Page 110 of Twinning and Sinning

“ROGUES!”

Chapter Sixty

Lonato

Igroaned,beingleftin the dust by the king himself. He was absolutely terrifying and as much as I wanted to admit about him being wrong; he wasn’t. The head Alpha King Kane may be a beast, barely uttering a few sentences here or there from time to time only for the sake of protecting our species, but when speaking, Wolves listen.

Maybe my balls have grown too small. All the years staying away from Zoey were catching up with me. Zoey has always been attractive. Middle school awkwardness worked for her. She bounced around like a ball of sunshine, always with her blonde pixie haircut fluttering from table to table. She made sure she was involved in every sport, club and if her hand wasn’t in something she was doing to contribute, she was there to cheer everyone else on. Zoey was different. Everybody knew it.

Zoey didn’t take my rejection well and the happy-go-lucky Zoey retreated. Once I had yelled at her, told her I would rather date a rock, crushed her spirit. She tried not to show it; she tried to brush it off like no big deal, but the damage was done. Other guys picked up on what I did, thinking it was part of the bad boy vibe I had. I wasn’t bad by any sorts; I was a loyal Wolf and to my pack. I just didn’t have time for people playing with me, like I thought Zoey was doing. Why have a crush on the supposed bad guy of the town? She was the bubbly popular one.

Zoey’s involvement in activities faltered. The humans stayed away from her. Calling her names that I didn’t want to remember. I branded her into something else, something lower. The guilt never went away all those years. She made one close friend, Trey. He was the new kid that wasn’t aware of all of Zoey’s nicknames. He would always smile at her, be nice to her because the best of friends.

I should have been happy, but I wasn’t. I should have righted my wrongs, but I didn’t. I let everyone think I hated Zoey, and she thought the same.

On my eighteenth birthday, I went to patrol the town. Making sure Bears were behaving, several of them liked to cause trouble because Alpha Mason never kept tabs on them. It was up to the Werewolves to keep up the secrecy.

Zoey was walking to school one morning, her hair tied up in a ponytail. The sway of her hips, carrying her books to her chest, had my heart stop in my chest. It wasn’t until then I realized the intoxicating smell of sugar cookies. My Wolf howled ‘mine.’ Feet didn’t move, my eyes never left her fleeting back. My Wolf begged and whined for me to follow her, but I couldn’t. I can’t. All because Zoey hated me. I had ruined her life.

Three years I went on fighting my Wolf. Several times my Wolf almost won out, but the torturous training I used on my human body held him back. Seeing her with Trey as more than a friend on the little club outing was enough to get him riled up. He clawed, scratched the inner corners of my mind, watching Trey pretending to enjoy what he was doing.

I knew, though.

I knew he didn’t care about her like I did. That made it worse. Trey was using her, using her to get to Seraphina. His eyes would follow her every move. Zoey being too elated to be getting some sort of attention from being ignored all these years was a fact. In her own heart, I think she knew it, too. Her fake friends didn’t help her see his intentions. Seraphina, the only one there with a heart, shot judgmental glances at Trey when he wasn’t looking.

Running both hands through my hair, I stepped up to the medical ward door. I haven’t spoken to Zoey much at all since the cellar incident. I told her she was mine, and that was it. I haven’t had time to indulge in her like I would have wanted to. Maybe she thought I was ignoring her again. It’s just there was a potential war that would happen right in my backyard and if we didn’t win, I couldn’t have her at all.

Holding her while she cried about her parents, though, it did something to me. I needed her, and it took Alpha Kane to kick my ass to do it.

Because he thinks I have small nuts.

The door swung open, and her beautiful blue eyes met me. “Lonato?” she stuttered, running her fingers through her hair. “W-what are you doing here?” She backed up, getting ready to close the door.

“Let’s talk, just for a minute,” I almost pleaded. Zoey opened the door wider. I couldn’t tell if she was reluctant because of my sudden outburst holding her in front of an entire War Room Meeting or if she was blushing. She shut the door, leaving us in a cold room with tons of medical equipment. Tubes, refrigerators, gauze pads, and worst of all, needles, laid out ready to administer.

“Listen,” I kept staring at the needles on the tray next to her. My mouth became extremely dry, but wet at the same time. My hands became sweaty. Rubbing my forehead, I tried to look at Zoey, but those damn needles were pointing at me.

“I… wanted to…” breathing heavily, I leaned on the table.

“Gosh, Lonato, you are sheet white! Are you okay?!” Zoey’s hands went to steady me. Her warm hands had sparks fly across my skin. My Wolf howled and my damn eyes looked back at the needles. The stimulation of passing out and my Wolf screeching in my head had Zoey guiding me to a gurney.

“Here, lay down,” my eyes saw spots until I finally laid down. A cold towel rubbed across my forehead and neck.

“Sweet Mary,” Zoey whispered, my white t-shirt becoming drenched with sweat, becoming see through. Clearing her throat, she announced, “I’m going to go get you some apple juice and get some sugar in you, you will feel better.” My hand reached out before she could leave, pulling her back.

“No, listen. I’m sorry damnit.” Zoey’s eyebrows raised. “I said horrible things to you when we were younger, and I ruined your life.” She came closer to the bed, looking over at me. Like the mighty Hera judging her own mate. “I thought it was a joke. I never thought someone as bright as you would care for someone like me. Everyone thought I was a dick. I wasn’t normal like them. I didn’t play or joke around. No girl should have liked me. I did my work and went on with my life. I couldn’t understand why someone as nice and bubbly as you would care for a prick like me.” I tightened my grip on her hand, her head bowed to look at my fingers intertwining with hers.

“It was because you felt the bond before I did,” I muttered.

“Pretty sure it was because I thought you were cute,” she twisted her lips, blushing.

“No, you took the first step because I felt it, too. I liked you too Zoey, but I didn’t think you would like someone like me. You are a ray of sunshine. I was a grumpy teenager, and I pushed you away. Plus, I got mom and dad issues you wouldn’t believe,” I chuckled. “The point is, you are my mate, Zoey, and I’m going to fight for you.” Her eyes softened; a whimper came from her chest. “If you will let me, if you will have me, I’ll improve your life. I swear to the gods I will. I’ll even take you on as many dates as you want. Make sure you have as many friends as you want. Just give me a chance. My greatest fear for the past three years was for you to hate me when I told you.”

Zoey stood by the table, my fingers interlaced with her, my face color was coming back and a surge of energy came through me. Sitting up, I wrapped my arms around her. “I messed up.” My nose hit her shoulder, and her body shuttered beneath me. I’ll use every part of the bond I could. The Alpha was right. I can’t let her go.

Zoey pulled back, her eyes glassy. “Okay,” she sniffed. “But I’m always right from now on in any argument,” she choked back a laugh. Smiling at her, I pulled her in my arms again, sobbing against me. My hand cradled the back of her head, rocking her slowly.

“I’m sorry about your family Zoey, I really am.” She burst into tears, gripping my damp shirt. “It will all be fine in the end. I’ll take care of you, love you, and worship the ground you walk on until you forgive me.”

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