So I Ran...

Chapter 7

Rachelle stayed behind to wait for Marcus so Rhiley left on her own. She was surprised to see Tyler waiting on the front steps. His hair was a bit messy so she knew he had been there for a while.

            “What are you doing here?” She asked as she went up to him. He stood up with a goofy grin on his face.

            “What?”

            “Did anything happen after the pack meeting?” It looked like he already knew.

            “Nope.” She walked by him and into the house.

            “Okay, then.” He closed the front door behind him and followed Rhiley into the kitchen. He watched her get a glass of water before talking again. “So, your birthday’s next month. You excited?” His grin fell when the plastic cup fell into the sink from her hand. Her shoulders looked tense.

            “How did you know about that?” She didn’t turn toward him.

            “It was on your class schedule. Aren’t you turning 18?”

            “Just drop it.” He leaned back against the table.

            “Why? Aren’t people usually excited about their birthday? I know I can’t wait for mine.”

            “Tyler, I don’t want to talk about it.” She gripped the edge of the sink tightly.

            “Why? How is your birthday such a touchy subject?” He got an edge in his voice that made her turn around. She found him with his arms crossed and a troubled look on his face.

            “What are you getting at?” She challenged him.

            “Where’s your mate, Rhiley?” To this day she swore her heart stopped beating for more than a second. It took her brain another minute or so to reach her voice box.

            “How did you know I had a mate?”

            “The first day you met Jackson, I saw his mark on your side.” He seemed a tad calmer. She lowered herself onto the floor, put her elbows on her knees and put her head in her arms. Tyler slowly made his way over and sat beside her.

            “I wont judge you for what happened and don’t think any less of me for asking…. You have to know how this looks to me, I mean…. You didn’t…. kill him or something, right?” He was ready to run at any moment but his heart sank when he saw her face. She looked up at him and the tears got to him but her eyes…. There was such a deep sadness. She let out a lone laugh despite it all.

            “No….I didn’t hurt him. I could never do such a thing…. I’m sure you’d like to know why.” Her head was back down but he could hear her clearly. He couldn’t lie and say he wasn’t curious so he simply stayed quiet.

            “My old Alpha killed him during our senior year. Being an Alpha when you’re 21 is hard. It changed him. We all used to be friends until then. He insisted we were meant to be, that fate made a mistake. He killed Abrahm like it was easy. Before Abrahm was even gone five minutes …….. Abrahm and I had already marked each other by then but never fully mated…. The mark on my back is my old Alpha’s. Please don’t make me explain it to you.” Her body was shaking and no matter how hard she closed her eyes the tears didn’t stop coming.

            Tyler didn’t know what to say. There was nothing he could say so he kept his mouth shut and moved closer to put his arms around her. He understood why she didn’t want to talk about her birthday now. The details came together and already he was thinking of ways to keep her safe.

            They were only friends but he had an unhealthy attachment to her, as Brendon would say. Of course it was all in good fun, but he did admit he has feelings for her. It’s hard not to. The only problem is, he hasn’t found his mate yet.