CHAPTER 34: IN THE CAVE III

An hour and a few minutes.

That’s how long I think I and Adam have been talking about ourselves and certain memories which had made us laugh many at times and had brought little tears to my eyes.

One thing that had stood out as I communicated with Adam was the inner peace I felt.

It felt like home. It was beautiful. It was satisfying.

Why hadn’t we noticed this before? Why hadn’t we done this earlier? Why now?

I was beginning to feel bereft since I would be leaving by the weekend.

I wasn’t the only one feeling this by the way. I knew this because I could see it on the worry creases that lined his forehead whenever he talked about me leaving. I could see it in the satisfactory smiles on his lips as he spoke, even as he is talking right now about a memory that consisted of Noah being pursued by a mad stray dog.

I laughed, happy, sated, seeing him laugh too. We have been done with eating for a while. I had wanted to pack up the plates earlier, but he had mentioned that I leave it, citing that the butler would soon be coming to pick it up. There was no sink in the cave after all.

I had relaxed into my chair then, full from one of the best meals I have ever eaten in my life.

"You know, I can tell my father to let you stay, of course I would have to take you under my protection to do that..." Adam said at the moment, and I bit my lips, turning my face to the other side.

I was at odds.

I wanted to leave the pack, yes. But an hour and few minutes with him in private was threatening to crack the thick wall I had built around my decision.

Should I stay? Would I find someone like Adam in the human world?

"You don’t have to answer me now. You can take your time to think about it. I believe there are still four days or so before you leave, right?" He questioned, and I nodded, my tongue too heavy to speak.

What would I say now? There was nothing to say. It was best I let it stay for a night or two.

For one, I was sure my mother would be happy if I chose to stay back, although she wouldn’t find it funny if she found out it was because of the king’s son. Naomi would have the same reactions too, and I don’t blame them.

Adam would soon have his first shift, and would have to choose a mate in a month or two, a mate that has been Claire since time immemorial.

So, there was no need to hope for anything. I hadn’t a wolf so it was impossible that we would be mated. There was no need to think of staying either. There was no need letting the answer fester either.

The answer was a huge no, and I should say that. That I couldn’t, that there was no need for him to keep me hanging on a rope like this, that there was no use for him to give me false hope, but I said none of these, rather I kept mute, watching him with curious eyes as he stood up from his chair and walked up to me.

"Get up. I think we have been sitting for a while. And if I should remember our health classes very well, it isn’t advisable to sit for so long." He said, chuckling as a smile slithered across my lips.

Adam could be humorous when he chooses to be. I didn’t know that till today.

I didn’t know that he could smile and laugh for long hours with people other than his siblings. I didn’t know I would ever catch his fancy to this extent and now it was messing up my feelings especially as he pulled me up from the chair to himself, my head resting on his chest. What next?

"You know,lately, I have been asking myself why I had been blind to this side of you. You are the most refreshing girl I have ever spoken to." He muttered, allowing his hands to rest on my thin waist.

I felt his lips press together on my forehead the same time that his hands around my waist tightened, and I inhaled sharply, swallowing my saliva, wondering where this would lead to.

Would my erotic dream come to pass? Would I lose my virginity today?

A split second-I think I want to.

It was stupid, but if I could choose, I would prefer Adam, not that there are any more choices. It was better to do it and get it over with, since I would be leaving after all.

When I was growing up, I thought I would keep myself for my mate, but the moment the pack’s doctor had announced that my wolf gene was absent, the zeal to keep it all locked up faded out. Still, there had been no one to do it with.

Everyone had turned against me like they had been programmed to. Including Adam.

Now, he was the one dropping a kiss on my two cheeks.

The remembrance of that killed my mood, and I stepped back a bit, straightening invisible creases on my trousers.

"What is the matter?" He asked, stepping closer to me.

Couldn’t he detect that I had stepped away to be far from his presence?

"Nothing, I just need some air." I replied, walking past him to the open air where the cliff ended.

"Do you want to take a dive then?" he questioned, his eyes darting between me and the waterfall.

I furrowed my eyebrows at his question, looking away from the cliff to his face. He wasn’t joking, not with the serious expression that coated his face.

Oh my.

Swimming with him? That was another one way ticket to sex with him.

"No, I’m just fine up here. Maybe another time.’ I answered.

If there would be another time.

I doubt I would be coming to school or here ever again.