Another Choice
Chapter 17

(Noah)

It went better than I was thinking! The plan is on, Tom was able to contact Anna-Lynn and the dispute is planned tomorrow. I hope it will not be too hard for Selina.

"She is strong. You can trust her." My wolf says.

"I know but I can't help but feel worried about her!" I reply to him.

At that, he is not answering. Though I realize he's speaking more when we are close to Selina. And it's also his favorite subject which is weird because he never called her mate. Well, apparently once when I was young but I don't remember. I know that like me he is drawn by her and our world stops when she's around. We are always able to feel her before seeing her. This is why it was so easy to avoid her. Stupid me! Anyway, she is happy with Tom now, so I should stop to think about that. Pfff! As if it was possible. How will I learn to live with that? I don’t even know if I can!

I need to get ready. I'm meeting Tom as he asked to see me. We are meeting in an hour, in a place of his choice. I don't think he still trusts me but I will take the same precautions at his place. Still, it's bothering me. I missed him and I still miss him. We used to be so close until his death's mate. For a long time, I was angry against myself for bringing him with me that night. It was horrible to see that without being able to do something to fix it. When I see how Selina was able to save him from himself, I'm so proud! It's funny how Tom felt guilty about me with his feeling for Selina while I can't hold a grudge against him. I understand him, I would have fallen for her too.

We are meeting in a park close to the Primus pack's land. I'm taking a lot of precautions to be sure nobody can follow me until our meeting point.

"Hey, you wanted to see me?" I say

"Hey, you're late!"

"Sorry!"

"I want you to show me how you fight. If the plan works as we've planned, you will be alone with Selina. I need to be sure you can protect her."

"You know I can! But sure let's do it. Do you know a place close from here?"

He nods and starts walking. I'm following him. We spared for an hour and let him beat me. I deserve a good beating.

"I don't know if you are really bad or if for a stupid reason you let me beat you. But you are a shitty fighter and you need to do better. So much better! Thank god you're a witch or you will be doomed."

"Thanks!" I say sarcastically.

He starts to leave the training ground without speaking. So I will do the speaking.

"You know, I forgive you. I understand why you fell in love with her. You don't have to feel guilty because of me."

I don't why but what I just said made him angry. So angry that he walks toward me and punches me on my face. Fuck! He was refraining himself earlier! This hurts so much!

"That was for your stupidy!"

"This one for hurting her!" Another punch.

"This one for spying on us!" Another one.

"This one for already giving up and not fighting for her!" Another one.

"This one because you don't deserve to be her mate and you never will." Another one.

He gives me the last one in my stomach. I fall on the floor. Fuck! It’s so painful. I’m dying.

“Don’t be a drama queen! You want to be beaten up. You have what you ask for!” My wolf comments.

“And the last one? It was for what?” I ask him when I can finally breathe again.

“For not spying enough.” He replies giving him my hand to help me to get up.

Or it’s that I thought as I’m overwhelmed by his memories. I forgot we used to do that as we are both Alpha's sons, we used to force the other to see our memories. It’s was our game when we were younger.

*****

“Thank you for coming with me. With what happened last time. I didn’t want to go alone.” Selina says.

“You know me! I love to be the knight who comes to the rescue of the princess in distress.” I smirk.

She shakes her head but she is smiling.

“Who exactly are you meeting?” I ask.

“My cousin Emily, it’s on my mother's side. But she was weird on the phone. This is why I asked her to meet me in a restaurant. It’s a public place. You can sit in the booth next to ours. She will not see you and I will be in peace to know you’re here.”

I nod and go sit in the booth. We arrived 20 minutes earlier to be sure to be sitting as we wanted and for her cousin to not know about me. I’m just here as a back up in case if something goes wrong. We don’t want to repeat Alexis’ incident.

“Hey, Lina!” A feminine’s voice says.

“Wow, she has a beautiful voice!” My wolf says in awe.

“I know! It’s so angelic.” I agree.

“Hello Emily, how are you?” Selina says.

“I’m good and you?”

“Good, thanks. You wanted to see me?”

“Alexis told me what happened. And he sent me to speak to you.”

“What did he tell you exactly?” Selina asks warily.

“That you fought about your mate and you lost control and beat him. He had no choice than to defend himself.”

“I can’t believe it! And you believed him?” Selina says pissed.

“Why would he lie to me? You mean you didn’t fight?”

“No we did and it was about my mate but he is the one who started it.”

“Come on Lina, we both know your mate is a touchy topic for you. I don’t see why he will be the one losing control.” Emily says.

“I can’t believe it! You can tell him to go to hell!” Selina says, furious.

“Calm down or you’re going to lose control again!” Emily says worriedly.

“Are you afraid of me?” Selina says even more pissed.

“I... I don’t know what to think. You changed so much Selina. I don’t know who you are anymore. I mean you beat Alexis, the Lina I know would never have.”

“Leave!” Selina says her voice shaking. She is on the verve to cry.

“Lina, be-“

“She asks you to leave!” I say getting up from my booth.

When I look at her, my breath stays stuck in my throat. She is just perfect, an angel blessing us with her presence. My wolf is in awe in front of her.

“Who are you?” She asks bringing me back to reality.

“I’m Terrence, Selina’s hmm friend.” I reply.

She looks upset with my answer.

“Are you sleeping with him?” She asks looking at Selina.

“This is not your business!” Selina replies defensively.

“So what they say is true, you’re whoring around like a cheap slut!” She says looking disgusted.

I growl at her: “Watch out what you’re saying!”

She looks right in my eyes and looks so hurt. Suddenly I feel really bad and I just want to comfort her. Maybe I was too harsh. She storms out of the restaurant before I can decide what I want to do.

“What the hell just happened?” I ask my wolf.

" No idea! ”

******

“Sorry, I’m late! I was looking for my phone but I have no idea where I left it.” I say joining Selina in a nice restaurant.

She is sitting at the bar, surely waiting for our table. She wanted to have a date which is funny because we never did have one before. I kiss her forehead before sitting at her left side and ordering the same thing she is drinking.

“There is no alcohol in that!” I say surprised after testing the cocktail.

She laughs:” You should have asked what I had before to order the same.”

“Are you alright? You are acting weird since you met your cousin last week.”

“Do you know how a Lycan recognizes its mate?” She asks me instead of replying.

“No.”

“We are not like you, werewolves. We don’t need the artifacts the Moon Goddess puts in your mate bond. We don’t have a voice to say “mate” but we feel the call between our two souls. There is no spark but every part of us is vibrating for our mate. It could appear weaker than the mate bond werewolves have... In reality, it’s something deeper. When we meet our mate, everything changes. Life takes another signification.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“What did you feel when I met Emily last week?”

“She is beautiful like all Lycans are. Her voice is sweet.” I reply not sure of what she wants me to say.

“Of course you didn’t feel it as strong as she did! You’re a werewolf!” she mutters more for herself.

“You think she is my mate? That’s impossible! I mean yes I was attracted and yes she seems to not want to leave my mind but my mate!” I say.

“I know she’s your mate. You saw how she reacted about us. How furious she was? It was not about Alexis and me.”

“But after what she said to you.”

“She was upset. I kind of stole her mate.” She says with a sad smile.

“What about us? I can't do that to you.” I ask feeling bad. How did I replace myself in this situation?

She sighs: "Sometimes the best love stories are the shortest one. You gave me so much! You healed my heart and taught me how to love myself. You are the first man to see through me and to love me for me. This is the best gift, I could ever ask for. I love you and the place you have in my heart is special. Nobody will ever take it from you but I knew for the beginning that we will not last. We both needed a fixing relationship and it's what we are, was. You help me to accept myself and I help you to believe in life again."

"You did more than that. You taught me how to live again. Before you, I was in a dark place and I had lost hope to see the light again. You fought for me when I had given up and you became my light. Because of you, I'm able to love again. I think you did more for me than I did for you. I love you so much!" I say a tear running on my cheek.

"I know! And this is why you're going to give her a chance. She is the right one for you." She is crying too.

"So this is the end of us?"

"As lover yes, as my best friend, I hope not."

"I'm so sorry! Don't cry, please?"

"Don't be! They are happy tears. To know you have found the love and happiness you deserve."

"You're just unbelievable. The one who will have your heart will be the luckiest man in the world."

She gave me my phone.

"Why did you have it?" I ask.

"Because I have to make this right. I should go, she will be here soon."

"What?"

"The date, it's for us and Emily." My wolf says.

Oh!

"One last thing, break her heart and I will kick your ass."

I catch her arm before she can leave.

"Thank you!" I tell her hugging her putting all my feelings for her in that hug.