A Taste Of Love

chapter twenty six

Lexi's POV;

Opening my eyes I frowned as I found myself in a warm bed, glancing around the room I recognised it as Ryan's room. I let out a sigh it was a dream, a horrible dream.

Throwing the covers off me I stumbled over to the bathroom, rushing to throw a cloth under the tap. There was a dull ache in my shoulder, like the place where Ryan bit me in my dream. Lifting my shirt down so I could see I screamed as I saw two wolf heads in that place.

One was feminine looking and underneath a more manly looking wolf. It reminded me of Ryan's wolf; black with some grey bits and the bottom wolf was white like me. A ribbon went around the two as if it was tying them together with the initials R and L. I rubbed my eyes to see if I was dreaming, I screamed again as it was still there. What was it?

"Lexi what's wrong?"

Turning around I glared at Ryan

"You did it! It wasn't a bad dream. Why? Why did you do it?" I yelled at him, tears in my eyes.

"Baby I'm so sorry, I swear it was my wolf. You know I would never do anything to hurt you"

"but you did" the words falling off my lips before I could stop myself. I knew it was his wolf that did it, but he could have tried to take control, he was stronger than me. But even as I thought it I knew I could have tried harder.

Letting my knees give out I slumped to the floor, only to fall on something soft; Ryan. Glancing up I stared at him, what did I do? I had blocked out my wolf, I wasn't talking to her. It was her fault. A stronger part of me wanted to run. Just run from him and not come back. But then there was another part of me that wanted to stay, stay in his arms and never let go.

"What happens now?" my voice still came out as a whisper but I didn't even bother to move. I was exhausted, too weak to do anything. I felt drained.

"What do you mean?"

"What does this marking mean?"

"It shows everybody that you're mine and I'm yours. It shows people that we love each other-"

"do we?" I asked as I pulled back to look at him. I didn't know if I still loved him, if I could forgive him for this.

"Lexi you know I love you" he whispered with sadness taking over his features.

"Then why? Why didn't you try harder to fight your wolf? Did you know how scary it was for me? My wolf calling me weak and saying she was doing this to help me, did you even spare a thought to me? You know this is all new to me, couldn't you just wait?" I questioned as I stood up and lent against the wall, my eyes never leaving his. I refused to cry, no more.

"Lexi I'm so sorry. Please I promise I'll never ever do anything to hurt you again"

Running a hand through my hair I sucked in a breathe before speaking

"Ryan I think we need some space. I want to take the rest of the week off school please?" I asked as I tried not to let my voice waver.

"O-of course"

"Thank you, can you leave now?" I asked politely to which he nodded and left the room.

Shutting the door I quickly turned the shower on and stripped out of my clothes. I ignored the strange pulling feeling I had and stood under the water.

Ryan would have to go to school soon so he wouldn't be here. Maybe I could spend the day with Ryan's mum and then go for a walk later on. I didn't want to be mad at Ryan but he broke my trust. Now I didn't know if I could run away anymore, I had seen Leela with Matt and they barely left each others side. Maybe it was because of the mark or hopefully because they just liked being around each other, I was hoping for the second one.

Climbing out of the shower I wrapped a purple fluffy towel around my body before walking back into the bedroom; my feet making the floor wet. Picking out some pink underwear I then grabbed a grey t-shirt and jeans from the closet.

Drying my body I quickly put the clothes on and some fluffy socks with shoes before walking out of the room. I let the air dry my hair as I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. The house was empty of kids except a few adults walking around and some maids cleaning. I didn't understand why they called them maids, it was a silly name.

"Hi" I smiled as I walked into the kitchen, Ryan's mum was sitting at the table drinking coffee.

"Hello sweetheart, how are you feeling?" she asked me as I sat down, she looked sad though?

"I'm okay"

"So...how's things with you and Ryan?" as soon as she said his name I felt my heart clench.

I honestly wanted to run into his arms and never let go but it was hard. I trusted him, it hurt that he would do this to me.

"I'm scared and confused" I mumbled softly as I began to play with the bottom strands of my hair; a trait I picked up from when I was living with dad.

"Aww sweetie you know you don't have to be scared, Ryan would never hurt you"

I knew what she said was true but, eugh I don't know. Everything seemed to be going down. First that...that thing that happened at school and now this. I wanted a break. Maybe good things weren't supposed to happen to me.

"I know but he broke my trust. And I don't even understand this whole marking thing, it's all new"

"You know he regrets it so much dear, he's honestly been beating himself up about it. Now I know he could have tried harder, which is why I suggest you make that boy work for you"

"but I feel so bad. You guys have given me a home, food, clothes, a new school and I haven't given you anything. I don't want to make him work, I don't have nothing to give you back." I mumbled pathetically as I stared down at the shiny wooden table.

"Honey you don't ever have to pay us back, we do this because we love you and care about you. Plus its nice to have a girl around the house, you're like the daughter I never had" she smiled and I felt tears well up in my eyes.

Moving around the table I quickly threw my arms around her as a tear slipped from my eye. I stayed there for a few minutes as she rubbed my back,

"thank you" I said quietly with a smile as I pulled back and sat back down.

"You're welcome sweetie"

"Ermm Linda? What happens now he's marked me? What does it do?" I asked as she sipped on her drink.

"Well it's the first step of the mating bond, I think you know the second." she paused as she gave me a look and I realised she was talking about the birds and bees. I felt my cheeks grow hot making Linda chuckle. I just bit my lip as I waited for her to continue.

"Also now he's marked you with his scent-"

"his what?"

"His smell, everyone has a certain smell including you. Now he's marked you, his scent will be mixed with yours. That way everyone will know that you're taken. Also now every time a guy touches you, say he hugs you your wolf and you won't like it. It will feel uncomfortable. Got everything so far?"

"Yeah...Linda? When Ryan went away there was like a pulling in me. What is it?"

"Ahh, that's just your wolfs calling for each other. Since he's marked you, your wolfs will want to be together. It will become painful if one of you is too far from the other so most newly marked wolves stay together for the first week or so"

"Why aren't I in pain? He's at school and I'm here"

"he's taken the week off school. He's in his study with his father doing business, he did it so you wouldn't be in pain. And this way you won't see him"

Nodding my head slightly I stared at the table shocked. He stayed here to keep me from being in pain, maybe he did love me? And he didn't even tell me, he was giving me space. I didn't know what to do, I knew I couldn't hate him forever. I loved him. But maybe Linda was right, maybe I should make him work for me. Make him work to gain my trust back.

Yes I did love him but I didn't fully trust him.

"Linda I'm going to take a walk" I said politely before leaving the room.

Walking out into the back garden I decided I would stay in the forest, hopefully I wasn't too far to put Ryan in pain. I wanted eagerly to shift into my wolf and run, to feel the wind against my body as I ran but I wasn't talking to my wolf.

Instead I walked, well hopped. I tried to avoid stepping leaves and twigs. After a few hours of playing that game and chasing birds I began to walk home. Home, such a funny word to me. I used to think when mum was alive that home was a place where love was. It was the place you went to when you were loved.

But after mum died it wasn't a home. More of a cage, I was stuck in there with no love. Just hatred. But now I did feel loved, by Linda and Ryan and Holly. It was a home. My new home.

Pushing the back door open I walked in to see Ryan with his back to me shaking. It looked like he had something in his hand. I glanced around to see Linda and Lewis (Ryan's dad) were next to him and some other people were in the room.

I looked at Linda's face, she looked worried. No one seemed to have noticed me, not even Ryan.

"What's wrong?"

I watched as Linda looked at me, her face got sad which made me confused. Ryan was still shaking, his hands seemed to be gripping whatever he was holding tighter. Stepping forward slightly I walked towards Ryan.

Looking over his arm I could see a piece of paper. Why was he angry at the paper?

"Ryan?" I tapped his shoulder, he froze before turning to look at me, putting the paper in his other hand away from me.

"Hi" he said even though his voice sounded weird.

"What was that?" I pointed to the paper he was trying to hide.

"Oh nothing"

"but you were angry at it, it's obviously not nothing"

"Lexi it's nothing honestly"

"how do you expect me to trust you if you keep lying to me? Ryan can I please have the paper?"

"Baby seriously it's just some business I gotta sort out. Nothing for you to worry about"

Nodding my head at him I glanced back up, most of the people had left and Linda and Lewis were staring at each other. Walking to Ryan's other side I pretended to walk to the sink. As I passed his hand with the paper I quickly grabbed it before running out of the room.

"Lexi no! Come back here!" I ignored Ryan and ran up to my room shutting the door behind me.

Opening the letter I felt sick.

'Dear cousin,
I have declared war against your pack. This issue can be solved simply if you give me back Lexi. I would hate to have to hurt you, I can't say the same for the rogues. Drop Lexi off at our home by Friday or we will attack'

I turned around as I heard the door open, the letter slipping from my hands.

"What are you gonna do?" my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. Why? Why would he do this?

I was snapped out of my thoughts by Ryan's reply,

"We're gonna fight"

No. No, no, no. This was it. I was going to have to leave. Tonight.

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Updated 6th July 2012 enjoy :D