The Unwanted Wolf – Chapter 26
“I wish that weren’t the case,” I admitted. “It makes me not want to choose either of you. I can’t stand the thought of coming between a friendship.”
“This friendship has been broken for a while,” Jori said. “You making a decision isn’t ruining anything that wasn’t ruined. You might as well pick your own happiness.”
I frowned at this. “It’s not that easy. I don’t think I will be truly happy with whatever decision I make, because I will be hurting someone either way, which will hurt me. I can’t win.”
ri said. “You’ve been through so much hurt tha
not to consider the feelings of others. It wasn’t in my nature.
ut my body shook anyway.
slipping off his own jacket and put it on my shoulders.
tried to hand it back to him. “If you give me
ss you would rather have me warm you up with my body.”
subject more.
ook a strand of my hair between his fingers. He twirled the strand in his fingers, leaning even closer to my face.
e didn’t know the other person existed. But now, looking at you, all I want is to be your everything. I want to protect you, and touch you, and make you mine. Ju
ead away from him.
aking me feel guilty. “It’s not that I feel uncomfortable. It’s that I don’t know if I will be able to control myself, and I don’t want to do anything that I will regret. I don’t know you, and I don’t want to just act on instinct.”
urself give in for once.” Jori leaned forward again.
into the man in front of me, giving everything up for him. But I didn’t know him. Not really.
rt was pounding in my chest, and I felt like I could barely breathe. Growing up, I had heard many couples describe the mate bond, and I always thought they were exaggerating. They said that they were pulled to each other li
he minimal contact they had. It would be so easy to give in.
y slightly. “Tell me to stop then.”
e with kisses. The sensation was almost too much.
ll down my spine. This snapped me to my senses, and I pulled away from Jori. I quickly stood up to put more distance between us. My chest was heaving up and down as I tried to catch my bre
taking it.
elf power walking away.
y slow down,”
nd take a moment to myself. Luckily, the path was pretty easy to follow back, so I didn’t need Jori to lead the way. I burst out of the foliage, and I could see the pack house again. Jori was still calling my name, but I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t face him ri
ps to the front porch of the pack house, but before I got to the door I felt a firm grip
reaths. “Please look at me. Are you okay?”
rn to Jori. I didn’t know how to explain my sense of shame to him. “Please let go of me.”
ow?”
at me.” Jori’s grip was firm and unwavering.
r business,” Jori said.
t her go,” Mark said. “You’re not listening to her, and she’s clearly upset. That makes it my business.”
s. I pulled my wrist, and this time Jori let go of me. I took a step back from the two of them. “I’m okay. Please don’t fi
o boil.
ady said all was good. It’s none of your business, like I said
. “Jori, that’s enough.” He was clearly taunting Mark, and I didn’t like it. “Please, can you two not fig
arch. She was stressing about getting you ready for the party.”
That was a rare situation too.
d.
he cheek before going inside.
territory.
ss I should get going,” I said, looking at the ground. “I don’t wa
ckly.
at. “If this is about Jori-”
e.
u.” I was careful not to tell Mark about the kissing. I didn’t do anything wrong per say. I hadn’t picked Mark, but something still felt wrong about it.
fingers through his hair. “I was getting pretty worried about you. I tried calling and texting you, but you weren’t answering.”
d calls and text messages from Mark. “Oh shoot. My phone was on silent, and I didn’t hear it. I’m so sorry for worrying you. Jori wanted to show me that grove.” I cut myself off, wondering if Mark knew about the p
keep you any longer. She already said she was behind schedule.”
got me something? You didn’t have
to be happy.”