The Secret Pull

Chapter 16 - And Now We Fight

I tried not to let my groan escape my lips. Here she was again. Stella was a few feet from the door, dressed all in black like some kind of sexy ninja. She looked at me and said "Luna" with a curt nod. I said nothing and simply crossed my arms over my chest. I rolled my eyes as Paul leaned into Stella but they didn't speak. They must be speaking telepathically. Now I was really annoyed. Did he not consider how weird it is to watch two people silently communicate with each other? Why would he pull me along to watch their secret conversation? I could have just stayed inside and waited for him to come back.

My thoughts went back to high school. Memories of the way Paul and Stella would always be together. He always walked through the halls draped all over her. He would look at her from across a room and she would be by his side in an instant. I wasn't the only one that assumed they were lovers. They seemed to have some sort of weird psychic connection.

Stella always followed him around and did everything he told her to do. They ruled the school together. Everyone wanted to be them and be friends with them. They were both good-looking and popular. But, Stella had no interest in being friends with me. I was Paul's number one target. She laughed when he made fun of me. She persecuted me for his amusement.

When Paul and I were together, we talked a lot, when we weren't kissing. He confessed to me he was a werewolf, and explained his connection to Stella. He said he and Stella were just friends and members of the same pack. If she was surprised by Paul's change in attitude towards me she didn't show it. She was always around, acting as a bodyguard, staring at me and my only friend. Now here she was, showing up in the middle of the night....interrupting us. Something told me there would be a lot more of this in my future with Paul. She was his second in command to the pack. She is practically his work wife!

I turned to go back into the house. I wasn't going to just stand there and wait for them to include me in their conversation. I was seething with anger.

Or jealousy?

No, it was anger.

I went back to the bedroom and started packing my clothes. What happened to "I want to mark you"? What happened to "I don't ever want to lie to you"? The minute Stella shows up, he jumps out of bed to have private conversations.

"What are you doing?" Paul questioned from behind me, looking genuinely confused. I gasped as I turned around in surprise. I didn't hear him come in. I wondered how long he was standing there, and when he realized I had left.

I spun back around and continued packing my clothes with more speed. "I'm packing, I think it's time I get back to my family and get back to my life. You know, the one outside of Snake River," I snapped. I didn't even turn my head to look at him.

"What is this? Some kind of tantrum?" I could hear the irritation in his voice.

I turned to glare at him. "Are you going to take me back to my brother's house or not?" I said with all the hostility I had inside. I could see Stella a few feet behind him. She was leaning against the doorway with her arms folded, quietly watching.

"No, I'm not taking you to your brother!" His face twisted in disbelief. "You're...not...going...anywhere," his tone was clipped. "This is your home and it's where you're going to stay," he said.

I didn't appreciate his tone. I was being scolded like a toddler. Never would I allow it. Not in front of her. "My home? Really?" I sneered. "A home where I get to watch you and Stella have private conversations like I'm a child?"

He rolled his eyes and turned toward her. "Stella wouldn't be here if it wasn't important, and yes, you're acting like a child."

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped open. "You seemed to have forgotten I have an apartment, a job, and a whole life, which is over a hundred miles away from here! That's my home!" I shouted. He reached around and yanked the bag with my clothes from my hand. I could see the slight amusement in Stella's face behind him. She was enjoying this.

"I'm leaving. I'm not going to be a part of the Paul and Stella show anymore." I said evenly.

"The Paul and Stella show? What are you talking about?" He had given up on any attempts to hide his irritation.

"You KNOW what I'm talking about," I said through gritted teeth.

He bent his head and sighed. "You and I are going to talk about this, but I have no time for this now." I huffed and tried to walk around him before he raised his massive arm to block my path. "You're not leaving me and that's final!" Paul shouted as his eyes flashed a bright neon green before shifting back to normal. I could see Stella take a little step back and I became a little nervous.

Did I push him too far?

Paul looked like he was about to explode. His eyes were the darkest I have ever seen them. His already massive chest seemed to have swelled size. I looked down at the arm he had in front of me. When I looked back up at his face, his brow was furrowed and his jaw was locked. I knew his patience had ended but I didn't care. "Goodbye Paul," I said as I disappeared and sent myself to his locked master bath.