What Doesn't Kill You

Chapter Five

He looked beautiful tonight his dirty blond hair was slicked back and showed off his sharp, angular features and his piercing grey eyes. Sitting across from him at dinner is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. As everyone else spoke and laughed, my heart kept shattering as Jeremy leaned over and whispered into Valentina's ear. Her giggle filled the air. I felt like I might be physically ill.

Valentina Garcia was beautiful, kind, graceful, and the youngest daughter of a very powerful alpha. She was everything Jeremy was looking for in a mate. I believe we probably could have been friends if her hand hadn't been enclosed in my mate's.

"Taryn," the Latina beauty called. I looked up at her surprised, "If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your eye?"

I looked at her quizzically, "Something is wrong with my eye?"

It took me only a moment of my family laughing at my stupid question to realize she meant the cut on my brow, "Oh um I'm really klutzy I fell and hit my head on a locker as I was leaving school."

I felt eyes on me and looked up to see Jeremy staring at me with incredulity. His eyes on me made me feel hot and uncomfortable in my own skin.

I abruptly stood up and all eyes were on me.

"Uh ummm," for a second I could have sworn concern flashed through Jeremy's eyes, "I'm feeling a little woozy I think I need some air."

Garrett, Melinda, and my siblings looked at me with concern.

"Are you sure you're okay, Ryn?" Melinda asked.

"Yeah I just really need some air," I rushed out then bolted through the door.

Once outside, I stumbled to the forest line. I grabbed onto the bench swing's chain and leaned my face against it. The chain helped cool me down while the bite of it into my hands brought me back from the edge of despair and confusion I was teetering on.

"Taryn?"

I spun around quickly and stared at Jeremy. His hands were in his pockets, his head lowered as he looked up at me through his lashes.

I didn't know what to say. Just looking at him caused my throat to close with a mix of emotions and the sound of my name coming from his mouth caused the dam to break and the tears to spill.

I turned my back to him so he couldn't see my tears. I moved to sit down on the swing, keeping my back to him.

"Taryn, we need to talk."

"If it's not about you breaking up with Valentina. I don't want to hear it," I said through my sobs.

"That's not fair, Taryn," he said as he sat next to me.

I whipped my head towards him rage burning in me, "Like it's not fair that my mate...my other half...is throwing me away like...like...like trash for some Latin beauty!"

"Taryn, you have to let me explain," he pleaded with me.

But I didn't let his pleas deter me from my anger I stood up and turned towards him, "But that's how you've always seen me, isn't it? I've always just been trash that you can step on and push aside, right? Right?! Why don't you want me? Why can't we be together! Jeremy! Answer me!"

I had started crying towards the end and collapsed on to my knees and sobbed into my hands. I felt him kneel down next to me. We stay like that for a moment. The only sound filling the air is my slowly diminishing sobs.

When my tears stopped we sat there in silence.

"Taryn," when his hand connected with my shoulder I shot up.