Chapter 126


    Chapter 126 Let’s talk


    BECKY


    I was about to protest, but then Ss released his hold on my arm and instead reached for my hand. As


    he wrapped his fingers around mine, he began to walk forward, and before I knew it, I was being led


    down the empty corridor.


    “I don’t think this is a good idea,” I insisted.


    “Please,” he pleaded. “I just want to talk.”


    His amber eyes were wide but serious, and there was something about them that I was unable to


    resist. There was a maic pull between us that was too strong to resist. As much as I wanted to cast


    Ss aside, the thought of us being apart was almost too much to bear.


    I released a heavy sigh.


    This was a terrible idea, but I couldn’t say no. I had to hear the Beta out.


    “Fine,” I decided.


    Ss led me all the way out the back door. The night air was brisk, but it was a wee feeling after


    how much anxiety I’d been feeling in the banquet hall. The moon was nearly full, and the silver light


    bathed the grass and lit our way.


    When we reached the garden, Ss finally stopped.


    He stared down at me with an expression I couldn’t read, and my mind searched for the right words to


    say. I was both scared and at ease in his presence, but I had no clue what he wanted to tell me.


    “What did you want to talk about?” I finally said. “Whatever it is… make it fast. I need to get back to the


    hall. Cas sandra might be worried about where I am, and the rest of the hall is probably searching for


    their great hero-”


    ?


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    Before I could finish my sentence, Ss pulled me close and kissed me. His lips pressed tightly againstExclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    mine, and my knees grew weak from the pure passion of it all. I wanted to struggle, but my body


    thought otherwise. I couldn’t help but kiss him


    back.


    Mate.


    His lips were incredibly soft, and his kiss was expert, but not in a way that suggested he was too


    experienced with other women. It was more like his kiss w meant for me, like he’d been waiting for this


    moment just as much as I had.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ss pulled away. I trembled and tried to catch my breath as I


    stared deeply into his eyes.


    “Why?” I asked quietly.


    My mother had always told me stories about how nasty and cruel male wolves from the upper ss


    could be. She told me that they often yed with young girls’ hearts only to abandon them when they


    grew tired of theirpany. Mother always said that was why she insisted on finding me a decent man.


    I wondered if Ss Moses was one of those men.


    1


    He didn’t say anything, but the lust in his eyes was clear. He suddenly grabbed my wrist again and tried


    to lean forward and kiss me, but pped him away before he could get too close. The force of my


    strike was so strong that he was forced back a little, and I felt terrible at once for hurting him.


    Before he could say anything, I turned on my heels and ran out of the garden. Tears sprang from my


    cheeks and my lower lip began to tremble as I fought to keep


    I


    nyposure.


    What was all of that about?


    Why had he said he wanted to talk when really, he just wanted to use the opportunity as an excuse to


    try to take advantage of me?


    I wasn’t a piece of meat.


    2/4


    I was so much more than that.


    I began to cry harder. Wasn’t I worth more than just a secret encounter in a garden? Wasn’t I worth a


    real, meaningful connection?


    When I returned inside, I rushed over to the bathroom and tried topose myself. I wiped the


    mascara from my eyes and forced myself to breathe.


    “He’s not worth it,” I addressed my reflection, but the words didn’t feel: wasn’t just another man. He was


    my mate. This was supposed to be one of th magical nights of my life. Instead, I was crying in the


    bathroom.


    I thought of my mother. What would I say to her about all of this? Hell, what would I say to anyone?


    I began to get even more upset, but just as the tears began, I stopped myself. No. No, I needed to be


    strong. So, I spent another minute in the bathroom and then went back to the banquet hall. Surely,


    Ss wouldn’t bother me for the rest of the


    night.


    As soon as I returned to the banquet hall, Cas sandra’s expression grew concerned. Her pretty eyes


    trailed over me, and her lips parted a little in surprise, but she didn’t ask what was wrong.


    “We can leave,” she said definitively, and I nodded.


    Cas s andra didn’t bother saying a word to anyone, and instead, just escorted mu out of the hall. As we


    walked down the corridor, I thought again of my mother.


    “Cas sandra?” I asked quietly. “Is there any room for me at the clinic tonight? I… I


    can’t think I want to go back to my house and face my mother.”


    “Of course,” she replied, and she wrapped her arm around me. “You’re always wee to stay, Becky.


    I’ll have Erika prepare a room for you upstairs.”


    “Thank you,” I whispered, and I forced a smile. “You’re a really good friend, Cas sy.”


    ?


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    “And so are you,” Cas sandra replied. “We’re going to get you through this. I’m here for you.”


    The entire way back to the clinic, I couldn’t stop shivering. I wasn’t necessarily cold. I was just anxious


    from the events of the evening. I’d expected the party to be grand but simple. I thought the celebration


    was going to consist of Cas sandra and I gossiping in the corner of the room, watching the upper-ss


    wolves of Wega fawn all over their returning hero.


    Instead, it ended in humiliation and even a little heartbreak.


    When we entered the clinic, Cas sandra’s friend Marley was sitting in the front


    room.


    “What are you doing back so early?” she wondered as she nced between us with concern. “I figured


    you wouldn’t be back until well after midnight.”


    She and Cas sandra shared a look, and suddenly, Marley’s face softened. She got up from her chair


    and walked over to us.


    “Do you want to talk about it?” she asked me, and she gently touched my arm. As I dissolved into tears,


    Ca s sandra drew me into an embrace, and I buried my face


    in her shoulder.


    “Is Finnick upstairs?” I heard her ask Marley.


    “Yes,’ she replied. “He fell asleep a while ago.”


    “Good,” Cas sandra replied, and she gently lifted my face up to meet hers. “I think what we need is a


    good, old-fashioned girl talk in the meeting room. How does tl at sound, Becks?”


    I hesitated for a moment. I’d never had many girlfriends before, and I didn’t want to trouble them with


    my problems. But something about Cas sandra and Marley’s expressions made me want to talk.


    “Okay,” I decided, and I wiped my tears. “Let’s go talk.”