My Human Mate novel Chapter 55

"Alana!" Tanner whined like a two year old at me. "You've been moping around for days and you're not telling me why!" he complained. "Let's go do something." He suggested.

"I'm not in the mood," I grumbled at him, burring myself even further into the doona. I heard an exasperated sigh come from Tanner as he stood at my bedroom door, peering in on me.

"You've been saying that all week." He groaned, sounding fed up. "What happened Alana?" he asked softly, his voice full of concern.

I shook my head, not bothering that he more than likely couldn't see me from hiding under my doona like a protection shell, blocking me from the outside world.

It was pretty obvious to myself that rejecting Michael had me so down, but it's not like I can tell Tanner that. Yes I can say that I broke up with someone and I'm missing him like crazy but then he would pry into and try to get every bit of gossip about it. This was something that I didn't want to talk about, best friend, non-related brother or not.

The pull was gone, I no longer felt as if I needed to be near Michael any more but it's like I missed that feeling. I felt empty in a way. This sounds stupid but Michael was a part of me. Always invading my thoughts and feelings but now there was nothing but an empty space that he used to occupy. I know the bond is broken and I feel as if nobody will want me like he did previously.

It was selfish of me to reject him, but I felt obligated to protect myself. I wasn't going to let myself die at the age of 23 by some crazy person who hunts werewolves. I wanted to die from natural causes or by doing something I love, even if it means giving up someone who I really, really enjoyed spending time with.

We hadn't talked for the 6 days. They had come and gone like always but they days went by much slower than usual. I went home and cried after leaving Michael on the beach. The mark on my neck had disappeared. I inspected myself after my shower to find the mark gone. There was no sign of it ever being on my neck. It hadn't been there for a very long time but I missed it like crazy. I now had nothing to do with him, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it.

All I knew was I just missed Michael.

I heard Tanner shuffling and dodging around everything on my floor as he made his way over to my bed. Still not moving from my current position, I just stared into the grey and white design on the doona cover.

I only blinked once when Tanner gently peeled my protection back. I was met with big worried eyes, and I felt bad for making him feel concerned for a matter he wouldn't control or help in.

"Alana," he gently cooed. "Blake's home in two weeks and you haven't even attempted cleaning this room. It's a fucking obstacle course to get to this bed." A small smile appeared on my face and he seemed to have noticed because a knowing look appeared on his face. "Look, I've broken out into a sweat." He gasped, wiping away imaginary sweat from his forehead.

He fake panted and fanned his face dramatically which I couldn't help but laugh to.

"Or maybe you're sweating because its 40 degrease today (Celsius to any non-Australian readers)." I joked half-heartedly.

Tanner approved of this because a grin broke out on his face. "There's the Alana I love. Now get up, get dressed. It's fucking boiling and we are going to the beach. I'll buy you an ice-cream on the way home if you behave."

"Thanks dad," I mocked him.

"Just be a good girl and I'll let you get some sprinkles as well," he played along, petting my head and kissing my cheek with a wet and sloppy kiss."

"That's just gross," I muttered and shoved him arm. He had ended up half laying half sitting next to me and the action caught him by surprise. He went tumbling down to the ground and landed with a heavy thud.

"My abs," he groaned. "My perfectly toned abs. I landed on," he paused and shuffled around slightly.

"What the fuck is this?" he questioned curiously holding up what he just fell on top of.

"A laptop charger," I chuckled.

That must have been really painful, I thought to myself.

It was an unknown number.

Sighing and seeing the time as 2:17 in the morning, I declined the call and placed the phone next to me on the mattress. I closed my eyes and went back to sleep. Whoever tried to call me could wait until tomorrow, or realise they have the wrong number.

Not even 5 seconds later, my phone was ringing again. "Fuck off," I muttered sleepily and declined the call once again. Hopefully they should get the message.

The ring tone started once more and I felt pissed off. Why the hell would someone call so early in the morning? There is such thing called sleep.

I angrily accepted the call. "What do you want?" I groaned, the words coming out slightly harsher than I intended them to

"Alana, glad I have you on the line." My heart almost stopped beating and I felt my blood run cold.

"R-Reece," I stuttered. "Alpha Reece, ahh." I didn't know how to address him. We had been friends when I went to his place and I was asked to call him Reece, but now I had rejected someone he considered a brother I wasn't sure he would be too pleased with the informalities.

"You need to come to Apollo Bay right now." He stated getting to the point straight away. "Michael needs you."

My heart beat increased at his name. Was he okay? Why did he need me? I thought that after the bond broke we wouldn't want to see each other again.

"In case you haven't heard, I rejected him. We're not mates anymore." I said to him. The words were supposed to be angry, but they came out sounding more upset than anything else.