Severed Connections

Chapter 9: We're just not going to talk about it? Oh, okay.

Chapter Nine: We're just not going to talk about it? Oh, okay.

What just happened?

One minute I was in a panicked frenzy, my body threatening to evict any contents that could possibly be left in my stomach, and the next -- I was full on kissing some guy I didn't even know?

You may not know him, but the wolf within you seems to know him pretty well.

I hated when my conscience was right.

Where did I even start with this? How to process all of this information? Did I start with the feeling in my chest like my heart was about to explode, or the way I felt my whole being drawn to him even as I tried to push him away?

What about him calling me by a name I'd never heard?

Asteria?

Was this my real name? Was this who I was, who I had been all along, all these years I'd felt so alone and so false amongst those people I called friends and family?

I didn't know. I didn't know why I'd kissed him back, why I liked it when he said "my" name, when his lips touched my skin and it felt like fire. And I certainly didn't know why, or how, the two of us had created a mini freakin' tornado in a hotel bathroom. Glass, fire, water, wind?

He said I was responsible for some of it...what did he mean by that?

I wanted to know more as I fought to catch my breath. Even after he set me down and I tried my hardest to act like I wanted to be far from him, I found myself leaning against him uneasily when I got lightheaded.

My heart was still thrumming in my chest like I'd just ran a marathon, and I was sure my cheeks were a bright shade of pink considering I just had my first kiss. And with someone extremely handsome and alluring, I should add.

I looked back up at his face, and though he was ruggedly gorgeous, there was a hardness to his gaze I couldn't pinpoint. The fact that his eyes were a stunning red was somehow not as surprising as his gaze. Who was he? I didn't even know this guy's name.

I managed a few questions but didn't really receive any answers. I still did not know who he was, why I was so drawn to him, or why the wolf within me seemed very content. Even more so content than it had been that night at the hotel when Jax managed to get my mind off everything. I thought that night on the hotel balcony was the most calm I'd ever feel, but I was wrong. Even though my heart was thrumming in my chest, there was a sense of ease, a sense of allure I didn't understand.

Mate.

The word occurred to me and I furrowed my eyebrows. All these thoughts had raced through my mind in mere seconds, only to be followed by one singular word that resonated through me.

Was this...was he...my...mate?

Did wolves, shifters - did they have mates? Was he mine?

"May?! Are you in there?? Are you okay?!"

Jax's angry, worried voice stopped all of my thoughts. I pushed away from the man I'd shared my first and most passionate kiss with, ignoring my lightheadedness and stumbling over to the bathroom door.

To my dismay I saw it was locked, and I glanced back at the stranger to glare at him briefly. He shrugged and smirked, holding his hands up as though he were innocent and had no idea about it.

Quickly smoothing down my hair and pulling my dress back down to its original state, I hurriedly unlocked the door and flung it open, practically stumbling into Jax's arms and hugging him tightly.

"I am so, so sorry Jax," I breathed, burying my face against him briefly.

He stood there blinking, confused before grabbing my arms and looking at me.

"Sorry for what? Seriously, are you okay?" he asked worriedly, carefully placing a finger under my chin and lifting my face up so he could examine me properly.

Gently I grabbed his hand to pull it away from my face and I nodded, sighing.

For once in a long time, I did feel okay. I couldn't explain it. Maybe it had something to do with the jerk standing behind me as he emerged from the bathroom.

I could tell the moment Jax saw him though. His expression went from worried to angry, and he moved to put me behind him protectively.

"May did this guy hurt you or threaten you at all? It's okay, you can tell me. I'm just gonna kick his ass," he hissed, his voice spitting venom as he and the man exchanged glares.

Then the guy laughed, shoving his hands into his pockets as if uninterested in the confrontation. He shrugged and laughed even more heartily, strands of that curly blond hair falling into his eyes.

"As if you could even land a blow, little boy," he teased, his laughter dying off into one of his chuckles.

"Fuck off Conri, you know my name, and unfortunately I know yours. Your reputation precedes you, you know that?" Jax spat, still keeping me behind him like he was my own personal shield. I felt frustrated that the two were arguing and I was just standing here gawking at them like an idiot. Just who did they think they were? What was I, chopped liver? I cleared my throat and they both stopped arguing to look at me.

"Conri, was it?" I asked, my voice quieter than I wanted it to be. I huffed and stepped from behind Jax, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Care to explain anything to me, or are you still playing the, 'there's no time, get to the choppa' routine?" I asked quizzically, done with the games and bullshit. I wanted answers and I wanted them now.

Jax looked back at me, eyes widened and perplexed.

"Do you know him May?" he asked with uncertainty.

I felt my cheeks flush with color and I bit my lip, the anger draining from me and turning to embarrassment. I wasn't ready to admit to him or anyone that I'd just full on made out with Conri in the bathroom. For now I would withhold that little detail.

I saw a gleam in Conri's eyes as a smirk played on his lips.

"Oh, she knows me, she just doesn't understand how yet," Conri mused, seemingly entertained by my blushing and lack of composure.

He was really great at not answering questions, wasn't he?