Rejecting Love

CHAPTER FIVE:

Caiden POV

Well, that was...entertaining. I muse as I watch Dylan run toward the woods, a grin creeps to my face. So he does care, this will be easier than I expected. My stomach tightens, what am I doing? He doesn't deserve her. But he is her mate, they deserve a chance. I should go after him maybe a good fight is what he needs to kick some sense into him.

As I take a few steps toward the tree line, I reach out to Dylan in the mind link. He shuts me down. Ouch! What the...?! A cold, eerie feeling runs through my body, sending chills to the bone.

"Don't." I hear Dylan's voice in my head. "Let me be. We'll talk when I return." He's a lot more powerful than he's let on. My blood boils! I've trusted him with my life, with the lives of my pack - and he doesn't have the courtesy to tell me the truth of his past! I thought I knew him, but I guess not.

"Oh yes! We will talk when you return." I seethe, unsure if he can hear me.

Storming into the Pack House, I head straight to my office. Rifling through the cabinets, I hear someone cough behind me.

"What's up, Caiden?" Sam asks.

"Just looking for the old pack records." I quickly say.

"What for? I thought you already knew everything about our Pack history?" Sam fidgets with his hands. I stop and observe him with a careful eye.

We were best friends growing up, inseparable. Everyone though he'd be my Beta when the time came. Through the years we drifted apart, and when the time came - he wasn't there. I know he has hard feelings over my decision, though he'd never voice it. He truly is an honorable man. I know he'll always stand by my side, no matter what.

"Not our pack." I calmly say turning back toward a new cabinet. "History of the other packs. The entire line of Alpha's before me kept in touch with the other packs, and well, they kept notes." I shrug.

"Okay. What are we looking for?" Sam asks, stepping up beside me.

"Um. I'm not exactly sure. Anything to do with the Dark Ravens Pack." I have a feeling something happened in their old pack that forever changed the lives of Dylan and Lucinda. I wonder if Dylan's aware of it. Or if it's just another secret kept and lie told...I take deep breath and try to remain calm.

"Here, maybe this has something." Sam says holding up a spiral notebook with Dark Ravens written across the front in all capital letters.

Lucinda POV

"Finally!" Mia squeals as we drive down the road. "I can't believe you're here. It's about time! What took you so long? Where have you been? What..."

"Whoa! Slow down, one question at a time." I giggle.

"Okay. What took you so long?" Mia asks eyeing me carefully, the smile dropping from her face. I shift my weight in the front seat. "When Gavin and I left you, we made a deal. Remember?" I nod.

"You were going to come join us within a month." Mia continues. I sigh, slouching in my seat. "That was three years ago!" Covering my face with my hands I groan.

"I know. I uh, I, well you see..." I stutter, thankfully she cuts me off.

"I was worried sick! I thought...Do you know what it was like when I returned? What had happened to my pack? My brother..." She slammed her palm on the steering wheel. "Damn it Cinda! I thought they killed you too!" I see tears streaming down her face as she looks at me.

"Hey, I'm okay. I'm a hard nut to crack, remember?" I say softly. "I'm fine. I'm sorry it took longer than I said it would. My past caught up to me." I gave a weak smile.

"But, what happened to your pack?" I ask.

"It was a slaughter." She says, almost in a trance. "Gavin and I arrived home just after, so we only heard stories. But, I guess some rogues attacked, unprovoked. We weren't prepared we had many losses, my parents among them."

"That's when Caiden became Alpha?" I ask. She nods and then her eyes light up.

"Speaking of Caiden, what's up with you two?" I can hear the playfulness in her voice returning. I roll my eyes. Man, I've missed her mood swings.

"Nothing. He's a good Alpha. Different than others, he's nonjudgmental and understanding." I say.

"Yes." She fidgets with the steering wheel before continuing. "You two seem to be friendly." I nod. "That's good. He needs more friends." I smile at the thought I'd like to have friends too.

"Well, I wouldn't be a good friend." I finally say.

"And why not? Aren't we friends?" Mia asks, raising one eyebrow at me.

"Yes. You're my best friend!" I say. "But he's an Alpha. I come with a lot of baggage that he shouldn't have to deal with as an Alpha."

"Well, he has lots of baggage too. Maybe you two can ship your luggage down the river or something?" She says with a snort. At that I start to full out laugh, it feels good to smile, laugh, and be happy.

Before I know it we're at the mall. Mia drags me in and out of almost every shop. While I despise shopping, I haven't done it in so long I'm actually enjoying myself.

We take a break and grab lunch in the food court. We're surrounded by humans, but several wolves linger about as well. They all stop to speak with Mia, in turn she introduces me. I frown as I realized I'll never remember everyone.

My heart drops to the pit of my stomach and waves of nausea course through me. I smell the familiar stench before I see him, my eyes roaming through the crowd and finally fall upon a black haired boy. His icy blue eyes stab me with daggers as they meet mine.

"Lucinda? What are you doing here?" I hear a voice in my head. "You shouldn't be here! Leave. Now." And then I feel an iron grip on my shoulder.