CHAPTER 61: 61-IAN HAS A MATE AT HOME

Clementine:

"I will answer you as briefly as possible," Ian started off by giving us hope with a very gentle tone until he added, "No, you can take me to hell, but not to her pack," he stated. "Besides, why would I blow up my chance to return to my own pack for the sake of you guys? I’m already annoyed seeing all your faces. You think I’d give up the opportunity to avoid seeing your ugly faces for the next few days?" He was such a bitch, using the harshest tone he could muster to insult everyone. I watched Haiden’s veins start to pop in his biceps.

"Actually, it is kind of urgent," Haiden said, his head down, hand twisted, and fist resting on his thigh with his elbow raised.

"What kind of urgency is it?" Ian asked, probably enjoying the fact that everyone had to request something from him. He seemed to feel like the leader.

"I have someone back home my uncle wants me to marry, and I don’t want that. So instead of going back, I want to visit Clementine’s place to meet her father."

He was taking strange pauses, but once Haiden finished talking, I realized he had come up with the plan in haste, under Ian’s watchful eyes.

"What do you mean by you want to go meet her father? What for?" Ian asked. This time, his eyes were even more narrowed at Haiden.

And then, while he was watching Haiden, Haiden got up from his bed, came over, and sat right next to me. That wasn’t decided. It was never planned. But I guess it was the best he could do at the moment.

Then Haiden wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to his chest. He was on my left side, so I almost placed my hand on his crotch when he suddenly pulled me over. Thankfully, I didn’t. I grabbed onto his shirt instead to balance myself.

And honestly, his smell was so good. It was a rich scent, maybe perfume, or maybe just his natural body odor. But I instantly got a whiff in my nose. And since he was also my mate, the way he sat and pulled me close just made me melt. It melted my knees.

"What?" Ian asked.

"You know, we’re mates. I felt the mate bond with her the other night. And ever since then, I’ve only thought about her. So we decided tonight that we’re finally ready to give each other a chance."

All those words came out of Haiden’s mouth like a cursed melody. And even though I was so mesmerized by his scent, his words shook me awake. I looked at his face and then quickly looked down because I didn’t want Ian to pick up on my behavior and think we were lying.

"You want to accept her?" Ian asked, pointing at me.

I only raised my eyes to look at him, and I found his face contorted in a strange way, as if he was having a hard time believing it.

"Yeah. She’s my fated mate. And she’s definitely sexy and gorgeous. She’s fierce too, and she thinks about everyone so much. You know, when I was in the North, she could’ve just left, especially since I bother her so much. And despite us always saying she’s not trustworthy, actually, she was the one who showed me I could trust her."

I didn’t know what made Haiden say all that, but I slowly turned my head and watched him speak. He was looking straight at Ian, but I was watching him. Our faces were just a few inches apart, from how close he was holding me. And since he was such a big guy, I felt so tiny in his arms.

"Oh," I heard Ian say.

"So do you want to come with us?" Troy asked. Ian turned his head to him.

"We’re just doing this for Haiden," Yorick instantly added, so Ian wouldn’t feel like the change was happening too quickly for my sake.

"No," Ian said, shaking his head again.

"Why? Why can’t you do just that much for us? You were the one who lied about Sadie, and now she’s out there." Even Haiden controlled himself and looked down, clenching his fist.

I hated to feel it, but I felt jealousy. And just like I expected, even Ian picked up on it because he mentioned Sadie once again.

"Oh, so how did you fall for Clementine when you were already going after Sadie?"

Even I looked at Haiden’s face again, and since I was so close to him, I could see his jaw clench. So I guess Sadie was really a sensitive topic for him. Did he really love her?

"I was concerned for her. She was a good friend. That’s all I’ll say. Are you coming with us or not?" Of course, Haiden didn’t admit to anything. And the fact that she wasn’t pregnant by him, yet he was so invested in her life, just made me feel like there was probably more to the story. There was probably more between Haiden and Sadie.

"I cannot. Even if I wanted to, I cannot. I have to go visit my home," Ian said. This time, he didn’t sound arrogant. He sounded like he had something urgent to take care of as well.

"Can’t it wait until next time?" Haiden asked.

Ian shook his head. "No, it cannot. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a mate here. So I have to go back home to meet mine."

Ian’s words snapped our heads at him.

"You have a mate?" Yorick asked.

Ian gave a nod.

"Wait a minute. So you wanted to quit because you wanted to go home and be with your mate?" Troy asked, pointing at Ian.

Ian, once again, bit his bottom lip. He had a habit of chewing on his lips. While doing so, he blinked once and gave a small nod.

"So you were going to get us all in trouble for someone you left back at home?" Yorick got up, already hyped up.