Page 96 of Tainted Romance

I was past counting mine. "She wanted to talk to me today." I threw the empty can to the side, while pulling one out for myself and handing Taylor one.

"Who would have thought human Allie would like you and wolf Allie would hate you," Taylor grunted, sounding half amused.

"She never hated me."

Did she?

He gave me a deadpan look. "Fine, strongly disliked you then."

"Doesn't matter anymore anyway, as she and I are finished." I had been told those words, and I had said them a million times over, but still, I didn't believe my future or my chance with Allie was completely finished. Was it wrong to cling to an impossible dream?

"She's really turned the heat up too," Taylor continued the conversation I would very much like to end. "Did you see those shorts today? Swear every bloke made excuses to walk past her."

I was about to throw a rant his way when Ebony stepped in and threw a can at his head. "Shut up, would you?"

Taylor rubbed his forehead. "Since when are you defensive about Allie."

Since she found her mate, I thought to myself.

"I'm sick of talking about her. Wasn't the whole point of us wiping her memories to forget about her, not bring her up every second?"

"But those shorts…"

I growled at Taylor.

"Fine, I'll drop it," he huffed, and stuffed a mouthful of chips in his mouth.

***

Just had to get through the day. Surely, I could avoid her for one day. I had been tormented by her all day yesterday.

Today I wouldn't be keeping an eye on her.

Today I wouldn’t let her scent suffocate the words and willpower from me.

I was still in the middle of the pep talk I was giving myself when my eyes landed on her.

It's fucking official - she is going to be the death of me.

She was wearing a tight summer-white dress that flowed out above her knees. Her beautiful locks were curled and swinging freely down her back, but it was the wide grin on her face that she was giving some bloke I'd never seen before that finally did it.

A hand gripped my upper arm stopping me just before I went charging over there.

"Reel it in, mate. Remember what your dad said." Taylor gave me a sad smile, before letting go of my arm and walking off.

Fate would have it that Allie glanced in my direction, catching my strong glare. I saw the shock fill her eyes and her expression twist with sadness a short moment before she continued the conversation with the boy I didn't know.

I felt a sting of guilt immediately. I shouldn't have been glaring at her like that, as it wasn't her fault that I was filled with this frustration.

***

Shopping.

It wasn't something I enjoyed or wanted to do, but when you are running out of clothes, it isn't like you have an option.

I held up two printed t-shirts, both of which weren't appealing to me.

For a shopping mall that promoted having something for everyone, they were really failing to deliver.