Escape | ✓

47

Eli was acting strange.

It'd been two days since Reed left and to say he was acting skittish would be an understatement. It was obvious to me that he was hiding something, but I couldn't quite pinpoint what that something was.

I didn't like it.

I was used to the Eli who wore his heart on his sleeve and had a bad habit of rambling and oversharing. This wasn't my Eli. I figured if I left him to his own devices then he'd get over it in a day or less, but I was wrong which was why I decided to sit him down today and ask what was going on.

I noticed Eli sitting on the couch when I came downstairs. His eyes were glued to his phone so I walked behind him and rested my head against his shoulder.

"What're you doing?" I curiously inquired.

Eli jumped slightly. "Nothing, just talking to Nixon. You know, with Tatum being away from the pack and everything, I just wanted to make sure he was okay."

I watched the way he fiddled with the phone in his hand and the way his body tensed. To someone who didn't know him, it may have seemed like he was worried about his friend, but I knew better. A deep frown fell over my face and I walked around to take a seat beside him on the couch.

"Eli, are we okay?" I asked him.

His eyes shot toward mine. "What? Of course, we are."

"So what's up with the sudden change in your behavior?"

I couldn't think of anything I'd done to cause it. So, if it wasn't me then what was it?

His fidgeting grew stronger. "I just have a lot on my mind right now."

"About what?" I pushed and he seemed to retreat into himself a bit. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I'm worried, Eli."

He frowned. "It's nothing bad. Well, I don't think it is anyway. I guess it depends on how you take it. I think it'll go well, but I've been wrong before so I'm not a hundred percent sure—"

"Eli," I took held his hand. "Calm down and talk to me."

His eyes drifted over to mine nervously. "You like the Howling Night, right?"

The question caught me off guard. "I do."

"Enough to consider transferring?" He quietly asked.

I studied him for a long moment. Watching the way his eyes kept flickering between me and the floor. He was nervous over that?

A grin took over my face. "Never change, Eli. Never change."

"What?"

"You've been making me worry for the past two days because you were scared to ask me to transfer?" I laughed at the thought. "I don't know if you've realized, but Eli, I already have your mate mark. Our bond is completed. I'm not exactly running for the hills anymore either. You didn't have to be afraid to ask me that."

His face turned a light shade of red. A color I decided I liked on him.

"You told me I make you happy," I said and Eli nodded.

"You do."

"Well, you make me happy too Eli. Your optimism, your bright smile, your rambling, even your bad sense of direction—I love them all. I love you."

His eyes widened at my words. I was sure he knew it by now, but we'd never specifically said the words out loud.

"I love you too, Reu," he replied.

"Then trust me when I say I'm not going anywhere. Besides, I doubt I could get rid of you even if I wanted to."

I was positive the two of us would always find our way back to each other.

"So you're willing to transfer?" He questioned.

"Yes, Eli. I'm willing to transfer to the Howling Night."

In an instant, he seemed to light up and a smile broke out on his face.

"You won't regret it," he promised and I believed him.

I figured from the beginning that I'd one day have to decide whether or not to transfer. Eli was the beta of this pack after all and he had responsibilities so I'd made my peace with the idea long ago. In fact, I decided that I was willing to transfer before we even completed our bond.

Still, it was sweet to know that he'd been thinking about it recently. He was thinking about my feelings. That was also on the list of things I loved about Eli: he was considerate.

"What are you thinking about?" Eli questioned.

"You."

His face flushed. "Me?"

"I'm glad you weren't easy to get rid of," I told him. "I'm glad that we met again in Oakwood."

I never thought I'd say those words, but it was the truth. I was glad that Eli came back barreling into my life because it was what helped us get to where we were now and, for once, I could truly say that I was more than happy with my life and everything I had.