Page 7 of Willing
Chapter 6: Paul
Sitting at the kitchen table lost in thought, I didn’t hear the door open. Their laughter as they entered the kitchen caused me to snap my head up.
“Hey Paul,” Dylan patted me on the shoulder as she walked towards the fridge, “Carly and I were just headed upstairs to finish packing the last of my things.”
Never taking my eyes off her, “Jensen said something about that earlier.”
“Oh, did he? Did he mention that Carly was moving in as well?”
“Yeah.”
Standing, I pushed my chair under the table and walked to put my dishes in the sink.
“No comment about me being your new roommate?”
Her voice sent chills through my body – my wolf bristled just from hearing her speak. It was getting harder and harder to deny my feelings.
“It’s not like we will share a bathroom.”
“Really… that’s what you have to say? What the fuck Paul… do you detest me that much?”
Carly turned from the doorway and stomped up the stairs. Her anger radiated off her, the venom loud and clear in her words. I’d hurt her – again.
“Damn Paul. Smooth move. Why can't you just admit your feelings and stop running?” Dylan stood, hand on her hip glaring at me.
“You know why Dylan. It’s for her own good. She deserves a normal life.”
“You don’t get to decide what she wants. She should have a say so, and you know that.”
Dylan walked around me, “You may regret never taking a chance, Paul. She’s a beautiful girl… someone will steal her right out from under you if you're not careful.”
I couldn’t respond. How was I supposed to – she was right. Carly was beautiful and smart. Someone was likely to win her heart, and I’d just have to watch. I knew it was risky for me. The chance of my wolf going feral was there… but I needed her to live a life first – before throwing away her life to become my mate.
“Tell her I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it the way she took it… I, I just want her happy.”
Dylan turned to look at me before she left, “Paul – stop demoralizing yourself. You are worth more than you allow yourself to believe. I’ll tell her, but you need to open your eyes to what’s right in front of you.”
I watched her walk off – her words replaying in my head. She was right, I was denying the feelings I had for Carly. Even though we had never been together, even as friends, I loved her. My soul called out to hers – my wolf whined for her touch.
Needing to collect myself, I decided to shift again. Stepping out the back door, my wolf took over before reaching the woods. He reveled in the freedom a shift brought him. As we headed into the forest, I scented an unfamiliar wolf.
It wasn’t any of the pack members I smelled, I was sure of that. The hair on my back stood, as a growl irrupted from my chest. Taking off towards the waterfall, I followed the smell to the edge of the river.
Getting close to the edge of the bank, I noted fresh paw prints. Becoming uneasy, I decided to follow them and see where they led.
The prints stayed along the river’s edge for what seemed like an eternity. It wasn’t until I reached the end of the tracks, that I realized I was a few yards off the college campus.
There was no sign of anyone, but it was obvious to my wolf that whoever had been in the woods was a shifter – a wolf to be specific. The trail had led to the front of Carly’s dorm, and my wolf didn’t like an outsider being so close to her.
Shifting back, I walked out of the woods and took a walk around campus. I didn’t see anyone out of the ordinary, but then again, I didn’t know everyone on campus. I decided I needed to talk with Jensen about what I’d discovered. I quickly took my wolf form and darted into the woods again.
It was bothering me that there was an unknown wolf shifter in the woods near our house… but it bothered me even more that he had been to the college, near Carly.
