Truths Collide (WolfGirl 2)

Chapter 26: Alpha

(Scarlet James)

I turn to Caius, who's holding his bleeding arm. He had shifted to human form while Tristan and I talked. He looks at me before heading for his car. I quickly shift back and while I want to go after Tristan, I follow Caius. I have to make sure he's okay.

"Caius, let me help you," I call after him as he struggles to get his keys out of his pant pocket.

"There's a first aid kit in my trunk," he tells me as I get his keys out and unlock the car before popping open the trunk. There's a white towel in there as well so I use a water bottle to dampen it before taking it to him with the first aid kit. He sits down in the driver's seat as I get into the passenger seat and start wiping away at the blood.

"For an Alpha, you're pretty stupid, you know," I scold him.

"Yeah, well, it was worth it," he chuckles before saying, seriously, "he put up one hell of a fight for you."

"I wouldn't have expected anything less from him," I reply as I put some ointment on the bite.

"You should talk to Tristan," Caius says softly, caressing my face with his good hand, "I know you can't be completely with me until you see him."

I hesitate, "Caius..."

"It's okay. I'll be home. Waiting for you like I have been all these years," he smiles, but I can't help but notice the tinge of sadness in his eyes.

"Caius," I sigh heavily as I start bandaging his wound. Tristan was hurt worse and I hate that I can't be there for him right now, "Caius, I didn't choose you."

He looks at me sharply, "What do you mean? You told Tristan I was your mate. Tristan left."

I finish with the bandage and look at Caius, "But I didn't say I choose you. I'm sorry, Caius. You were my mate, but after Tristan and I mated and completed his curse, what you and I had seized to exist. At least on my end. I didn't know you and Olivia hadn't completed the mating process yet."

"Because I couldn't do it, Scarlet. She's not my mate," Caius tells me, desperately.

"Just try to. That girl loves you, Caius. I've seen the way she looks at you. All you have to do is return it just a little bit," I urge him. I want him to be happy. I want him to find what Tristan and I found.

Caius just stares at me. I wish I could know what was going on in his head. But then he grabs my neck and pulls me in for the kiss that'd been achingly waiting to happen since the moment we saw each other again at the rehearsal dinner. It brings back all those memories from the past that I've kept locked away.

"I never stopped loving you. Even Olivia's noticed it by now," he says against my lips.

"You'll have it so much better with her though," I tell him honestly, "trust me. You just have to give her a real chance."

"She's not you, Scarlet," he kisses me again, roughly this time.

"She's not supposed to be," I tell him and lightly push him away with moist eyes. Caius looks like he's been rudely awaken from a beautiful dream that was us.

"I'm never going to get over you," he whispers sadly and I grasp his hand.

"That's okay because you'll always be a part of me, Caius. You being with Olivia won't replace me. Nothing can erase what we had," I shake my head and place a hand on his chest, "I need us to end okay because I will always want you in my life."

"Right now, I don't think that will be possible. I need space...more than the five years we've already have between us," he replies, hesitantly.

I nod, understanding completely. It's still sad.