Get Your Paws off Me

Chapter 2: "Do you think about her a lot?"

A/N:Hiya guys! This chapter needs a little bit of editing (punctuation wise). I'm hoping to get to that as soon as my exams are over so bear with me 'til then! Please vote if you like it :D

A shout out to athenaeum_ for my lovely cover! I really appreciate all the effort she put into it and all credit goes to her, of course :)

(Olly on the right)

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It'd been exactly 1 hour and 17 minutes since we'd first set off from the dusty travel lodge on the side of the motorway. Coincidentally, it had been exactly 1 hour and 17 minutes since I'd been trying to pluck up the courage to ask Olly the burning question that'd been on the tip of my tongue for a few days now.

I glanced across at the man in the seat next to me. The rays from the rising sun were scattering off his messy blonde hair as he concentrated on the expanse of road ahead. I decided I'd held it in for long enough. He's my brother for goodness sake. I should be able to ask him a simple question after all we'd been through together. With that in mind I finally spat it out.

"Do you still miss her?" In truth, I secretly knew the answer to this. I saw the signs everyday. For a whole year his laugh has been a little less loud. His smile has been a little less wide. But I wanted him to talk it out, there's nothing like a good old heart to heart right?

Actually, I hated talking about feelings, but I figured it might help Olly, even if it made me feel extremely awkward. 

As I'd been in my own little trance, I didn't notice my brother's sharp intake of breath and the way his knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel tightly.

I knew it! I should have been a psychic, not a wolf. I waited a little longer, but it didn't look like he was planning on answering me anytime soon so I decided to pursue it.

"Do you think about her a lot?" He exhaled the breath that I hadn't realised he'd been holding and his pale brows furrowed.

"Not as much as I used to. It's not something I want to dwell on Fee" His expression turned to one of sadness and I instantly regretted bringing it up. I was such an idiot. No good would come of dredging up old memories. For some reason though, I just couldn't let it go. So shoot me, I was curious.

"The connection with a mate isn't something you're going to forget easily Olly. It's okay to miss her. You need to move on though, the sooner you look forward, the better things will get".

He raised his voice. "You think I don't know that Ophelia?! I'm trying my best here, you don't know what it's like."

I was shocked to say the least, he rarely ever raised his voice to me, and when he did it was usually in mock anger. I think I'd hit a soft spot, but to be honest, what was I expecting?

Once I'd realised I'd upset him, I tryed to backpedal. "I'm sorry Olly, I know you're trying your hardest. I don't know where I'd be without you". I tried to win him over with a tentative smile.

"I know exactly where you'd be. You'd be with our pack, living life as a young she-wolf should. You wouldn't be touring the country with your pathetic, outcast, brother as he pines after the mate that didn't want him". I inwardly cringed. Is that what he really thought of himself?

"Shut up you idiot. If it wasn't for you I'd be stuck in that hell hole of a pack, living with a bunch of mindless teenage girls, overly macho, testosterone fuelled boys and a set of parents that I haven't been able to stand since I was around 12". I took a deep breath. "And as for your mate, it's her loss and there's no going back now."