Jolene and Lancelot were enjoying breakfast together. Lancelot kept talking seemingly about everything that came to his mind. Jolene had never been a fan of small talk. That was the main reason she rarely called people back home.
She usually found herself in awkward silence unless there was a reason for talking. However, this was never the case with Lancelot. If she did not have much to say about something, he would just find another topic. Nonetheless, after trying talking to her about sports, history and world news he seemed to be running out of ideas.
Jolene got excited when he talked about his training, but she looked around and held herself back even though only the waitresses were around. The problem was that it did not matter how much she talked, it was as if nothing was enough for him. I am not supposed to reveal my pack and position in front of everyone.
“Mmm… So you play video games, right?” he asked.
“I am only good at some fighting games. I had to train to beat my arrogant brother and his friends.”
Lancelot chuckled. “So, what does your brother do?”
She averted her gaze. “I will tell you later. Okay?”
Lancelot nodded. The conversation was dying out again.
“So which one is your favorite fighting video game?” asked Lancelot.
Jolene tried to think about one of them. Still, everything that came to her mind was the mental image of her losing against Matt while Lancelot kissed and touched another girl right beside her. Her stomach revolted; She lost her appetite and felt like crying again. Her hands rested on the table and she stared at her water, focusing on happy puppies to prevent any more tears from spilling.
Lancelot seemingly noticed her sad expression and cupped her hand. “Hey, Jolene. Did something happen?”
She instinctively shoved his hand away and glared at him. His face reflected his shock. A whimper escaped from him and he quickly cleared his throat to dissimulate. She rested her elbow on the table, her eyes downcast, as she covered her face.
Jolene shook her head. “I am sorry, Lancelot.”
He nodded and his eyes focused on his food. He ate in silence as Jolene played with her food.
“I will come back soon.” Jolene walked to the cashier and paid for their meals. Then, she went to the restroom; She found herself sitting on the toilet crying.
College all over again. A giggle escaped her as she remembered that one time she was alone in the restroom crying and an small Earthquake happened. It was like the Earth was being empathetic with her misery.
The taste of blood made her realize that she had bitten her lip too hard again. A barely noticeable drop of blood fell on her skirt; It was too small to leave a stain. She threw some water on her face, retouched her makeup and practiced her smile several times, wincing from the pain.
Jolene was waiting for the deep bite mark on her lip to completely heal but his smell hit her. It was Xander, and he was right beside Lancelot. The bleeding had just stopped. She left the restroom and walked to her table, where she found Xander chatting casually with a frowning Lancelot.
A waiter brought his food. Xander waved at her and stood up as she reached the table. He kissed her cheek and hugged her. She patted his back awkwardly. When he let her go, Jolene sat back on the booth and Xander sat next to her.
Lancelot focused on eating.
“I missed you so much yesterday. You go on a kiss me and then leave.” Xander pouted and Lancelot clenched his jaw.
“You really are having french fries and a burger for breakfast?” asked Jolene as she casually stole a bunch of fries from him and ate them.
He growled lowly and she grinned.
“Get over it.” She took more fries.
“What about your breakfast?” asked Xander.
“I lost my appetite earlier and now it is cold. So, feed me.” Jolene giggled.
“Oh, I could feed you much more than fries.”
Jolene rolled her eyes. “We talked about that.” She slid away from him.
“Jolene, I made a mistake yesterday. I was not thinking about changing for you because I was busy falling for you.” Xander cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes.
A loud growl echoed to the diner. Thankfully the business was werewolf owned and nearly empty. Lancelot stood up and left.
“Xander, could you excuse me?” said Jolene. Xander sighed and stood up. Jolene took a step toward the exit but Xander grabbed her hand.
“Stay with me, please. I did not want to make you feel like I am forcing you to stay, but please choose me. At least this one time.”
Jolene looked into his pleading eyes. She wanted to stay. He had gone all the way there to visit her after all. Xander tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“There is so much I regret right now and even more things I need to tell you,” he said.
Jolene cupped his cheeks, pulled him toward her, stepped on her tiptoes and rested her forehead against his. “My head is a mess. You’ve been a really good friend, but he’s my mate.”
Xander sighed. “Just stay now. Forget everything about him.”
Jolene shook her head no. “I was trying to annoy him, but I’d always choose him and I’m his ride, sorry.”
She ran outside of the diner and found Lancelot sitting down on the ground beside her car.
“Oh, hey there.” She crouched down and waved at him.
Lancelot looked up and his eyes widened. He sniffed the air around him and stood up. He cupped her cheek and moved his thumb to her lower lip. He traced the almost invisible bite mark.
He took a step toward her and hugged her. Her eyes were still slightly red and puffy. His other hand sunk into her hair, caressing her scalp.
“You were crying again,” he whispered. “Was it because of me?”
She looked up and nodded slowly giving him a sad smile.
Lancelot felt a pang in his heart. He could not even try to convince himself that he did not care anymore. His fear was quickly turning real, he was at the verge of falling in love. The worst part is that he was not confident that she would stay by his side even if he never made the same mistakes again.
The smell of the other Alpha on her was just another reminder that someone else had seen on her what he should have seen since the beginning.
“Let’s go,” she whispered, freeing herself from his hold. She walked to the driver’s side and got in the car.
Lancelot felt an intense glare on him and turned around. His eyes locked with the other Alpha’s eyes. His teeth were bared at him and his fists clenched. Lancelot’s wolf was feeling intimidated by the powerful aura of Alexander, but Lancelot hid it with a smirk and walked to the passenger side. He got into the car and checked for the other Alpha through the rear-view mirrors but he was not there anymore. Jolene drove away from the restaurant. “Jolene, I do not know what other bullshit to say to convince myself that I would be fine without you,” Lancelot whispered.
Jolene turned to look at him. “And that makes you sad?”
“It does, because I do not think you will choose me over him. You said so yourself, he has not hurt you like I did.”
Jolene looked back at the road. “I still have not decided anything, and I said I would wait for you.”
Lancelot looked through the window. “You do not seem like the kind of person who would throw out of the window all logic to tie yourself down to someone like me.”
Jolene sighed. “Prove me that you are worth tying myself to, and I will prove you that I am worth tying yourself to,” said Jolene.
Lancelot chuckled; In his eyes, she had proved him that long ago. A sly smile tugged on his lips as his hand grazed her bare arm from her shoulder to the tip of her fingers, making her shiver. He took her hand on his and placed a lingering kiss on the back of her hand.
“Stop that,” Jolene said.
“You do not sound very convincing,” said Lancelot humming.
Jolene clicked her tongue; He released her hand and put his hands up.
“That guy likes your for real, you know? Even if he has gotten a bad reputation, you are someone worth changing for. I would know all about that.”
Jolene looked at him but he was gazing outside the window. “Maybe he does like me.” She shrugged.
Lancelot’s wolf growled at him and he mentally slapped himself. He covered his face with one hand and sighed; He peeked to Jolene’s direction. “What are you planning to do?” he asked.
Jolene groaned. “What should I do?” She turned to him with expecting eyes.
Lancelot’s jaw hung open as he watched at her amused. “Never ever talk to him again?” He chuckled.
Jolene rolled her eyes.
“Just kidding. You should decide what you want and talk to him,” said Lancelot.
Jolene laughed and nudged at his shoulder. “Oh, cute and wise. Who would have guessed?”
She pulled over in the parking lot. Since they were already five minutes late, there was no people around. He looked down, the corners of his lips slightly arching up.
“I am not cute. Puppies are cute. Call me handsome.” He opened the car door.
Jolene giggled but swiftly changed her facial expression to a serious one. She motioned Lancelot to close the door, which he did. She put on music in case there were still people around. He stared at her curiously.
“Lancelot, my brother is the Alpha of the Silver Fang Pack. I have Alpha’s blood. You were right when you said I am strong. Tell me, do you really like me only because of that?”
Lancelot gulped and averted his gaze. “I…” His heart was racing and he began sweating. When he saw her smiling at Alexander he realized how much he wished to be the reason of that smile; He was afraid that if he said it, she would think he is lying.
“If I only wanted power I would not have felt so empty when I saw you with another guy,” he whispered.
“What?” she asked.
He looked at her, or more specifically at himself reflected in her beautiful dark brown eyes. He felt himself relax.
He talked without thinking. The possibility of losing her at any moment made him decide to be honest. “When I saw you with him, I did not want to take you away and lock you down only for my pleasure and benefit.”
He bit his trembling lower lip. “I wanted you to truly look at me and smile. I want you to put your walls down and be happy with me. I want to touch you, to kiss you. I want you to kiss me and only me. I get frustrated thinking about how he already knows the taste of your lips while I do not. I am jealous because the sole idea of never kissing you or never holding you in my arms is killing me. I had not even noticed that I have been seeing you as my mate, not as a mere tool for power.”
Lancelot wiped off the tears from Jolene’s cheeks. “You have every single reason to not believe me now.” His voice cracked. “But, please, believe me. I have never been so serious about anything but this: I am falling in love with you.”
In that instant, Lancelot found the look he had been wishing for. His own gaze was intense and his lips slightly parted. Jolene’s focus flickered between Lancelot’s eyes and lips. She looked at him like he was the most precious thing for her.
Jolene and Lancelot slowly leaned to each other. He was sure that he wanted this, no, that he needed this like oxygen, and her desire was obvious to him. Her breath was tickling him. He took a good look at her face, plump pink lips, pinkish cheeks, shining eyes; So beautiful, he thought.
Lancelot kissed the tip of his thumb and slowly brushed it against her lips. She closed her eyes tasting the moment. His finger caressed all the way from the right corner of her mouth, through her upper lip and then the lower until he reached the right corned again. She whimpered and opened her eyes when he pulled his hand away.
He took his finger to his mouth again and kissed it tasting the flavor of her lips; He sighed. “I would never let you get in trouble because of me. I want to take care of you.”
He said that, but he was now shaking and fighting to control himself. His eyes were almost completely golden. He took his bag, opened the door and dashed out of the car toward the woods.
Jolene took a deep breath; His scent still lingered all around her. She closed her eyes and licked her lips. Every second that passed made her more and more confused. She was not sure about anything anymore.
The one thing clear in that instant was that she wanted to stay there surrounded by his scent forever if possible. “As if I could actually do that…” Jolene walked out of the car. She was already twenty minutes late to class so she ran there.
Lancelot skipped his firsts three classes. Jolene saw him during the lunch period. He smiled at her and blew her a kiss. She looked away and blushed.
Given Lancelot’s reputation this kind of behavior did not raise anyone’s eyebrows. They just assumed he had his eyes set on the new young teacher now. Jolene did not know whether to feel relieved or annoyed at this. The rest of the day went on somehow. Minutes seemed like hours to her. She ran out of the classroom at the end of her day’s last class.
Lancelot, Samuel and Matt were chatting near Jolene’s car. She greeted them as she passed them. Lancelot discreetly brushed his fingers against hers as she walked by him.
“See you, Jolene.” He grinned.
“See you soon, Lancelot.” She walked to her car.
She was driving to her apartment, where Xander waited for her. She was not excited with the prospect of telling him what had happened with Lancelot. Still, she had decided that she would not keep anything from Xander.