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“Thanks.” I smile at him, but it’s half hearted.
I’ll never fit in here. I’m different—different thananyother supernatural creature. I shouldn’t even be alive. I died.Twice.
Will leaves, shutting the door behind him. Parker doesn’t say a word after Will leaves and we both stand there in complete silence. I have no idea what to say to him.
Parker touches my arm, so I dare to look into his blue eyes.
“I, uh, kissed you.”
“And I kissed you back.”
He grins.
“But then you told me that this,” I point between us, “can’t happen. So unless that has somehow changed, I should probably go home.”
Parker’s lips slowly turn down. “Henley, I want this so bad. More than I’ve ever wanted anything. If I could choose my mate, I would choose you. But we can’t. My parents would never allow it. Neither would your dad. It’s bad enough that I kissed you. Because I know you’ll regret it someday. When you meet your mate, you’ll wish it had never happened.”
I shake my head, denying it. “That’s not true. I could never regret kissing you. And if I have a mate, and he doesn’t like it, then fate is wrong.”
Parker sighs. “You just don’t understand. This is the way we are. This is the way things are done in our world.”
It’s just the way things are? Why does that sound like something Will would say and not Parker?
“Your world, not mine.” I cross my arms over my chest, taking a step back from Parker.
“You’re a part of my world, Henley.”
“No, I’m not. I’m not a wolf shifter. We’re not even the same species.”
Parker opens his mouth and then closes it. Whatever he was going to say dies on his lips. He knows he can’t argue against what I said because it’s the truth.
“We can still be friends,” Parker says. “I will still give you rides to school and help you. But we’ve crossed the line of just friends a few times. We can’t do that anymore.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I lick my lips. “I’ll ask Blaine or Will to give me a ride.”
Parker flinches and I almost feel bad about saying that. But I know it’s for the best. Deep down, he knows too.
I look into Parker’s blue eyes and I know what I have to do.
“Unless you change your mind, I can’t be friends with you anymore.” I stand up straighter at my decision. “Because it hurts too bad to be around you and not be with you.”
Parker shakes his head. “You don’t mean that.”
“Yes, I do.” I don’t break eye contact as I say the next part. “I was falling in love with you, Parker.”
His eyes widen at my confession.
I continue talking before he can say anything. “You were right when you said that this can’t happen. We can’t be together. You have a soulmate waiting for you. And I hope that when you meet her, you forget all about me.”
“No. Henley, don’t do this.” His eyes fill with tears.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I have to. It’s not just for me. It’s for you too. Because you’re too nice to do it. You don’t want to hurt me.”
He shakes his head.
“Goodbye, Parker. I’ll see you around.”
I walk toward his door. I want to turn around and look at him one last time, but I can’t. Just as I go to open the door, his hand pushes against it.
