Chapter Twenty- Four

THEO POV

Walking through the forest, all I can hear is the sounds of Andrew’s gentle breaths. The sound of our footsteps in the fallen leaves is the only noise I can distinguish. I am trying not to let my heart thaw, as I hold the orange paintball gun he gifted me.

A stupid gift means nothing when he doesn’t love me back, and if he thinks it does, he’s naïve. Who does he think I am? ‘It is beautiful,’ Cerberus whimpers, my wolf already forgiving Andrew’s conflicted feelings. The weak bastard.

‘That doesn’t matter,’ I argue with the roll of my eyes. Can this lovesick pup be serious? ‘Repeat after me. We cannot be bought.’

‘No,’ he says assuredly, ‘you cannot be bought. I, however, am amenable to the arrangement.’

‘Your pathetic,’ I sneer, but a part of me can’t stop the thaw in my heart at how close he stands. His scent of eucalyptus and mint wafting into nose, making me dizzy. Even with the anger, and awkward silence,

“Are you going to ignore me all day?” Andrew questions, interrupting