Page 98 of Conner's Luna

"Lydia is your mate," I say. I fiddle with the hem of my t-shirt.

"She rejected me. I don't know why but I think... maybe she is being threatened by Trey or his father." He speaks slowly as if it still causes him pain. As if he's worried about Lydia.

I think about it, rolling it over in my head. I open my mouth, about to tell Conner that I disagree, when he continues. "Trey... oh, fuck, Babe, he's your mate." Conner's eyes close. He jams his fingers through his hair, chest heaving as if he just ran a mile.

My mind goes blank. My tiny hairs are practically hissing, dancing like snakes under the spell of a snake charmer's flute. Trey is my mate. Nothing about it seems right, but at the same time, I know it's true. It explains... well... everything.

"So..." I say it slow as molasses. As slow as my brain is thinking right now. "You are friends with me to make Lydia jealous."

There is a beat of silence before Conner issues an odd growl, "no! Friends?! No, Babe. That isn't true, Bailey."

I force myself to meet his eyes. "Yes, it is. I even understand I guess. Maybe it's romantic, to have a soulmate." Not for everyone, definitely not for me. If Trey is my 'mate' then Ididnotluck out. Meanwhile, Lydia, that horrible witch, gets Conner. I can be big enough to admit that it makes me jealous. Oh, yeah, way more than jealous. It's astronomical.

"We are more than friends, Bailey. I didn't want to be friends with you at first, I'll admit that but that's all changed," Conner snaps.

"You're so attracted to her," I murmur. All of those moments tumble around in my memory. The haunted look in Conner's eyes when he would see Lydia. The way she always seemed to act as if she was owed something from him. The fights between Trey and Conner. They sure as hell weren't fighting over me.

Mates... if you only have one in a lifetime, then it must be more than a mere attraction.

"Not as much as I'm attracted to you," he snaps out.

He's not really mine. Not really my friend, and absolutely not my 'mate.' I look at him blankly, feeling numb, shaking my head. "Lydia will fall for you, Conner. That's what 'mates' mean, doesn't it? She won't be able to help it, and I'll never be with Trey. I don't even like him. I just..." I let the idea materialize in my head. I have to swallow and force the next words out, "I don't think that you being friends with me is helping you win her over."

"That's stupid, Bails, fuck!" Conner snarls. Fur erupts along his neck. One long, murderous claw points into my face. "First of all, we are not friends. Remember this morning?"

"Don't be crude," I whisper automatically.

"Damnit, Bailey!" he emphasizes the curse. "I'm trying to hold it together here. Lydia has nothing to do with my friends, my decisions. Not anymore." Conner shakes his head. His eyes start to glow that orange color that is indicative of his temper.

I can feel tears slip down my cheeks. "We're not friends, Conner." My voice is a dry, raspy whisper.

"You're right, baby. I had your pussy rubbing on my dick. We're not friends. When the time is right, I'm going to pop your sweet cherry on that same dick, so we're definitely not friends."

I look at him, feeling my entire body lose its energy. He is so raw, so powerful. No wonder he's a- awolf. It makes sense in a bizarre, out-of-this-world way.

"But, we're not mates," I say quietly. He flinches and opens his mouth to say something, to deny my words. "No, Conner. I think... I need to go." He makes a move towards me, his hand raising up.

Now it's my turn to flinch away. He's been using me, hasn't he? Damnit, it's a smart idea, too. Use me to make Trey jealous and break up with Lydia. "No, Conner," I whisper.

"I can see your thoughts, Bailey. Don't. Don't start."

"You were going to make Trey jealous." I can see the truth in his face. "I want to be alone."

"No," Conner says, anguished. It hurts me to see him so upset, but I can't be with him right now. I can't.

"Can Braxton take me home?"

His door opens, "I'll drive you back, Bailey," Conner's Papa walks into the room.

Wolf-people have good hearing.

My heart shattering, I turn and walk away. Conner doesn't try to stop me again.

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25 - Strength of a Different Sort

Bailey

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