CHAPTER FIVE - A PIECE OF NEWS

Jayla

Gulping, I turn around to see Tyler standing there with a signature smirk on his face. My heart starts beating fast and I throw a panicked glance at the door. It was locked. And Tyler was standing in front of it like a freaking guard dog.

Dammit.

I try to push him aside. "Move, I want to go out!" I say but he doesn't even budge.

Instead he grabs my arms and pins me beside the wall. I gasp and start struggling against his hold. What's with him and pinning me against walls?

"What is your problem? Let go of me! I don't want to talk to you!"

He growls and just tightens his hold. "Stop struggling!"

I don't. Instead I start struggling even more. "Let go of me, Tyler. You're hurting me!" I cry, tugging my arms from his hold.

His eyes softens immediately and he lets go of my arms. Instead he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me flush against his body.

I'm so close to him again. The faint line of the closet casts a shadow on his face and I notice how beautifully thick and long his eyelashes looks. I'm transfixed. Again.

This is the first time you've said my name," he whispers. I feel his warm breath on my face and blush.

It starts from my neck all the way up to my cheeks, till I'm sure my face is burning like no tomorrow. His thumb runs across my cheek as he caresses my skin and I close my eyes, leaning towards him.

"I just want answers," he whispers. "Are you really going out with him?"

My eyes open and I look at him indifferently. Is he dumb? "That's none of your business," I say. "You yourself said at the party that you hate me and that you will have nothing to do with me. Did you forget that?"

His eyes hardens and he clenches his jaw. "But that doesn't change the fact that you're my mate," he growls out, emphasising on the words 'my mate'.

I feel a tug in my heart when he says it but I ignore that. My heart needs to be tamed. "So?" I say challengingly, crossing my arms across my chest.

"What you do mean by 'so'?" he asks frustratedly and I smirk, enjoying his misery. "I mean so what if you're my mate?"

He gives me a stern look. "This is not funny, okay? You know what it means."

"Really? Do I?"

He growls in frustration and once again pins me against the wall with both of his hands on either side of my body.

"Yes, you do," he whispers, his face dangerously close to mine.

I suck in a deep breath when his fingers touch my lower lip. He rubs his thumb over it and speaks. "I won't like to see you with other guys. I won't allow it. You're mine. They're not allowed to touch you in any way." The last line comes out as a growl and I gasp in shock.

"But he's my best friend!" I reason, ignoring the tingles in my body that approves him calling me his.

He shoots me a are-you-kidding-me look. "Oh, really? Are you sure about it?"

I nod and he groans. "Fuck! You have to be blind to not see how that guy looks at you. It's like you're the centre of his universe or something. And if you act like this, it will just fuel his desires and motives. Do you think I don't notice? He was all over you today. And I won't allow that. You're my mate. Not his!"

I'm seething by the end of this. "You have no right to order me around like this!" I scream, pushing him away. I suddenly feel suffocated by him.

I continue. "You're my mate too, but did that stop you from going out with every other whore out there?" I ask accusingly. "No? Then you can't stop me about going out with someone, too."

I'm breathing heavily now. My chest moves up and down due to my temper but he doesn't take it the way I want him to.

Instead of saying he is sorry, he smirks at me triumphanty and a smug look comes over his face. "Are you jealous?" he asks, and I almost slap him right there and then.

I clench my jaw. "No," I say confidently.

I duck in between his arms and successfully wriggle my way out of his hold. I unlock the door with my wolf speed and escape as fast as I can.

I can hear him calling my name from behind but I don't turn around. I don't turn around because my face is tear streaked now.

The fact that he didn't deny rejecting me didn't go unnoticed by me.

***

I park my bike in the garage and walk inside my home.

"I'm home," I whisper lowly.

I take a quick glance at the mirror to confirm I don't look like I was crying. I don't want to worry my parents.

It's funny how when we're kids, we want our parents to know that we're crying. But as we grow up, we hide it from them. We try to lick our wounds alone. What makes us do this? It's something I've never understood.

"Jayla!" myy mom's voice says from inside the kitchen and she comes out rushing.

"Oh my God, Jayla! You're home! You're a whole ten minutes late! Are you okay? Did something happen? Did you eat properly? Is everything thing okay? Oh God! Why aren't you answering!" she gushes, hugging me and fussing about my late arrival

I chuckle at her and my insides warms up at the affection. I shake my head and give her hand a squeeze. "I'm okay," I say.

I'm not but she smiles, convinced. She nods and goes back to the kitchen to get me something to eat.

On the way though, she turns around and says, "Oh, and I forgot to tell you something, honey."

"Yeah?" I ask.

"There's a party at the pack house tomorrow. Your father and I got an invitation. I don't think I'll be able to go, but he wants you to attend it."

I frown. "What is this party for?" Or in other words, who is this party for?

Mother smiles. "Remember Gamma Morgan?"

I nod, my body filling with pride and respect for the one who laid down his life for our pack and it's safety. "Of course. How can anyone forget him?" I say, my head slightly bowed in respect.

Her smile turns into a grin. "Well, his son has trained fully in Texas and is coming back tomorrow to take over the Gamma position as a legacy and responsibility."

My eyebrows shoot up. "You mean..."

"Yes, Shane is coming back!" she exclaims happily and claps her hands. "I can't wait to be able to call him over for dinners after tomorrow's party! It will be just like old times!"

She keeps gushing about how we might be mates and how excited she is to meet him again, but I tune her out as my mind tries to process the newfound information.

Shane Morgan, the Gamma heir and my childhood crush is coming back for good. Mom knows how big of a crush I used to have on him. He is two years older than me, but ever since he saved me from bullies in elementary school, I was a goner.

He is the only boy I've ever liked and my only crush till he left three years ago to train, after his father's death. He loved his father more than anything and anyone. He looked up to him. And that's the reason why his death killed a part of Shane forever.

Suddenly, the fun-loving, happy go lucky guy I used to know turned cold and serious. It was like the harsh reality of life slapped on his face and he was determined to avenge his father's death and work for the pack with the same passion as his father.

In no time, he left for training and never looked behind. I never saw him after that. I know he didn't forget our friendship, he just chose the pack responsibilities over everything else and for that, I respect him.

My crush for him has faded over the years. I grew up. But now he's coming back. And I'm worried.

Just when I thought this couldn't get worse.