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Chapter 31

Alec

I watched Chloe pull her books out of her locker. She was chewing her bottom lip. I wondered what she was thinking. I strolled up to her. She wouldn’t look in my direction but I knew she knew I was there.

“Hey, Stranger.” I leaned against the locker beside hers.

She shot me a dry look before slamming her locker shut and walking off. Looks like someone is angry. Rolling my eyes, I followed her, accidently shouldering people as I attempted to catch up to her.

“Chloe,” I called after her, slowly losing her in the crowd of busy students. “Chloe!”

The calling was unneeded once I saw her standing outside a classroom with a bored expression on her face.

“What the heck, Chloe?” I said hotly under my breath, trying to avoid stirring up any more attention from the students in the hall and the others walking past us into the classroom.

Why were all the girls looking at me like a piece of meat?

“We have class.” She glared at my feet.

Frustrated, I exhaled sharply. Damn it, I had just put up with her mate. Would it kill her to be at least kind to me? I wasn’t scared of Xavier. But still, he wasn’t someone I would normally want to tick off.

I hadn’t done anything to deserve her anger! I showed up in this hellhole of a place to look after her and then I threatened her mate to protect her. It clicked. She had been listening.

“You overheard my conversation with Xavier, didn’t you?”

“Conversation?” She arched an eyebrow, finally looking me in the eye. “Is that what you call it?”

“You’re mad at me over that?” I couldn’t believe this. Goddamned women!

“We have to get in the classroom,” Chloe huffed. I glanced at the teacher who was clearly waiting for us to enter. I reached in and closed the door, rudely.

“After we settle this.” I crossed my arms. “Come on, Chloe. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

Her eyes were on fire with rage. Why? Then it began to dawn on me. I had threatened her mate. I had threatened her other half. I knew she cared for him. I knew she always would, but only now did I realize what that meant.

“Fine. I get it.” My jaw clenched. “Sorry.” I spun around on my heel and began to leave. I had to get away from her.

“Alec, where are you going?” she called after me. Was she mad? Did she really think I would stay and be her bodyguard after that? She didn’t need protecting. I was stupid to think she wanted me over him.

“You don’t need me.”

It was true she didn’t need me. Maybe she never did.

My cellphone was buzzing in the center console, again. I leaned back into the seat, clenching the steering wheel tighter. Chloe had been calling nonstop since school got out. Why I didn’t know, and I wasn’t planning on answering to find out. I had found out enough today, when it came to her.

I pulled into the familiar parking lot. It had been awhile. Getting out of the car, I stretched my legs. I was stiff after the four-hour drive. But as I looked up at the familiar hospital, I knew it was worth it.

I walked the familiar path up to the hospital. It was late. The hospital was dimly lit when I walked in. I knew it was after visiting hours, but it didn’t make a difference to me.

Taking the elevator up to a ward I had been on way too many times, I knew I would get peace. I always did, even though leaving was always hard.

The elevator bell chimed and I walked past the nurse’s desk smiling politely at the nurses. They knew me.

I came to the end of the corridor and stopped at Room 217, staring at the familiar number. I closed my eyes tightly before pushing the door open slightly and slipping into the room.

And there she was. In the same position I remembered her always being in, lying beautifully on the bed, like Sleeping Beauty.

Pulling up an armchair next to the side of the bed, I reached out and took Gabby’s hand.