Infected Blood

Chapter Thirteen

Tears came out of nowhere, I cried in my hands and got angry with how sensitive I'm being. I never wanted this to happen! I want him... it's clear to me now! He's been in my head ever since we met.

With those thoughts, I looked back up after a few minutes and ran into the woods- rushing by every tree and bush until I spotted some sort of life. I ran until my feet were sore, cuts on my flesh from nature reminding me of my mistakes but even then I continued my journey until I came across the pack house.

I needed to tell him... he needs me to listen! I've been so idiotic.

Relief shot through me and I stumbled the rest of the way toward their house, I rammed through the door and didn't bother closing it as I went straight to his office- passing many people who were panicked at my presence. They didn't know me so I understand why.

I opened the door to his office but received nothing, my feet dragging me to his bedroom and he was standing in front of his mirror- all his muscles stiff and he turned to look at me when he heard the door close.

Our eyes sincerely locked for the first time in years, not for a few seconds but longer- it felt like our souls were trying to reconnect like they did the first time we met.

"Why are you here?" He asked, breaking our connection by turning his head and it felt like my lungs were being crushed by my ribs at the sound of his voice- he's never spoke to me that way.

He was so defeated, broken, and torn all because of me. The strain in his voice killed me inside, he looked completely fine but I knew he was struggling inside.

"I need to see you," I bit my cheeks to stop my thoughts from making me sad, my tears from the day I was born to now could fill a lake- I have to control myself! I began walking over to him but he shot me a glare that made me feel sick.

"Well, I don't want to see you," he said in frustration, "I let you walk over me, push me around, treat me like a toy and I continued to do everything in my power to ensure your safety- no matter how it was accomplished. I've done more than enough and you still gave me a cold shoulder after all these years. I was trying for you."

I was silent, looking everywhere but him hoping he wouldn't continue and make me feel bad- he continued.

"Then what, it gets better! You fell head over heels for this dude and I still looked out for you!" He gave me a humorless smile and my body went stiff as my soul was draining out through my exhales.

He ran his hand through his hair, chuckling at my fearful expression but there was nothing funny in his laugh- it was full of pain. It sounded like he either laughed or broke down.

"You think I didn't know? Come on, Katerina, my wolf knows. I'm not dumb, I know what you do, I know what you did yet I still sent Marco to check on you. You're my mate, you think I'd forget about you? Now that hurts..." he forged a look of pain and held his heart, I could see right through the act and the carelessness he was expressing to me now made it so much worse, "I told him to go unseen so you wouldn't panic. He's been there this whole time! Why else do you think he's not shocked to see you?" He added, my tongue was getting heavier with each thing that left his mouth, "he saved you from every stupid choice that could've hurt you because I commanded him so!"

"I never wanted to hurt you, you're just so cruel according to all the rumors that I figured you wouldn't have been hurt... I'm really sorry," I frowned, walking toward him and taking his hand but he grew tense instantly.

"Rumors? I still have emotions. Is that really what you think of me? Was I just nothing but a robot to you?" He asked, his voice lowering and it sounded like his heart was breaking all over again.

How do I manage to keep doing this?

"I cared about you..." his face fell, sincere hurt planted all over his features and I felt like a piece of garbage.

With his wolf away from control he's much more open, less afraid of the judgment he could receive. He's not the same man I met, that much I can say...

I reached for his face and held it, my thumb grazing the scar over his eye only this time he didn't growl or snarl- he did nothing but clench his jaw and stare at me.

"It was wrong of me to put you through this," I whispered, he released the tension he was holding by exhaling through his nose, "I always believed a lie, you aren't the bad guy Tiago, I see that now... I'm sorry for making your life more stressful, I didn't realize you could get hurt by this too- I wasn't thinking. I always thought you couldn't feel."

He scowled out of frustration, "you're wrong, I feel more than almost anyone, my senses are heightened- were heightened."

Furrowing my eyebrows, I slowly inched our faces closer because I had no clue how to respond but he rejected my movements and pushed me away, "I can't."

What? I stared at him strangely and he looked upset, "I can't continue this. I've went through hell caring about you, my wolf is dormant because of his depression- he's dying. You've put me through the same hell I dealt with as a child- just different circumstances... I've tried so hard to change everything I followed but nothing I did mattered. My weakness was you, Katerina."

"But I want you, it's obvious to me now, can't we work this out?" I asked, he avoided my eyes and I tried to grab his attention.

"It's not that simple. My wolf is completely gone in my mind, weren't you listening to me? I used to care about you! He's gone, which makes all the feelings I had toward you gone also. You're nothing to me anymore, we aren't soulmates- not anymore... and I just don't want you the way I used to. This all happened because of you, I hate you for everything you've done and my wolf created those feelings for you. All I feel is dislike for you now! Without our wolves we are human, that means I develop feelings for who I want instead of liking a specific person I may or may not want even though my wolf does. You're still the most gorgeous woman I've ever laid eyes on, I'm sure that'll never change... I just don't have feelings for you. I need you to leave," he said, turning away from me and my chest tightened.

We aren't mates anymore... he's human.

He's incredibly vulnerable.

I didn't reply to him and walked out, leaving his place defeated and nauseated. Why was I expecting to be forgiven? Maybe I thought his wolf would've came back when I touched him... but it didn't work earlier so why would I now? I just need sleep...

Making my way home, I made it back in about ten minutes and when I walked through the door I was bombarded by Joey and Draco.

"Where the hell were you?" They both asked in unison, I normally would've cracked a joke but I didn't feel good so I remained silent- walking right past them as they shared a concerned look.

"Kate?" Joey asked, following me after telling Draco to leave us alone for a bit. I didn't say anything as I went in my room and slammed the door on his face, he cursed through the door and came in a few seconds later holding his nose, "what happened?"

I didn't reply and he scowled, "who knew the infamous Katerina Angler would finally shut up?"

My frown deepened and he realized he shouldn't have said that, he came over and gave me a hug- no words and I just broke down in his arms. He didn't say a word as I cried on him, soaking his shirt but he didn't push me away.

"I wish I could take back everything, Tiago doesn't want me anymore- neither does Aaron! I lost a friend and a crush... what am I doing wrong?" I sobbed, he let me go and frowned while analyzing my crying face.

"You're not honest," he said, "you're lying to them, not telling them what you're really feeling and why you do the things you do. Telling the truth is better than lying, Kate, at least that way you won't find yourself in a sticky situation. You should've told this Aaron dude the truth from the start, don't hide things, and I'm sure he would be here. As for Tiago, you should've been straight with him from the start too! It's all honesty, I promise you that's all it is."

"But Tiago hates me and his wolf is gone because I loved Draco and tore him apart, how is that not being honest? I messed up bad and I can't fix it," I sniffled, Joey's face shot from pity to grossed out shock.

"You loved Dra- Kate!" He wailed, face palming, "no wonder he felt your bond, you falling in love with Draco injured his wolf at the same time giving him the power to feel your soul better! Without his wolf he has no connection with you unless his human side does. His human side still hates you so he doesn't want you, I'm assuming that's what happened."

Sighing exaggeratedly, I wiped away my tears with a nod, "how do I make him fall in love with me? How do I make him feel the same way I do? Draco was just a cover to who I really want, that's why we broke up..."

Joey wasn't surprised at my words, he knew I had some sort of feelings for him, "I don't know, all I know is you could try to do things to impress him- make him interested."

"He does still think I'm cute..." I trailed off, Joey grinned at me.

"Perfect! Do things he would admire that no girl would dare, stand out! Recognize the type of guy he is and try to mimic that, most boys like miniature versions of themselves," he paused, smirking, "especially arrogant Alpha males."

I jumped up and squeezed him tightly, "thank you! I have to get Pj and Marco-"

"No need, we're definitely in," a voice said, startling me and Joey and another laughed. Joey laughed with it and I glared at the source- Marco and I'm assuming Pj.

He needs to stop doing that!

"Weren't you just pissed at me an hour ago?" I questioned, he came into our view better along with Pj and they stood over me and Joey but he stood up from the bed to eliminate the intimidation.

"Yes, but considering you want my Alpha I can't be too mad. We need this to work or else the whole pack is f****d," he shrugged, I guess it was fair reasoning so I said nothing more of it and Pj was grinning in excitement.

"So what's the plan, yo!" He yelled, jittering all over in joy which Marco elbowed him for.

"I don't know! But aren't you guys going to get in trouble if you're here too long?" I asked, Marco seemed unbothered and Pj laughed.

"What's he going to do, break my arm?" He laughed harder, my eyes widened at the disrespect and Marco punched him in the d**k instead of elbowing him the gut.

His laughter sucked back in and he grunted, crashing to the floor and whining all the while Marco looked so unamused, "he's still our Alpha, Pj."

"Yup! Got it," he strained, rolling on his stomach and laying on his face- we all just stared at him until Draco barged in complaining about how long Joey and I were taking.

He shut up when he spotted Marco and Pj, his face drained and Marco had him pinned against the door in an instant, "You're the reason we are turning rogue!"

The sudden anger he displayed took everyone by surprise, he clearly hated Draco...

"It- it takes two to tango, bud," Draco breathed, his face red from the pressure Marco was applying but he wasn't having it.

"No, you knew what you were doing- I saw! You played with her, you faked feelings cause you wanted to have s*x with her because you knew what it would do to my Alpha! You wanted him dead and that was your advantage, it was your idea to date, was it not?" He accused, I was about to yell at him and call him crazy but the moment I opened my mouth Draco beat me to it.

"Okay fine! I set it up! But I didn't do it because I wanted him dead- I've always been attracted to Kate but was too afraid to admit it! The only way she'd ever have s*x with me was if we were dating," he struggled, I was taken away by his words and the nausea in my stomach grew stronger.

He took advantage of me? I'm so glad I didn't give him my virginity...

Oh my god, that was so close.

A lump formed in my throat and I could only hear the heartbeat in my ears, faint talking and Marco smashing Draco against the wall.

"It was because I wanted him dead too! You guys were trying to kill me and I couldn't live normally!" He said, Marco snarled and all it took was one more slam against the wall for him to fall to the floor unconscious.

I was sobbing all over again and Pj finally regained himself, holding me and petting my hair which was oddly soothing.

"Disgusting pig," he growled, finally turning to the rest of us and seen I was in tears, Joey was bitching to himself, and Pj was fully recovered and comforting me.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Joey hissed, angry at him but Marco eyed him without a care.

"Wasn't sure, I needed his confirmation- plus you guys wouldn't have believed me. I was patiently waiting for him to show himself so I could knock his disgraceful ass out and lock him up," he shrugged, Joey didn't respond and I couldn't even look at any of them.

I shoved my face into Pj's chest and cried.

That was devastating to know! I have always trusted him and he tried to use me like it didn't mean anything... he never cared about how I felt- he just wanted in my pants!

"Alpha's don't cry, Luna," Pj whispered, I struggled to stop but soon enough I did and looked up.

He's right, if I'm going to fix anything it'll be my relationship with Tiago and I know just how to start it.

"I have an idea," I stated, swallowing my tears and my eyes darted to Draco's unconscious body.

That's when everyone knew.