had some more explaining to do.
***