The Autumn Eclipse

Chapter Six

Liam

Tonight was a new chance with Alana, and likely my last one considering she had already given me oh so many chances and I just kept letting her down. She couldn’t have thought our date was that bad surely? I mean I took her to a nice restaurant and besides the two girls we’d run into and the then hurt ankle, I had thought it was a pretty good date. I mean fancy dinners, flowers, a guy dressed up in a nice suit; what more did girls want?

Once again I let Malia do my hair, she left it a little messier today but it still was too much gel for me. I decided to keep my outfit more simple though, wearing a plain t shirt and shorts since we were just going to a bonfire on the beach. I’d tried to text Alana and invite her as my date but she said she’d already made plans to go with Emily so I knew I had to crash it. Luckily, Malia and Ty seemed totally wound up when I got home so I was able to talk them into going as a way to relax. They both desperately needed it.

“Always take a sweater, girls get cold,” Malia suggested to me as I met them at the front door empty handed. In her arms she pushed Ty’s hoodie towards him and he just shook his head with a smile at her. He pulled the sweater over him and I groaned, it was way to hot to be wearing sweaters, did I really have to do this? I grabbed a sweater from my closet then met them in the driveway once more, looking to Malia for approval. “Put it on,” she demanded and I narrowed my eyes at her. “It has to smell like you.”

I sighed and pulled it over my head, this had better work and it had better mess up my hair a little more. I already couldn’t wait to get this gel out. Together the three of us drove down to the beach and I caught Alana’s scent instantly as I climbed out of the car. She was already here. Quickly my eyes scanned the beach, only to be disappointed when I caught her on the edge of the water sitting beside another guy.

I took a step forwards ready to charge towards her but Ty’s arm instantly hit my chest blocking me. “That didn’t work out for you so well last time, remember?” He said, clearly catching what I was looking at. Malia stood at his side giving me the same knowing look as I tried to calm down my wolf who was already howling inside and ready to attack whatever guy was after my mate now.

“But I have to,” I pleaded with them, I needed her. This was the only way I knew how to get her. She just kept drifting farther and farther away from me and if I let her go she might never come back. Someone could swoop her out from my reach, she could fall in love with them first, and I would lose her forever.

Tyrese looked to Malia and I knew they were probably talking in their minds as if debating what to do. I knew they were probably trying to find a way to convince me not to go, that I was doing the wrong thing and they were probably right. Everything about me seemed wrong lately, wrong for her, wrong for the pack, wrong for my parents. It was starting to feel like my wolf had entirely lost direction of who I’m supposed to be.

Then to my surprise it was Malia who spoke first, her quiet voice breaking the silence. “Go,” she whispered and I took a step back, startled by her words. “Alana likes big gestures, maybe just try not to kill the guy,” she gave me a small smile and my wolf was practically leaping out of my chest. I smiled back to them, flashing my biggest grin as I turned and ran towards my mate who was now standing to her feet with the guy’s help.

“Alana!” I called out to her as I got closer to them. She spun in a heartbeat, her hair catching the wind and blowing back in a way that drove me wild. Her eyes went wide as she met mine and whispered my name so quietly only I could catch it. “What the hell are you doing?” I blurted out, looking between her, the guy, and their hands closed around each other. She quickly separately them, holding her own hands awkwardly in front of her but the closeness between them still put my wolf on edge.

“We were just talking,” she muttered. Her eyes looked down to the sand, refusing to meet mine so I turned back to the guy who watched me with a bored look.

“Leave,” I demanded, my voice colder than it had been before. He shrugged his shoulders then walked away which almost made me laugh. What an i***t, leaving a girl this gorgeous without so much as a fight.

“Liam! What the hell?!” Alana screamed at me, waving her hands around angrily.

“What the hell me? What the hell are you doing?!” I yelled back, taking a step closer to her so we were only a few inches apart now.

“We had one date Liam, you don’t like own me now. You’re not my type so it’s time to move on,” she scowled at me, her hands now balling into fists at her sides. What does she mean not her type? I absolutely am her type, I’m her mate. We’re perfect together!

“I’m exactly your type!” I shouted back, feeling my wolf come forwards again. If I just marked her she would know how I felt, but I thanked the moon goddess there were way too many people around us to prevent me from doing that.

“No thanks, you look like some preppy snob all the time now, and you definitely lied about those girls the other night and I’m not into liars,” she rambled on and my eyes went wide. She was mad that I said I didn’t know those girls? I would happily tell her about my terrible dating history, but I had been certain that would scare her off. But more importantly, she didn’t like the hair gel either.

Suddenly the biggest grin spread across my face once more and she looked up into my eyes with her eyebrows ruffling together. “You have me all wrong,” I said then as quick as I could my hands tangled into my gelled back hair and shook it out. Letting my hair hang shaggy on my head, I probably looked absolutely ridiculous and couldn’t wait to fully wash this out but I was relieved to finally let my hair loose again. “Those stupid clothes I was wearing yesterday, those were Ty’s. I don’t even think I own anything that nice, and this hair thing that I have going on; all Malia’s idea. And those girls, I hooked up with them and never called so now they’re among the many girls that hate me,” confessing everything to her came easy, like I was finally able to breathe again.

Her eyes widened on mine as she took in all that I’d said, but I wasn’t finished. Malia said she likes big gestures, so here goes my shot. I took another step forwards, snaking my arm around her waist and feeling the electricity ignite between us. “But you Alana, you’re different,” I whispered, then pulled her forwards so her chest pressed against mine. My eyes gazed down into hers. “You are the most fascinating woman I have ever met, and I'll never stop calling you.”

Her lips parted, and I heard the quietest gasp escape her. I slid my fingers under her chin and tilted her head up to meet my gaze. Slowly, I leaned in, pressing my lips gently to hers. Her hand pressed back against my chest, stopping the kiss quickly and I searched her eyes with panic. “Liam,” she breathed, “do you really mean that?” I eagerly nodded my head in response. I was all in now, no more games or backing down. Then suddenly she was jumping forwards, her hands tangling in my hair as I caught her in my arms and lifted her from the ground. Her lips desperately pressed to mine now, our tongues tangling together in perfect harmony.

“Give me another chance, I swear I won’t f**k it up this time. 100% real Liam,” I whispered to her as I pulled my lips back from her. I held my grip tight on her waist, there was no way I was letting her go now.

My heart skipped a beat in my chest as a grin spread across her face. Her nails ran through my hair, coming to the back of my neck. “Yes,” she whispered.