The Mating Game - Chapter 2：1.

“Hey Ty, you look like you need to head home.” I told him when I reached him, tugging on his arm so he would look down at me. He noticed me, his brown eyes pulled tight with the effort it took for him to recognize me at all. I rolled my eyes as I prepared myself for his argument. I knew Ty. I knew he’d try and make me see some kind of messed up reason.

“India, I’m fine. Go have fun. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He brushed me off, trying to get rid of me.

“Ty, no.” I growled, taking him slightly by surprise, I didn’t usually fight his decisions, but I wasn’t about to sit by and let Jessica convince him to make a mistake I knew he’d regret as soon as he sobered up in the morning. “I’m not going to sit back and watch you throw away something you’ve been keeping for so long just because you’re drunk and there’s a piece of meat in front of you. Come on.” I replied, standing my ground as he turned to face me.

I watched the indecision swim in his chocolate eyes, the drunken fog playing with his mind. His face grew paler then and he swayed on his feet. “I think you’re right.” He finally breathed, slinging an arm across my shoulder and using me to steady him. I started leading him back to the trail that lead to our houses then, as he began putting more and more weight against me. “I think I’m sick India.” He complained.

“No shit sherlock, you drank your weight tonight.” I laughed towards him and he smiled down at me under his thick lashes.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” She growled and I looked blankly towards her in confusion.

“I’m taking Ty home because he’s too drunk to function properly and doesn’t need you taking advantage of him.” I replied coldly.

“I’m gonna tell you this one time India. Stay away from him.” She growled towards me and I laughed in exhaustion.

“I’ve been here since we were born. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”

“I will rip you limb from limb pup. I always get what I want in the end. You’d do good to remember that.” She stalked towards me, taking my upper arm and digging into it with her claws, drawing blood.

I stared intently towards her as she did, wanting more than ever to whimper or cry out, but I held it in as blood trickled down my arm. “Are you done?” I asked as she grew angrier.

Ty began to sober up fairly quickly then and noticed the blood running freely down my arm.

“What the fuck did you do that for Jessica?” He growled towards her and she shrunk back. “You attack India for taking care of me just because I won’t get in bed with you? Are you insane? Don’t even come near her or me ever again. I’m reporting this to my father. You’d better run home and pray he doesn’t throw your sorry ass out of here.” He shot towards her as she retreated and I imagined her in wolf form, tucking her tail between her legs and running for the hills.

“Are you alright?” Ty breathed when she was out of sight and we were finally on the trail headed to our homes.

I nodded, not trusting my voice as I put pressure against my wounded forearm. He stopped us and peeled my hand away, growling when he saw just how deep the punctures went. Fabric ripped audibly in the silence between us as he pulled a piece of his shirt off and wrapped it tightly against the skin there. It would heal in a few hours and there would be nothing left but a tiny scar.

“I’m sorry.” He breathed between us, “Thank you for getting some sense into me. I don’t know what I’d do with you India. You keep my head on right.”

“That’s what friends are for.” I smiled smally and he closed the distance between us, cupping my cheeks in his big hands, making me feel small and delicate. My heart rate picked up, my breathing stopped altogether as I held my breath, waiting for him to do something, to say something.

“It’s not just friends is it?” He whispered, his lips inches from mine. “All this time, I’ve tried so hard to fight it, to push you away, to block you out, but I can’t. It’s always been here, between us, and I told myself not to act on it, that you’d find your mate and you’d leave me, and it would have all been for nothing, but I can’t do that anymore. I can’t sit around and pretend that I’m not in love with you India. We find our mates any day now, and if it’s not you, I’ll understand, I know the chances are slim, but if I don’t kiss you right now, I will regret it for the rest of my life.”

“If you do kiss me, and you find her, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.” I whispered up at him, our breaths mixing in the air in front of us.

He ignored me, his lips meeting mine so softly that I barely registered that they were there. I wrapped my arms around his torso then, pulling him closer to me as he deepened our kiss, his lips moving with mine like they’d been molded just for them. There were no cliche sparks, no sudden desire to fall into bed, no burning for him. This kiss was innocent, and the only one we would be bound to share. I didn’t want it filled with regret. I wanted to cherish it, and I would, for the rest of my life.

He pulled away slowly, resting his forehead against mine softly. “I’m not gonna say that I’m sorry, because i’m not.” He breathed.

I nodded, pulling myself into his arms as he wrapped his around me, resting his chin against my hair.

“I love you India.” He said softly.

“I love you too Ty.”