Chapter 98

Matt

As soon as Matt had been far enough away from Jack, he had shifted and backtracked. He was faster in wolf form so not much time had passed since they had parted. He was able to clearly see Jack pull out the lie detector.

Matt watched from the shadows as Jack ran off after him. He should have been able to see this coming. Jack’s paranoia knew no bounds. Matt had been able to smell the device on him as soon as he got out of the car. There was no going back now.

Jack knew the truth. He knew that Matt had feelings for Celeste. Perhaps not the depth of his feelings, but that obviously didn’t matter. He’s seen how Jack eyed the gun. He was actively hunting him right now.

Matt would have to wait until Jack calmed down. There would be no talking to him when he was like this. At least Matt hoped he would be able to talk to him. The best outcome would be that they were no longer friends.

The worst outcome would be one of them dies and it sure as hell wouldn’t be Matt. If he could just convince Jack that he wouldn’t act on his feelings, that would be a start. It might be enough.

But Matt knew he wasn’t being totally honest with himself. He would act on his feelings at one point or another. It was getting harder and harder to resist Celeste. Especially after what happened with Alyx the other night.

Matt had been so worried when Celeste hadn’t come to school the next day or the day after that. It had now been three days since he last saw her and it was driving him insane. He needed to know she was okay.

He had tried to call her, but she wasn’t picking up the phone. And every time he tried to approach Fiona at school, she’d give him the cold shoulder. He couldn’t exactly blame her. He had broken her best friend’s heart. What Fiona didn’t know was that his own heart was broken as well.

The only thing he had learned was that she hadn’t left her room at all. Jack had been complaining about the wailing coming from her room at random times during the night. All Matt wanted to do was have her in his arms, but he knew she wouldn’t want that right now.

It’s not like Jack would let him in the house anyway. The whole thing was a moot point. And now there was an even bigger complication. If Matt wanted anything to do with Celeste, he would have to talk to Jack first.

Matt prowled just behind Jack, keeping a safe enough distance so that he wouldn’t get caught. After about thirty minutes had gone by and Jack couldn’t find him, Jack finally stopped jogging.

He was breathing heavily. Matt watched as the anger and frustration reached a boiling point and Jack punched the brick wall in front of him. Several times. Matt smelled blood in the air. He whined. If he could smell it, so could others.

Shifting back, Matt dressed quickly and cautiously walked over to Jack. He kicked a pebble and the noise brought Jack’s head up. The gun was pointed at him before he could even take another step.

“Jack, don’t do this,” Matt said, immediately stopping, hands up in surrender. He didn’t want to trigger Jack in any way.

Jack narrowed his eyes. His grip on the gun tightened and his stance became steadier. Matt watched as all emotion left Jack’s face. Standing in front of him wasn’t his best friend, but a killer. He had to be very careful.

“I know you lied to me,” Jack said without preamble. There was no emotion in his voice either. “How could you? She’s my sister.”

“Jack, listen to me. I’m sorry that I lied. I’m sorry that I have feelings for Celeste. I can’t help it. But I swear to you that I haven’t broken my promise. I haven’t touched her,” Matt pleaded, eyes watching for any sign that Jack was going to pull the trigger.

If Jack did, he’d have to move faster than he wanted to. He’d have to expose himself. And then it really would be a fight to the death. Jack hated werewolves the most. He’d never told Matt the reason for it, but did it matter?

“And? You’re telling me that you don’t want to?” Jack asked incredulously, raising an eyebrow.

Matt sighed. He didn’t see any point in trying to lie about it. They would both know it wasn’t true. “Of course I want to, but I gave you my word that I wouldn’t touch her.”

What Matt didn’t say is that he intended on breaking that promise. But he figured it would be fine as long as he could continue to skirt around it. As long as he didn’t outright say that he wasn’t going to touch Celeste, he should be in the clear.

“I ought to kill you,” Jack said and for a few tense moments, Matt thought that he was going to try. But then he dropped his arm to his side, the gun pointing safely at the ground. Matt let out a breath.

“Thank you,” Matt said and meant it.

Jack scowled at him. “I don’t want your thanks. I don’t want anything more to do with you. Stay the fuck away from me and stay the fuck away from my sister. Otherwise I will kill you. Have I made myself clear?”

Matt nodded. “Crystal.”

Jack stared at him for a few minutes more, a war going on in his head. The hand carrying the gun twitched and Matt stiffened. Perhaps they would have a fight after all. But then Jack turned, heading back toward his car.

When Matt could no longer sense him, he collapsed against the wall. He’d just lost his best friend. Over a girl. Matt pinched the bridge of his nose. How had things gotten so messy?

His life had never been simple. Far from it. But he’d had Jack and despite the whole ‘Jack hates werewolves’ thing, they had practically been like brothers. And Celeste…Celeste had been an unexpected surprise.

Matt was determined not to lose her too. The first chance he got, he was going to tell her how he really felt. He would lay himself bare and he would accept whatever Celeste said. Although he had a suspicion that Celeste still had feelings for him.

They’d have to figure out a way around Jack, but that could come later. The most important thing was that Celeste knew the truth. He told her he wasn’t going to lie to her anymore and he’d let his fear get in the way.

Matt pushed away from the wall, a plan forming in his mind. As soon as Celeste came back to school, he’d get her alone. He knew where all of Jack’s spies were located. He could outmaneuver them easily.

He continued his patrolling, trying to stay focused on his task, but he couldn’t get back into it. The rogue could have been in front of him and he would have missed it. He was too busy planning what he was going to say to Celeste when he saw her again.