The Chase

Chapter 26

When I wake up in the morning, I wake up alone. I can hear the rustling from downstairs, so I know it's likely Noah sifting through the kitchen trying to find something to eat. With a groan, I pull the blanket over my head in the hopes I will be able to be left alone and sleep through the day. My prayers aren't answered and are actually completely ignored by Noah coming through the door with a slight knock. I hear the door creak open and some movement by the door.

"Hey Adelaide?" Noah whispers.

I raise up a little on my elbows and look over at him. A few strands of hair fall into my face, and I know I must ridiculous, but I don't think I have it in me to care. I grumbled out my acknowledgement and look over to him to see that he's looking at me with a sheepish look on his face. His face is starting to turn a bright red and when I raise my brow at him, he looks away from becoming an even deeper shade of red.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't realize that you weren't dressed I just wanted to see if you were awake so we could start lessons. You also need to eat."

I flop back onto the bed and cover myself with the blanket, "I'm not hungry."

"Well, that's okay if you want you can eat later, but what about your lessons? Emily is coming over today to start and introductory on your Luna duties."

I shrink into a ball and press my face into the blanket. I want him to go away. I don't hate him, but I'm just so...deflated today. I don't really know why; I haven't ever really been like this even on the days we had little to eat, or it was hard to find the money to pay some bills. No matter the struggle I had Nicole, so everything paled in comparison to our friendship.

"I don't want to go today. Tell Emily that I'm sorry, but that I'm not feeling well."

"Are you sick? I can call the pack doctor and have some of the women from the kitchen bring you some broth? Should I call the Alpha?"

"No! Don't call him. I'm not really sick, I just...I just can't do it today okay. I don't want to pretend to be happy here. I don't want to go through the motions, and I don't want to pretend to be happy that I'm taking these classes. I don't care. I don't plan on being here long enough to be your guys' Luna."

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret them immediately. He's going to tell Axle. He's going to tell him and then I'm going to be trapped in this house forever. I'll have to spend every waking moment with him. He'll probably figure out a punishment that will fit my crime. He might just hold me down and mark me. I hear the door close and realize that Noah must have left to go tell Axle of my words and I feel truly and utterly alone. I begin to weep at the idea of being forced to live the life as the perfect Luna to Axle, ignoring every fiber of my being to become exactly what he wants.

I let out a startled yelp as the blankets are pulled off of me. I scramble to shield my legs under my shirt that I borrowed from Axle and give Noah an incredulous look. He just looks at me with determination that I've never seen him have before. In this moment he is all bravado and hard steel. I can see the light twinge of pink shading his cheeks as he realizes my dress, but he still maintains his composure as he looks at me.

"You said I was your friend, so as your friend I'm going to get you out of this bed and moving."

I open my mouth to argue with him when he narrows his eyes at me indicating he is in no way interested in my words.

"No, I don't want to hear it. You don't have to do classes, we can skip. Hell, we can do whatever you want, but you have to get out of this bed. I will not watch you waste away in this bed, not if I can stop it. So, get up and get ready."

I glare at him from my position, and I want to argue with him. I want to get my way and I want him to get the hell out of my room, but I realize as I'm about to let the words fly out that his eyes have a sadness that I recognize. He's desperate.