20. Jealousy
DELILAH
Matt and I went back to Peyton’s. The walk was silent as we held hands. When we got inside the house, however, the silence was broken. Tristan was screaming in a tired looking Mason’s arms. Matt and I pretended like it didn’t make our ears ring. Matt sighed.
“Here,” he had his arms outstretched, “let me try.”
Mason shrugged and put Tristan gently into Matt’s arms. “He’s been colicky lately.”
Matt held Tristan close to his chest, and rocked him gently back and forth. The sight was utterly heartwarming—he looked so cute with a baby. He looked so comfortable with Tristan. “He’s a newborn. He won’t have proper sleeping patterns this early.”
“Where’s Peyton?” I asked, sitting on the couch.
“Sleeping. She’s been up for the past couple of days with Tristan, so it’s my turn.” Mason sighed and sunk onto the couch. “We switch nightly shifts.”
I smiled. “That’s a good way to do it. If I ever have kids I’d do it that way.” I looked over at Matt, who was snuggling a whimpering Tristan whose head was in the crook of Matt’s neck.
Matt’s hazel eyes looked down into mine and I felt my heart skip a beat. The look he gave me was so possessive and filled with love that I knew he was serious. I was his even though we haven’t mated. And he was mine.
Regarding the mating process, I wanted to take my time with Matt. I rushed into things with Nick and I feel like our relationship also faltered because we rushed into things. I wanted to do it right this time.
“You guys should go to sleep,” Mason chuckled, “it’s almost one in the morning.”
I didn’t realize we were over at Cliffhold for that long. It seemed like we were only there for an hour, but I guess time flies.
I nodded, and stood up along with Mason. He reached forward and took a now sleeping Tristan gently out of Matt’s arms. I walked upstairs into my room and fell flat on my stomach. The door opened softly and I heard Matt’s low chuckle through the room. I heard the rustle of clothes and the blankets lifted up beside me.
I got up onto my elbows and looked at Matt—the blanket covered his hips, leaving his bare legs and chest open. My eyes drifted back up to his.
“Please tell me you’re wearing boxers…”
Matt smiled. “Why don’t you see for yourself?”
I lifted up the blanket slowly and yelped, putting the cover back in place. “Why are you naked?” I whispered the last word, my cheeks heating up.
“I always sleep like this. It’s very comfortable.” He winked.
My cheeks got even hotter. “Making yourself right at home, I see.”
“You should try it.” He chuckled.
“I have, and I prefer sleeping fully clothed.” I got underneath the covers, in my jeans and t-shirt and turned over to face Matt.
He leaned forward and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and ran my hands through his hair. He leaned over me slightly and I pulled back hastily.
“We’re not having sex, Matt.”
“Why? We’re mates, aren’t we? You had sex with Nick and you guys aren’t mates.”
I blinked and shoved him back. “Why are you mad at me for that?”
“Because he touched you when he knew he should’ve.”
“We didn’t know, Matt.” I whispered, not wanting to wake up Tristan.
He growled and leaned down to grab his boxers, pulling them on. “That makes total sense.” His voice dripped sarcasm.
“We didn’t, okay? Nick hasn’t been around another female other than his mother. His instincts to protect me took over and they mislead him. Mine did, too.”
Matt shook his head. “It’s not that, Delilah.”
“Then what is it?”
“He took your virginity. I wanted to be the one to be your first time. Now that I know you had sex with Nick, it kills me to know that he had you first and I never will have that first.”
My heart stopped. Nick wasn’t my first time, but obviously he didn’t that. I wasn’t going to tell him right now. I couldn’t.
“What about you, huh?”
Matt’s eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I bet you’re not a virgin.”
He was silent.
Realization hit me hard as if it were a transport truck. “Wait…”
“I never dated anyone else, Delilah. No one else. All I wanted was you—my mate.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath in. I couldn’t believe it. Girls were falling all over Matt in high school, I always assumed he had a new girlfriend and he was living the dream. I guess I was wrong.
I had to tell him the truth. I couldn’t let him live with a hatred toward his Alpha because he thinks Nick was my first time. For werewolves it’s a big deal who’s first time you are—Noah told me that, unfortunately. Werewolves always waited until they find their mate. Unless of course, you were a human and were manipulated by hell himself.
I had to tell him.
“Matt, Nick wasn’t my first time…”
“Then who was, Delilah? Certainly not me, your mate.”
I closed my eyes. “You’re not going to believe me, but you have to promise me you’ll hear me out, okay?”
Matt sat down beside me. “Promise.”
“Noah was my first time.”
I opened my eyes and saw Matt’s angry face. His jaw and fists were clenched and his eyes blazed.
“I know you probably don’t believe me but—”
Matt shook his head. “Oh, no, trust me. I believe you. That’s why I’m so angry. I believe that Noah would take advantage of you like that. I still can’t believe that he bit you, let alone rape you—”
“I-it wasn’t rape.”
“You let him touch you like that, Delilah?” Matt’s voice was strained.
Tears pricked the back of my eyes. “I thought I loved him. He told me that we were mates and…” I cursed myself for crying over this. My past hurt, but I never cried when I talked about it—not even during the time that I told Nick. “I didn’t know what to do, Matt. I thought I loved him because of the way he treated me. He bit me during it and he made me like this. After he bit me… he treated me horribly and I w-wanted ou-out. I didn’t want t-to—”
Matt pulled me into his chest as I sobbed quietly. I didn’t want to be so weak in front of him. I didn’t understand how this was any different from the time I told Nick. Maybe it was because we were mates. Maybe it made me more vulnerable around Matt. I wasn’t sure.
“Shh, it’s fine, Delilah.” He kissed the top of my head. “I’m sorry I got angry and jealous. I’m glad you told me the truth.”
I pulled away and looked up into his beautiful eyes. “You deserved to know. I’m sorry, Matt. I should’ve told you sooner.”
He kissed me gently and laid me back down onto the bed, laying down beside me. “Don’t worry about it. It just gives me more reasons to resent my uncle.”
“I want to take my time in this relationship, okay? I want to do it right this time around. I rushed my relationship with Nick and I don’t want to rush it with you.”
Matt nodded and kissed my forehead, his arm coming around me. “Go to sleep, beautiful.”
I nodded and rested my head on his bicep and closed my eyes. As I was almost asleep, I heard Matt whisper, “I love you forever and always.”
A/N: It's almost ending, guys. This is basically a filler, not much happens. I love Matt though, let's just get that thought across. I'm already working on Chapter 18! :)
The photo on the side is of Tristan. He's just so dang adorable!!!!! :D