Array
(
[text] =>
Chapter 28
A/N: Check out Lucas’s story ; ‘The criminal and The vigilante’ over on my profile. also check out Carson’s and Laken’s story: ‘What the alpha say..Goes which is also over on my profile.
~Rivers’ POV~
It was stupid and selfish of me to hold out the hope that Thomas would somehow come back to me after all this time. After all any old fool could see how in love he was with Grady, not only that but Grady was his soul mate, you didn’t just leave your soul mate for a past lover simply because he still harbored feeling for you.
I sighed and turned on my bed so that I could stare up at my ceiling. I was happy for them, really I was and with that, my mind brought back images of Thomas and Grady over the past few weeks. Their union was indeed a strange one but you could tell that they matched despite their differences-of which their were many- It was time I moved on.
It wouldn’t have worked out anyway. I had finally turned eighteen a few weeks ago and I had yet to find my mate but I had no doubt he was out there somewhere, waiting for me to claim him as my own.
I shifted again so that this time I was resting on my side, looking out my window at the starry night. I could feel him out there somewhere; I could feel the distant pull of something much greater than myself, the pull of another half of me that was missing, that I yearned for.
Ever since my eighteenth year, I could feel his soul calling to mine and I craved my mate’s presence. He was, for the moment far away but when the time was right I’d finally have him to myself.
I suppose this is what Thomas felt for Grady and the fact that they were together, possibly only heightened the feeling. I’d watched from a distance as they fought, as they moved as friends and finally as they moved as a pair. Then I’d watched up close as they pushed each other away and pulled each other closer and finally lived through each other.
On the surface they were as different from each other as the night was from the day but if you were lucky enough to experience their bond up close then you would really understand that it wasn’t the differences or similarities that really brought two souls together. No, it started with the heart and it ended with the heart.
So as I lay in bed, alone and lonely on such a cold and empty night and I found myself smiling because Thomas and Grady had taught me something that I’d been too narrow-minded to understand before and that is; that when it came to finding your one true mate there was no use in being impatient because when the time was right and the moment perfect, your better half would come to you and your life would change forever and for the better.
I turned away from the night sky and closed my eyes, falling into a deep sleep with a small smile playing on my lips.
…………………………………
~Carson’s POV~
It always pleased me to see a member of my pack happy and just by looking at him I could see that he was. Thomas was happy and in love, just as I was, and to think that only a few months ago he had been convinced Grady could never accept him as his mate. The fates certainly knew what they were doing.
They were both back to their usual cafeteria seat with their soccer crew, who was clearly glad to have them back. Grady sat in the centre of their table, feet and all, gesturing wildly as he spoke to the group, probably telling them a funny story because everyone around him was laughing as he went on.
I always marveled at his ability to draw in a crowd, getting his audience to hang on to his every word. A charmer is what he was and not for the first time I found myself thinking that if not for his impulsive nature he could have made a pretty good Alpha; well he could have been if he also wasn’t so irresponsible, a blatant party animal and the most important: a human, but that wasn’t the point here. The point was, Grady was truly one of a kind and I was glad my Beta had him in his life.
“Look at the way he’s looking at him.” Laken said beside me and I looked around at him.
“Who?” I asked following his eyes back to Grady’s group.
“Thomas, look at the way he’s looking at Grady, it’s so sweet.” Laken said with a smile and I nodded.
If anyone in this cafeteria chose to look at Thomas in that moment it left no doubt in my mind that he’d be found out. He was gazing at Grady as if he was the only man in the room, giving him his undivided attention. I could see his love for his mate in his eyes as he laughed along with the others at whatever Grady was saying.
“Omg! I can’t wait for the next gay couple to spring up! Gay guys are just the cutest!” Laken’s best friend Lyla said zealously as she looked at Thomas.
“Haha, Lyla you do realize that Matt is sitting right here right?” Laken asked her and she turned to look at her boyfriend but he was too busy biting into his pizza to notice.
We all laughed.
………………………………
~Grady’s POV~
Thomas was ignoring me.
I don’t know why he had the archaic belief that simply because we were sitting side by side in the same class we couldn’t text. He wasn’t a normal teen; not by a long shot.
So I tried again for what was probably the seventh time.
“I’m seriously getting sick of this woman’s voice” I typed and hit send. After which I looked at Thomas and watched as he read the message but chose not to reply. My eyes narrowed.
“Stop ignoring me.” I typed and hit send once more but this time he didn’t even look at his phone and I could tell he wasn’t really paying attention to the teacher even though he was looking right at her, so he had no excuse not to reply.
“Can I borrow a pen?” I typed a moment later and looked at him, eyes wide with innocence as he turned his head to appraise me with a bored expression, then he opened his mouth and said, rather than text back;
“Grady you’re sitting right beside me.” and I rolled my eyes.
“Mr. Gerard, it would do you well not to speak in my class.” The teacher said and I smirked.
Thomas only glared at me, flung a pen in my direction and turned back to the teacher. A guy behind me snickered.
“Which is why I sent a text dumbass.” I typed back and hit send.
I watched as he read it, took a deep breath and let it out slowly, but otherwise he chose not to respond.
I had the distinct feeling I was beginning to annoy him but it wasn’t my fault, really it wasn’t; I was just so bored and the lady at the front of the class was only making it worse.
Would it kill the principal to start hiring entertaining teachers? Or if that was too much to ask, how about some sexy ones because old and boring was just overkill in my estimation and to think, I once loved History. I sighed and dropped my head on the desk, holding the phone between my knees as I looked down to send yet another text.
“If I was drowning and the only way to save my life was for Thomas to text me in class, I’d die.” I typed and hit send.
In an instant Laken texted back. Now this was a guy who understood what it meant to have a phone.
“Lmao! Leave Thomas alone he’s trynna be a good student unlike his mate.” I read then shook my head.
“He’s not even paying attention, nobody can focus on this woman, she’s too damn boring, even Carson’s texting.” I typed then hit send.
I hadn’t even been lying either; across the room Carson sat texting while trying to be inconspicuous about it.
Beep
“Yeah I know, Carson’s texting me. He just asked me to ask you why you’re annoying Thomas lollol.” I read and looked over at Carson who was now looking at me and grinning.
“Tell him to text Thomas, maybe we can all annoy him.” I said and grinned wickedly at my phone as I sent the text to Laken.
Beep
“It’s on!” Laken had sent and sure enough a soft beep sounded and I watched as Thomas looked down at his phone, but to my chagrin, he actually started typing back with a grin plastered on his face.
The bloody bastard. Oh the injustice of it all.
“What’s so funny? Who you textin?” I typed and hit send then watched Thomas with narrowed eyes as he read my text and I could only glare at him when he put down the phone and continued to watch the teacher.
When the next beep sounded –which was probably from Carson- I watched in disbelief as he typed a message with not a care in the world and hit send.
Okay it was cool. The bastard wanted to play rough, then so be it.
“Thomas ignores me and texts you instead? That’s just wrong man.” I typed and hit send.
Then I leaned back in my chair so I could watch Carson across the room as he read my text, but to my surprise he put his phone down without replying, his eyes suddenly glued to the teacher.
The bitches were trying to play me. Oh how they’d learn. I thought evilly.
I typed one last message, this time to Laken and hit send.
“Don’t expect to have quality time with Carson after school today.” I typed
He responded in a second. “Why not?”
But rather than reply I shot up from my seat and all heads turned to me in surprise.
“I’m sorry Miss Caferry but I’m sitting here trying to focus on your Lesson which I’m sure you spent all night preparing so that I can better understand the complexities of the subject yet Thomas and Carson are just texting away and breaking my concentration.” I told her and just like that I had won.
I folded myself in my seat and watched with a satisfied smile as Thomas and Carson both looked at me in surprise.
“Thomas, Carson, phones now! And you have detention with me after school.” She said adamantly as she took their phones.
I guess it helped that I was her star pupil. She’d believe anything I said.
The boy behind me snickered again.
“I’m gonna kill you.” Thomas whispered and I rolled my eyes. Thomas was by far, the most fun person to annoy.
You just gotta love him. I thought, a grin breaking out on my face.
………………………………………..
~Thomas’ POV~
I let out a breath and watched as the smoke ascended then disappeared into the air. I’d gotten out of detention an hour ago and now I was waiting for him at the dirt track. He’d said he wanted to take his bike out for a spin as he usually did after school since he couldn’t actually ride it on the street yet. Not until he got it insured anyway.
He was late but I didn’t mind, sometimes I liked the solitude, it helped me think and today more than any other day I needed to calm my nerves and think about what I was about to do. It wasn’t everyday a man broke this kind of news to his boyfriend after all.
I took another puff of the cigarette and felt my muscles relax of their own accord. I had a right to be nervous. This might not end well after all considering this was Grady, who knew how he’d react.
When I heard a car door slam I dropped my cig and crushed it under my shoes, then turned to watch him wave goodbye to the girl who’d dropped him off. Then I casually pushed around some dirt with my shoes, burying the cig from sight.
I wasn’t sure he knew that I was smoking again and I didn’t want to risk him seeing me because then he’d get all concerned and start lecturing me on the dangers of smoking and all that fun stuff.
As I stood there however it didn’t occur to me until he was standing right in front of me that he would probably smell it on me, but if he did he didn’t let on, he simply looked me over with a grin and asked;
“How was detention?” and my eyes narrowed.
“I should really kill you for that.” I told him without malice but he winked and turned to his bike, looking it over to make sure everything was intact as he spoke.
“Actually death isn’t on my to-do list today so I guess you’ll have to do it some other time.” He said and I chuckled.
“Whatever, you planning to ride this junk all day or what?” I question, remembering the last time we were here. I’d had to watch for hours.
“You know, I really think you should buy a bike. We could race.” Grady said suddenly looking up at me excitedly and I snorted.
“Dude the bike’s dangerous enough without me giving you an incentive to kill yourself.” I told him and he gave me the ‘you’re such an idiot’ look before turning back to his prize.
“Figure I’ll be out here for about an hour or so. We have a party later remember?” he asked getting on the bike and starting the engine.
“Wait I thought you said you weren’t going to Joey’s party.” I said confused.
“No we’re going to Becca’s, she rented a club this time.” He told me then held out his hand toward me and waited.
I didn’t even have to ask what it was that he wanted. I just shrugged out of my black leather jacket and handed it to him.
“I don’t get why you need a leather jacket to ride a bike.” I stated as he took off his own hoodie and handed it to me.
“Dude it’s the principle of the thing.” He said simply and I laughed.
“You’ll look for any excuse to say that won’t you?” I asked.
He winked at me before he pulled on my jacket and before I could blink he was blazing down the track.
I sat watching him for about an hour and a half while simultaneously texting Rivers before he finally got his fill and came to a stop at my feet.
“Done?” I asked when he hopped off his bike and threw himself onto the ground beside me.
“I feel like I could eat a house.” He said with a yawn.
“I could cook you something when we get home.” I offered, reaching over to rub the smudge of dirt from his chin.
“But you can’t cook.” He said looking at me.
“What’s your point?” I questioned with narrowed eyes. The little devil should be glad I was offering my services.
“Is this about the detention thing because if you’re going to kill me I’d prefer if you didn’t do it with your cooking Thomas.” he said looking serious and we sat staring at each other for a second before we both burst out in laughter.
‘You’re a fucking moron, you know that?” I asked and he punched my arm.
“And that’s why you love me.” He teased and it was those words that caused the smile to leave my face.
I had almost forgotten that I had something important to tell him and as I thought about what I had to say, the nervousness came back in full force. Shit I needed a smoke.
“Hey you okay dude?” Grady asked in concern as he gripped my shoulder.
I’d just come out and say it, so what if he said no, it’s not like it would be the end of the world right?
“Uh…Thomas?” he questioned again, bending forward so he could see me face.
It’s now or never Thomas, man up!
“I love you and I want you to do the mating ritual with me on the next full moon.” I blurted out then watched as he looked at me first with a blank expression, then in confusion and finally with understanding.
“That’s what you were getting all hot and bothered for? Dude you know I love you too, if you wanted us to get married all you had to do was ask.” He said with a grin.
“This isn’t a marriage Grady, it’s the mating ritual that bonds two mates together for life, it’s nothing like human ceremonies.” I explained, though I couldn’t help but be relieved that he was taking the news so well.
“So where’s my ring?” was all he asked and I looked at him in disbelief. Didn’t he hear a word I just said?
“Don’t give me that look, if you were asking a girl you’d have to give her a ring.” He said and I dropped my head in my hand with a sigh.
I was mated to an idiot.
~THE END~
Feel Free to share your Thomas and Grady Fan Art so we can all fangirl over them!
AUTHOR’S NOTES
NB/// Keep in mind this is a series guys so whatever seems incomplete here will continue in the next book. Lucas’s story will be the last book in the series by the way 🙂
Rivers’ story will continue in The Criminal and the vigilante 🙂
THERE YOU GO GUYS. IT’S BEEN FUN AND I’M REALLY GONNA MISS MY FAVORITE BOYS THOMAS AND GRADY BUT HEY, THIS CERTAINLY WON’T BE THE LAST WE’LL SEE OF THEM JUST CHECK OUT MY NEW STORY : The Criminal and The Vigilante iIF YOU DON’T BELIVE ME. THAT STORY IS ALL ABOUT OUR DARLING LUCAS! Also check out my story “A Vampire’s Marine” If you do any fan art for any of my characters lemme know so we can all fangirl over them!
ENJOY!
-DoUbLe.A
-unedited.
[text_hash] => 0c71e273
)