Rejected

• THREE •

"Apparently he thinks he has some claim on me...says I shouldn't even think about talking to other guys."

"Did he really say that?" She asked much softer now.

"Basically..." I dropped my voice so only she would hear me, "he dropped the mate card."

"Maybe he wants to be with you then." She smiled.

"Doesn't mean I want to be with him." I lied.

She saw right through it as she raised one of her perfectly manicured brows, "you don't?"

Now I did roll my eyes, "of course I do, but I know him well enough to know that things won't be that simple."

"They can be...just tell him how you feel." She groaned. "...Please don't go playing games, just tell him how you really feel."

I thought about it, could it really be so easy?

I had hurt him pretty bad by leaving the first time, but maybe it could actually work. Of course I'd have to apologize...for the harsh things I said before leaving.

I didn't have much time to dwell on it as the professor had entered and immediately fell into lecture. I tried harder to focus on this class. It helped a little knowing Elise was right there with me, but I couldn't help but ponder her words.

'Maybe he wants to be with you.'

Soon after I was lost in the daydreams, vivid images of Patrick and I actually together in a happy and healthy relationship were all I could think about.

Before I knew it class had completely gone by and I had no idea what the professor had talked about. To make matters worse, Elise didn't look like she had paid any more attention than I had.

This was all Patrick's fault, if he would've just kept his distance like a normal person...then again I suppose he isn't just like a normal person.

He is a Were...a possessive, arrogant, cocky Were.

One that if given a chance could completely destroy me.

But I was going to give him the benefit of the doubt, he wouldn't be acting like this if it wasn't for him wanting me to notice right?

And Elise had said it herself, maybe Patrick actually does still want to be with me despite everything that had happened over the summer.

If he could get over the lies I said that night then I could get over the fact that he had slept with half the county...then maybe we'd be good.

I felt delusional.

These were all very big IFs and no definite signs he actually did want us to be together.

I knew I would just have to take Elise's advice.

I was going to have to find Patrick and actually have a true one on one talk with him so we could finally get all of this shit figured out.

Then perhaps life back at home wouldn't be so bad...at the very least I would know where he stands and even if he doesn't want to be with me, perhaps he will leave me be and I can actually try to have a regular college experience minus the boy drama.

Elise and I exited class and there was no sign of Patrick, I knew he would take my words literally.

I had told him to stay away from me.

This wouldn't help anything as now I actually needed to find him in order to talk with him.

I told Elise what was going on and she sighed. "Look we still have one more class for the day and the rest are late classes...if you don't run into him before I see you again, he's staying at the PAK house."

"Of course HE would be pledging one of the hottest fraternities on campus." I said.

But then again it made sense. If I wasn't mistaken, his cousin was also in Rho Alpha Kappa (PAK), so by default Patrick would automatically be put on the top of the list for pledges.

She laughed, "Ry...the frat is literally called PAK...like a Wo...-"

"Oh." I said shaking my head as if it should have been obvious. "Really though, all of them?" I asked of all the fraternity brothers of PAK being Weres.

She nodded, "yeah they're all actually our pack guard...like our soldiers if you will."

I was impressed.

I hugged her goodbye and went to my last class.

I got a lot of notes this time around and when class ended I gathered not only my belongings, but my nerves as well.

For the first time since coming back to town I was openly going to look for Patrick and I was terrified of what I'd find.