Changing You ✦ 𝑍.𝐷.𝐻.

Chapter 29 {R}

He left me standing there alone, devastated and heartbroken.

Turning his back to me and without looking back once, he walked off to his class.

Clenching my jaw firmly together and swallowing harshly, I locked the soft cries that threatened to fall over my lips up inside, but I couldn't stop a few tears from escaping my eyes.

I desperately wanted to leave, but my frozen body wouldn't move an inch.

My numb senses didn't register Jonah coming to my side until I felt his hand on my shoulder. "I swear to God, I'll show him what kind of monster I can be." He looked after Zach with anger burning in his eyes.

With a quick movement, I wiped my tears away. Which had absolute no use, because everything about me; my scent, my body language, my heartbeat, told Jonah how I was feeling.

He looked at me, his grey-blue eyes immediately softening. Silently, he pulled me to his chest and engulfed me in a tight hug.

Biting my lip, I buried my head in his chest.

"Ri, listen to me," he spoke up softly, resting his hand on the back of my head. "You are not a monster, okay?"

I let out a shaky breath, making Jonah sway me to the sides gently. "Yes, you're a werewolf, but that doesn't make you a monster," he continued as I loosely wrapped my arms back around his waist. "You're far from, okay?"

Pulling back, he placed his hands on my cheeks, pushing the strands of hair out of my face and making me look up at him. "If he doesn't see you for the beautiful person you are, then he doesn't deserve you."

The corners of my mouth tugged up into a faint, weak smile. But looking into his eyes, realisation hit me. Swallowing harshly, my smile instantly faded. "What are we gonna do, Jonah?" I asked barely audible.

His eyebrows drew together in a look of uncertainty. Together with a slight shaking of his head he answered softly, "we'll figure it out, okay?"

"How?" I questioned hopelessly. "You heard him, they will kill us if we're not gone by tomorrow."

Jonah's shoulders lifted in a small shrug. "We've dealt with this before, with the Argents," he reminded me, "and we'll get through this again."

Aiming my gaze at the ground, I bet my inner cheek, my shoulders slumping down in defeat. "Right now I just- I just want to go home," I told him softly.

I sensed Jonah nodding. "So let's go."

"You don't have to come with me," I said, looking back up at him. "You should go to class, it's fine." Clearing my throat, I pushed my hair back behind my ear again. "Besides, I uh, I want to walk, to clear my head and stuff."

"Ri," he softly placed his hand around mine, "we can walk as much as you want, and I'll shut up all the way long so you can clear your head," he said with a soft smile. "But I'm not letting you go alone knowing there are hunters out there that want to see blood."

Knowing that it was no use to object, I nodded and shot him another weak smile.

Silently, he started walking. Holding my hand, he led me out of the school. Like he had promised, he didn't speak up once on our way to my house. Nevertheless, my mind was still filled with voices the entire walk home.

~ ☾~

Jonah tried everything to make sure there was a genuine smile on my face and that I felt better.

As soon as we got home he told me to shower and put on something comfortable. And while I was letting the warm water bring me comfort, Jonah made me pancakes.