A Tale of Two Opposites (Stryders #3)

Chapter 43- WEST

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Edith hasn't been coming to see me lately.

I made a comment to Theo about it as put some salve on my neck, trying not to wince at the pain that I thought would leave soon. The silver is excruciating. Theo watched me like a hawk, and narrowed his eyes.

"What do they call it nowadays? Communicate with her that you feel hurt..." Theo paused. "What am I- your therapist?

"What else are you good for, Theo?" I grinned at him, but stared at the open text message that I was about to send again. I sent one last night, but I got no answer from her.

"Don't annoy her."

I cleared my throat. Theo didn't get it. The pull I felt because of the mate bond, I missed her scent and just...her. "I just want to...see her."

"Goodness," Theo grumbled.

"Just one text message saying hi is all," I hoped I didn't seem like I was too intrusive. Theo is right- Edith is really busy. But she made time for me for the past couple of days which meant something, I know it did. It was weird that she would change it all of a sudden. Or that I might have expected too much.

Theo's phone rings and he mouths "Mom". He puts in on speaker, and I hear aunt Julia ask Theo how I'm doing.

Theo lied smoothly, "West is....Just great. We're just chilling. You know the usual."

"That's so good to hear, I talked to his mom the other day and she's worried about him. Ask him if he wants to stay with us until school starts in a few days?" 

Theo looks over to me, wondering what to tell his mom.

I shake my head. I can't. Obviously. The scars on my neck are visible as day- and turtlenecks will take me so far. Theo bought me the entire section of turtlenecks from the store.

"He's going to his own pack. He feels a little home sick, whatever that is," Theo said to his mom.

"Yeah, if only you were homesick."

"Mom, I would always come home for you."

Aunt Julia laughs, updating him on what's been happening until she says goodbye to him, and I look away, missing my own parents.

XXXX

The best place for Wyatt to be at is Noctis Luna. He's pissed off at me, but that's the safest for him to be at the moment. Theo offered to drop me off home even though it's in the opposite direction of his own home.

When I get there, Wyatt is talking to Carter.

"Hey West," Carter gives me a huge grin. "I couldn't reach you. It's been hard to do that and check up on you. I forget though how young-"

"Ah, yes young. Youth." a mop of brown curly haired and a smug smirk made the typical Uncle Bo. When he saw me he laughed. "West, what's up with the turtlenck? We're finally going to have a sense of style?" Uncle Bo gave me a warm embrace that made me actually hiss under my teeth. 

The three of us walked into Dad's office, where Uncle Bo touched a semi clean desk. "Ah, this used to be my desk."

Wyatt raised an eyebrow at me, his lips curling upward. "It still is your desk, Uncle Bo. You always kick Carter out of it whenever you visit."