Chapter 4

Everything is different now. It has been about six months since my transformation which was the turning point for everything. I moved in with James and Amelia, they decided to test the fates and be together. They know the way they feel about each other is nothing either of them can escape. The two of them moved into a house in the same neighborhood as my parents lived in with me. It’ll be different, I’m still calling the people who raised me my parents but I also call James and Amelia my parents.

I’m still doing school but we all decided that the rest of this year should be the same as the others. Just in case something else happens. Plus I get to get more control of my powers, Mama and Amelia said that the reason I couldn’t grasp full control of my powers was because I hadn’t transformed yet. But now that I have and I can transform at a whim I can work on getting full control of my powers.

Amelia has taken over in training me with my powers, Papa and James take turns training me with physical combat and stuff like that. While Mama still teaches me everything else, I enjoy our little arrangement. The only thing I don’t like about living with Amelia and James is the fact they can’t keep their hands off of each other. I mean I can’t blame them but at the same time I wish they would wait until I was out of the house or something.

Anyway, back to training. I have gotten better with my powers, I don’t lose control when I get nervous or happy anymore at least not that I have noticed. I haven’t been truly happy since Noah and the guys left. I have seen them a few times when I go out for a run. More or less I check up on them, I know it is weird but I want to make sure they are okay.

They all seem pretty happy, which makes me happy but I wish I could have still kept them in my life somehow. It’s for the best though, that is what I have to keep telling myself no matter how much I don’t believe it.

Today is one of the days I have to myself. I decided to focus on my stamina, so I jogged around the block and decided to head to the high school. The high school has a track outside which the public has access to after school. It’s currently four in the afternoon so I know nobody will be there, after a few minutes I’m at the gate to get inside. The gate is locked, it is never locked. I gave it a confused look and took a deep breath as I jumped over the fence with grace and landed on my feet.

“Easy peasy.” I chuckled and started to run around the track, I could feel someone watching me. I start to slow down to get a better sense as to where the person is. I slow to a walk and listen to where the person is standing. I can hear their heartbeat, it is slow and steady but also familiar. I smirk when I realize who it is.

They start to come closer and I slowly walk away, until they speed up and I just smile and start to speed up. I go faster and end up jumping on the person, he laughs and smiles at me. I guess you could consider him my best friend, yet best friends don’t kiss each other. He knows Noah is my mate but doesn’t mind that. Ryan and I have been together for a few months now. He is a loyal follower of James, which means more or less that he is trusted by my entire family.

“Did they tell you to come look after me?” Ryan shrugged and smiled at me as he put his hands under my thighs. “I thought I would be on my own today.” he shrugged again and put me down, I rolled my eyes and pulled away from him.

“Can you blame me for coming? I want to spend as much time with you as I possibly can.” I rolled my eyes again and shook my head, he smiled and we both started to jog around the track.

After about half an hour we jogged back to the house to find a group of people standing outside of the house, they all looked at me with confusion. I started walking toward the door when someone stopped me by grabbing my arm.

These people are monsters and an abomination to society.

I looked down at the hand on my arm and glared as they pulled their hand away. I suppose she got the message. “Who are you people?” I ask in the nicest way I can. They all look at me again and one of them takes a step forward.

He looks about the same age as James but has more gray in his hair along with being shorter. He clears his throat, “These people treat this neighborhood community like we aren’t human. People have tried to invite them to join us in celebrations but they choose not to come.” I nod, why is that an issue?

“Can I ask why there is a problem with that?” he gives me a look of pure horror, “I mean have lived around here for my whole life and I have never seen any celebrations or anything like that.” he gives me a confused look.

“That’s a lie.” I shook my head, “I have never seen you out and about before today. I don’t even know your name.” I nodded.

“That is because you never asked, I have been here my whole life. Now if you please get out of my yard and I will talk to my parents about coming to one of your so-called celebrations.” the man frowned and nodded. He and the rest of the group walked away from my yard and Ryan smiled at me. “What?” he shook his head and smiled.

“Nothing, am I not allowed to just look at you?” I tapped my chin and shook my head. “Well too bad.” I smile as he walks closer to me and wraps his arms around my waist. I wrap mine around his neck and smile.

I wish I could be your mate.

I freeze and Ryan gives me a confused look, “You heard that?” How was I not supposed to hear that? I heard it in my head, it was clear as day. He and I have talked about this. I can’t imagine my life without Noah, even though I need to live without him in order for him to be happy. Ryan knows that and he said he was okay with it. “I’m sorry. But I can’t help but think about it. Ivy, I am in love with you.” I look into his eyes, I see fear but also love. The same look I see James give Amelia or Mama give Papa. It is a look of pure love, I don’t feel the same though.

How can I feel the same way? I mean yes Ryan and I have been together for a while but at the same time it has only been three or four months now. That is not enough to claim any sort of love connection at all. I took a deep breath and frowned, “You know I don’t feel the same way. Ryan I care about you, I really do but you know that we can’t be a for sure thing.” he nodded. “I am sorry.”

He shook his head and sighed, “It’s fine, I know you are mated to the alpha.” I frowned, Ryan has never called Noah by his name, it has always been the alpha and I know no matter how hard I try to convince him that Noah is just as we ar;e he will never call him Noah. I frown, “Ivy, I don’t think I can keep doing this.” I give him a confused look.

“What do you mean?” Ryan started to pull away and I can feel my heartbeat quicken slightly, is he breaking up with me?

“I can’t keep going through with this relationship, I know you don’t feel the same way I feel and that’s okay. I know you are mated to the Alpha and I know when the time is right he will come around. No matter how long it takes.” I frown, he is breaking up with me. “Just know I love you and you will always hold a place in my heart. If you ever need a beta at your side you know who to call but until then I think it is a good idea for us to break up.” I frown and watch Ryan walk away.

I stood in my driveway for a few minutes, Ryan broke up with me. Three months, three really fun and good months. All to be lost over stupid destiny, I frowned and felt my heartbreak slightly. I heard the door open, I looked back at Amelia who gave me a confused look. I walked into the house and shook my head, “Do you-” I shook my head.

“No, I don't want to talk about it.” I walk up the stairs to my room and sit down on the bed. I feel my hands heat up but I push the power down. I took a few deep breaths and lay down facing the ceiling, I heard a knock on the door.

I open the door with my magic and see Amelia standing there. “I said I don’t want to talk about it.” she nodded and walked into the room.

“I know, I’m not coming here to talk about it. I’m coming here to ask you how you are.” I frown, she knows those are the exact same thing. She’s trying to be a mom to me, she has been doing a really good job but at the same time I don’t know if I will ever completely see her as a mother figure. I took a deep breath and moved over on the bed so she could sit or lay next to me.

“Those are the same thing.” she chuckles and nods, “Ryan broke up with me. He told me that he loves me then broke up with me. I may not have grown up in a fully functioning human world but I know that is messed up." She sits on the bed and just listens to me. “I mean I get it, I know I can’t love him, at least not the way I love Noah or at least the way I think I love Noah. I don’t know anymore, he stopped going to the park so I don’t see him much anymore. I’m worried that he found someone better and destiny changed or something.” Amelia frowned and put her hand to my hair. She strokes my hair which makes my eyes close out of comfort.

“I understand, feelings are complicated. Especially after everything you’ve been through. When it comes to Ryan, I don’t exactly know what to say. All I can say is that if he can’t deal with the fact my little girl is mated to a more powerful werewolf than him, he isn’t the one for her.” I laugh and give her a confused look. “That sounded better in my head.” We both chuckle and nod.

“I just wish there was a way that I could forget about Noah and be able to be happy and not have to worry about everything else.” she nods and continues to stroke my hair.