Sorry for the weird updating schedule, I have far too much homework to update like everyday, so the updates are gonna be kinda slow but I'm working on it :)
And sorry if the writing's crap, I'm writing this at one in the morning oops
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Xavier's POV
I pace in my office, ignoring the growing stack of paperwork on my desk. It's mostly letters from other packs saying they haven't seen my mate or offers from numerous cautious alphas asking for peace treaties; my vicious behavior is pretty well known by plenty of the alphas in the states, and nobody wants to fight with me right now. I've mostly left the paperwork to the Beta, I can't focus on anything without her. Elaina. My sweet, missing mate. I'm useless to my pack without her. I'm useless to her.
Honestly, how big of a dick do you have to be to do what I did and just leave your mate alone after she cries for hours? I'm disgusted with myself. And sending a few guards to each pack to look for her is going too slowly. I need to do something. I need to get her back. I need her. I send out a mindlink to the pack, giving out orders.
"I want three pack members and two guards sent to each pack in this country right now. Everyone leaves in the morning, leave enough guards to protect the remaining pack members. You should all know who my mate is. If you find her, mindlink me immediately so I can come get her. Start packing. Now."
I growl, knowing I have to stay here while my beautiful Elaina is out somewhere in the world, maybe not even in the country, doing God knows what. She could've been kidnapped, or raped, or mated by someone else. She could be hurt, anything could be going on with her right now. Fuck it, my beta can take care of the pack while I'm gone, I need to find her.
I want to scream. I want to cry and throw a tantrum and punch more holes in the wall. Not that I haven't, my pack is probably terrified of me now, and the repair man gave up on the house, which has holes in the walls scattered all over, mostly in my room and office. It doesn't really matter, the damage is done, and not necessarily to the house.
Just thinking about what I did and how Elaina's not here anymore, I'm flooded with guilt and anger, and I take it out on the furniture around me, destroying my desk and making papers fly around the office.
Elaina's POV
I make an inhuman groaning sound as the sun hits my face. I roll over, wanting to go back to sleep only to see Cat there, standing in pajamas with a smirk on her face. It surprises me so much I shriek and fall off, making her laugh loudly.
"Ow," I mutter, rubbing a bruise on my hip that I landed on. I glance down and grimace at the dark bluish black. I peek over the bed and look at Cat. "Why are you in here?" I'm a little embarrassed, my pajamas don't cover all my bruises and scars despite having long pants (The shirt has short sleeves, and I'm really self conscious about my scars). Also, I'm still legitimately afraid of being attacked by someone, so I stay hidden behind the bed and let my eyes look around the room as she answers.
"Well, I'm bored, you're fun to hang out with and there's still a few days of spring break left, so yeah. Also, Kaeden wants to join us. Come on, I'll help put together your outfit and stuff."
I weakly get up, still shaken from Cat surprising me like that. I sit on my bed and start brushing through my hair with my fingers while Cat scurries around my closet, pulling out a few items and handing them to me. She pulls out a little bag of makeup from the closet. I, naturally, shoved it all the way in the back once we got home yesterday, but I guess I can't escape it today.
I go into the bathroom, refusing to get changed in front of another living being and quickly, without looking at the mirror, yank on my outfit for the day. I finally face the mirror, examining the black jeans, and the soft, long-sleeved beige shirt with a skull wearing a bow on it. I look at my messy hair, and just cover it with a black beanie, shrugging. I shove my sock-encased feet into a pair of combat boots and finally come back into my room, to immediately be assaulted with a makeup brush.
I growl but stand still while she puts powder on my face and neck to cover the scars and bruises, but that's as far as she gets before I back away. "I don't want to wear a ton of makeup right now. Please Cat?"
She grumbles, "Fine, but can I at least put mascara on you?" I know she would rather use basically every type of makeup on me, so I nod and try not to flinch when the brush goes towards my eye.
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Cat and I sit on the couch in the same living room as last night and I listen to some music while Cat texts Kaeden. Earlier, Cat helped me set up my phone and download some music, and I feel fairly content at the moment.
"Hey Cat, hey Lainey." I look up to see Kaeden just as he swoops down to hug me, and my body freezes out of habit. He moves on to Cat, giving her a quick hug and I shoot him a little closed-mouth grin.
"So, what adventure are we going on today?" he asks, sitting down in between us.
I stay silent and shrug, slowly wrapping my earbuds around my phone and tucking it into my pocket. I keep my eyes on my lap, examining the textures of my jeans. "Well," Cat says, "We could go to the mall again, Starbucks . . . Ooh or the movies!"
I lift my head up and speak quietly. "That sounds fun. I've never been before." Cat nearly falls off the couch in shock before grabbing her car keys an my hand, yanking me up off the couch.
"Yup, we're going to the movies, Kaeden get up and get your ass in my car." He raises his arms, palms facing Cat in surrender.
Soon we're all settled in Cat's beautiful, fancy car, and I feel like trash again. Honestly, I didn't think a car could make me so self conscious, but here I am, proving myself wrong. While Kaeden and Cat talk, I stay silent and stare out the window, occasionally crinkling up my nose at a particularly inappropriate song lyric.
We finally arrive at the movie theater and get in line to buy tickets when I finally ask, "What movie are we watching?" Cat and Kaeden both shrug at each other and glance at the list of movies available.
"I guess just whatever's next," Cat replies.
Whatever's next turns out to be some horror movie. Great. At my old pack, I would catch glimpses of various scary movies while cleaning the living rooms, and they always freaked me out. It's not what some people may think, the movies don't necessarily make me think about my past, although some do, they just scare me is all. The fact that some people aren't scared of them is incomprehensible to me.
For the first half hour of the movie, I cover my eyes with my hands, and when a particularly startling scene pops up, I hide my face in Kaeden's chest as he wraps his arm around my shoulder, soothingly whispering in my ear, "Shh, it's okay. Is this triggering something? Do you want me to walk you out into the hall?"
"No," I mumble into his shirt. "It's just scary, I guess."
He gives a silent chuckle. "Okay. If you want to leave early, just let me know." I smile gratefully into the dark blue material and wait for the movie to finish.
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By the time the credits start rolling, I've calmed down and I hear everyone's stomachs rumbling. We all get up and stretch before leaving the theater. As we walk down the hall toward the front exit, Cat groans, "I'm starving."
Kaeden and I agree, and my stomach growls loudly at me, making me blush lightly.
We get to Cat's car and the sun hurts my eyes after being in a dark theater for so long. I blink a few times, climbing into the passenger seat of the car as Cat starts it up. "So, where should we go for food?"
"Anywhere's fine with me," I say quietly, shrugging.
"Yeah, me too. Where to, Cat?" Kaeden asks.
She hums and drives out of the parking lot, seemingly deep in thought. "Oh, I know this great place for Thai and Japanese," she says cheerfully, and turns right, presumably toward the restaurant's location.
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Once we're all settled in a booth, Cat turns to me. "So, what'd you think of the movie?"
I shrug. "It was okay," I say quietly. "A little too scary for me," I blush.
"It's okay," Kaeden says, wrapping his arm around me yet again. "I'll protect you." I blush even more; I feel like he's making fun of me.
"Um, thanks, I guess." I look down at my menu, scanning over the vegetarian options for sushi. Most people would think it's weird for a werewolf to be a vegetarian, but after being treated like or even worse than an animal destined to die, I can't stomach the thought of eating something that used to be alive. I finally settle on a choice and gently fold up my menu and set it down on the table.
"So what are you getting?" Cat asks me, placing her menu on top of mine in the center of the table.
"The sweet potato roll," I shrug.
After a few minutes, when we're all done deciding on our orders, a kinda angry-looking woman walks over. "May I take your order?" she sounds really pissed off. In my experience, anger coming from anyone usually gets spewed on me.
Cat and Kaeden both give their orders, and finally the waitress's icy gaze lands on me.I freeze, straightening my back and grabbing a fistful of Kaeden's shirt like I'll die if I let go. "Uh - she'll have one order of the sweet potato rolls, please," Kaeden cuts in, thank God. The woman scribbles my order down on her pad of paper and walks away at a brisk pace, still in a sour mood.
"Thanks," I whisper, to Kaeden, finally daring to breathe again. "Sorry, it's just ... she was so angry. Pretty pathetic, huh?" I ask rhetorically, looking in any direction other than him and Cat.
"Not at all. It's completely understandable, I can only imagine what usually happens when someone is angry around you," he says, gently touching a mostly-covered bruise on my arm. "I meant what I said earlier, I'll protect you from now on. Just think of me as your body guard or something badass like that." I giggle at what he says.
"Thanks."
I think I've finally found someone I trust.
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You guys, this took forever and HOLY SHIT IM ALMOST AT 100K READS!!! Thank you guys so much!
Also, please don't judge Elaina for finally finding a true friend, she isn't cheating and Kaeden isn't her second chance mate, neither is Cat. You guys, having opinions on my book is really great, and commenting is awesome and encouraged, just don't be mean, even towards a character.
Again, thanks so much for reading! Vote, comment, etc. if you want to, it's much appreciated :)
~MysticWillows