"The Fall Solstice is on the 23rd of September…" Gad had told her when she came to visit him and Cole.
The 23rd which meant one week away, a week to break the curse because today was also her birthday she mused unhappily as Meredith gave a surprise one-armed hug.
"It's okay, Caroline," The brunette had said. "We'll figure this out together. And you're aunt's already working on something right?"
Caroline had said yes but was still unsure.
Cole had come over and kissed her on the cheek, stroking her hair as she leaned on his shoulder. She was comforted for a minute but only a minute.
She was so unsure that she kept worrying about it all the way to Tyler's house. She drove into the driveway half unsure and half sure because she really shouldn't be there. She shouldn't be going there right after seeing her boyfriend who didn't know about her visiting Tyler.
But there she was anyway so tough luck on how she planned on explaining to the warlock why she went there.
She heaved a big sigh as she went over to the front door, ringing on the doorbell as her stomach quivered with butterfly-induced cramps. Tyler opened it and stared at her in astonishment as she beamed so widely at him it almost looked like a grimace.
"Hey Tyler!" She greeted awkwardly. She shouldn't be acting so bubbly after their last encounter but she didn't know any other way to act. He just stared at her like she was an alien.
"Hello," He said slowly in return and opened the door wider. "Would you like to come in?"
She nodded and walked into the home she'd always dreamed would be her own since the first time when she was four. She'd even made a promise to herself that she would end up owning this house someday no matter what it took. She guessed marrying Tyler had been an option but she'd been to naïve at the time to really understand her choices.
How was she to know she'd end up mated to him someday? And wasn't that like marriage already?
"Would you like a drink?" Tyler, ever the gracious host, asked her and she agreed to a water.
She was incredibly nervous and she was thirsty after the car ride.
He handed her a glass as she sat on the bar stools at the counter. Just like the rest of the house, the kitchen was gorgeous and she remembered her childhood daydreams.
"So, what are you here for?" Tyler asked as he went around the counter, leaning on the side of it as he crossed his arms over his chest with a lack of anything to do.
She took a big gulp of her water before answering. "I came to apologize."
He was quiet and that prompted her to continue.
"About the other night, some of the things I said weren't very nice," She explained. "And I'm apologizing for whatever hurt I caused you."
He stood there looking flabbergasted before the largest grin broke out on her face. "What made you feel so guilty all of a sudden?" He was smug, that bastard. "Is something influencing you?"
She felt a small part of her break with indignation and blushed. "Yeah, this stupid werewolf mating voo doo,"
Some side of her had been very adamant that she apologized, some crazy magic in her veins that forced her to make things right with Tyler lest he suffer for what she said at that party. Werewolf mating voo doo her ass, she thought maybe Tyler had more weapons up his sleeve than she knew.
He just kept grinning and went closer to her until he was just a foot away from where she was sitting. "Apology accepted."
"Great, now that that's over and done with. I have to go." She stood up to leave but he stopped her, grabbing her arm and keeping her still.
"Wait," He said and she froze like a beagle on command.
"What?" She prompted when he didn't say anything for a while.
Then he pulled her closer until her head rested on his chest and he pulled her into the warmest, most heartwarming hug she'd ever experienced.
"What are you doing-"
"Sshh! Just for a second, please." His lips descended at her temple and he kissed her there soundly for a moment before he started trailing down her cheek and then to her lips. She stood there eyes wide open and completely shocked as he kissed her, softly and fully until she could barely breathe.
The kiss ended as it began and he pulled away looking into her blue eyes like she was the most beautiful thing in the world. "You should know before you make decisions about our mating, I'm completely in love with you. Ever since you threw that rock at me when we were four years old, I've been mad about you." He sighed, cupping her cheek. "If you could only know just how much I care about you…but you're with Chevalier and there's nothing I can do about it."
He pulled away from her taking a step back and she wanted to follow him, to be back in his arms and kissing him again. The other side that hated him was strangely quiet, mollified.
"Happy birthday, Caroline." He told her before he turned and walked away.
She was left there, confused and most of all longing after him.
Three more chapters including the epilogue! Woot!
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