Chasing October

Eleven

I was alone in the clinic. It had been two hours after the doctor left, letting me know that I was fine. My arm was healing just fine, and the ache between my legs had soon disappeared. My wolf was awake now, pacing impatiently for me to get up. I continued to relax in the bed, touching the silky fabric with my fingertips. The window was open, allowing for a warm breeze to flutter inside, and I sighed contently.

At the knock, I turned my head towards the door, Cecily popping her head inside. She gave a small, shy wave, and let herself in. I tried to smile, but then I remembered everything that had happened before, and lowered my eyes to my bed.

"You don't forgive me, do you?" she asked.

I shake my head. "It's not that I don't forgive you, Cecily, because I do. I just don't understand how you could react so harshly to me like that. What had I done to you to deserve that?"

She looked to the ground in embarrassment. "You didn't do anything. I was jealous."

"What could you have been jealous about?"

Cecily shuffled on her feet and took the chair by my bed, looking at her hands. "You had everything before the mating ceremony. Your parents gave you their house for goodness sake! And then we come here, and all of a sudden, the King was infatuated with you. He wanted you as his own, wanted to give you everything. The way he looked at you..." she shook her head and looked up at me. "It's the same way that Troy looks at me, only more. And I know they say when you find your mate it's supposed to be perfect, but I don't feel that way. I want more, I wanted what you and Sam have, and Troy can't give me that."

"I don't understand. How can he not give you that?"

Tears sprung to her eyes, and Cecily moved over to me, wrapping me in a hug. I squeaked in confusion, wrapping my left arm around her in a hug, and rubbed her back.

"Cecily?"

She hiccupped, rubbing at her eyes, and then looked at me. "It's by ancient ancestors that you're to be mated with a male, but I don't like that. I don't like males."

I nodded. "So you're into females. So what? I'm sure if you told Troy he would understand. Or if you don't want to reject him, then maybe you can learn to love him."

She shook her head roughly. "I'm in love with someone else, though."

"Who?"

Looking up at me, she kissed me, and I stared at her in shock, and she took a few steps away from me. As she slapped her hands to her mouth, Sam walked in, and he looked between the two of us in confusion.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, walking to my side slowly.

I nodded. "Cecily was just leaving," I told him, though I never removed my eyes from her.

She obeyed, and silently left, though her lips still left their imprint on mine. Sam watched her leave before turning to look at me, gently touching my cheek with his hand. "Are you sure everything is okay?"

I nodded again. "Cecily came to tell me she was in love with me," I whispered to him, and he started to chuckle.

"I gathered that the first time you two came to my castle. Did she try anything?"

"She kissed me. That was about it."

Sam touched my nose and smiled to me before he held out his hand. "Want to go for a walk, love?"

I slowly pulled myself up, taking his hand in mine. Sam smiled the same cheesy grin he always gave me, and lowered his head to kiss my lips. "I've missed you," he whispered, kissing my forehead next before he helped me stand.