When The Wolves Come Out

Chapter 26

I can't concentrate for one second during school. I feel guilty for maybe having two mates, if that's even possible.

"Miss Brookes? Are you feeling okay?" my teacher asks me. "You look pale."

"Can I be excused?"

And without waiting for a reply, I run out of the class room, heading outside. Luckily it was already last period and people were leaving lessons anyway.

I get to the car park and see Grayson sat in a truck similar to Ethan's. He sees me and smiles, getting out of the car.

I ignore the will to run over to him and into his arms, instead walking in the opposite direction.

"Ashlyn! Where are you going?" Grayson calls after me and I can hear his footsteps from the other end of the car park.

I keep walking before breaking into a jog, heading into the woods near school.

His loud footsteps get faster.

I now begin sprinting, tripping over tree roots and getting hit by branches, but keep going.

I come to a clearing and hear nothing. My head whips around.

Silence.

Suddenly, a wolf jumps onto me and I'm pinned to the ground, tears pricking at my eyes. This wolf was familiar. I knew I'd seen it before. It had a soft grey coat and chocolate brown eyes that looked all too similar to my mate's.

The wolf slowly turns back into human form and now Grayson has me pinned to the ground.

"Why did you run away?" he asks.

"I..." I swallow. "It's complicated."

"Complicated?" he echoes. "Why does everyone tell me that?"

"Gray, please."

He rolls off of me and helps me up, letting out a deep breath. "I think I know what it's about."

"What is it, then? Because at the moment it's making no sense to me."

"Lily isn't my real mate."

What?

"S-She's not?" I stutter, knowing where this was heading.

"You are."

I stumble backward slightly but Grayson catches me. I push away his arm once I'm firmly stood up again.

"But... Ethan is my mate. I don't understand."

"I don't either. But I know that's the reason why you ran away from me. We're mates. Maybe we should accept that."

"No," I reply, pulling myself out of his arms. "I have a mate."

"Now you have two." He chuckles slightly but I stare at him straight faced.

"I can't believe it."

"You can't or you won't?" he says, taking my hand in his. "We can't just ignore something like this, Ashlyn."

I'm speechless. How could I do this to Ethan after he's been nothing but loyal to me? It makes me a horrible person, doesn't it? I draw my hand away from his, running it through my hair.

Grayson stares deeply into my eyes and I suddenly remember to put my guard up.

Silence stretches between us.

"I'll walk home," I say, turning around before he grabs my wrist.

"No, I'll drive us. I won't mention anything to the pack until you've made up your mind."

"I've made up my mind already, Grayson."

"You're not giving me a chance."

The drive home is silent. All I can think about is how heart broken Ethan will be when he finds out. That is, if he even finds out.

The car stops when we pull up to the pack house and I look over at Grayson who is already staring at me. He zips a finger over his mouth before getting out and heading inside.

As soon as I shut the front door I'm enveloped in strong, familiar arms.

Ethan kisses me. "How was school?"

"The same as everyday," I reply blankly.

"You okay? I was just making myself a hot chocolate if you wanted one..."

Hot chocolate. That's what Grayson smelt like. Shit.

Ethan laughs nervously when I don't respond, touching my arm. "Ash?"

"Uh, sure."

Ethan kisses me again quickly before hurrying into the kitchen, and the only thing I feel is guilty.

~~

During dinner that night I try my best to show that nothing was wrong. I laugh and chat at the right times, I eat the same amount of food as I usually do even though I feel sick to my stomach, and most importantly, I avoid Grayson's gaze. He wasn't really looking at me either, anyway.

"Hey, Ashlyn?" Gemma says. "You wanna go clubbing tomorrow night?"

"Sure," I reply, letting everyone else take over the conversation when I hear the doorbell ring.

Ethan's mum rushes to the door. "Ashlyn! It's for you!" she calls out.

I stand up from the table and walk over to the door to see Harry holding my school bag.

"Harry?"

"Hey. You forgot your school bag earlier and I wanted to return it to you."

I take it from him cautiously. "How did you get my address?"

"Oh, I-uh... I have my ways."

"Uh huh." I nod.

He fiddles with his hands and shuffles from foot to foot awkwardly.

"Um, Ashlyn?" he says, looking up at me.

"Yeah?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to go on another date—"

I cut him off by slamming the door shut in his face and walking back to the dining room, resuming my seat at the table.

"Who was that?" Ethan asks, squeezing my hand.

"Harry."

"Ugh. Let me guess, he asked you on another date?"

"Pretty much."

"Just ignore people like him. You're mine, and I won't let any other guy get to you."

And despite the fact that I knew he was talking about Harry, he'd react the same way if it was Grayson.

My eyes wonder around the room until they lock with none other than Grayson's. He stares at me, and I want to look away but I can't. And just for a fraction of a second, I think that I see a swirl of pink in his eyes before it disappears again and he acts like nothing ever happened.