Don't forget our Love
|11|

After changing clothes many times I finally settled on an outfit, a light pink dress that sticks to my body like glue. It's tight and slightly uncomfortable but it's sexy and that's my goal for tonight, looking drop-dead gorgeous for my mate.

I twirl around getting my friend's attention. "So how do I look?"

Bea's jaw drops. "Wow! Kai is going to faint when he sees you!" She squeals making me grin even wider.

"And what do you think Kayla?" I ask my clearly irritated friend who's trying her hardest not to smile.

She sighs. "Fine you look amazing." she agrees rolling her eyes in the process.

"Thank you. I think you look fabulous." I compliment her. For once Kayla isn't in jeans but a black mini skirt and black crop top. Bea and I tried to get her into a bright dress but Kayla only gave in so far.

Kayla stands up folding her arms across her chest. "I'm not sure why I had to dress up. As soon as you see your lover boy we're going to be practically invisible."

I pout. "Please Kayla you know you're my number one." I tease her earning a punch to my shoulder.

"Let's just go before I change my mind." She groans.

"Yes let's go! This is my last chance to replace my mate." Bea says and we all grab our stuff ready to leave.

The walk to the beach is shorter than last time. Or maybe I'm just walking faster because I'm excited about what's waiting for me on the other end. As soon as he appears he quickly turns around smiling at me. A blush creeps up on my cheeks as Kai approaches me grabbing my hand.

"Avery you look amazing. Fuck I can't wait to rip that dress off you," he growls and I blush again.

"Kai you're so naughty."

"Only for you darling. Now let's go hang out with our friends so we can hurry and get back to my room," he says dragging me towards our group.

Thanks to Matt I'm drunk. He had poured us all shots of tequila and I only had ten before my eyes turned glossy and I was stumbling over my words.

Kai then cut me off and we've been dancing on and off since. He's had twice as many drinks as me but is only buzzed. It's completely unfair how his alpha blood makes him stronger and better than everyone else.

"I don't think it makes me better than everyone else," Kai replies shocking me.

"Umm did I say that out loud?"

He nods. "Yes. Is that what you really think of me, Avery? am I that conceited to you?" he whispers sounding hurt which makes me feel like the worst person ever.

I shake my head. "No. You're probably one of the most selfless people I know. I'm not sure why I said that maybe I'm just jealous."

Kai cups my chin and his golden brown eyes seem to bore right into my soul. "Tell me little mate what's bothering you so much?"

I sigh and keep swaying to the music I'm not even listening to. "It's just- you've always been so perfect to me Kai. You're intelligent, a great friend, and sooooo handsome. You're strong and a great leader. How am I supposed to measure up to you?"

"Listen to me Avery and listen to me good. You are all of these things and more. Kayla told me about how you gave away your spa tickets to some girls in your class. You're thoughtful, brilliant and so supportive. You were always there for me when my parents were too busy. I'm only a great man because I had you to guide me."

"But I left?"

He cups my chin again and plants a soft kiss on my lips. "But you created the foundation which helped build me into who I am today. I'm not perfect Avery. I still have trouble controlling my temper and jealousy issues. But I'm working on that and it's all because of you my wonderful mate, I love you so much."

"I love you, Kai," I whisper and crash my lips onto his. His hand runs through my hair and down my back pulling me closer to him. He deepens the kiss and I moan into his mouth.

"Avery darling," he whispers and I can feel how hard he is against me. I know he can smell my arousal because he growls and pulls me even closer if possible.

"Someone stop them please!" Kayla screams and her frantic voice has me pulling away from Kai.

I turn my head in the direction of her voice to see Kayla yelling at someone else. Two guys are fighting and there's a crowd circling them.

"Fuck that's Lance," Kai growls and heads toward the two fighting wolves. They've both shifted now and are snapping at each other ready to pounce.

I follow behind Kai but stop. Kayla engulfs me in a hug crying. "He got so jealous! We were just dancing that's it." she cries and I'm so confused.

"Kayla, what's going on? Why is Lance fighting some wolf?" I ask as I pull away from her to look at my mate. Kai is between the two wolves trying to calm Lance down.

She starts crying more and Bea walks up to join us. Kayla looks at both of us. "I've been lying to you guys. I found my mate our first night here."

"Who?" I interrupt her and she points at the two fighting wolves. "Lance is you're mate?" I ask for clarification because this is unbelievable.

"Yes he is," she answers wiping her tears.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Bea asks her engulfing her in a hug.

"I'm sorry, so so sorry." Kayla starts crying more but I'm shocked and irritated by her confession.

"Kayla what the fuck! You gave me grief about Kai being my mate when you've known who your mate was the whole time! Why would you lie about something like that?"

She shakes her head. "It's complicated Avery he-"

"I don't want to hear it!" I snap at her. "Bea and I are always honest with you yet you keep something this important from us," I say and Bea looks unsure but I continue. "You tried to keep me from my mate when you could have been with yours all along!"

"Avery please," she begs and I scoff.

"No, I trusted you. Now I'm not sure I can believe anything you say." I storm off ignoring my friend's calls. I head to Kai's room knowing he will look for me there. I can't go back to my room right now. If I see Kayla I'll probably snap and say something I'll regret.

In Kai's bedroom, I begin pacing back and forth. I almost regret yelling at Kayla but what did she expect? I almost missed my opportunity to be with Kai because she kept trying to convince me he wasn't my mate. Then it turns out she knew who her mate was the whole time.

Why didn't she tell me?

Does she not trust me? Am I the bad friend here because I've been too busy focusing on my own problems? Maybe I should have listened to her before I left.

The enticing smell of cinnamon and apples stops me in my tracks. I hear the front door open and a second later Kai enters his bedroom. He has blood on his shirt but no visible wounds.

"Kai." I rush up throwing my arms around his neck. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay it's not my blood," he answers and caresses my face. "Are you okay little mate? Bea said you ran off."

Sighing I pull away and sit on his bed. Kai joins me interlocking our hands. "It's Kayla. We kind of fought. I might have handled replaceing out Lance is her mate badly. I'm going to apologize tomorrow."

He nods. "Yeah, I didn't take it very well either when she told me."

"What?" I ask confused. "You knew and didn't tell me?" I stand up and so does Kai.

"Kayla told me in confidence. I was going to tell you about it yesterday but then you showed up and we had sex then today we were busy."

"Wow, Kai you're something else. I'm leaving." I start to walk away when he steps in front of me blocking me from leaving.

"Avery stop. I don't want to fight with you. I wasn't trying to keep it a secret from you. I wanted to tell you about it in private. Their situation is complicated and I didn't want to air out their business." he grabs my hand kissing my knuckles and I try to stay mad but it's hard when he's being affectionate. "Please forgive me, darling. I would never intentionally hurt you."

"Fine but I still don't understand why she didn't tell me."

He sighs. "Probably because she was embarrassed, Avery. Kayla had caught Lance with another she-wolf when she realized they were mates so she ran off. He chased after her but then he practically rejected her. She's probably sad and still processing."

I feel like the worst friend ever. "I'm terrible. I need to apologize to her."

Kai turns his head and I can see he's mind linking someone. He turns to me and smiles. "Kayla and Lance are together. Your apology will have to wait for another time."

"But-"

"No butts unless it's yours in the air while I pound into that sweet cunt." he chuckles grabbing me and throwing me over his shoulder.

"Kai, where are you taking me?" I laugh as he tosses me on the bed.

"Heaven baby, get undressed." he winks.

Kai crawls over me kissing along my body until he meets my lips and stops. He runs the pad of his thumb along my face. "I want to make love to you but I also want to fuck you so roughly you can't walk straight," he whispers and I'm even wetter if possible.

"Why can't you do both?" I wink and he growls and throws his shirt over his head.

Kai starts kissing along the crook of my neck and I can't help but grind against him. He licks along my neck and then starts placing soft kisses before he says "Can I mark you, Avery? I want to show everyone you're mine."

My whole body freezes at his question. "Mark me? Kai if you mark me then I'll be in heat a few days later."

He chuckles and keeps kissing along my neck and then up to my jaw. "What's wrong with that? I don't care when we start a family as long as it's with you."

I push him off me and sit up. Kai looks confused as I place a strand of my brown hair behind my ear. "Kai, I'm not ready for kids. I still have to graduate high school. I have a few more weeks of school left."

"Can't you finish online? you don't really need a high school certificate anyway. We have a pack to run and I have meetings lined up already. Plus getting your Luna ceremony set up?"

I stand up because apparently, Kai does not understand what I'm saying. "Online school? A Luna ceremony? I'm not doing that. I had a plan and that was graduating high school and then going to college somewhere."

He stands up also. "And plans change Avery! we're mates! you should already be marked and ready to lead by my side with me! You expect me to just go home without you?"

"You're pack is not my home yet! I need time Kai! I need to finish school and say bye to my parents and maybe pack my clothes so I'm not fucking naked!"

He growls then runs his hand through his black hair frustrated. "I thought you wanted to be with me." he frowns and the wave of sadness I feel from him almost knocks me off my feet.

I place my hand on his shoulder but he shrugs it off. "I'm sorry Kai. I thought you knew I wouldn't be going back with you, but I realize we never discussed it. It's not that I don't want to go with you I just-"

"You can't. You have other priorities."

I nod. "Yes, but that doesn't mean I do-"

"I'm getting tired. I'm going to go to sleep. I have a long plane ride home tomorrow." he says and walks away not letting me get another word in.

A tear slips down my face but I quickly wipe it away. I hadn't even thought about what would happen when we leave camp in the morning. Kai and I have been apart for so long and now after finally replaceing each other I'm leaving him again but this time it's my choice.

I just really hope it is the right one.