Independent She-wolf novel Chapter 29

He then pressed his lips to my forehead. "I could get used to falling asleep next to you," he told me.

"Mmm," I mumbled as I rested my head on his chest.

His soft laughter and goodnight was the last thing I heard before drifting into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.

The next morning I woke up to an empty bed. My first thought was that I was at home. But then, Jace's scent and the memory of the day before came back to me.

Oh no. My breaths started to come in raggedy and such. Dead. My parents were dead. I might be leaving town. Katie, the band and... Jace.

Then I remembered him and what happened last night. Where was he? Slowly, I got up and left the room. I followed his scent to the kitchen, where he was sitting down, eating and watching the news on a little television on the counter top in the corner. He turned when I came in.

I went over and sat in his lap. He put his arms around me and curled me into a ball. "I have to go home soon," I said.

He whimpered. "Why?" he frowned.

"Um... well, I kind of ran out on Ryan last night. Which made him have to tell the twins alone. I want to help him make some arrangements and talk to him about moving in here," I told him.

"Okay," he said. "But eat first and then I'll drive you back." He threw me his sweatshirt and I put it on. "Arriving home in a tank top in the middle of the fall would be suspicious," he chuckled.

I nodded and went to go to the cabinet to find some bread.

"See? It's like you live here already," he smiled at me.

Like any other teenage girl would, I rolled my eyes. "Whatever," I said as I started to make toast. "I mean I figured you wouldn't get off your ass and do it for me."

"So the true colors are coming out, Danielle Cameron."

"I've never hidden my true self, Jace Broderick," I countered. "If I have something on my mind, I say it. I don't hold back."

"So, I have noticed," Jace said in a lively tone. "Can I see you later tonight?"

"No," I said. "I need to stay with my family tonight."

"Not even to sleep?" he pouted.

"I'm not leaving my house."

"What if I come there?" he asked.

What kind of a relationship do we have anyway? We're werewolves for god's sake. Then again, we're also mates. So where exactly do things stand? Now that we were destined to spend the rest of our lives with one another, and all.

"Goodbye," I said and turned away. I jiggled the door handle and groaned. "Come on, Jace. Just let me out! I said goodbye."

Jace smirked, again for the hundredth time. I really just wanted to wipe that smirk off his face. Preferably with my mouth, but hey, I have desires, too.

"You didn't kiss me goodbye," he said.

"I swear you have a multiple personality disorder," I muttered as I leaned in to give him, what I planned, a quick kiss. Jace wouldn't have that. He locked his arms around my waist and held me against him. I sighed through the kiss and wrapped both arms tightly around his neck.

This was the best goodbye ever!

Then he abruptly cut it off, opened my door, and pushed me out of the car. "See you later, love," he winked.

As he drove off, I stood there shocked. What a jerk! Oh, he was so going to pay for this. That was just plain mean. You can't just kiss a person like that and drive off! Such a tease.

The house was quiet and I entered it timidly. I wondered where my brothers were. Then, Ben ran over to me and put his arms around my waist. He hugged me tightly and I hugged him back. Though he was thirteen and thought it was girlie, he cried. "You were gone," he mumbled. "I thought you died like Mom and Dad."

My heart broke at that. It seemed the death of my parents brought us all closer. I couldn't help the moisture that leaked from my own eyes. Ben looked at me. "Don't ever think that, Ben. I'm fine. It's just... I don't handle these things well."