12. Leaving
DELILAH
Eric locked his door and sat me on the bed and kneeled in front of me. He pushed my hair back off my cheek and put it behind my ear, touching the angry red hand mark.
He cursed under his breath.
“What happened?”
I took a deep breath. “I o-overreacted a-after h-he…”
“Take a few deep breaths while I go get you water and an ice pack.”
I nodded and he left the room.
I started all of this. Nick’s right—I have made him weaker. I’m not cut out to be a mate. Look at the deal I made with Noah. Does that say mate material? Of course not. Nick deserves so much better than me.
Eric walked back in and handed me the ice pack. I put it on my cheek and winced. Yep, it’s going to bruise.
“Okay, so what happened?” He asked cautiously.
“Nick brought me some breakfast and I was a little touchy, so I overreacted and he was calling me a child and a princess. Then he basically told me I was a bad mate and that I made him weak. He grabbed my arm and he wouldn’t let go, so I told him I was leaving and he slammed me up against the wall and hit me.” Tears were forming in my eyes as I explained everything to Eric.
Eric sat back and ran a hand through his dark hair. His green eyes flickered up to me. “I don’t know what came over him, but I did not raise my son to treat women like that.”
I shook my head. “I’m going to give him some space…”
Eric sighed. “What are you planning in that head of yours?”
“I need to leave. I need room to think…”
Eric sighed and nodded. “I’d hate to see you leave, but you have free will and you can leave. We can’t stop you.”
I sighed and wiped a tear that had fallen. “I need to talk to him.”
***
Nick and I sat in his study. I was on the other side of the room and he was on the other side. I didn’t want to be anywhere near him. I hid my hair in my face to cover the bruise that he caused.
“Look, Delilah,” his voice broke, “I’m extremely sorry. I was just so mad and I—”
“Can you not?” My eyes didn’t rise off the floor.
He was quiet, waiting for me to speak.
“I’m leaving, Nick.” I raised my eyes up to his, showing him the bruise. He winced. “I’m leaving the Pack.”
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “W-why?”
“We…” I sighed. “We need to cool off. We need some space. I need to think.”
He walked over towards me and pushed my hair behind my ear, eyeing the ugly bruise on my cheek.
“I am so terribly sorry. I have no idea what came over me, but I just missed you so damn much.”
I closed my eyes and breathed out. “Did you mean what you said?”
Nick shook his head. “Absolutely not. I didn’t mean one single word.”
I nodded and my heart clenched when I looked into his eyes and saw hurt and regret. I wanted to change my mind and stay with him, but I just couldn’t. I couldn’t do it. I had to leave. I needed time to think.
“I still need some time and space to think things through...” Nick sniffed but nodded, letting his head fall.
“Where are you going to go?”
“An old friend of mine lives in the city. I’ll probably live with her for a while…”
He let out a loud breath and reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet. I held his hand back from reaching into it.
“No.”
He looked up at me with red rimmed eyes. “Please just put my mind at ease and take the card. I want to believe that I’m still helping you even if you’re not here with me. It’ll make me feel better.”
I took the outstretched card and put it in my pocket. If he wanted me to help him make it easier, I’ll do anything. Even I couldn’t deny the ache I felt in my chest knowing that I’m leaving him. For good. I wasn’t planning on coming back. He deserves better than me. It’s better this way.
He fell back to sit on the floor as his knees gave out, his head in his hands. I stood up and walked towards the door. Nick gently grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a hug, wrapping his arms around my waist. I hugged him back, my tears soaking his shirt. He leaned down and kissed my forehead, tears landing on my hair. I leaned up and cupped his cheeks giving him a kiss.
I went to pull away but he pulled me closer and slipped his tongue in my mouth making it deeper. I moved my hands into his hair, pulling softly on it and kissed him back just as strong.
I didn’t want to leave him, but I had to. He was right. Everything he had said during our argument was right. And I couldn’t deny that I felt unworthy of an amazing mate. He’d move on.
I broke away and left the room. As I opened the front door, the last thing I heard was “I love you, baby.”
***
I Changed and ran through the forests with my clothes dangling in my mouth. I needed a run and I wasn’t going to risk Changing in front of Peyton.
I wasn’t sure if she still lived here and I wasn’t sure if she would invite me in or if she had husband or children. All I knew was that she was my best friend, and I only hoped she would accept me.
I reached the end of the forest and went into a thick bush and Changed back. The pain was bearable, however, I wished I wasn’t a werewolf. If I wasn’t a werewolf, I wouldn’t have met Noah and I wouldn’t have had to deal with the hole in my chest right now.
As I approached her house, I finally shut out all thoughts of Nick and the Pack. It was better that way.
I knocked on the door and heard a muffled voice from the inside say “one minute!” Yep, Peyton lives here still.
The door flew open and revealed Peyton. She still looked gorgeous. She stared at me and slowly recognition dawned on her porcelain face. She blinked as her mouth popped open.
“Delilah?”
I nodded and she flung her arms around me and squeezed me tightly. We didn’t let go until we heard a throat being cleared. Peyton broke apart from me and wrapped her arm around the man behind her. I smiled. This must be her boyfriend.
“Peyton, who’s this?” The man smiled and kissed her temple.
“Mason, this is my old friend, Delilah. Delilah, this is my boyfriend, Mason.”
Mason stuck his hand out and shook mine. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” I smiled back.
“Please, come inside!” Peyton and Mason moved back to let me in and walked towards their living room. I sat down on the couch and they sat across from me on the love seat.
“So, where have you been?” Peyton winked. “I haven’t seen you in ages.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I know. I’ve been busy. Look,” I sighed. “I didn’t mean to get up and leave without even saying a goodbye. I just… I couldn’t handle that house anymore. I had to leave and I didn’t want anyone to know where I was because he would’ve found me.”
Peyton nodded, but Mason looked confused. “I understand. I’ll admit, I was mad at first,”
“Which you should’ve been. I mean, we were best friends.”
“I’m over it, though. I’m just happy you’re back.” She smiled. “Where did you go?”
I bit my lip. Mason nodded and stood up, stretching his arms above his head. “I’ll go check on Tristan.”
Once he left the room, I grinned. “You have a son?”
Peyton laughed. “Yes. And don’t even start,” she said as I opened my mouth to comment. “I know I said I didn’t want kids but it was an accident. It’s never happening again.”
I laughed.
“Answer the question.” Ah, the ever demanding Peyton.
“I lived on the streets.”
“You could’ve lived with me.” Peyton scowled, the look not pretty on her beautiful face.
I shook my head. “Doug would’ve found me.”
“When did you leave?”
I closed my eyes, guilt crashing over me. “Do you remember that day after school when Matt and I started dating?” She nodded when I opened them again. “Well, that day Doug came in my room, hammered and took my phone. I was texting Matt and he caught me, got mad and started abusing me again and I left.”
Peyton’s green eyes flashed in anger. “How long?”
“Six years.”
“Six bloody years, Del? Six years! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want anyone else getting hurt.”
Peyton’s dark brows furrowed as she thought over my words. “Did you ever talk to Matt again?” When I shook my head, she frowned. “You need to call him.”
“No way! How am I supposed to explain all this to him?”
“Easy.” She grinned. “I’ll invite him over tomorrow.”
I glared at her, but I lost it easily and laughed.
“Okay,” Peyton said, standing up. “Let’s show you your room.”
I stood up beside her and followed her up the stairs. “How’d you know I wanted a room?”
“Honey, you’re my best friend. I know when you want something.” She stopped at the top of the stairs and frowned at me. “And we’ll be talking about that bruise on your cheek too.”
I cursed, I knew she’d see it. It’s kind of hard not to when it’s the size of Mars.
We stopped in front of a door that opened in to a beautiful room. The queen sized bed had a white mesh canopy with white comforters and a brown bed frame. The brown dresser on the other side of the room contrasted against the white carpet.
This room was elegant. It was too much.
“Pey, I really love this room—”
“You should. It’s my old room before Mason moved in. It’s beautiful.”
“—it’s too much…”
She shook her hair, her black curls bouncing. “No, it’s perfect for you. I insist you take this room. You’ll be living with us, so it’s yours.”
I wrapped my arms around her thin waist and inhaled her scent. “Thank you so much.”
She chuckled. “It’s no problem.”
Just then, a massive wail broke us from our embrace as Mason walked in with a very distressed Tristan. He couldn’t be no more than a month old. Mason tried to rock Tristan, but he wouldn’t calm down.
“I think he’s hungry, babe.” Mason said as Tristan snuggled up into his father’s chest looking around for food.
Peyton chuckled. “Of course he is.” She took her son from Mason and walked down stairs.
“Y’know,” I said as Mason turned to follow. “you can kick me out. You don’t have to let me stay.”
He smiled. “You’re more than welcome here, Delilah. I just hope you don’t mind walking up early due to a two week old baby.”
“He’s only two weeks?” I gasped. He was a big baby.
He laughed. “Yeah, he gets that from me. I was a big baby.”
“No kidding.”
We both laughed and followed each other down stairs.
A/N: I.... AM ON A ROLL! :D