Page 12 of Bullied Pregnant Mate

“Yeah,” I answer, not listening at all. My attention is fully on Alisa as she laughs and talks with the other girls, the lightseeming to get caught in the glowing threads of her gown and shimmering hair.

“My point is self-evident,” Kyle says.

“Hmm?” I ask, trying to come back to reality. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Bae says, shaking his head and laughing. “All I can say is, these things always go the right way. If your reaction is anything to go by, this looks like a match well-made.”

“Excuse me,” I say, putting my untouched drink on the table. “I have to go.”

As I turn and stride towards Alisa, I hear the guys chuckling behind me, but I don’t connect it with myself. All I can see is her beauty, her intrinsic strangeness. The biggest reason I fell for her.

And also, the reason I had to hide it.

She’s talking to Lucy and one of the other witches, smiling and laughing, but carrying that air of stillness to her.

It’s as if she moves outside of time. A being of pure magic.

As I get closer, my stomach twists, and it’s not all from guilt. She really does make me uncomfortable, I can’t deny that. Of all the witches, she’s the only one who truly unnerves me. And I know a lot of other people feel the same way about her.

I’ve never trusted witches. They think they have power above everyone else. They aren’t bound by werewolf laws.

Still, it wasn’t enough of a reason to torture her.

Pressing my lips together, I shake my head a little, wondering if I’ll ever be free of my guilt.

No, I tortured her because I knew I was in love with her, that she was the only mate for me in this world, and I refused to admit it.

I stop just outside the circle of girls, wondering how to break into the conversation gracefully. I have to get her alone and talk. Try to apologize, if I can.

It seems so ridiculous to me now that I couldn’t admit my feelings just because I had to be the big man at school. The coolest, funniest, and most popular guy.

I’m no jock. I couldn’t win popularity with sports like Bae and the others. I had so much shit going on at home, I couldn’t cope with taking a hit at school. So I made Alisa pay for all of my problems.

I’m just about to push through the girls when Carson appears at my shoulder.

“Good!” he exclaims. “You’re both here. It’s time for a wedding dance, you two.”

“What?” I ask, turning to Carson.

“We’ve got some tunes ready to go,” he says. “And everyone wants to see you guys take a twirl around before the rest of us join in. Come on, Alisa.”

Carson steps forward and takes her hand, getting her to step forward so he can reach for me and almost forcefully join our hands. The others pull away, and the music starts. There’s nothing else to do except wrap my hands around her waist and start to move.

With a slight frown, she reaches for one of my hands and links our fingers together, putting her other hand on my shoulder. As we spin, she puts a bit of space between us and squeezes me a little, like a warning.

“Aren’t I supposed to lead?” I ask.

“You certainly can,” she answers, her voice smooth and cold. “But you have to dance with me like a gentleman instead of getting your hands all over me.”

“I didn’t—”

“Oh, come on, Jenks,” she scoffs, shaking her head. “You think I don’t know your reputation? I know exactly who you are. You pull me in for a big, deep kiss on the altar, then your hands are all over me when we start dancing—”

“Okay,” I say firmly. “I understand, truly. I shouldn’t have kissed you like that. I just got carried away.”

“Like I said,” she answers, glaring at me with her beautiful, crystal eyes, “I know exactly who you are and what you get up to. Do you think I’ve forgotten a single second of high school?”

My guts drop, making my feet falter. Alisa grips my hand and shoulder, shoving us into another spin so I don’t fall over my own feet.

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