Amanda felt like her heart was crumbling. Was he serious? A bracelet was more important than her? She closed her eyes as she took a step back from Hudson. “I think we need to spend some time apart,” she said softly.
Artemis started to whine in Hudson’s head. What are you doing?
Hudson tried to reach out for Amanda but she took a step farther back. “What are you talking about?” he asked as she clenched his hand, grabbing nothing but air.
“I think a lot has gone on since we got back to campus, and maybe we just need some space to rethink our priorities it’s important to us,” she explained, still trying to stay strong and not allowing him to see her in pain.
“You’re not seriously saying this because I won’t take off a bracelet?” His frustration started to grow inside him.
“It’s not only just the bracelet. It’s a lot of things and they just keep adding up. It just seems like there is always something coming up and you keep choosing everything else and not me.”
Hudson tried to control his temper but he was having a hard time. He couldn’t believe this was happening. He didn’t understand why she wanted this. “Just tell me what it is about this bracelet. It’s just a bracelet.”
“You’re right, Hudson, it’s just a bracelet. It was the constant thing I saw every time you bullied me in high school. Whether you were grabbing me, pushing me, or smacking your hand on lockers, it was there. That bracelet haunted my dreams. And when I saw you in class that first time, O noticed you weren’t wearing it and I was relieved. Something that was a constant reminder of what you did to me was gone.” Now she didn’t care if he saw her upset. She needed to get this out. “But let’s not stop there. You promised to be there for the shift. You told me I wasn’t going to be alone. I needed you, yes your mom was there and I had the entire pack trying to support me, but what I needed more than anything was my mate to be there for me and you weren’t. You were here, letting some hex control you. It took your father the Alpha to come here and force you to come home with his Alpha command. Do you know how embarrassing that was for me? I was devastated. Willow too, so much so that she hid from me again. She won’t talk to me!” she yelled.
Hudson bowed his head with shame. He didn’t think, he didn’t connect the reason to why it would affect her so much. He didn’t know what to say, he didn’t know how he was going to be able to fix all this. He tugged at the bracelet thinking it would give him strength as it had in the past. That’s what he’d remember about it. It was why he was so reluctant to take it off.
Amanda paced back and forth trying to take a deep breath, but it wasn’t helping. All she could smell was Hudson’s scent. She pulled off his sweatshirt and held it out to him.
He looked up at her and his eyes widened. “Why are you handing me this?”
She continued to push it toward him, “Cause I can’t have something of yours while we take this time, I can’t have a constant reminder of something I might lose.” Tears ran down her cheeks.
Hudson reached out for the sweatshirt, but instead of grabbing it he wrapped his hand around her wrist and pulled her towards him. He cupped her face with his hands. “You’re not going to lose me. I love you, don’t you know how much I love you?”
She shook her head as she pulled his hands off her face and moved farther back. “Words, Hudson, all you have said are just words.” that was the last thing she said to him before she turned and ran away.
Hudson wanted to follow her, he wanted to tell her that she was wrong. He leaned over and picked up his sweatshirt that had fallen to the ground.
“Give her time. She will see that you love her,” Deak said as he came up from behind and rested his hand on his shoulder.
Marco walked up shortly after. “She’ll be alright,” Deak said as he came up from behind and rested his hand on his shoulder.
Hudson rubbed his face with his hands. Why did dating have to be so difficult? If they had just completed the bond before returning, none of this would be happening. Heir relationship would be secured and he wouldn’t have to be constantly proving his love to her.
******
Amanda continued to run. She didn’t want to go back inside with the girls and tell them what happened. She was too upset. She just needed to find a place where she could be alone and work through her emotions.
She turned a corner and ran into a hard chest, and before she could fall a pair of arms reached out and grabbed her.
“Whoa, easy there, you might hurt yourself,” the deep voice said with a chuckle.
Amanda tried to pull out of the person’s grasp when she looked up and saw who had stopped her from falling. “Hmm, I’m surprised you didn’t just let me fall. What are you doing on this side of campus, Colson?” she asked while still trying to get out of his grip.
Colson’s smile disappeared. “You can’t just say thank you, can you?”
Amanda was able to finally pull away from his grip. She rubbed herself where his hands had been on her. “Thank you.”
Colson shook his head but then smirked again. “So why are you out and about on your own? Trouble in paradise?” he said mockingly.
Amanda glared at Colson. “My relationship is none of your business.” She tried to get around him but he stepped in front of her path again.
“Just tell your mate to leave my sister alone,” he said.
Amanda could feel her heart palpitate as her chest filled with jealousy. “Who’s your sister?”
“Ophelia.”
Amanda’s stomach filled with bile, just hearing that name. Amanda smirked as she shook her head. “Of course, she is, makes sense.” Amanda walked past Colson but didn’t get far before he grabbed her again by the arm.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he growled.
“Hey, get your hands off her.”
They heard a male voice say behind them. They both turned in the direction of the voice. “Is this guy bothering you?” The stranger asked when he got closer.
Amanda looked up at Colson with a lifted brow and a smirk on her face. “Yes, actually he is.”
Colson looked down at Amanda, his eyes narrowed. “This isn’t over.” And he walked away.
Amanda turned to the stranger. “Thank you.”
“Happy to help, the name’s Tristan.”
Fighting for my Mate
Mated to my Bully (Book 1)