34.

-HIM-

“She is human?” The council official asks sternly.

“Yes,” I keep my calm.

“The Luna of your pack is already a human. Are you sure another human to such a powerful position will not harm your pack?” He questions in a degrading tone. It instantly makes my wolf mad but I keep my mouth shut and listen.

“No, it won’t,” I answer calmly.

“Beta Emerson, we want the best for your pack and that’s why he selected the most capable she-wolf for you. You shouldn’t let this go to waste,” the tone of his voice gets more and more degrading. It’s getting under my skin.

The fact that he belongs to the council is the only thing that’s keeping me from burning him alive.

“I have met my mate. I am sure I wouldn’t be taking the council’s recommendation,” I inform him and see him clench his jaw before he takes a step closer.

“It’s not only about you, Jake. It’s about your pack. That human couldn’t match the she-wolf’s strength,” His words instantly makes me want to lunge at him. He is comparing my mate to Tiffany when it’s clear that there could be no comparison between them.

Tiffany is just a random she-wolf for me but Cybele is my mate. I will always choose Cybele over Tiffany and so would any other wolf if they were in my situation.

“She is not my mate. I and my wolf will never accept her no matter who she is,” I tell him and see his nostrils flare. His eyes darken considerably. I know that the longer I look him in the eyes, he’ll feel more challenged.

“We’ll see you, Emerson,” He growls before walking away. I am aware of my situation more than ever.

It’s Wednesday when I am back at home. While I was gone, a lot of work has piled up for me as I had expected. I also have my finals edging closer each day and I really needed to study for that.

“How was the meet?” Dad asks after I return.

“It was fine,” I answer nonchalantly, not bothering to explain much because I do not want to hint anything away. He asks me more questions about the meet and I tell him, always making sure to not let the conversation go anywhere near the matter.

“Are you going to college today?” Brooke asks me the next day. I have been contemplating it but I couldn’t decide what to do. I need more time to think and get myself together. This could buy her some time too.

“Next week,” Is all I answer to her before she nods and disappears. The rest of the week I am busy with pack duties and studying for finals altogether. At the same time, I and my wolf is impatient to see our mate but my mind keeps repeating her words.

She said she didn’t want to do anything with me. It hurts me whenever I think about it. If I could only explain to her the situation, I am in.

Monday rolls in and I find myself driving to college. Brooke and Davis are at home, studying for finals. I still needed to get the office in order and settle some issues related to the lobby.

The office is mostly in order when I arrive. Turns out Brooke and Cybele had worked a lot while I was gone. She is not in the office, most probably in her class.

My wolf stirs when she finally enters. She halts at the door when her eyes find me. I drink in her appearance for the first time after days. I have terribly missed seeing her.

She looks away as she enters the office and instantly gets to work. I try to work as well but I couldn’t. My mind and my eyes keep drifting to her constantly. Sometimes, she’d catch me looking at her before she herself would look away.

There’s this tension in the air that I cannot ignore. The silence makes it more unbearable.

“Most of the place is in order. If you wish then you can stop coming from tomorrow,” I break the silence for the first time. She freezes before nodding at me.

My wolf groans at this. He’d hate to find the office empty from tomorrow. Even if we are not talking, her mere presence makes us happy. The fact that she wouldn’t be here from tomorrow makes me deeply unhappy.

I watch her work silently for the most part of the time. She mutters a small “goodbye” before leaving. The next day, my office remains empty and so does my heart. I work alone for the whole day.

As my finals edge nearer, I go college lesser. Though whenever I do, I do catch her sight. I see her with her friend most of the time. She doesn’t see me most of the time. Every time, the eye contacts get lesser and lesser.

It feels like I am slowly fading into the background but I am always waiting… thinking, observing. I am always left to wonder if she thinks about me even a little?

Brooke and others always question me. I just tell them that I am giving myself some time. I need to finish college first. Stress and expectations are starting to get the best of me.

Tiffany is always on my tail, always trying to find a way to sneak in and get on my nerves. I always keep her at bay, every time making it clearer that I don’t want to do anything with her.

As the end of October rolls in, it starts to get colder. Finals are just a few weeks away. I am mostly at home studying or working for the pack. I keep myself busy and distracted. Chance is silent most of the time too. He misses her most of the time and so do I but we still have to wait.

With November, finals start. My days bleed into nights as everything around us gets covered with snow. Finals end when November leaves.

“Let’s go out together tonight!” Davis says as we drive back from college after our last exam.

“I have work,” I mutter but Brooke smacks me on the head, “You’re coming with us whether you like it or not,” She yells at me and I groan in pain and annoyance but in the evening, I find myself going out with them anyway.

I sit at the bar counter and enjoy my drink while Brooke and Davis are dancing together. They tried to persuade me countless times to dance with them but failed. I wasn’t going to join them and look like an idiot.

As expected, Tiffany has followed us here too. She has been trying to get my attention for the whole evening but I have been mostly keeping to myself.

I know whenever she is around. My wolf instantly stirs inside me and my eyes find her. She is here with her friend Lisa and… Sidonio?

He is a wolf of our pack. What are they doing with him? I soon find my answer when I see Sidonio holding hands with Lisa and looking at her fervently.

They’re mates.
....
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