WILLA

"Ten minutes really?" I said, my voice edged with irritation. "That’s all I’m worth of your time?"

Eric frowned at me. "What are you talking about?"

"Candace," I deadpanned, folding my arms tightly against my chest.

"What about her?" he questioned.

I let out an exasperated sigh. Both he and Lance did something so obvious and then denied it outright, making me feel stupid. It wasn’t even funny anymore.

"You kissed Lance," he pointed out. "I don’t see why you should be mad at me just speaking with Candace."

"It’s not the same thing!" I fired back, heat rushing to my cheeks.

"Yeah, it’s not," he said. "I should have kissed her too. Then we’d be even."

"Lance is my mate," I snapped. Even though I knew I could kiss whoever I wanted without asking permission from anyone. He wasn’t my father and had no right to police me.

"And so am I," he replied. "I ought to know everything you do, but you decided to go behind my back anyway. I’m not even mad at you. You have no right to be mad at me."

I stared at him in disbelief. "I ought to tell you everything I do?"

Who the hell did he think he was?

Eric nodded again. "Yes, I ought to. I claimed you first."

"Unbelievable," I muttered.

I turned back toward the entrance of the dorm. The sky was beautiful, the air cool and carrying the lingering sweet scent of spring — a perfect evening for a walk in the garden. But right now, I wasn’t interested in walking anywhere with him.

"I’m sorry," Eric said quietly.

I stopped, glaring at the door for a second before turning back to him. "Are you apologizing because of her?"

"No, please," Eric scoffed. "I don’t understand what the problem is with you and that bitch, but I’m here for myself."

I raised my brow, waiting for him to continue.

"The last time," he started, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other. An uncomfortable expression crossed his face. He glanced at me, lips parting as if to speak, then snapped them shut.

He shook his head, like whatever he wanted to say was too heavy to voice.

I rolled my eyes. "If you aren’t ready to open up, then I see no reason why I’m taking a walk with you."

"Four days ago I called you a whore," he said, wincing as he stared down at his feet. "I’m sorry. That isn’t an Alpha-like thing to say to their mate."

"I rejected you," I said in a flat, uninterested voice. "You don’t have to apologize to me anymore."

"Yet you’re here speaking to me," he glowered. "I don’t see mates who rejected each other still talking like this."

"I have the freedom to do as I desire," I said.

Eric said nothing. He just stared at me for another long minute while my eyes wandered away from him, looking anywhere but at his face.

Somehow, my gaze found Candace again. She was leaning against a huge tree near the parking lot, phone pressed to her ear, but her eyes were fixed on me with a sweet, almost nauseating smile.

Of course she wasn’t actually on a call. I knew that for sure. She must have followed us out here just to listen to everything.

"I didn’t mean to hurt you," Eric continued, drawing my attention back to him.

"You should have thought about that before uttering those words..."

"I...I..." Eric cursed under his breath and clamped his mouth shut. "Just forgive me, okay? I promise to make it up to you."

I couldn’t tell if I should believe him, but he looked genuinely sorry — stressed, even, like it had taken everything in him to come here after I had refused to speak to him.

I wanted to prolong the argument and make him beg a little more, but with Candace lurking somewhere nearby, I couldn’t. I didn’t know what that bitch had in mind or why she was even here in the first place.

"I forgive you," I said.

Eric’s eyes widened in astonishment as he stared at me. He sputtered. "Y...you forgive me?"

"I do."

He didn’t believe me. He shook his head and stepped closer.

"What?" I snorted, stepping back. "Is it so hard to believe that I’ll forgive you easily?"

"Yes, and—"

"I’m not a witch and I don’t hold grudges," I cut him off. "There’s no need to, since we’ll be seeing each other anyway."

And I didn’t want him chasing after me all over school or those stupid bitches from his house starting fights with me again.

Eric tilted his head, an uncertain look still on his face.

"Come on," I laughed lightly. "You can’t actually be overthinking this."

"Show me," he said.

"What?" My brows pulled together in a frown.

He closed the distance again, barely giving me room to escape.

"I want you to show me that you truly forgive me."

"How?" I questioned.

"Kiss me," he said.

"K...kiss?" I barely got the word out before Eric clasped my arm and pulled me into him.

His mouth latched onto mine in a gentle kiss that stole my breath away.

I gasped into his mouth, giving him the opportunity to slip his tongue inside. Our tongues tangled together for a few heated seconds before he took full dominance, deepening the kiss with a low, possessive growl that vibrated against my lips.

His hand tightened at the back of my head, fingers threading through my hair as he pulled me closer. The taste of him, mint and something darker, masculine flooded my senses. Heat pooled low in my belly, spreading through my veins like wildfire.

My hands instinctively clutched at his shirt, bunching the fabric as my knees threatened to buckle.

When the need for air became too much, he finally pulled back, his face still inches from mine.

I fought the sudden urge to touch my tingling lips. He would think I had enjoyed the kiss even though I truly had.

Eric had been my first kiss. The only time I had ever felt something so intense, close to raw desire, and now it was happening again.

I gulped, desperately pushing back every naughty thought of him flooding my mind.

"That..." he whispered, his warm breath teasing my nostrils, "is how a forgiveness acceptance should be."

I flushed hot, shoving him away. I glared up at him while he let out a soft, amused chuckle.

"That isn’t funny."

"No, it isn’t," he agreed, still smiling. He opened his mouth to say something else, but the buzzing of his phone cut him off. He pulled it out of his trouser pocket, staring at the flashing screen.

The smile on his face vanished instantly. His expression darkened. I leaned forward slightly and managed to catch a glimpse.

The caller was his father.

"See you," Eric said abruptly. He gave me one quick, firm kiss on the lips before I could respond, then rushed away.

Candace followed after him like a shadow. A good thing, because I wasn’t interested in engaging with her right now.

The memory of the kiss lingered, warm and vivid. I smiled softly, touching my still-tingling lips.

It’s just a kiss, Willa. It’s nothing to be excited about.

I giggled anyway, unable to help myself.

"Good to see you in a happy mood."

I jerked backward, almost colliding into Elliott. He was standing right at the entrance door, with his back leaned against the door frame.

"Hey!" I said, startled.

"Hi you," he replied with a smile. "What’s with the happy face?"

"Nothing," I responded too quickly.

"Really?" he murmured, tilting his head.

"Really," I mumbled, avoiding his eyes.

"Okay," he stepped aside to let me through.

We walked around the building for a few quiet moments, with nowhere particular to stop.

"Why aren’t you going home for spring break?" he asked.

"Nothing." I shrugged.

The truth was, I didn’t want to. Whitney and Steven had told me to come home, but staying behind in school felt better for my sanity. I still didn’t know when they would catch up to all my lies.

Besides, spring break was only three weeks, and right after it came the start of the interhouse competition. I needed to train for that.

"Why didn’t you?" I asked in return.

I had learned his parents had specifically asked him to come home for a family tradition that happened every year.

"I’d rather be here," Elliott said simply.

I didn’t pry further. I didn’t know much about his family dynamics and I didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. He already looked like he was.

After a brief minute of silence and more aimless walking, we stopped in the middle of the common room.

"Elyse," Elliott broke the silence.

"Hmm?"

"I want you to think about us," he said in a low but serious voice. "I don’t think I can live without you in my life."

I swallowed hard. I didn’t know what to say.

"Please," Elliott begged, the raw desperation in his voice tugging painfully at my heart. "I still love you."

"Elliott..."

"I don’t want you to give me an answer right now," he interrupted me gently. "Just... think about us. Our future."

I grimaced, chewing on my bottom lip. I couldn’t agree to this. Yet I didn’t want to see the hurt flash across his face again.

At the same time, it hurt me deeply that I was still pretending to be the person he truly wanted.

"Through thick and thin," Elliott said, holding my gaze with quiet intensity. "You promised to always be there."

"Okay," I exhaled, the word feeling heavy on my tongue. "I’ll think about it."

"You will?" Hope brightened his entire face. He clutched my hands in excitement, his grip warm and eager.

"Yes."

Elliott pulled me into a tight hug, then gave me a light, quick kiss on the lips. For the third time today, I froze in surprise, not expecting another kiss.

"Thank you, thank you," he beamed, finally letting me go.

I watched with a glare on my face as he skipped happily toward his room. He slipped inside without looking back.

"Why the hell is everybody kissing me?" I muttered under my breath.