His Complicated Mate

Chapter Seventeen

"We got eight more days for this project, and I'm not even halfway done." Angie groaned as she rested her head on my shoulder. "How did you even get it done while also taking on a few extra training sessions?"

I shrugged. "I'm just talented, I guess."

Angie rolled her eyes and closed her notebook, looking at me cautiously.

"I wish you would stop looking at me like that." I groaned, writing down another equation, not bothering to look at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Like I'm going to break. You and Nathan look at me like I'm about to explode and break into a million pieces. I'm fine. It's been two months since the attack, and I've come to terms with Jaxon not wanting me in his life." I shoved my pencil in my pencil case and started packing up my things. "I promise. I'm okay." I tried to make my smile assuring to a worried looking Angie.

She just nodded and looked down at her notebook.

I got up and left the common room walking to the front courtyard to sit outside. The weather had changed from a crisp fall to a chilly winter, and I wanted to take a stroll to get some fresh air.

Opening the door, my face was met with a cold gust of wind, and I soon felt small kisses from the snowflakes as they danced around. I strolled along the stone pathway and took some deep breaths letting the cold air fill my lungs as I imagined all the stress I've accumulated over the past two months to stay busy being let out into the world with each exhale.

It was quiet, and I enjoyed the silence as I let my thoughts go out of my head.

I eventually came across a small bench and sat down. I shivered as the cold wood hit my legs. I closed my eyes and just breathed slowly. In and out. Let all those stressful things leave your mind, I told myself.

The Rouge King attacking you. Gone.

Your pack link not being connected. Gone.

Your mark still covered by magic. Gone.

Jaxon avoiding you and not speaking a word to you since you were at the pack house. Gone.

Adding multiple extra credit assignments that are due in two weeks. Gone.

Winter finals in three weeks. Gone.

Taking on more training from the pack and from the vampire kingdom. Gone.

Gone, gone, gone.

And soon I was left with nothing but peace.

But it was short-lived when I felt someone's presence enter the courtyard. I kept my eyes closed and tried to get back to my relaxed state, but I couldn't shake the feeling I was being watched.

I shook it off and went back to focusing on my breathing. In and out, nice and slow.

"I've never seen you so relaxed before." Spoke a voice I could easily pick out in a crowd anywhere. I opened my eyes to find Jaxon standing before me with an umbrella in hand, reaching out to cover me from the snow.

"What do you want?" I asked, closing my eyes to avoid rolling them out of frustration. Just focus on your breathing Lucille, I told myself.

I heard a small chuckle escape his lips. "Well, you've started to be covered in snow. You've been out here for a half hour. I didn't want you to get sick."

"Thanks for the concern, but I'm fine. I can take care of myself." I stood up and dusted the snow off myself. I turned to leave, but a warm hand grabbed my wrist and faced me back its owner.

"I know I've been a piece of shit these past few months, but it was needed in order for me to protect you."

"Protect me?" I exclaimed, yanking my hand out of his. "If you wanted to protect me, then maybe you should start with my feelings because you hurt me deeply and did nothing but run away when you saw me."

I turned on my heel and headed back to the doorway. He caught up with me and blocked my path. "Lucille, I had too. You almost got killed because of my lack of experience. I needed to train, to learn, to must up every amount of courage I need to protect you better in the future." His eyes glistened as his voice started to strain. "I couldn't look at myself after I saw you lying there with him on you and allowing him to do what he did. Our mark..." He looked toward my shoulder, his hand reaching out to brush it, but dropping it after a brief pause. "Then seeing you in the hospital lying there unconscious, I couldn't forgive myself for not being good enough."

I just nodded at his words. "If that is all true and you actually spoke to me, you'd know that that wasn't what I cared about. I wanted you. Just you. I wasn't upset about what happened. I just wanted you by my side."

We stood there in silence for a few minutes before his voice barely audible spoke through the silence. "Will you ever forgive me? I'm going mad without you."

"Maybe, some day." I answered. His head lifted, and a small smile expanded on his face.

"Really?"

"If you make up for it. Plus, I'm glad to know you're going crazy without me." I smirked.

"I'll do whatever, Lucille. I just want to be able to hold you again and breathe in your intoxicating scent, and I especially want to kiss you." He stepped closer, his warmth enveloping me before his body even touched mine. He tilted his head down to reach my lips. The butterflies in my stomach flew around happily, and my wolf cried out internally with joy. The warmth of his lips about to touch mine was short-lived when a voice called out my name.

"Lucy!"

I turned around to face the voice to be met with a familiar pair of gold eyes. His body was taller than the last I saw him, and his black hair shined in the dusky light. His jawline was sharp along with his cheekbones, a face and body anyone would lust over and envy. Angie, Nathan, and my close friend, Oliver.