Thus came the most unexpected moment of my life.

Ryan's lips fell on mine in an instant, taking me completely by surprise.

The sparks I felt at our touch returned with great intensity, striking me in an unexplainable manner. I felt an unconscious need to reply to his mouth, however I restrained from all movement, refusing to give in that early in the game.

Ryan caught on to my intentions soon, leaving my lips slowly. His eyes met my wide, shocked ones, regret taking over for an instance.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that" he said awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. My eyes disconnected from his for a brief second.

"I agree, you shouldn't have, but you did. Look, I don't want your pity-"

"Pity? You think I kissed you because I felt pity?" He interrupted me, chuckling humorlessly.

"I do. What other possible reason-"

"Are you serious? Is that what you think of me? That I'm that kind of man who-"

"Honestly Ryan" I cut him off "I don't know what to think of you because I don't know you" he chuckled again, in the same humorless manner, passing his fingers through his hair before he focused his attention back on me.

"I kissed you because I worship you Elisabeth, because I think you're the bravest person I know. Not because I pity you." For the first time, his words really hit me, however my stubborn self wouldn't allow me to react to his words. This was all the mate bond, right?

"Well then I'm sorry I thought that" I replied in a formal manner. He scoffed, looking surprised.

"You're sorry?" he repeated, to which I nodded. "Why are you avoiding it? It's one thing to delay it but it's another thing to avoid it completely" he asked me, this time startling me.

"What do you mean-"

"Don't. Just tell me. Why are you avoiding it? You yourself told me that you know it's bound to happen, then why avoid it completely? Why cut me out completely?"

"Cut you out? I just told you my whole past-"

"You know that's not what I'm referring to" he stated, cutting me off. By this time the both of us were completely furious, both our emotions battling with each other.

"That day when you came over to the pack house and told us that you were willing to give this a go, I thought you were serious-"

"I am serious!" I ragingly snapped.

"Are you now?" he replied sarcastically in the same tone.

"Yes I –"

"Then why won't you even look me in the eyes when I talk to you? Why don't you let me even hug you? Or touch you? You told me that we were friends, well I sure as hell don't even feel that" his tone lowered with every word he spoke.

The question was, did I feel bad for him?

Yes, I did.

Was I going to show it?

Absolutely not.

"Ryan, I told you before, I need to take this really slow, one step at a time-"

"And I'm on board with taking one step at a time Elisabeth, but you keep hesitating to even take the first step. You keep refusing that you feel anything for me at all-"His words snapped something in me, making me interrupt his sentence.

"I don't feel anything-"

"Don't you though?" His voice rose slightly as he walked towards me. With every step he took I took one back, until I was pinned against the wall with his figure centimeters away from mine "Don't you feel anything when we are this close? When I touch you?" his hand fell on my shoulder, the sparks returning, making me feel alive. "Didn't you feel anything when I kissed you? When I'm away from-"

"No I don't, Ryan. You need to leave" I commanded, feeling an uneasy pull towards him. I couldn't do this, I wasn't born for this. I was never going to get used to the idea of being destined to someone for the rest of my life. Or getting used to the fact that I had someone made for to whom I could bury myself to completely, someone who would be my other half, because all of that stuff doesn't exist, because this wasn't some book or movie where the girl would pull the cliché move and fall for the big bad beast.

This was real life, and in real life, this story is just fucked up.

"Bullshit" he began, connecting his gaze with mine, his body not moving from where it was, towering my petite figure. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't feel anything for me" he commanded in a serious tone.

My eyes were piercing his, and my mouth opened to utter the words, making my heart ache of the heaviness.

Did I not want to utter the words to him?

Of course I did, I had to.

Lucky for him, before I could the sound of my phone brought us both out of out intense staring contest, shaking us both apart. I took a breath of relief and walked towards my phone on the kitchen counter, picking it up without a glance at the caller ID.

"Hello"

"Hi, we are looking for Elisabeth Walker"

"This is she" I replied, my curiosity rising, the voices over the phone sounded British.

"Weare calling from the London Police Department. We were informed earlier thisevening that your mother, Mary Walker, has escaped from London's HMP Pentoville"