Howls of Cursed Fate

꧁ 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝔀𝓮𝓷𝓽𝔂-𝓞𝓷𝓮 ꧂

"You will never look desperate for me," I said to her a few times when I grabbed her hand and pulled her through the halls.

She had been distant since I took her to the empty cafeteria. Her perfect lips were pressed together in a way that made me want to smooth them out with my thumb, but she was mad. Her usual snarky remarks were nowhere to be found, replaced by short responses and careful glances. She had let this fester in her mind for a day or two now. Because after her birthday party? She had been fine, saying goodbye with a quick kiss. Then it had been worse, being tired, but not being visibly angry.

I could work with a lot of things. I could handle Savannah when she was playful, when she was stubborn, when she tested me. But this? The silence, the way she wouldn't meet my eyes, like she was bracing for something? I hated it even though I had been positive I could handle all of her.

Trying one last time I leaned to her. "I didn't mean to hurt you, I just tried to protect you."

She didn't answer and sat down at a table. I followed next.

I needed her on my side. I needed her to know I wasn't playing around anymore. Moongrave was safe, I could finally focus on her, on us. She could be officially mine, and I would not spend another second letting her think I was hesitating. Worse was I couldn't just tell her the reason why I had been distant.

That I was still holding her I realized when she took her hand from me and her nails tapped against the table.

"So what's up?" I finally asked, watching her carefully.

She shrugged, chewing slowly before speaking. "Nothing."

A lie. I exhaled through my nose, choosing my next words carefully. "You've been off since yesterday."

Savannah sighed sharply and finally looked at me, green eyes flickering with frustration. "Why didn't you kiss me? The truth."

I blinked. Being a liar for that in her eyes was not what I was expecting. "What?"

"I gave you an opportunity yesterday," she said, voice dropping lower, more irritated. "I was waiting for it. And you—you just stood there like you always do. Waiting for me to make the move."

Realization hit, cold and sharp, cutting through my confidence like a blade. Of course. She had waited on me. The stupid kissing agreement had made me dirty the other day.

She thought I was still hesitating. She thought I didn't want her enough to take the damn initiative. That I was lying about protecting her from myself.

"Since VIvian was with us, I didn't think—"

"Exactly," she cut me off. "You didn't think, Deon. You just stood there."

Hell. This wasn't just frustration. I'd messed up. She took all of it wrong.

I clenched my jaw, adjusting my position in my seat, gripping the edge of the table to keep from reaching for her too fast.

"Savannah," I said slowly, carefully, making sure she heard every word. "I'm done waiting."

She scoffed, but I saw the flicker of hesitation in her expression. "Really?"

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself before saying it out loud. "I can't be without you anymore."

She didn't believe me. She was still mad, and I had to fix it. But before I could say another word, she stood up. Her lips pressed tight together.

"Go on a date with me," I offered softly.

"Private or in front of people?" she asked harshly.

So that was she all about. Not looking just desperate but being my secret from the public eye.