What-what-what, two chapters in one day?!!

Well, you see everyone. I have University exams in less than a month and ya girl knows that writing might not happen until after then. So, here's a double chapter and I'll see you most likely after my exams. Wish me Luck! (This was a super emotional chappie to write, enjoy)

Chapter 34:

Camila had a song blasting through her headphones. Even though she was a health hazard – dancing around the kitchen, singing waving a wooden spoon around, she was too lost in the song to care. It was the weekend; she had finished her work early and was in such a good mood that she had decided to make dinner for herself and Taine.

They had started having dinner together at least three nights a week. Even though they sometimes strained to make easy-going conversation and that she had to go to great lengths to make sure it was a paperwork-free zone – it was worth it. Especially now that she had started forcing Taine to cook. Which was a battle all on its own.

She was making one of his favourite dishes – at least she thought it was, if the way he cleaned off his plate with this fingers, was anything to go by.

Camila was almost settling into the swing of things. The white picket fence, suburbia of it all. It used to scare her; routine and the placidity of the known, but now she had started to stomach the idea of life here – a life as a Luna.

They understood each other better now. It was as if the cloud of dust that stung their eyes, scatched their throats and filled their air between them had settled. Even though Camila still clung to her pride and didn't give away parts of herself easily and despite the fact that Taine...well was still Taine, they had both begun to embrace life...and each other.

She was just about to empty half the contents of the jar of chilli flakes into the pot when she saw Taine in her peripheral vision. He was mouthing words to her looked as if he had been standing there for some time.

She let her headphones drop to her neck.

"You do realise that I can't hear you?"

Taine glared at her and continued, "as I was saying, I have to go out tonight. So I'll see you tomorrow."

Camila felt the contents of the spoon she was holding drip on the floor. She blinked twice.

"Oh...Where are you going?"

She tried to hide how disappointed she was.

Taine tried to be nonchalant and shrugged. "Just need to grease some elbows at a packmates house. Your presence isn't required."

Even though he must have meant it to relieve her, it only bothered her more.

"Have fun."

She turned around and continued to cook, thinking that she made her irritation clear. She felt Taine linger for a moment. He came behind her and kissed her temple. His lips felt rushed against her skin. Then, he was gone.

Camila felt like her tears made up for the lack of salt she used in the food. After Taine had left she half heartedly finished cooking and ate dinner straight out of the pot, by herself. She was in such a sour mood that the fact that she was home alone and wasn't wearing pants couldn't cheer her up.

She was more annoyed at herself than anything. Was this what it was like to have feelings for someone? She knew it wasn't a good idea. To be so easily swayed and influenced by the actions of another person. To let someone, ruin your home alone pant-less evening because of one sentence. Camila missed the days when she controlled and was responsible her own emotions. This love thing was too unpredictable and unreliable.

Camila didn't give a crap whether Taine went out or not. It wasn't that she herself didn't have any gal pals that she could get rowdy with, like her friends back home. Or the fact that she knew her and Ivory were his only friends (Ivory being a notch above Mila on the bestie list.) It was that she knew in her heart that Taine was still hiding things from her. Secrets. The word brought a bitter taste to her mouth.

And even if he was where he said he was, (and she was sure he wasn't) Why wasn't she allowed to come. Was he embarrassed by her? Sick of her?

She had been discreetly poking around and hadn't gotten closer to finding out where Taine went on his 'outings'. She didn't have the courage to ask him who Melissa was. She was too afraid of the answer.

Drowning her sorrows in carbs and lost in her own murderous thoughts (of putting Taine in the ground this time, instead of a hospital). She barely heard the ringing of her phone. Her office policy that she was desperately trying to get Taine and Ivory to adopt was that no phone calls were to be taken after seven pm. For Taine, she was trying to work on getting him to quit at 10. Baby steps.

By the third call, Camila realised it might actually be important.

---

She was so lost in thought that she didn't realise Taine was home until he was standing in the doorway of his room. She wiped the tears that were freefalling down her cheeks away. She checked the clock.

She practically cried out in relief. "You're home."

He saw the Suitcase on the floor and his expression darkened. The hairs on Camila's neck stood up. He was threatening her with his eyes and her body immediately had gone into defence mode. When someone looked at a wolf with confrontation, aggression and blame. It warranted the same thing in return. It was instinct. This conversation wasn't going to go as smoothly as she hoped.

"Taine, before you jump to any conclusions let me –"

He snarled and spoke the same way he had spoken to her, the night he came to her pack. The way he looked, it reminded her of his father. She tried to keep the horror off her face.

At the back of her mind she knew something that had happened while he was gone must have set him off. Taine was cold and deadly, but he was also calculated and calm. He rarely exploded in anger or let his emotions run wild. Camila didn't have the energy or time to work out what exactly had triggered him. She needed to go. She would never forgive herself if anything happened.

Her mind and body were out of control. Her animalistic side, link to her old pack and her current pack, her bond with Taine and her heart were all fighting with each other for dominance. She was about to enter the state of a crazed wolf and would not be able to reign control over what she said and did.

She took a deep breath in and tried to let her own voice speak louder than all the others that were trying to grab her attention.

Camila wanted to be strong in that moment, put together, calm and logical so that she could put Taine before herself, but she couldn't. She tried to explain but the words wouldn't form. She fell to the floor in a sobbing heap. Letting her walls crumble, parts of herself strewn everywhere.

She wanted, no needed Taine to comfort her, to make this easier for her. Her wolf needed the reassurance of its mate. But he didn't. He just stood and watched her cry, anger lacing her features. A twinge of hate rose within her as she remembered this side of him. The side that couldn't look past his own stubbornness and pride to love her. It was the side of Taine she lived with for the first few weeks, it made her a living corpse then and it was only adding to her pain now.

She was too broken to be anything but vulnerable right now.

It was barely a whisper, closer to a soft cry for help but she knew he heard. "I need you."

That was all it took for the anger in his eyes to dissolve. It was like he was seeing her for the first time.

He scooped her up and sat her in his lap. He tried to sound indifferent and unaffected but she could tell that he was scared. So was she.

"What's wrong Camila?"

"It's Libby. She got into a car accident and the baby...I don't know if..."

She couldn't even utter the thought it was so gut-wrenching. She broke free of Taine's hold, stood up and grabbed onto the handle of her suitcase.

She didn't even remember packing. When she heard the news she just threw everything into her bag haphazardly and waited for Taine to come home. Her mission was to just get in her car and go. If she could just get there then maybe things would be okay.

"I just need to go."

Taine stood up and steadied her.

"You're coming back?" He didn't know why he asked. He just needed to hear the words from her. Everything in him was telling him to hold her tight and not let her go. But they both knew she didn't need his permission. He couldn't control his spitfire of a mate, especially where her family was concerned.

"Yes. I will, but I don't know when. Things sound bad."

"Do I need to come?" It wasn't whether or not she wanted him to come, it was if he needed to. They both knew the answer to that question. Pack was always first, it came before family, before mates...The simple truth was that Taine couldn't tear himself away. It was the same reason why, even though Camila was the Luna, a part of her soul would forever remain with her old pack. That deep, soul-tearing love was what kept the species alive. The invisible string of pack bonds that wove itself under and through everyone, connecting them.

He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. He'd call Ivory and give her the gist of the situation.

"I'll drive you."

They were off in a matter of minutes.

Camila was too hysterical to sleep or drive. Even though she didn't say it she was incredibly thankful for Taine's presence. He didn't placate her with any falsehoods about things being okay. He didn't sugar-coat the situation or get angry when she cried. He was just there, and it made all the difference.

A few hours before they reached, they stopped at a gas station for coffee and petrol. Before they broke state speeding laws again Taine placed a hand on Camila's.

"Mila?"

She jumped and turned to look at him as if she had forgotten he was there. Her large eyes were tired and wet with tears.

"You'll come back to me, right? Eventually?" Even though his mind was telling him not to fret, his heart was also in the driver's seat. He was afraid. He knew what Camila was like and he was so damn scared of losing something he barely had in the first place. In the short time, she had known him, since he had driven down these same roads on the brave pursuit to get her, not knowing how it would all turn out. She had become his everything and he was too selfish to let her back into the world, untethered. because he needed her way more than she could ever need him.

Camila squeezed his hand lightly. It was all the strength she had in her bones. "I will."

His wolf still gnawed at him, needing to be convinced of his mates loyalty He grabbed her hand and placed it on his cheek. It was cold and trembling. He whispered, "Tell me you'll never leave me."

Camila looked at him, fresh tears in her eyes. She so badly wanted to say yes, but she couldn't promise that. She just couldn't.

Look where it had gotten her parents...

She took back her hand and turned over to face the window. Taine's heart ached.

-

They reached the pack by late morning. As soon as they reached the house Camila was out of the car and sprinting. They had agreed earlier that Taine couldn't afford to stick around.

She didn't even say goodbye.