Page 16 of Resisting Fate

Ryker looks me in the eye with a serious look on his face. “I think you both need to talk to each other and have a serious discussion. You guys have been in limbo since she changed, and I think it’s about time you guys stop leaving it all up in the air. Either you are mated, or you aren’t. It can’t continue like this.”

I nod my head in understanding. My alpha pretty much just put his foot down, and I think it’s about time Hailey and I have a conversation.

It won’t be easy though. I need her to come to me. I can’t keep stalking her like I have been.

I think that it’s time to give her the space she has been wanting.

Hailey

Ryker left and I know he went to talk to Isaac. After I stopped crying, Penelope offered me a drink of water and let me sit in silence until I was ready to talk.

“This is weird,” I mumble.

“Why?’ Penelope asks, tilting her head to the side.

“Well, I had sex with my mate who is also your ex-boyfriend and you guys have had sex. What if he was comparing us?” I say, panic starting to set in.

Penelope gives me a soft smile, but I can see amusement in her eyes. “I can guarantee that he wasn’t.”

I look over at her in disbelief. “What makes you say that? You don’t know what was going through his mind.”

She lets out a chuckle. “Well, I know because I never thought about him like that since I mated Ryker. When you are with your true mate, it all narrows down to them. Nothing else matters; no one else matters. I couldn’t even tell you what I remember about having sex with Isaac because it honestly feels like a different life. I was a different person back then. Being with Ryker is like I have a new beginning.”

I take in her words and think about how it makes sense. “Do you think Isaac is a different person?” I ask, looking over at her.

She lets out a laugh like that was the funniest thing I have ever said. “Well, he is and he isn’t. He has always been like this, but he had to hide his true self,” she admits with a sad smile. “I think that had to do with his home life. We were both just trying to survive. We weren’t ever given a chance to be who we really were.”

“Was it really that bad?” I ask, not sure if I really want to hear the answer.

She nods her head with zero hesitation. “It was terrible. Our parents cared more about power and status than anything else. That’s why they were forcing us to be together. We never really cared about each other the way couples should. We were just clinging to each other because of the life we had. I think once he was out from under them, it made him feel freer. I know I do now that Hal is dead.”

“I don’t know where to go from here,” I say softly.

“There is only one question you need to answer,” she says, looking at me with a serious expression.

“What’s that?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at her.

“Do you want to be with him? Is there some part of you, that isn’t your wolf, that wants to give this a shot? If you walked away tomorrow, would you regret it for the rest of your life if you never gave it a chance? If he found a choice mate and gave her pups, would it bother you?” she asks softly.

“That was more than one question,” I say with a nervous chuckle.

“Maybe so, but they all should result in one answer. If you can honestly say that you can walk away right now with no regrets, I will believe and support you; but, if there is a chance you can’t, then you need to have a serious talk with your mate,” she states in a no bullshit tone. I like that she’s not trying to give me an easy way out and instead trying to make me see the bigger picture.

I blow out a breath and go over her words in my head. The thought of him finding someone else and having pups with them makes me feel like my heart is going to break out of my chest. Could I really watch that? I imagine him kissing another woman or having a life without me. Tears well in my eyes at the thought of not being the one to have that with him. Why have my feelings completely taken a turn? If you asked me a few months ago if I would ever consider being with Isaac, I would tell you that there was no way and that I’m better off without him; but now I can see how much he’s different than the man I thought he was. Having his parents gone has made everyone see a different side of him.

The hard part is, I know he’s trying. I can see it plain as day.

She doesn’t push for conversation after that, which I am thankful for.

The real question is, would I regret it if I just walked away?

If I am being completely honest with myself, I would.

I know what fated mates mean. Your fated mate is your other half. They are your one chance for true happiness. My best friends explained it so many times over the years, dreaming of finding their own fated mates.

I don’t think I could give up that shot.

I’m so lost in thought that I don’t hear anyone else enter the room.

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