Chapter 10

My brows knitted at the revelation, briskly blinking in incredulity. "What!? How?"

"I don't know how—hell! I don't even know how she looks. It all happened before my eighteenth birthday." He exhaled heavily, closing his eyes for a brief moment to overcome the pain.

The words I had said, I shouldn't have said them. I felt sorry for him and regretted every syllable I had voiced. The fact that I didn't know about his past eases my guilt a bit. But I knew what he meant by what he said

If a werewolf's mate died below their right age, they would feel immense pain in their heart on their eighteenth birthday. They wouldn't know how to think, function, or move with their minds blocked. They don't even have an idea of how their mate looks, how they died if they were murdered if they had attempted suicide or they just died the day they were born. It's heart-breaking for the ones who turn eighteen, on that night—the very same night which is the most majestic hope-giving moment in every werewolves' life. I believed it was unfair for them, even though I didn't like the idea of werewolves, they absolutely don't deserve such pain-striking life.

For the ones who were above eighteen, they would feel the exact same pain at the moment their mate was leaving their life and almost lasted till their mate had taken their last breath. The pain doesn't last forever but does stay somewhere in heart, reminding them that they had lost the one whom they had dreamed of building a safe home.

But if Michael is moving over that fact then I was very proud of him. Not many werewolves recover from it and some die with the undying burning pain.

"Heaven, I'm sorry that I'm a werewolf, I-I should've told Skylar about myself before, I'm sorry for the trouble. But just know Heaven, I wouldn't intend to harm you, especially not when I like you."

My attention snapped to him in seconds, staring at his grief-stricken blue eyes, tears glistened at the corner of his eyes as he showed no movement to push it away. He wanted me to see how sincere he was. This only made it hard for me to reveal the secret of my mate now that he likes me.

"Heaven, I like you. A lot. Skylar spoke about you a lot and I couldn't help but wonder about you even though I hadn't seen you then. I realised I had an interest in you, it only grew more when I first saw you. But that night wasn't the blind date, it was the night when I came to drop Skylar, I watched you near that window grinning down at your friend. Every feature of you was captured in my eyes. You didn't notice me but I did. You looked beautiful. Very beautiful," he whispered the last part, coming to sit close to me as he leaned a bit closer to examine my features. His blue eyes assessing every inch of my face finally resting on my light brown eyes.

I gulped softly unaware of what he would say. I should tell Micheal about Alpha Lucas, but his intense ocean orbs sealed my mouth with his words.

"Michael I appreciate you revealing how you feel about me, but don't make a mistake," I said, my voice calm but strong trying to give him an indirect message.

"I can't help it but like you," he said, his hand almost touching my little finger. "More and more, it only increases every passing second."

My lips opened to answer him expecting my words would let him leave my back, but nothing came out. I never wanted him to fall for me. I didn't want him to like me. My brain mingled up so many thoughts that I had difficulty coming to the right conclusion. I couldn't let this happen. Werewolves shouldn't like someone who isn't their mate. I don't want something like this to happen...again. I have quite a valid reason to stay away from werewolves that made the deeply buried fear brew up again. My body reacted almost in fright to the past unwanted memories as I stared at Michael's eyes. This was wrong.

His eyes narrowed in worry. "Heaven? You alright?"

"Huh?" I looked at him confused for a second before draining myself into reality. "I-I'm alright just shocked, nothing bad."

He wasn't convinced but nodded still holding clear concern on his face. "Think about us, Heaven. I will never let you down."

Does he genuinely feel something for me or is he just trying to trick me?

***

"Heaven....a-are you crazy!?" Skylar bawled like a lunatic, the echo of her voice via phone had a completely different than how we usually speak face-to-face. "Tell me you are kidding. How can you plan something like that?"

"It's the only way to avoid everything," I stated.

"You idiot! You want to leave me and go to some other city, just because you have a mate and a wolf fancy you. How will you live after going there, huh? There is no one you know, what will you do, Heaven?"

I sighed pinching the bridge of my nose listening to her yell had only increased my headache. Even I didn't want to leave the city, but it's the only option to avoid Alpha Lucas and Michael. Werewolves are vile and wouldn't stop until they have what they desire. It would be very hard for me to break through their clutches if I got caught and the better way to escape it was leaving the city.

My father had a building constructed on his name on one of his lands and he passed it all to me for my future. I was thinking of shifting into the owner's apartment since I was the one who gave apartment houses on rent to people. It wouldn't be bad if I lived there and plus I would be able to breathe freely without worry.

"Skylar, I think moving out will be a better idea than hiding from him my entire life and I-I don't even feel like living here anymore. I really want to go," I coaxed her.

I heard her take deep breaths from the other side as I patiently waited for her to speak. I knew that she was trying her level best to make me think over my plan again, her convincing would fail as usual and she knew it. I felt bad for her but what can I do? My fear had gone to a point where I could only see the option to run away far from here. Anywhere but here.

"Is that what you want the most?"

"Yes."

"No chance of considering it again?"

"No."

"Heaven." She exhaled tiredly. "No matter what you do, you cannot outrun your mate. You cannot hide from him forever. Fate—"

"Fate will try to pull us together. I know," I finished.

"Have you checked your house over there?" She asked, going off-topic.

"Don't you remember I went there last year? It's in good shape." I said.

"Oh yeah." Her voice lost her charm, it only gave away the fact that she was sad.

"When are you leaving?"

"Planning to go tomorrow. The flight is at eight am." I said. "I sold my car so can you help me drop me at the airport?"

"You sold it?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I was planning to buy a new one anyway, the car I owned had been running from my dad's young age."

She let out a short sigh. "Damn! Why didn't you tell me before? I can't believe old things can still be sold."

I sadly smiled. "I'm going to miss the car though."

"It was your dad's asshole, you should've kept it. But anyway, what's done can't be helped, I'll pick you up about seven, don't be ready."

I chuckled. "I'll 'be' ready by then, don't worry."

"You know you don't have to leave. Alpha Lucas isn't a bad person," she mumbled.

I huffed, my eyes gazing at the red ruby on my finger before replying with no remorse, "It's for the best, Skylar."

***

After scrutinizing over all the bags I stepped back, closing the boot of Skylar's car only to be met with her impassive look. Her body leaned against the car's back door, arms crossed and eyes trying to rip my body into two.

Hey! Keep your double meanings to yourself.

"I'm not happy with this, Heaven," she admitted, moving away to pull the door to the driver's seat.

I stared at her for a moment before glancing down on the ring, it reflected under the morning light. I felt worthless, didn't know if the decision I made would result good to me. My hurried decision at the moment was a blur to me, I feared them; werewolves. No matter how far I ran from them when I looked back they were just right behind me.

My point wasn't that they were bad or harmful, most of them were good, no doubt. It was just me who overthinks everything and messes it up further just because my encounters with them weren't very memorable. No matter how much I tried to get over it, it wouldn't help. The fear in me will stay forever.

I glanced up at the house again for one last time and pursed my lips slightly in sadness. I had lived over here for two years and lived in this city for five years, now that I was leaving. It felt odd as if I was leaving my entire life. The route to my destination had no signs, abandoning me under the darkness. Unknown if I would ever have such a jolly life over there too.

"Are you coming?" Skylar asked, her head looking at me over the car top surface.

Mumbling a yes, I opened the door getting inside before closing it behind.

"I'm curious how you will end up before Alpha Lucas' eyes," Skylar said, inserting the key into the ignition.

"Hope we won't meet."

Running a hand through her black wavy hair, her normal brown eyes gleamed in amusement matching it with her smirk. "We have to see about that nutcase."

My light brown eyes fell on her for a second before turning around to look outside the window. "Let's leave already."

The smirk didn't vanish from her lips but only increased as the image of the building I once lived in left my sight.

The sun shone on me as I looked out through the closed window with my eyes partially closed. My lips curled up in a satisfactory smile as I enjoyed the warm feeling as we drove over the highway. The breath of the road gave us enough area to speed over 100. The car ran over the smooth road as I snuggled further into my seat, my eyes drooping. The road would look even more beautiful during the night time with the pavement markers shining under the car's headlights. It only brought a smile to my face at the beauty.

The highway came to an end as the road we drove overlooked a little smaller but enough space to move smoothly with only a white line acting as a divider.

I turned on my phone, looking at the time when I heard Skylar yelling, "Oh, damn! No!"