Tainted Romance

by Simone Elise

  If I made conversation with him, I could pretend the two of them weren’t sitting there, and Ebony wasn’t flirting with Zane.

  “There are few sides of me you haven’t seen, Allie.” He winked.

  I knew right away I had just opened myself up for numerous comments and snide remarks. Should I flirt back? I stole a glance in Zane’s direction, he wasn’t even looking at me.

  “Well, I guess you will have to show me them.” I smiled briefly.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I was towel drying my hair when my room door opened. I was expecting it to be Taylor, trying to catch a glimpse of me naked so, when I turned around to give him a spray, I was shocked to see Zane standing there.

  “What the hell are you doing in here?” I snapped. No sooner had I spoken, he had moved across the room.

  “What are you playing at?” His eyes were coated with rage. “Flirting with him, what the fuck, Allie?”

  I hadn’t even realized I was backing away from him until my back hit the wall.

  “Do you want me to kill my best friend, is that it?” He had lowered his voice; it was like a deadly whisper.

  “N..No,” I stuttered, looking into his eyes with fear swirling in my stomach. “I…”

  “Stuttering isn’t going to help you, Allie.”

  I always thought of myself as a strong, confident woman, but, at this moment, I was trembling with fear.

  “I didn’t mean anything by it,” I choked out, pushing myself further into the wall trying to get away from him. Right now, I was well aware of just how built Zane was. His strong muscular body was once something I lusted over, right now I was terrified of it.

  “Please, Zane, calm down. You’re scaring me.” My eyes were still locked with his deadly black ones.

  Perhaps it was the weakness in my voice or the fact his wolf felt just how terrified mine was. He took a step away from me and regret flashed across his soulless black eyes.

  “Sorry.” His eyes flashed back to their misty grey coloring. “I didn’t come here…” He frowned. “I didn’t come here to scare you. I just…” His words broke off again. “Why him?”

  Taylor. He had to be talking about Taylor.

  “I didn’t think it through. I’m sorry.” I wanted to get Zane jealous not angry. “I was just hurt after you chose Ebony over me.” My eyes dropped to the floor. “I just wanted to get you back. I guess I didn’t think it through.”

  “He’s my best friend, Allie.”

  I looked up and immediately wished I didn’t. “I’m sorry.”

  Hurt flashed across his face. “I don’t like this anymore. I want you and him to put a stop to it.”

  “Ok.” I frowned for a moment. “But why?” Sure, it might bother him but what did it matter if it lasted another week or a day?

  “Because I don’t like it.”

  “It’s not for much longer and anyway it is not like it matters to us, right, because you and I, well, that…” In my heart, I wanted to say it would work and even my wolf was howling for her mate.

  “I can’t have you.” His words crisp and sharp burnt through me. “You’re planning on leaving as soon as you turn twenty-one and your commitment to the pack is finished. You have no loyalty to the pack so how can I honestly expect you to want to become their future leader?” It was the coldness in his voice and the tint of anger which had me frozen to the spot. “How can I expect them to follow you?”

  I don’t know how many times I had told myself I didn’t want to be his mate, but right now it hurt hearing it come from his mouth.

  “So, you want to what…?”

  “I want to pretend like this…” He gestured between us. “Just didn’t happen.”

  Just didn’t happen. I swallowed the acid that was building in my throat. “Fine.” I nodded my head to the door and crossed my arms. “You should leave, and for the record, I’ll end Taylor and me when I’m ready.”

  “Make it soon, will you?” he snapped before walking out the door. It wasn’t until the door was shut that I let my tough exterior fall.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I never wanted this. From the start I had been determined to not let myself miss him, to want him, to let this connection between us grow. I had to grow up. I had to let him go. I had to finally stop myself from making this grave of our so-called love any deeper.

  I would not let myself miss him. I would not let myself love him, or pine for him any longer. It would only lead me to deeper levels of pain and heartache.

  There was a knock on the door, and Taylor popped his head in. “You ready to go? Or…” he stepped into the room. “What are you doing?”

  He eyed the open suitcase as I quickly moved around the room, grabbing everything I could and stuffing it in.

  “Allie, what is going on? Are you leaving?”

  I slammed the suitcase lid down. “Blake is coming to get me.”

  “What? Why?” He stopped me from picking my case up, with one firm hand.

  “Because this…” I ran my hands through my hair. “This.” I gestured between us. “Isn’t working for me anymore.”

  “So, you’re pulling out of the deal?”

  “Yeah, sure. Call it what you want,” I snapped and took the opportunity to pick my case up.

  “Allie, stop.” He rushed across the room, blocking the exit. “Fine, we’ll stop, but that doesn’t mean you have to go.” That charming smirk of his sparkled at me. “We’re still friends.”

  Friends didn’t kiss each other like that in the spa. I knew that. He knew that. Anyway, it wasn’t even between him and me, it was between Zane and I. “Thanks Taylor, but if it is all the same, I just want to go home, to my real friends.”

  He dropped his arm, letting me pass. I knew Blake would be heading this way as quick as possible and, sure, I might have to walk a bit to meet him, but anything was better than staying here.

  “At least wait until he turns up,” Taylor said to my back as we entered the living room.

  Zane and Ebony were curled up on the couch together watching TV. They seemed really ready to go for that run.

  “He is here.” I turned sharply. I wasn’t lying either as I could hear the roar of Blake’s engine coming up the driveway. I gave Taylor a fake smile. “I’ll see you back at school.”

  “Are you leaving?” Ebony looked our way. “Didn’t take as long to get rid of you as I thought it would.”

  “Well, congratulations then.” I twisted the doorknob and didn’t even look in Zane’s direction. He didn’t deserve my acknowledgment.

  ‘Running never solved anything.’ His words drifted into my mind causing me to cringe.

  ‘I’m done with us,’ I forced my words back into his mind. ‘This was never going to work.’

  ‘I told you that before.’

  ‘Then let’s make it official.’ I was on the porch steps now, and I looked back through the window to meet his eyes. ‘I release you, Zane Harris.’

  I even gave him a bitter smile to go with it before turning my back and walking the remaining steps into Blake’s arms.

  “God, woman, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Ringing like that.” Blake hugged me back.

  “Just take me home.” I let go of him, and he took the suitcase off me.

  “So, is the science experiment over with then?” Blake smirked at me while walking around the car.

  I gave Taylor a wave as he stood in the doorway, looking unhappy to see me leaving.

  “Yeah, it’s over.” I opened the car door and did the smartest thing I had done since I met Zane. I left him.

  Chapter Sixteen

  One lie and one huge mess thanks to Taylor and I’s actions. I never thought I would regret lying as much as I did right now. Mom was ranting about how much of a disappointment I was. I can’t imagine how Taylor’s mom was reacting.

  Alpha Harris had already been around and spoke about how such a serious lie could impact our future
in the pack. I tuned out halfway through the lecture; no, I wasn’t being a brat, I just didn’t care anymore.

  Zane’s words haunted me, and I felt absent and lost, and being around his father reminded me of that.

  So, when he finally left, I was more than grateful. I had to wonder just for a moment what Zane’s reaction was when Taylor and I ended the lie.

  I wondered if he cared.

  I wondered if it made him happy.

  Then I wondered why I cared so much to begin with.

  I slammed my locker door, clenching my books tight to my chest, and began to walk down the hall to class. Taylor had walked past me this morning without even saying hello which really annoyed me seeing what we had all gone through.

  I didn’t realize he would treat me as invisible after it all ended.

  Blake and Chase were away for the week, which just made this Monday even worse than I had expected it to be.

  I didn’t have my Falcon boys to keep my mind off the dirty looks I was getting and the snide remarks which seemed to be continually fired at me.

  I felt sick and looked like a pale white ghost.

  And it was all Zane Harris’s stupid fault. Reject him, Allie, what a great fucking idea. Now I had to deal with this emptiness inside me and a disconnection from my inner beast.

  I wandered into class. One glance around the classroom and I instantly knew that my morning was about to get a hell of a lot worse when I noticed Zane’s lips locked with Ebony’s.

  When the hell did that happen?

  I gripped my books tighter and sunk into the first seat that was empty.

  I get this hollow feeling, and he gets a new girlfriend. How the hell is that fair? Did the rejection even affect him at all?

  “Morning class.” The teacher walked in, closing the door behind him. “Good to see you all back after the long weekend.” Mr. Sparks turned to the board. “Now, let’s pick up where we left off on Friday. Open chapter eight of your textbooks.”

  I felt like I wanted to squeeze the life out of Ebony.

  I felt this uncontrollable rage towards her.

  “Allie, did you want to start the first reading?”

  Mr. Sparks’ voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I looked up at him.

  “No, I don’t. I’m not really feeling well. Sorry, Mr. Sparks.” I went for the nice angle, and it seemed to work by his small frown and nod of the head.

  “Ok then. Jake, you start us off,” he asked another student.

  “I didn’t know embarrassment was an actual sickness now,” someone piped up behind me.

  Just don’t bite back, Allie. You are better than them.

  “I’m surprised you could even show your face, Allie.”

  Mr. Sparks calmed the class down. “Enough. Jake, start us off please.”

  Jake started reading the chapter, but it didn’t really make a difference. I knew what their real feelings were. Sure, I knew lying with Taylor was a risky business, but I didn’t expect everyone to care as much as they did.

  The classroom door slid open, and Taylor entered; he was late and, by the look on his face, not in a good mood.

  “Sorry I’m late, Mr. Sparks,” he excused himself and rushed to the back of the classroom. Not even flickering a glance down at me as he walked past.

  “Don’t worry, Taylor, we all understand. I wouldn’t want to show up either if I was in the same class as the liar who tried to ruin my life,” a girl’s whiny voice piped up.

  I heard Taylor dump his books on his desk.

  It wasn’t even my fucking idea!

  “Class, settle down!” Mr. Sparks raised his voice.

  I didn’t really know what I was doing until I did it. I stood up, collected my books, and ignored every word Mr. Spark’s yelled at me as I walked out of his classroom, not even closing the door behind me.

  I wouldn’t sit there one moment longer and let them think they could speak to me like that.

  Chapter Seventeen

  I thought today couldn’t get any worse. I had left school, which I knew would come back and bite me in the butt tomorrow. Zane’s relationship with Ebony went from friends to kissing friends. Taylor was treating me like an invisible post. Mom had already yelled at me before school and then when I came home early.

  So, as I was laying on my bed, wishing I could fast forward the next few weeks, I really didn’t think the day could get any worse and then in walked my mother.

  “Allie, why aren’t you ready.” Her arms were crossed with that usual pissed off look on her face. “I told you the pack meeting was at seven, and it is now a quarter till, and you aren’t even dressed ready to leave.”

  “Pack meeting?” I bolted straight up. “You are kidding, right?”

  “Just because you embarrassed yourself and brought shame to this family does not mean you get to skip pack meetings from now on. If you ask me, I think the shame you are going to feel tonight is a just punishment.”

  I began to grind my teeth. Wasn’t she meant to be all supporting and forgiving? Why did I get the harsh mother?

  “I don’t want to go.”

  “I don’t care what you want, you have five minutes.” Her short black hair flung over her shoulders as she stormed out of my room.

  I really didn’t think today could get any worse, but heck, wasn’t I wrong. At school, the snide remarks, the looks, and the judgmental attitudes were enough to cause me to leave. Now I had to face a whole room full of not just teenagers but their stupid parents as well?

  I pulled my phone out and messaged Blake. I was not facing this alone, and he better be dragging his butt to this.

  Mom may have dragged me to this meeting, but even she didn’t want to be seen with me. In fact, she took off so quickly out of sight, I was stunned.

  So, I had to walk into the hall by myself, and I hated it.

  I was behind a group walking in, and I thought maybe I would make it in without being noticed, and that went out the window when a flyer was shoved in my face.

  I looked up at Sandy Lee, Zane’s cousin. “Here is a flyer on tonight’s meeting.” Her lips formed a tight line. “I included an extra self-help flyer in yours; it’s called lies and the trouble they cause.”

  I snatched it from her grasp. “Thanks.” I forced a smile. “Really, Sandy, I don’t know how I would manage without your helpful flyer.”

  She rolled her eyes then started shoving flyers into other people’s faces.

  Rude, snobby bitch - she should go back to college.

  I scanned the room looking for Blake or Chase. They both said they were coming, but I had yet to spot their faces in the crowd. The foyer was filled with people, and they were slowly moving into the hall. I took this as an opportunity to escape possible conversations, so I went straight to the hall.

  Blake would show, he promised me, but Blake never ran on time, and I guess if he rocked up before it ended I should be grateful.

  “Allie.”

  My head snapped up, and Alpha Harris was standing there with a small smile.

  “Alpha Harris.”

  “I just saw your mother, and she asked if I could speak to you after the meeting, would you be able to hang around?” He seemed nicer tonight then he was the other night.

  “Seeing as she is my ride, I don’t see why I can’t stay around.” What was mom up to?

  “Good. Enjoy the meeting.”

  That was very unlikely, but I nodded my head and moved around him, heading to the back row.

  Now I had to sit through the whole darn meeting and hang around afterward. Fan-fucking-tastic.

  The hall filled quickly and when the clock hit seven everyone was seated. My eyes traveled to the stage, and, like always, Zane was sitting next to his mom and this time…I swallowed sharply… Ebony. On the other side of flipping Zane was EBONY!

  “What’s up, buttercup?” Blake slumped into the plastic chair next to me. “Ok, what is with the face?�
��

  I ripped my eyes from them and looked at Blake. “You showed up.”

  “I told you I would.” He flicked his phone on silent. “So, who you killing with your eyes?”

  I crossed my arms. “No one.”

  He looked up at the stage. “So, there is the reason.” His eyes locked on Zane. “You really need to tell me what is up with that.” He slowly turned to look at me. “You’re always moody around him, and fuck, Allie…” He lowered his voice. “Are you in love with him or something?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him and felt my blood pressure rise. “Don’t be stupid, Blake, but sure, I’ll tell you what’s going on, but later.”

  I had no shame in telling Blake the truth because maybe he could help me overcome it, but I know for a fact Blake knew about mates and more importantly the rejection which can happen.

  “Ok, let’s kick this meeting off. Welcome all tonight.” Alpha Harris started the meeting off, and I already wanted it to be over.

  Blake moved his head closer to mine. “I’m holding you to that.”

  ***

  “So, let me get this straight, you are kicking me out,” I repeated what I thought I heard, with this completely dumbfounded look on my face. I looked between Alpha Harris and mom.

  The meeting had dragged on like always and then, as soon as it ended, Alpha Harris and mom had whisked me away into the kitchen, to ‘talk.’ This talk was all about mom throwing me out!

  “You are kidding, right?” I looked at her. Her eyes were locked on the ground.

  “Allie, your mom has come to me with this issue, and she feels, considering recent events, that it would be better if you moved out for a little while,” Alpha Harris explained slowly and calmly.

  “And you’re expecting me to move in here? At the pack house?” I questioned him. “After what I did you are actually going to let me move in here?” This whole thing didn’t make sense.

  “Wouldn’t Alpha Harris be madder about what happened then, Mom?”

  “Because I told them the truth.”

  The door closed, and I spun around seeing Taylor standing there, looking guilty.