Mated to the Wizard

17 - Sneak Cookies

Everest's P.O.V

"What are you talking about?" She breathes out, her heart beating so hard against the thin fabric of my grey t-shirt that the non-wizard part of me stirs. It makes me clench my fists. The wolf who doesn't talk banging against the back of my brain, trying to stop me from trying to bond myself with Avery. He wants me to run and never look back because it means she will be safe. But I know that can't happen. My father, my son. Everyone would be affected if I did that. Anyway, you can't hide from a wizard, and Father is one of the strongest out there.

"Why did you leave?" I question, trying to appear innocent. Of course, I know why she left. My plan is to make her think I'm the good guy again, and then I can mark her. It's all about trust. My wolf is proud that she doesn't trust easy, because if she did, she would be dead by now. Although, it makes the job a damn lot harder for me.

"You know why, Everest." She replies tightly, thinning her lips and closing her eyes for a second to calm her nerves. She's scared of me. Obviously she is. My wolf itches to comfort her, which completely contradicts his earlier movements, but Avery's dangerously close to breaking down, and it's in every instinct of his to help her. I read a book about it once.

Pushing a stray piece of hair behind my mate's ear, I let my fingers graze the soft skin of her forehead, trying to show that I mean no harm. Her breathing hitches and she flinches. Not ideal.

"Avery, please tell me. I don't know what I did to make you leave. It's making my wolf side anxious." I try playing the guilt card, but it backfires. The girl's eyes shoot open at lightning speed and she glares at me, breaking into a humourless laugh. I don't try and stop her when she dips out from between my hands and moves to the other side of the room, still chuckling.

"Wow, you really crack me up." She states, wiping a fake tear from under her eye, which suddenly seems to turn to stone. Not literally, but cold. Deep, evil green that makes my stomach churn.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, mirroring her words from a few minutes ago. Placing a hand on her hip, she shakes a finger at me, as if scolding a child.

"You don't get to ask questions after all you've done." She spits. Then that condescending smirk comes back. I think I preferred the evil laughter more. "You're so full of bullshit!" she exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air.

We stare at each other for a good thirty seconds, neither of us daring to break eye-contact. We both look away at the same time and she sighs, plopping herself down on the bed.

"You know I can feel your wolf?" she says it more as a question than anything. "He's been communicating with my wolf since we met. Not properly, but he sends her different emotions. Occasionally he manages to get out a few words. I can hear him clear as day, but you can't. It's like something's breaking the connection." She shrugs. "It's you." She adds.

"It's me?" I tread carefully. Looking like a ticking time bomb, Avery just sits there with her hands folded in her lap, staring at the floor in contemplation. I've never seen this side of her before. It's new territory for me which unnerves my wizard side. I like to have everything planned and organised, but this trip didn't go to plan.

"Yes. There's so much friction between you're two sides. You're constantly battling with yourself." I perch on the end of her desk. It's been only two minutes since I had her pushed up against the wall, but now the tables have drastically turned. "If you let him in you might actually find out that he's really sweet. He cares for my wolf greatly. And we all know you're lying about not knowing why I left. You're trying to kill me, which is yet another reason you can't actually access your werewolf side." She pauses, a thoughtful look passing across her frowning face. "Why do you want me dead, Everest?" there's nothing broken about her voice like I would expect. She's more curious.