Chapter 27: Chapter 27
UNEDITED-
Florence POV-
I woke up fairly early. I know that Mav and Bea are leaving today so Annabelle will be there to see them off. I just want to see how she is.. I kept stealing glances of her, making sure she didn't see me. She looks alright from here.
The crowd began dispersing and I see that as my cue to leave. I was about to start walking when someone stopped me in my tracks. "Hey.. How are you feeling?" I felt a gentle hand on my arm forcing me to turn around. She really is breathtakingly beautiful.. there is no denying that. Damn that stupid bracelet.
"Really? that's all your going to ask me?" I spoke trying not to sound surprised.
"Well it's not 'all' I want to ask but it was the first thing on my mind.." she smirked.. I did everything I could not to show her what that did to me..
What the fuck am I going to do? I can't deny that I'm attracted to her. I need to talk to her.. maybe I just want to. I don't want anyone to see us talking so I decided to take her to my hut.. "Follow me" I sighed walking ahead..
We sat down at my table and I began to attempt an apology.. she wasn't having any of it..
"I didn't mean to corner you last night.." I looked away from her sighing..
"Yes you did." my eyes locked with hers, my stomach dropped..
"I know you've already made up your mind about me. But I can assure you, you know nothing about me".
That hurt.. I haven't made up my mind about her.. I told her I don't care but I lied..
"One second you say you don't care, then you throw me against the fucking wall.. can you please explain to me what that was about at least?.. don't I deserve that much?" she pleaded desperately.. she deserves so much more than this..
I guess I should at least give her something..
"I was, angry, at you" I said unable to look at her..
I wish I wasn't so stubborn.. she deserves someone who she can count on and I'm afraid I just can't be that person.
"I know that... please tell me why?" she sighed like she's slowly giving up, I thought that was what I wanted but now I'm not so sure..
"I.. I saw you.." I stuttered unable to say exactly what I had intended to.
"Saw me what?" she asked with genuine confusion.
"At the campfire.." is she really going to make me say it?. And I'm still kinda pissed about it honestly.
"You saw me what Florence?" She's going to make me say it.. fine.
"I.. I saw you kiss her!" I spoke louder than I intended.. I need to be a big girl about this.. I looked into her beautiful big green eyes again to see her reaction.. she looks surprised.. she tried to hide a smile but I caught it. She replied almost instantly..
"So what?.. You don't want me but I can't be with anyone else?".. she got me with that one.. I looked away stumped.. it's not that I don't want her.. it's just not that I do.. shit.
"I don't know what I want.." I sighed.. she just took my hand letting me know she cares. I wish I could let her in but I can't..
She's going to have so much to deal with.. I can't be apart of that when I've spent my whole life hiding from it.
But I can't bring myself to tell her to leave either..
"Florence.. are you embarrassed by me?" she snapped me from my thoughts.
Well I mean not really, I'm supposed to be straight but I don't care about that nearly as much as I thought I would. I don't want anyone to see us together... okay maybe I am a little embarrassed, but not because of her.. am I a shitty person?. I just don't want the peoples attention to go from her to me. I don't want to be hunted for existing.
"No it's not like that".. I hope she believes me..I wish I could just stop hurting her.. She slowly released my hand leaning back in her chair, leaving my whole being to feel empty..
She doesn't believe me.
"Why do you feel the need to lie to me?...I see you making sure no one was watching us talk..".. she is right. I don't want anyone to know we are mates. Not yet at least. She continued "Look, I know this is hard for you.. it's hard for me too. I've never felt like this for anyone and I don't even know you.. if you don't want me too, to feel this.. then just fucking tell me because I'm not going to chase you." the pain in her voice cut through me.
She got up from her chair about to leave and I couldn't just let her go like that..
If she leaves now I might never have the guts to talk to her again.. Even though it's only been a short time, the thought of her giving up on me is gut wrenching. As soon as she turned to start walking I stood and grabbed her hand.. we are so close now.. the sweet scent of vanilla made my knees wobble.. all I could do was look up into her eyes...
"Florence.. I'm not asking you to commit to me.. I just want you to be honest with me.. and I'll be honest with you.." That sounds reasonable, I really don't want her to leave yet and it seems she's not given up.. I have an idea..
"Okay.. How about.. I ask you a question and in return you get to ask me a question?" I smiled.. I may aswell get to know her.. maybe I can't help myself.
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Annabelle POV-
Our hands were intertwined on the table between us. This just feels comfortable for me, to be close to her.. I wish we could be closer..
I hope this goes well..
"My Father was the King of Fortis.."
"That makes you.." she slowly let go of my hand drawing her hands to her chest.. "A princess?" she's failing to cover her reaction.. she looks slightly horrified.. She's just staring at my hand..
"Well not anymore clearly". I said rolling my eyes irritated.. another thing for her to not like about me.. great..
"I'm sorry.." She said looking slightly lost.. why does she keep apologising for things she did on purpose?.
"You need to stop that.." My irritation was evident in my voice.
"Stop what?" she asked confused..
"Stop apologising for things you meant to do.. your reaction already tells me everything I need to know.. there really is no need to lie." She could definetly tell I was pissed off.. but I really need her to hear what I'm saying..
"I don't want you to think it means something it doesn't.." She looked down into her hands again and I can't quite figure out what's she's talking about.
"What? letting go of my hand because I was a princess? or taking it in the first place?"
"I'm sorry for letting go.." I could wake up everyday to this woman and she doesn't even know it.. this mate bond really runs deep..
I feel like a little teenager with a silly crush, perhaps I am. At this point I don't care what you would call it, I just know that I need to be around her, I need to touch her skin again.. and she basically told me she wants to hold my hand so why not.. I just reached across the table to take her hand again and she let me, she closed her eyes for a second and smiled to herself before meeting my eyes again..
I need to know what the fuck is putting her off, right now everything about this is telling me she wants to be around me..
We are from two different worlds of course this was never going to be easy.. but I'm willing to try for her, I hope she changes her mind about me.. she seems to be warming up to me at least..
"My turn.." I said smirking breaking the silence.. we're not done with this yet..
"What did you feel when you saw that woman kiss me?" I asked, I want her to confront this.. and also get her back for bringing up the she-devil that is my mother.
She looked away again and tried to pull her hand back but I won't let her.. she didn't put up much of a fight.. she just sighed blushing pink.. she's adorable..
"you don't even know her name" she mumbled causing me to chuckle abit. I'll let you have that one snowflake..
"Honesty remember?" she looked up wrapping her fingers around mine..
She took a deep breath before replying "I felt angry.." she pleaded with her eyes, begging me not to ask any further into it.. I had to.
"Why were you angry?" I asked.. Her thumb was brushing over my hand now, I can tell she's nervous.. I used my thumb to slow hers down and they kept kind of a slow dance of their own.
"Annabelle.." She spoke in a slight whisper and I almost choked on my saliva.. she can't do that to me, fuck. I need to stay focused..I'm glad she didn't notice..
"First of all.. I think we are mates.."
holy shit she actually came to terms with it herself.. how long has this revelation been building up in her mind..
I raised my eyebrows, shock plastered across my face.. "-You practically said you wanted to be with me, and straight after you kissed someone else.." she sighed on the last part looking away but still leaving her hand in mine which I'm greatful for.. I guess this is where shit gets brutal..
"I dont know how you wanted this to work...but in my world when someone rejects you, it takes away their right to be mad if you have any relations with someone else.." I left my hand in hers, closed my eyes placing my other elbow on the table massaging my forehead with my free hand.. I need to be careful how I say things.. I don't want to push her even further away..
"I..I don't know what to do.." She sounded so sad, an all I want is to make her happy..I could feel her eyes on me, I can't look at her right now.. to look in someone's eyes as they reject you for a second time.. no, no thank you..
I took my hand away from my head placing it on the table. I look at our hands and then finally to her eyes before speaking.. "I know...I didn't expect any of this. I'm sorry I put you in this position.." then something dawned on me that I never even thought to ask.. before I let her think of a reply I closed my eyes and spoke again.. "Florence.. you don't even like women do you?" I asked as a statement rather than a question.. I'm pretty sure I know the answer.. I looked back at her to see her frozen which basically confirms it.. My mate is a straight woman.. I wonder what she did in her past life to deserve this.. still I have to make a funny though.
"Ooh so you were expecting a strong handsome man wolf and instead you get a Lady Lycan?.. I can see now why you rejected me." I can't help but laugh.. she doesn't think it's funny.. she pulled her hand away again.. I was too slow to react.
"That's not the only reason.." she argued, her expression quickly changed to guilt realising what she just said..
"Are you going to share the rest?.. how many are there?" I asked jokingly.. it hurt but I can't show her that.
I want to know her reasons but I'm not going to change for her to like me, she either does or she doesn't..
She glared at me seriously.. "Isn't it my turn?" she asked. Surely she knows she will have to answer my question next..
So be it.. "Go on then.."
"When did you know you liked women?" She asked me nervously. I was not expecting that one..
"I always knew that I found women attractive, I just never knew how much until.. well until I tried it."
"So you didn't know you were a.. lesbian?" she looks more curious than nervous now and I'm glad.
"I'm not really a lesbian.. I can like men too.. kinda".. I didn't give her much time to think about it...she can have all the time in the world after this much needed conversation..
"What are the other reasons?" I asked in a slow curious tone. I know she doesn't want to tell me but I need to know..she knew this question was coming. Maybe that's why she asked such an abrupt question before.. she knew what my next question would be and she won't answer.. clever snowflake..
I need to try again..
"I didn't know that someone I've never even touched could have this effect on me. I never even wanted a partner.. in fact, I did everything I could to get away from it..These feelings I have for you are indescribable. I just want to know why else you don't want me if you can feel this too?.." I pleaded this time.. She's still not answering.. I placed my hand on top of hers, she looked at my hand.. then up at me as I spoke.. I looked her dead in the eye. She needs to know how serious I am.. "Florence.. I want you.. I feel like I need to protect you.. and maybe it's the mate thing talking but I really don't care. All I know is, you've gone from being a stranger to possibly the most important person in my life.. I know your straight, and I know you don't want to be seen with me" she looked away "-I just don't know why else you're fighting it so hard"..
She's refusing to look at me.. I can't stand it any longer, I hate it when people don't look at me when I'm talking, maybe it's the princess in me.
I reached across the table leaning over it slightly.. I placed two fingers on her chin turning her to face me..she closed her eyes at my touch, I swear my heart fluttered.
Her icy blue eyes met mine again, they can not silence me this time..
"I'm going to go now.. and I promise I'm going to wait for you Florence.. but I will not wait forever."..
I couldn't help myself, I traced her jaw with my thumb lightly before I took my hand away.. As I did she breathed out heavily.. like I'd been holding the air in her lungs.. I can see the effect I have on her.. maybe she's only attracted to me because I'm her mate, I hope that's not the case but at this point I don't give a shit.. I feel like I need her, but I have to leave her so that she has time to make her up mind..
I stood up from my chair calmly, she was watching me mouth slightly ajar.. she has no idea what to do with me.. I walked over to the doorway before turning back to speak..
"Hey Florence.." I called to her..
"Uh..yeah?" I seemed to have interrupted her thoughts..
"If you need anything I'm here.." I said before stepping out the door.. I hope she stops trying to fight this..
Marcus wanted to speak to me today aswell.
Let's go see what he wants..
I left Florence and headed straight for Marcus.. He is constantly training these days.
Sure enough there he was, walking through sets of people sparring inside red drawn out circles in the dirt.
Shouting tips and encouragements to the men and women fighting.. It reminds me of Gerald.. I wonder what he's doing right now.. I walked up and Marcus spoke as soon as he noticed me..
"Anna, there you are.. I was expecting to see you earlier".. he held out his hand for me to shake.. I don't know why we have started this tradition but it happens pretty much everytime we meet. It's quite endearing actually.
"Oh?.. what's on your mind?" I replied taking his hand and shaking it firmly. His expression changed, like he wasn't sure I was going to like what he says next.. This is going to be great..
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NOTES-
I like doing the swapping POV thing but I'm gonna stop doing it for everything that happens.
I'm gonna focus mainly on Annabelle but there will be more Florence to come.
We'll see what happens.
Let me know if any of it makes a difference to you.
I hope you are enjoying it so far :)
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