Chapter Sixty-four

ALLIE

It was stupid being this nervous. God, after what I let him do to me, I shouldn’t be nervous about just watching television with him. Then again, the last time we watched ‘television,' we did anything but that.

God, it ended in him marking me and, well, me him.

Again, it was stupid. Why was I so nervous?

I knocked on his door.

Calm down, Allie.

God, I was acting like this was the first time I was going to see him or something.

People kept walking past looking at me, most likely thinking what is she doing anywhere near Zane’s door. God, even the pack knew Zane and I were polar opposites.

Not being able to take the staring anymore, I just let myself in.

His scent hit me hard and fast, but so did another’s.

“Well, this could be awkward,” she said.

I looked at Ebony. It shouldn’t be a surprise to see her in Zane’s room as they were best friends. What was the surprise was the fact she was in her underwear and getting off his bed.

“Look, you can think of it as me doing you a favor. Zane and I we just click.” She stepped in front of me. “You didn’t really think just because he marked you, he was going to be faithful.”

I don’t know what hurt more – seeing her, or hearing what she was saying or the knife that was just shoved into my heart.

The bathroom door opened, and Zane hadn’t spotted me; his eyes were on Ebony.

“What are you still doing here? I told you to leave ages ago.” His tone was rude and short with her, and he was only wearing a towel around his waist. “And why aren’t you dressed?’

Ebony looked directly at me. Zane turned, and his eyes widened. I automatically backed away. I didn’t need this. I didn’t need drama. I really didn’t need him. Well, that was a lie, I think I physically needed him to survive.

“Allie, this is not what it looks like.” Zane was quick to walk towards me.

“Zane, don’t lie to her. You and me, that is how it is. Her and Blake, that is how it is. Why are we all fighting it?” Ebony snapped behind him.

“Shut up, Ebony!” Zane threw over his shoulder, but his eyes were on me.

Normally, his eyes would make me still, and freeze me, but my heart was already bleeding for a loss so all I wanted to do was run.

“Just stay away from me,” I staggered out, with my hand on the doorknob. “I can’t believe I trusted you!” God, I am so stupid. Zane has never been, nor will ever be trustworthy.

“ALLIE, DON’T…”

I closed the door in the middle of his sentence and picked up pace, wanting nothing more than to leave him and her behind.

Blake had been right. We both had mates we wanted to get away from. Well, at the time I didn’t want to get away from Zane but now… now I never wanted to see him again.

 

***

ZANE

She wouldn’t acknowledge me. Every time I reached into her mind, she wouldn’t speak back to me. She just pretended like she couldn’t hear me. I was living for the classes we had together so I could get a dose of her being near.

I needed her. Physically needed her. I knew she needed me just as bad because I felt it.

Fucking Ebony.

I glanced at her as she sat beside me. We still weren’t speaking, although she was acting like everything was fine between us. Even though I had told her straight out what I thought of her and said I wanted nothing to do with her, still, she didn’t piss off.

Still sat next to me and still spoke to me.

Like nothing had happened.

I still couldn’t believe Ebony had pulled a stunt like that.

I took my eyes off Ebony and looked back at Allie.

She was actually doing her Math work. She knew I would be in her mind, so I think that’s why she had an earbud in listening to music.

She was so busy working on the fraction, she didn’t realize Blake and Chase had just walked in.

Late like normal, although Chase wasn’t in this class.

“Where ya been!” Blake smirked at her.

She looked up slightly shocked. “How did you know I was listening to that?”

“Good hearing, babe.”

She moved to her side of the table. “What are you doing in here, Chase?”

Chase pulled another table to theirs, sitting on the other side of her.

“Changed classes.” He frowned. “You actually studying?”

“Don’t start me on it. The teacher is threatening to fail me.”

Blake laughed and put an arm around her shoulder. “What? Again?”

I felt Ebony go stiff next to me. She hated seeing them together nearly as much as me. Blake was always making a habit of touching her. They were glued together as soon as she came back to school.

Ignored me and went straight to him.

“Yes, and this time he sounded serious,” Allie snapped. “So, don’t even start the jokes.” She frowned. “I think I will fail anyway. This shit doesn’t make sense to me.”

“I’ll help you.” Chase pulled his books out. “Unlike my dumb wit brother, I’m actually good at my studies.”

“Thanks, Chase.” Allie took a reassuring breath in, like the Math really was getting the best of her and she needed help.

“Hey, Allie, I’ve got something for you.” Blake ignored his brother’s remark and pulled something out of his pocket. “Hand out.”

“Do I have to close my eyes?” She grinned.

He put it in her hand, and she looked down. Her face lighting up.

“Oh my God Blake, you are incredible, you know that?” She looked so fucking happy and it wasn’t me making her happy, it was all him.

“Well, you were going on about how much you missed it.”

She held the necklace out. “Where did you find it?”

“Under my bed.”

“You can’t see under your bed.”

“I cleaned.”

Her grin got wider. “You cleaned your room? For me? Seriously?”

“Anything for you, Winters. Turn around, I’ll clip it on.”

She pulled her earbud out and pulled her hair up. It was when he was clipping it on, it occurred to me I hadn’t given her anything. Apart from my mark. She wasn’t wearing anything I gave her. Well, maybe it wasn’t a present from him. Maybe it was just hers.

Her hair was blonde now. I didn’t know if she dyed it because I told her to, or if she had done it for a change. I doubted she would dye it for me. After what happened, it made more sense that she had dyed it for a change.

“I still remember when you gave this to me,” she gushed and played with the pendant.

My heart sunk and my glare on them narrowed. So, he had given it to her. So now she was walking around wearing something he had given her. I didn’t think it was possible to hate their relationship anymore, but I had been wrong.

“Yeah, so do I. Talking about memories, are you ready to make a new one?” Blake smirked at her, and she narrowed her eyes.

“What are you on about, Falcon?”

“The festival this weekend. I got us tickets.”

“Every time we go, you end up cracking jokes about me because I complain about camping.” She put her pen in her mouth looking at him.

“That’s why I’m borrowing my parents’ Winnebago. We’ll pick it up on the way.”

“You know what the festival does to me.” She gave him a pointed look. “You know too well what happens when we go to a festival together.”

He leaned in, his arm still around her. His mouth went to her ear. “I’m planning on that.”

“I’ll come,” Chase said, looking up from the textbook.

“Not happening,” Blake snapped.

“Why can’t I come?”

“Because I’m not fucking Allie with you listening in the other room!” Blake said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“You aren’t going.”

I glanced at Ebony, she was standing and looking furious. Seems like I wasn’t the only one listening to their conversation and pissed off about it.

“Hear me when I say that, Blake. You aren’t going anywhere with her!” she added, glaring at him.

He turned on the seat to look back at her. “Piss off, Ebony, I’m not stopping you from fucking whoever you want. Like him for example!” Blake looked at me.

Ebony took a breath, but I think she was a second from ripping his arm off Allie, and I would be more than happy if she did that.

“Her and I aren’t together,” I said.

“Don’t bloody well lie to us, Zane!” he snapped. “Ebony was bragging to Allie about it yesterday in the bathroom so don’t sit there and act like you aren’t fucking my mate when you are!”

I gripped Ebony’s arm, my eyes narrowing at her. “What have you been saying?”

She looked me in the eye. “Does it really matter? It’s not like I’m lying.”

She was saying that to keep face with Blake. She was completely fucking lying.

“Ebony, start spitting the truth now because I won’t have Allie thinking you and I are something when we aren’t.” I didn’t need Allie thinking any worse of me than she already did.

“Ok then. She can read your mind, right?” Ebony put her hand on her hip. “Remember Saturday night? Get that memory in your head and then tell me I’m lying.”

Saturday night. I felt Allie enter my head. Ok, Saturday night. I remember drinking. Fuck, I remember the hangover on Sunday. I think I’m still feeling it today and it's Tuesday.

Saturday night I was drinking with Taylor at the bar near the pool. A few others joined in. Ebony showed up. I remember everyone disappearing and Taylor going off with Cassie leaving me with Ebony.

She decided she wanted to go swimming. I don’t really remember much after that. Wait no; I do remember her telling me all the reasons why we should sleep together.

Then she took her bikini top off.

My eyes widened. “Nah, no way, Ebony. Don’t lie to me. You know I was drunk.” She had to be bluffing with me right now. The reason I was drinking in the first place was because of Allie. No way would I have slept with Ebony.

‘But you don’t know, and she is saying you did,’ Allie spoke to me. She actually spoke to me. Sure, it was in my head, but it was the first time she had spoken to me since she left me.

I tore my eyes off Ebony and looked at Allie to find her blue eyes staring at me. They were coated in pain. Fuck, I could feel her pain. ‘Allie, don’t think the worst of me. Please.’

Our eyes were still locked, and I saw the debate playing in her eyes, and then I remembered the way Ebony came towards me topless, with that look in her eyes, like she wasn’t going to stop until she got what she wanted. I was angry, pissed off. I had just finished a week of watching Allie with Blake.

I didn’t do it, did I?

Ebony was a liar. She lied about it to begin with. She was lying right now. I looked back at my so-called friend. She was arching her eyebrows at me.

“Remember yet, Zane?” she said impatiently, clicking her tongue. “Do you remember the part where I was completely topless and alone with you? Everything else might be blurry, but I’m guessing you still remember the start of the night.”

“Ignore them, Allie. Think about the festival, we always have fun.” Blake looked back at Allie. Clearly, they had some good memories of going together. Fuck, when it came to those two, all they had were good memories. “Come on, I’ll even buy the weed.”

She was looking at his hand which was running up her leg.

If it wasn’t for the humans in the room, I would throw the table that was between her and me and rip his hands off her. Fuck, I might even attack him. My patience was getting thin.

“Ok, I’ll go, but you better make sure you get good weed and not the cheap stuff because the last time I was left with the worst headache,” Allie said while Blake grinned like she had just agreed to fuck him.

Hell, she pretty much had. Drugs. Alcohol. And the two of them. By themselves. With a history of doing each other at these events.

I didn’t know what they usually got up to, but I only had to guess that Blake’s main motive to get her there was to get her away from me. Break the little connection Allie and I had, and then he would make her his.

“Done.” Blake kissed her cheek. “You won’t regret this, Winters.”

“Actually, come Monday. I’m sure that’s all I’ll be doing considering our history at festivals.” She turned in her seat. “Screw this Math. I need a smoke.”

“I’m coming.” Chase got up. “I’ve needed one for the last hour.”

“I’m going where Allie goes.” Blake got up.

“Yeah, God forbid she goes somewhere without you!” Ebony snapped, but all three of them ignored her and walked out.

Blake had his arm around her when Chase closed the classroom door.

‘I’m not fighting Blake anymore. I need to move on.’ Allie’s voice flooded my head. ‘You have so let me.’

‘I’M NOT WITH EBONY!’ I yelled in her mind. My temper getting the best of me. This whole situation was getting the best of me. I was done with it. Done with her being apart from me. I wanted her back. I hadn’t even caused this!

Ebony fucking lied to begin with, getting me into this mess.

I reached into Allie’s mind, and she was telling herself all the reasons why she needed to move on and let go of me.

‘Blake will go back to Ebony. I’ll make sure of that. But you and me. I’m done,’ Allie said to me. ‘I mean it, Zane. I’m going come the end of the year and, if you even care for me a bit, you will let me go.’

So, she had made her mind up about leaving, and she expected me to just sit back and let her go? I wasn’t going to let that happen.

‘Zane, please just let me go.’ Allie’s voice flooded my head again, and I heard her begging like she couldn’t live like she was any longer.

Didn’t she see she didn’t have to keep living the way she was? She could be with me. She loved me I could feel it, but she thought I had betrayed that. She had trusted me once, and she wasn’t willing to trust me again.

No matter what her heart wanted, her brain was speaking louder. Fuck. I was hearing all her concerns and while all of them could be dismissed by me, she didn’t want to hear it.