Chapter 14

Blake's POV

When she caught on that I was following her, she confronted me and asked me to go back. The more I am with her, the more beautiful she looks in my eyes. I don't know if it's me or the mate bond talking, but I feel different with her. It seems like it will be a challenge to get close to her naturally, since she likes to close herself off from everyone, so I will have to try something to get her to like me and eventually open up to me.

There was no need for me to act like a stalker. I could just get the principal to share her address with me. Tomorrow I will surprise her. I felt giddy just thinking about it. Judging by her personality, she will not like my surprise and will probably flip out, but I am ready for anything. I will not give up so easily. My mind went back to the conversation I had with my mother last night. Ever since the night of my birthday, tension has been high in the house. My sister and I feel estranged now.

My mother noticed and wanted my sister and me to fix things between us. I felt bad for Mia. I couldn't even face her these days because I wouldn't know what to say to her. Now, especially since Ria decided to go MIA. Mia freaked out and that day she lashed out at me and blamed me for everything.

Flashback

I found Mia pacing up and down frantically to call someone over the phone. I thought about just passing by, but I decided to ask her what the matter was about. She noticed me and came towards me. She doesn't look too well, making me concerned about her.

" Blake, I am glad you are here. I- I think Rea is missing. I haven't seen her for a while. I looked for her and tried to call her, but she didn't pick up. Have you perhaps seen her anywhere today?"

I looked at her with confusion. I didn't understand what she was on about. Rea? missing?

" Whoa. Slow down and tell me what is going on. Why do you think Rea is missing?"

Mia was on the verge of crying. I led us to take a seat on the couch.

" Rea has been acting strangely for the past few days. I tried to talk to her and comfort her, but she pushed me away. I thought I would give her some space to calm down, but suddenly she was gone. I tried calling her and looked everywhere, but nothing worked. I am afraid that she might have been unable to bare everything and did something stupid." Tears started to spill out of her eyes thinking about the possibility of her mate being hurt.

Come to think of it, I've not seen the sight of Rea for some time. I thought it was a good thing and that she would have gotten over her obsession. It seemed like things were not what they appeared to be.

" No, Mia. Please don't think negatively. You and I know Rea. She must have gone out shopping or hanging out with some friends to relieve stress."

Mia immediately glared at me through her tears. I think I used a poor choice of words.

" Stress, you say. Rea is not fucking stressed, she is heartbroken! Because of you!" she yelled and stood up.

" What you did was wrong. You shouldn't have loved her in the first place. You promised her that you would choose her over your mate, knowing well it would be impossible. Now you don't even care about her in the slightest," she scoffed.

" You are selfish, you know that. Everything had always been your way. You get everything while I get nothing all the time. Now my mate doesn't even want me because of you. I've tolerated a lot but this...I can't."

I sat there confused and not knowing how to respond. I mean, what do I say? I was afraid that I would say something stupid again, so I thought about what to say. I guess she is right. She has really been living in my shadow all these years. Us being twins is insignificant to everyone. Everyone only cared about the male Alpha and not her. She and I never shared the extraordinary bond between twins, so I never knew how she felt all along. I just thought she was okay. The last thing I wanted to do was to hurt her and that is why I let go of my feelings for Rea. She was more important to me than my relationship with Rea. If I told her that, would she understand?

" I didn't know that was how you felt, Mia. It was not my intention to hurt you?" I said, genuinely remorseful. She was crying helplessly, but as much as I wanted, I couldn't even comfort her.

" Y-you don't know how it feels to live in the shadow of someone else. My whole life I had to settle for being loved less than you. All the attention was on you from the moment we were born. I loved Rea from the time I saw her, but she preferred you, and she still prefers you even though she knows that we are fated. I feel so small and insignificant, like I don't exist. Everything is suffocating me and I feel like it's better if I die. Do you know that I have anxiety and I cut myself?"

I look at her incredulously and scan her body to see where she cut herself.

" You won't see them. The scars heal thanks to our genes," she says.

" I didn't know..." I muttered, feeling like the worst brother in the world. I didn't know anything about this or anything about her life.

" You are not the only one who doesn't know. Everyone doesn't know." She then wipes the tears off her face and walks away, leaving me standing there in a daze. I decided to do one thing better. I went to look for Rea. That is the least I could do for my sister after putting through so much. I tracked down Rea at the local bar, dancing on the table and drank out of her mind. After several tries to get her off the table, I had no choice other than to grab her off the table and throw her over my shoulder. Even in that state, she tried to seduce me and then cried, pleading for me not to leave her. She was a mess and I pitied her.

I decide to harden my heart and block out her pleas. I accept that everything was my fault. It all started with a promise I couldn't keep and that was unfair. I get it. I couldn't have guessed in a million years that things would turn out that way, and we would be where we are. I returned Sara home safe and sound, but things were still tense between my sister and me. I wasn't going to push for anything, but I too hoped that my sister and I would let bygones be bygones and try to fix our lives.

Present*

I adjusted my time to make sure I caught Brielle before she left for school. I was ready in no time and jumped into my black Jeep and retraced my way to her house. I found out that she was living with her grandparents and her parents were separated. She must be going through a lot, and she has no friends to talk to.

I made it to her house and she was just coming out. I saw the shock on her face once she saw me. God, she is so cute. I waved my hand at her. She looked around anxiously to see if anyone was looking.

Her gaze fell upon me like fire. She glared at me and marched towards the car.

" Hey! Are you crazy? What are you doing here? How do you know where I live? Did you end up following me back here yesterday?" She whisper yelled.

Usually, I would not allow anyone to talk to me like that, but she is not just anyone, is she? If only she knew she had the power to bring me to my knees if she so ever wished to. I wish I could tell her of our situation, but now is not the right time.

" So many questions. I don't know which one to answer. This is just all too much," I said, feigning distress.

She closed her eyes and sighed while I tried not to laugh at her dilemma.

" Well, I have an idea. If you get into this car and allow me to give you a ride to school, then I will gladly answer your questions one by one. "

Her eyes shot open as she looked at me with disbelief.

" I can't believe this," she muttered to herself.

" What is wrong with you? You know this is stalking. I do not know you and after such behavior, I do not wish to know you. Get away from my house and do not cause a scene," she huffed and started walking away. How sexy. I love a woman who can speak her mind and stand her ground. She is so stubborn, but so am I. I figure that this is truly a match made in heaven.

I started the car and drove beside her at a walking pace. She put on earphones and pretended not to know me at all. I found it very amusing and continued to drive beside her. We were just about to arrive at school, and she had to cross the street, but I stopped my car in front of her. She looked startled, besides the fact that I had been with her all this time.

She glared at me and tried to maneuver around my car, but I stopped her.

" Hey, wait." I sighed and decided to take my playfulness down a notch.

" I know that I have been acting strangely and came on to you too abruptly. You do not know me, and I am a stranger, but do trust that I do not have any ill intentions. I merely wish to extend a hand of... friendship? Yes, friendship."

Friendship? Seriously? I guess that will have to do so that we can at least be a little close. Friendship is a safe option.

She looked suspicious of me as she narrowed her gaze at me.

" I mean it and I hope that you will gradually have me as your friend," I said and smiled. Her gaze wavers as she contemplates her response. I saw that she was still quite unsure about me.

" No need to give me an answer right away. As a token of faith, I will buy you lunch today. See you then." I drove off, moving out of her way. Her silence is a good thing, right? At least she did not dismiss the idea of friendship immediately, and she was thinking about it. One step at a time, is it?