My Human Mate novel Chapter 50

17 minutes later I pulled into the parking lot. My hands were shaking from nerves and I was breaking out in a sweat.

What if he doesn't believe me? I kept asking myself.

The cut was hidden from my hair, but no matter how much of Emily's concealer and powder stuff that I borrowed from her wouldn't hide the fact that my skin wasn't the colour it should be.

Taking a deep breath I got out of the car and locked it, making my way to the spot we decided on meeting. It was in public which was my plan. Nobody could make a scene if he didn't believe my story. But it was right down the end where not as many people went. It was our spot, right near the picnic tables we had our first date on.

I walked slowly over to the end wall and there he was, checking his watch and staring out to the ocean. Suddenly his eyes snapped over and met mine. I nervously waved, but relaxed as soon as I saw him smile at me.

Maybe I'm panicking for no reason, I thought to myself as I walked over. We were about 2 meters away from each other when his smile dropped and turned into a frown.

"What's on your face?" he asked looking concerned. He closed the distance and his thumb slowly traced over the bruise, softly caressing it and making me lean into his touch.

God I had missed him.

"I fell over and wacked my face on the bench," I lied through my teeth and directly to his face, happy how my voice didn't break or shake.

"Where?"

"Work."

He slowly nodded his head but pinned me with his gaze which was turning from concerned to slightly angry.

"How stupid do you think I am?" He questioned and immediately my heart dropped. His touch left my face and I took a cowardly step back from him.

He knew.

"And you have the nerve to lie about it too, straight to my face." He stated. I couldn't tell if his eyes held hurt or anger, but I was certain that it was both.

"Lie?" I questioned meekly.

"Fucking hell Alana!" He yelled. "Some man fucking hurt you and you didn't tell me about it?!" he exclaimed, raising his voice noticeably. "What the hell type of mate am I if you don't tell me these things."

"My job is to protect you," he said lowering his voice. "I'm not fucking magic, you have to help me out sometimes."

By now my throat and mouth were dry and I was at a loss for words. What could I possibly say to make this better? What could I do to not make myself look like a tool? And how to apologise without actually telling him and getting him hurt?

"Well?" he hissed. "Who was it?"

I opened my mouth to speak but I couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself to tell him and for his life to be at risk. He looked at me expectantly, as if he was daring me to lie again, so I took him up on the dare.

"I don't know who it was," I say quietly, my voice breaking slightly.

My chin was lifted to look into his eyes and they were slowly fading. "I care about you to Alana."

"How'd you find out?" I asked quietly.

"When I marked you, one of the things that happens is we can feel some of each other's emotions if we try to."

He paused letting it sink in. "I felt you were scared and hurt and I wasn't sure why. I rid it off as you falling over and breaking something because you're the clumsiest person I know." Even in the serious moment he had time to laugh slightly through his nose. It sounded like he huffed slightly but I knew him well enough to know that's what his laugh is like in public.

"Then the feeling of worry set in, and it stayed. It wouldn't go away so I went to your work. That skinny kid, Lenard or some shit, told me what happened." At that moment I didn't know how to feel.

I didn't want to correct him and say it was Lenny, I didn't want to ager him anymore. Why would Lenny tell him when I specifically told him not to tell anyone? I had my reasons and he should have respected it.

I was still wrapped in Michael's arms with my arms around his torso when I felt him slightly pull away. I looked up at him to see him already looking down on me, towering over me from our height difference.

"Who did it?" he questioned.

I let out a shaky sigh. "Do you remember a Richard Coleman?"

Michael's face went pale.