Page 91

Chapter 22

“Dad, why would I lie to you about this!” I crossed my arms, tears still leaking down my cheeks. After all, it wasn’t every day that you have to tell your father your mate wants to use you after his human love dies. “Please believe me?”

Dad frowned slightly and turned to look at Chad, who looked deep in thought. “Well, what can we do?”

“Nothing!” I scoffed, “He doesn’t want me. Dad. Please don’t make me try and work it out with him. I just can’t take anymore.”

“We need to speed up the separation.” Chad spoke up for the first time this morning. “Chloe can’t keep dealing with this.”

“How can I do that when he won’t let me?” I sighed slowly, knowing that there really wasn’t a way out. “I guess I just have to face it. I’m going to be used by him for the rest of my life.”

“How many more weeks of school are there?” Dad looked between Chad and me. When I couldn’t answer his question because I paid no attention to the school calendar, I was glad Chad did.

“Not many. Just over a month. Why?” Chad looked at Dad, as if trying to work out his plan.

“Well, this settles it. You are to attend school till the end of the year, trying to stay away from him. Make little contact. Be polite, but do not stay in his company for long. Then when the school year ends, you and a friend can travel for a full year, not returning until the separation is complete.”

“That should work.” Chad shot me a small smile. “That is, if you still want to go through with it by then.”

“Trust me, there is no way I’m turning back.” My voice was firm, even with a few stray tears leaking down my cheeks. There was no chance I would be going back to Xavier. We were finished and I was never changing my mind.

***

“Oh, hi, Chloe.” Dan’s mother greeted me warmly while holding the door open for me to walk through. “Dan is out, but I’m sure he will be home soon. You can wait in his room if you like?”

“Thanks.” I smiled freely at her before skipping up the stairs, the smile falling as soon as my back was turned. I couldn’t even pretend to be happy, but I knew a little bit of pain was better than a lifetime of it.

“Well, if it isn’t the dumbest girl I know.”

“Hi, Alec.” I opened Dan’s door, not really in the mood for to spar with words with Alec. But before I could walk through the door, a large arm was across it, blocking my way. Sighing, I didn’t even bother to look up at him.

“Move your arm, Alec.”

“No smart comebacks. Are you sick or something?”

I glanced up at him. He actually looked mildly concerned. “Sick of shit. Now move.”

“Having a fight with your mate again, are we?”

My head snapped up at those words, and I glared into Alec’s cold, calm eyes. “What do you mean?!”

“Chloe, Dan’s walls aren’t the thickest. Plus I have the best hearing possible.” Alec’s gave me a weak smile. “If it makes you feel better, I can’t be with my mate either.”

“You shouldn’t be listening to our conversations. And don’t lie to me about your mate. The only reason you can’t be with yours is because you want to sleep around with anything that walks.”

Alec’s eyes turned deadly, the fun and concern wiped from them. “You know, Chloe, you’re more of a bitch than I actually thought you were.” Alec turned his back on me and stormed across the hallway. He stopped at his door and turned to look at me, his eyes still narrow and cold.

“And stay away from my brother. Just cause you can’t have your mate doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have his.”

Alec slammed his bedroom door, and I was left in the doorway of Dan’s room feeling like a lowlife. Maybe Alec was being serious when he said he couldn’t be with his mate.

***

I couldn’t take the feeling of guilt that roared through me as I sat in the darkness of Dan’s room. Finally not being able to take any more, I sat up. But the bedroom door opened at that moment.

“Dan?”

“Chloe?” Dan looked over at me with slight shock as I sat on his bed in the dark. “What are you doing here?”