Chapter Forty-nine

I just wanted to get out of here. The quicker I put my stupid books in my locker and got out of this place the better. The words had just tumbled out when I was speaking to Zane. I can’t believe I used the word forever. I cringed at just remembering it.

He really brought the worst out in me. Lately, it felt like he was bringing out the wolf in me, but I still hadn’t changed, which meant while there might be some connection there, it wasn’t strong enough.

I wasn’t strong enough.

“Haven’t seen you all day.”

I jumped at the sound of Blake’s voice.

“Yeah well, I thought you were avoiding me.” I quickly undid my locker and stuffed my books in.

“You’re the one who has changed.”

My head snapped sideways. “Just because I change my hair doesn’t mean I’ve changed. I’m still the same person I have always been, unlike you who keeps two girls going at once.”

Did I really care about Blake and Ebony? Yes, it bugged me. I didn’t like her, but I also got the fact that you don’t get to choose your mate. The old Allie would have understood, but I’m meant to be the new Allie, so fuck it, I was going to play the jealousy card.

“What are you talking about?” Blake looked at me oddly.

“I’m talking about you and Ebony. One minute you want her, and the next you want me. For Heaven’s sake, just make up your mind.”

“You and I have never been like that. You’ve always been the one saying it means nothing. Hell, when we started it, you were the one who gave the speech about it not affecting our friendship.”

Now I really had trapped him.

“What are you talking about? I never said that.”

He didn’t know what they erased and what they didn’t. For all he knew, I didn’t recall the conversation because in the new Allie’s head it never happened.

His face slowly dropped, and his mouth opened. “Allie, I’m sorry if I’ve been leading you on, but what we have isn’t like that. You know. It isn’t like a relationship.”

 

***

ZANE

Allie had her back to me, so I couldn’t see her reaction, but boy did I have questions for her. Like one, what the fuck did she mean by forever and two, since when did she think she was in a relationship with Blake.

Like I was ever going to let that happen.

“Allie.” I tapped her on the shoulder, and she spun around. Her calm expression changed to one of anger immediately.

“What do you want?” Her eyes narrowed, and she clenched the locker door tighter.

“Can I talk to you?”

“Isn’t that what we are doing, Harris? Talking?”

She really was in a bad mood. “I meant in private.”

She glanced at Blake and then shook her head. “Whatever you have to say to me can be said in front of Blake. He is my best friend, and it’s not like we have secrets.”

Here I thought she wanted more than just a friendship with him.

“Fine, you said I promised you forever. What the fuck do you mean by that?” I crossed my arms, determined to get an answer because the only thing that made sense in my head was impossible.

She got her memories back.

And that wasn’t possible.

“I meant it in a general kind of way. Will you just forget I even said it? It’s not a big deal.”

“Considering you looked like you wanted to murder me when you said it, I would say it is a big deal.”

She slammed her locker shut. “Well it isn’t, Harris, now would you just back off. I’m not in the mood to fight with you about something that isn’t important, ok!”

Yeah, and she totally didn’t have a problem with me. I arched my eyebrows at her, and she huffed, throwing her bag on her back, and pushed past Blake and headed down the hallway.

Apparently, the conversation was over.

 

***

ALLIE

“He makes me furious, not to mention, I nearly spilled the secret today.” I paid the cashier and turned to continue talking to Jace. “I tell you now, he is going to be the death of me.”

“Maybe you should tell him? He could help influence a change,” Jace offered.

“I’d rather swallow razor blades.”

Jace laughed.

We stepped out into the night air and it hit me as if I walked into a brick wall. Zane.

I looked up, and there he was with a girl I didn’t know.

I guess I was with a guy he didn’t know. Maybe she was new to the pack, or maybe she was his new girlfriend. Either way, it didn’t sit well with me.

I sighed internally. Why did I have to have this connection with him?

I could ignore him or…

“Hey, Allie.” Zane stuffed his hands in his pockets and stopped right in front of us.

“Hey, Zane.” I had to admit I was a lot calmer than when I last spoke to him but, then again, it mightn’t last long.

“Good night for a walk.”

“Yeah, I was just saying the same thing to Jace.” I awkwardly brought Jace into the conversation. For some reason, I didn’t want Zane to be jealous. “Jace, this is Zane. Zane, this is Jace.”

They shared a handshake, and I felt somewhat more comfortable with that.

“This is Rebecca. Rebecca, this is Allie.” Zane introduced the blonde, and I pasted on a fake smile and took her hand.

“Rebecca has just moved into town,” Zane added.

I am guessing my first guess was correct. There was a new wolf family in town. Made sense that she would be hanging out with Zane, but it still didn’t mean I had to like it.

“Well, I’ll most likely see you at school then.” I smiled at her.

“Yeah, it will be my first time at a real school, as I’ve been home-schooled most of my life.” She looked nervously down at the ground.

“Well, don’t be nervous, you have Zane, and well, you know me now too, so you aren’t going in not knowing anyone.” I felt bad for her even though she had something I wanted - Zane’s attention.

“Well, we better go.” I glanced at Jace. “It was, um, nice seeing you, Zane and Rebecca.”

I went to walk past Zane when his hands linked with mine, stopping me. “Are we ok?”

Oh, Zane, if only you really knew how far away we were from ok. “Yeah.” I smiled. “Of course.”

All these lies were going to kill me in the end. I was sure of it.

We were halfway up the block before Jace spoke. “Well, you two seem to be alright then.”

“Yeah, well there is a first for everything, and as long as I keep lying to him, everything just stays the same.”

“Then tell him the truth.”

I had toyed with the idea. I had dreamt about it; what it would be like to tell him I remembered him and then reality came crashing back, bringing me back down from the choice.

It wasn’t an option.