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Chapter 4

“Well, aren’t we the trouble maker?” Chad sung from my bedroom doorframe before walking in, closing the door behind him.

Closing my laptop, I shot him an annoyed look. “It wasn’t my fault.”

Chad smirked and shook his head slightly as he sat on the edge of my bed, his hands in his pockets. “Sure it wasn’t. You didn’t intend on firing Xavier up at all, did you?”

I ground my teeth and darted my eyes away from him. I hated how Chad knew me so well. “It wasn’t like I went there on purpose to rub it in his face.”

“Right.” Chase grunted. “What are you doing, Chloe?” I heard concern in his voice. I pushed my laptop to the side.

“What do you mean? I’m not doing anything.” I crossed my arms, staring at Chad.

Chard raised an eyebrow. “Exactly. You’re not doing anything. You are just throwing your life away. Over him.”

“He’s my mate.”

“He denied you.” Chad’s voice was firm, like he was trying to bring me to reality or something. I knew Xavier didn’t want me and it hurt. It hurt so much.

“You think I don’t know that!” I snarled through gritted teeth.

Chad let out a small sigh. “These games you are playing with him. I know why you are doing it. But seriously, Chloe, you have to stop. You aren’t doing yourself any favors.” Chad shifted his weight against my bed. “You are prolonging the process. But you have to face it.”

Leaning back into my pillows, I said, “I don’t want to face it.” I could hear my own hurt; I just wanted Xavier to want me, to love me. Like he should.

Chad placed a hand on my knee. “I know, buttercup. But you have to.” I smiled a small smile like I always did at his nickname for me. “You have to let the process take its natural course. So you and Xavier both can move on.”

“Move on to what? Humans and unmated wolves?” I scoffed now, thinking of my future relationships. Knowing I would never be able to mate with another wolf. Sure I could sleep with an unmated one. But once they found their mate, I would be yesterday’s newspaper.

“Chloe, come on, it’s been months. You can’t draw it out any longer.” Chad’s hand gave my knee a reassuring squeeze. “Think, once it is over, you can do what you want. Without feeling that need to be near him.”

“But I don’t want it to go away. Once it is gone, it’s gone,” I whimpered softly, glaring at my lap. “If I stop holding his interest, he will forget me. The jealousy will disappear.”

Chad sighed and leaned over, placing a hand under my chin bringing my eyes to his. “You have to stop it. It’s what he wants, Chloe.” Chad gave me a pointed look.

I knew one day the games would stop. The jealousy would stop and my chances of ever getting him back would end. But that didn’t mean I wanted it to stop just yet; there was still a chance, right?

“There is no chance, Chloe,” Chad said, as if he read my mind. “It’s time to let the separation start, as of tomorrow.” His voice was firm and I knew he was right.

Tears began to leak down my cheeks and I fell forward, pressing my head into his shoulders. “But it hurts. It will hurt me letting him,” I choked into his shoulder.

He ran his hand down my back. “I know it will, Cho. But do it for him, ok? It’s what he wants.”

I knew why he was taking this angle. He knew I would do anything for Xavier, even if it meant letting him go. So I cried into his shoulder, all night, coming to terms with the fact that, as of tomorrow, I would let Xavier go.

***

I sat at the back of his classroom, looking like death. I hadn’t even bothered doing my makeup. I dragged a brush through my hair, but I hadn’t spent an hour making it flawless. I hadn’t chosen a tight top to flaunt my assets. Instead I wore a loose black hoodie with jeans. My eyes were stained from all the crying last night and I knew the lack of sleep was showing on my face.

The class filed in and instead of sitting at the front, like I would normally; I sat at the backin the corner. I actually brought my textbooks, instead of having an excuse to borrow his.

I saw how Olivia and Scott hadn’t even noticed me over here. They were chatting between themselves. I suppose it was the start of the day and they hadn’t seen me yet. They took their normal seats, leaving mine free.

Getting out my pens and opening up a blank page of my exercise book, I was ready to face reality. The only thing that gave me the slightest bit of light on this dark day was knowing that when I got home Chad was having my chocolate ice cream ready along with The Notebook. He even said he would watch itwith me.

The classroom door slid closed and I knew now Xavier was in the room. Glancing up at him, I saw how his eyes took in my empty seat. He would most likely be relieved that I wouldn’t be sitting there, sending him feelings of lust and desperation.

I dropped my eyes before I could think about how hot he was. Sighing to myself and turning my pen in my fingers, I reminded myself that this was what he wanted.