Claimed (Werewolf boyxboy)

Chapter 11

Ortiz

It was torturous.

That was the only word that could even begin to describe the car ride back to the Pack House. After my brief but informative talk with Tyrus, Corey slipped into the backseat of his brother's car without so much as a word.

I still felt choked by the emotional pain that threatened to send me even further along my toxic spiral of overthinking, and I soon felt humiliation cloud my mind as I thought about what I had done.

I had absolutely ruined the Cahill's dinner. At a time that was supposed to be full of congratulations and happiness as they welcomed a new member of their family, I just had to lose control of myself and make everything about me and my stupid fucking emotions. Again.

What was really a short, 10-ish minute drive back from the restaurant felt like eons, and I couldn't bring myself to do anything other than stare blankly down at my shaky hands that sat in my lap, my mind violently racing as I tried my hardest to ignore Corey's proximity. 

The relief I felt was overwhelming when we finally pulled up in front of the Pack House. Mumbling a quick 'thanks' to Tyrus, I wasted absolutely no time in scurrying out of the stuffy car, making a beeline for my room on the far side of the House. 

A few pack members waved at me with bright smiles on the way, but I kept my eyes trained on the floor, fists clenched as I tried to keep myself from having a full-on break down in front of everyone. I didn't have see Corey to feel his presence, his hulking form was omnipresent as he was forced to follow close behind me. I still didn't - couldn't - turn around towards him even when I finally entered my room, facing my bed as I tried to stall what I knew was inevitable. 

We were going to have to talk. 

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and Luka's hackles rose with anticipation as the door gently clicked shut, signaling that Corey and I were now alone.

I felt like an absolute coward as I stood there, staring at the wall while another one of those horrible, uncomfortably silences settled between us. I could sense that we were both waiting for the other to talk first, but we both probably had no clue how to start such an important conversation. There was another long moment of unbearable silence until a voice finally broke through the tense air. 

"Do you really think that I do not have emotions?" 

Corey's voice was as deep as ever, and I flinched at the rich, demanding sound of it. Although, it also held a distinct softness, as if he was making a conscious effort to make the intimidating sound seem gentle. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath as I tried to summon the courage to turn around. 

"You don't even have expressions, Corey. How the hell am I supposed to know if you are feeling anything?" I spoke with my back still facing him, my fingers twitching as I tried to convince myself to just fucking turn around already.

There was another long, agonizing silence that fell between Corey and I before his voice broke it yet again. 

"Do you know what it feels like to have to tip toe around someone that makes your heart palpitate every time they so much as breathe in your direction?" He spoke somewhat slowly, an uncharacteristic tremor in his voice becoming more evident the longer he went on. 

"...How it feels to watch your destined mate push you away more and more every day for reasons you don't understand? Or what it's like to have to read fucking Shakespeare to remember what it feels like to be loved by someone?" His shaky breath was audible as he went to finish his thought. "...Because I do."