Chapter 16 Avery
avery
I didn’t mean to fall asleep but my nest at home is now devoid of Declan’s scent and this one is so much more comfortable with him beneath me.
I haven’t been sleeping well either, trying to keep my wits about me and failing.
Milo’s noticed, hell, Sienna’s noticed and with all the rumors swirling, I’m falling apart.
And not in a good way.
I shoot up out of bed, panicking as I scramble around for my phone. It’s dead, Declan already on his feet as he drags me halfway across the campus to his bike. “Alpha,” I whine, unsure of what awaits me at home.
He cups my face in his hands, rubbing his nose against mine.
“Breathe, Avery. Whatever happens, you still have me, okay? I should have made you go home. Fuck.” I tell him that it’s not his fault but he’s already handing me a helmet and helping me onto the back of his bike before he speeds down the street.
It’s not fast enough. I was supposed to be home hours ago and even if Declan drops me off down the street, Dad’s still going to know. I smell like a whole damn forest.
The look of disappointment on my father’s face as we drive up is exactly what I expected but the anger on his and Lila’s faces is new. I know they didn’t want us together but now I’m terrified as Declan helps me off his bike, Lila frowning at us.
“Inside, both of you.”
We’re herded into the kitchen like a bunch of children, Lila standing by the kitchen counter as she addresses me. “Avery, you’re going to ruin Declan’s career before it’s even started!” she growls. “Sneaking around, causing scandals—do you know what people are saying?”
“Wait, what?” I blurt out before I can stop it. That’s what her concern is?
Declan scoffs, stepping in front of me. I gladly take his hand in mine and rest my forehead against his back as he speaks to Lila. “So, now we care about my career? Because you didn’t before, Mom. Funny how that works.”
Dad slams a hand on the counter, his voice booming through the open layout. “Enough! This isn’t happening. We said it before that you’re not allowed to date. End of story.”
The problem is that I tried for a minute to follow Dad’s words.
I told myself I’d be good and then Declan approached me in the hallway and I folded.
I’m not giving him up and this next revelation might break us all.
Slowly, I step up to Declan’s side, bringing his hand to my lips.
“Dad, he’s my mate. We aren’t just fooling around.
Maybe that’s how it started but it’s not that now. ”
Dad’s face hardens, a growl permeating his next words. “Then you can do that outside of my house because I’m not going to have my son fooling around with his brother.” The kitchen goes silent, tears welling up in my eyes.
“But Dad?” I whisper, hoping he’ll take it back. He can’t mean that. He can’t make me choose.
He shakes his head. “You’re not together under my roof. I didn’t bring him here so you could seduce him or vice versa. He’s meant to be your brother, Avery. Why couldn’t that be enough?” His disappointment cuts deeper than Lila’s anger, and I’m sobbing now, my vanilla scent sour with hurt.
I’ve never seen him that way. Not once.
Silence filters in, the three of us in a standoff until Declan breaks it.
“If you’re going to throw him out, then I’ll take responsibility for him.
He’s mine and I’m not letting him go.” He looks at me, his dark brown eyes soft with love and concern.
And then he’s guiding me toward the stairs.
“Grab what you need for a week or two and we’ll figure the rest out later. You’re going to stay with me.”
I have a dorm but I wouldn’t stay there alone if given the choice.
I’d much rather be in Declan’s room so I don’t argue as we climb.
I grab a bag and start stuffing clothes, my phone charger, and a few books inside, my hands shaking.
“I didn’t expect this,” I cry, zipping it up.
“I thought… I thought they’d understand, eventually.
I didn’t think he would tell me to leave. ”
Declan pulls me into his arms, holding me there until I settle.
“Avery, listen to me. This isn’t easy for them but I can tell you one thing.
Your father loves you very much and I hope that in time, he’ll see that.
He’ll see that he’s made a mistake telling you to leave when he could have embraced you instead. ”
“And Lila?”
He stiffens against me and then blows out a deep breath. “Mom and I were never as close as you and your father were. I don’t expect her to ever get on board with this. She found her happy ending with Henry and to her, I’m ruining it.”
I pull away, looking up to see the hurt in Declan’s eyes and a tear running down his cheek. My father’s words hurt him too. His mother’s dismissal cut him deep. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper, reaching up to brush the tear from his skin.
He takes my thumb, wet from his tear and pressing a kiss to it. “I’m not. I’m not trading you, pretty boy. You’re mine and one day, I hope to make it official. Now, let’s get going before Mom decides to start throwing actual things instead of words.”