he was! I was the one usually who stopped us from doing the deed, though Hunter didn’t seem to mind. At least he didn’t outwardly show it.
I knew my wolf was getting pissed, though. She had been closer than ever to the surface, it was both the most amazing experience and the worst. After years of barely even knowing she existed, this was incredible, but it didn’t help she was pissed as hell at me most of the time.
Our time was almost up, I could feel it in my bones, and even Hunter seemed to be a little jittery, which was out of character for him. Today was no exception. He was already out of bed and in the kitchen. I came out to the kitchen where he was pacing.
It was unusual for him not to prepare breakfast. Not that I minded, but it was what he did every morning. I wasn’t even sure if had made himself breakfast once after coming here.
“Hunter?” I whispered, scared of what might happen. If I spoke too loudly, he would know. He would know about Jude and Damien’s plan. He would know about the other secret that plagued me. He could hear the lies in my head and smell them on my breath.
“Something changed after we,” Hunter grunted, the beginnings of a blush stealing across his neck, “I don’t know what but can we just go back to how things were? I miss you, Colette.”
He had noticed. It didn’t surprise me. He observed with great care. He caught everything. I wasn’t being entirely subtle, at all, but I hoped he wouldn’t bring it up. My distancing us.
“Okay,” I answered still afraid to look him in the eye.
“Good, go get ready, we should leave soon.”
I left to go get dressed in Hunter’s room. I saw his gray shirt sitting on the top of the dresser and I couldn’t stop myself. I draped it over my shoulders. It was a little large to wear outside like a normal top. It pulled heavily to one side, showing a great deal of my collar bone through the neck. And it lopsidedly favored one side. It also went a little past the top of my thighs.
I looked ridiculous, and yet I didn’t care. Something in me demanded I keep it close. So I tied the bottom, and tugged the top into a scoop neck shape. I grabbed an old, black, loose fitting vest of mine and put it over top. Black jeggings came next. Yeah, whatever, I’m a jegging girl. Who can argue with comfort? They even look exactly like jeans. They just don’t have any actual zippers, or buttons.
I came out to find Hunter had already dressed in dark jeans and a different gray shirt. He had trimmed his beard so that his scruff hugged his cheek. It was my favorite look on him. He sat with his elbows on his knees and his head hanging low. The look on his face was one of pain and frustration.
I didn’t want to believe it was me that brought him to this. He looked like he was losing everything, and I knew why. I was pulling away and without any reason. If I told him what I knew, he might hate his Alpha, and one of his best friends. I couldn’t do that to him. I knew what it was like not having family. I’d rather he hate me instead.
My apology balanced on the tip of my tongue. I didn’t want to do this. To tell him. That the night we spent together was the product of love, and while I couldn’t say it out loud, I felt it. I felt it right down to my very core. I was in love with him.
It happened slowly. It happened without realizing it. Hunter had become my best friend. He was someone I could tell things in the middle of the night. I could share almost anything with him. Putting his happiness first had already become second nature.
“You ready?” I asked, the smile on my face wooden and strange. Last time he did this I had made up my mind about staying with him. He was home.
“Yes.”
Hunter took my hand and we headed outside towards the parking lot. We didn’t speak as we walked through the compound. The gravel beneath our feet crunched. I kept my eyes down for most of the walk. I looked up when the glare from his bike shone into my eyes. As we stepped up next