His exiled assassin mate

His feelings

 *Zay*

 So the sad truth, at least for me, was that Raya started dating Dan after that. But it was also just as expected, the most beautiful girl dating the star of … Well, every sports team and it was eating me up inside to be honest. 

 Seeing them together, holding hands and kissing, even though it was only very innocent kisses, made me want to punch his lights out. It also seemed to awaken something inside me. My first change was still about 12 months in the future, but I could feel him stir … my wolf.

 They had been dating for 3 months and he was taking her to the Christmas ball, a tradition for the packs in the area, where the young unmated members could meet and have fun, and maybe meet their mate. 

 We had slid a bit apart, simply because she lacked time with school, homework, other friends, practice and ... him. And I missed her like crazy. 

 I wasn't going to the ball, there was no girl I wanted to take and probably none that wanted to go with me. But for once I was over at Raya's house. Sitting in her room as she got ready for her date. Wondering why I was torturing myself like this.

 "Why aren't you going to the ball Zay ?" She looks at me in the mirror. She is doing her hair and applying light make-up. Wearing only a bathrobe. "I am sure Emily would have loved it if you had asked her".

 "Maybe, but I don't want to take Emily to the ball". I say. Studying my hands intensely. I don't want to take anyone but her to the dance. But I can't tell her. I am a barely 17 year old nerd and she is a beautiful goddess, how could I ?

 She looks at me with sadness as she gets up and grabs her dress bag walking out into the bathroom to change. And I sigh, hiding my face in my hands. Wondering if I am forever going to be unhappily in love with my best friend.

 Ten minutes later she comes back out and I look up, gasping as I see her. She looks so beautiful it totally takes my breath away, wearing a soft peach ball gown with a glittery silver top. She twirls in front of me. "Do I look okay ?"

 I swallow and nod frantically, unable to speak. When she looks at me questioningly I manage to force the words out. "You look stunning Raya".

 "Thanks Zay". She says smiling softly at me. Then we both hear the car honk outside. And she looks out the window. Dan is just about to turn 18 and has his own car. "Dan is here".

 "He just honks for you to come out ?" I stare in disbelief. What a jerk. He is taking out the most wonderful girl in the world, the least he could do was come inside to get her.

 She makes a face. "Yeah, I know, but not all men can be perfect gentlemen like you". And she grabs her clutch.

  I follow her down the stairs.

 Just before she walks out the door I gently grab her arm. "Be careful, okay ? Don't let him pressure you and don't do something you will regret later … He might find his mate in a month when he turns 18".

 "I promise…". She reached up to kiss my cheek. “…But who knows, I might be his mate”.

 “I highly doubt it”. I mumble mostly to myself and she chooses to ignore it.

 Then we walk outside. At least he comes out of the car and opens the passenger door to her. Kissing her while glaring at me, as to show me she is his, as if I don’t know already. 

 As she gets in he makes some obscene motions behind her, pretending to f**k her from behind. He grins at me and wink, telling me quite clearly what he expects to do later and I feel like throwing up and like punching his teeth out. But instead I just wave as they drive off.

——————————————————————————————————-

 I am alone for the evening, so I curl up on the couch in the living room under a blanket, watching some scary movies as an unexpected thunderstorm roars outside and I try not to think about what Raya is doing. 

 Will she sleep with him tonight ? Will she give herself to that no-good jerk ? 

 Just as I put on the third movie, the doorbell rings. I get up, grumbling about dumb people being out in the rain, and shuffle out in the hallway. I open the door to a drenched Raya. "God Raya what are you doing here ?"

 She just throws her arms around my neck sobbing against my shoulder and I pull her inside, closing the door. I just hold her until she calms down a bit.

 "What happened darling ?" I ask her softly, brushing some hair away from her forehead. Even drenched like this, with her make-up running down her face, she looks beautiful.

 She looks up at me, biting her lip. "He broke up with me. He was going to drive me home, but he drove to that spot by the wood you know. He started to grope me in the car and I told him I didn't want to sleep with him and especially not in the car. He told me that I was a prude and to get lost. So I got out and walked here".

 "I am going to punch his lights out". I feel a feral anger course through me, how could he treat her that way. And how could he let her walk alone through the forest at night and in the pouring rain.

 She shakes her head. "He isn't worth it Zay. But do you have an umbrella I can borrow ?" I smile at her. "Yeah, but I am going to walk you home okay ?" She nods with a soft smile.

 We make our way back to her place, but we are both drenched when we get there. "I am alone for the weekend. What do you say, wanna come in and watch a movie ?” 

 “I’d love to, but I think we both need a hot shower and some warm clothes first".

 She finds me some of her father's clothes, a T-shirt, a pair of sweatpants and some boxers which makes me blush violently, when she hands them to me.

 While we were in the showers, her in her own, me in her parents. I try very hard not to imagine what she looks like naked and with the water pouring over her.

  When I get out I make some popcorn and gets things ready, knowing it is okay with her.

 She comes out, all the make-up gone and her hair hanging damp down her back. I can't help looking at her and she twirls around, showing off her cute pyjamas. "So how am I looking ?”

  I smile at her. "Even more beautiful". And I can't help noticing that she blushes.

 "I hope a scary movie is okay ?" I say as we flop down on the couch, I have found one I really want to watch. 

 She moves closer to me. "If you hold my hand and as long as it isn’t about werewolves, it‘s just too weird you know".

 My heart is pounding like crazy and my throat goes dry, I am nodding furiously. "Sure, I can hold your hand if you get scared… and I promise, no werewolves".

  We start the movie, and Raya moves closer and closer every time something scary happens. And when the killer appears very suddenly, she literally jumps into my arms, making me chuckle. "Are you sure you are okay with watching this ?"

 "Yeah. But... maybe I… could I ... can we snuggle up ?" She looks up at me and my heart almost stops beating. 

 I don't know how I manage to stay cool. "Sure, come here".

 I lean back in the corner of the couch and she places herself between my legs, snuggling into my chest. I fold my arms around her. And we sit like that for the rest of the movie. I am pretty sure I have died and gone to heaven.

 "Can you spend the night ?" She asks when the movie is over.

 I nod. "Yeah I don't think my parents will notice that I am gone, they will be home late. I can sleep on the couch". 

 But she shakes her head. "I am too scared, can't you just sleep with me, in my room, like we used to ?"

 I literally can't breathe. The thought of being in her bed. Of how my body could react to that. I am quite sure I am going to faint. But I manage to nod. "Sure".