My Forbidden Mate

Chapter 6

Monday's are always hard but add barely any sleep to that and it's not a nice mix. Tana has already commented on my bad mood and it's only 1st period.

I tap my pencil against the table as I work out this math question in my head. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and chance a glance to the teacher Mr. Kroll. And he's sound asleep at his desk. I pull my phone out to see a text from an unknown number.

Where the hell r u? Or did my warning of punishment not register?

My eyes go wide and I try to keep my calm as I type out a response.

I'm in school Jackson. You know that place 17 year old girls go when they are trying to get an education.

The bell rings and my phone vibrates as I'm navigating my way through the hallways.

I'll have one of my pack members take your car home. I'll be waiting for you in the parking lot after school. Don't make me wait to long, little mate

I groan but don't bother to argue and shove my phone back in my pocket. I turn the corner and collide with a much taller, lean figure. I look up into light brown eyes. Bens eyes. He grabs my shoulder to steady me so I don't fall and I give him a quiet thank you as I shuffle past.

"Alison, wait." He catches up to me and begins walking beside me. "So um," he scratches the back of his head which I know from years of being with him is his nervous tick.

"Spit it out Benji."

He looks up at the nickname I gave him when we were kids and a slight smile tugs at the corners of his lips. And I can't help it. I smile back.

"I miss you Ali. I'm so sorry."

I keep walking, my smile forgotten. "Why did you do it Ben? Why did you sleep with that girl?"

He bites his lip and I can tell he's trying to hold back tears. "I was mad. That night we fought I just remember being so upset. We weren't having sex and god thinking back now I know what an asshole that makes me but... I knew you were saving yourself for your mate and I wasn't him. I guess I just got tired of waiting for something that wasn't mine to take. I was hurt and I guess I wanted to hurt you back. "

The tardy bell rings but I continue to walk with Ben right past my 2nd class. "We knew something like this would happen Ben. When we started dating freshman year we knew we weren't mates."

He nods. "We thought we could do it. We thought we could just be together and enjoy the time we had and just... let go when it was time."

I smile and take his hand in mine. We stop walking and turn to look at each other, are hands locked together. "I enjoyed every second of being with you Ben. You were my first love. You are not my mate but I loved you. We will always have that."

Tears fill his eyes and I know Ben. He's to stubborn to let them fall in front of me. "That man at your house. He's your mate?"

I hesitate but nod.

Ben uses the hand not holding mine to push my hair back behind my ear and looks into my eyes. "I've lost you haven't I? Now that you have found your mate?..."

I shake my head. No he hasn't lost me because I found my mate. Not completely. "Benjamin you lost me the moment you touched that girl. I've  already forgiven you but mate or no mate I can't be with you after that."

He closes his eyes tightly and I can see how hard he is trying not to cry. 

I close the distance between us hugging him tightly. My own tears start to fall down my cheeks when his arms wrap around me. I pull away just enough to pull his face down to mine. Are lips touch lightly and I feel the wetness of both are tears on my lips as we kiss. This is goodbye and we both know it. I pull away and without a word walk away silently wiping my tears.