Wooing

Chapter 24

Anastasia

I shook my head at that memory. It was later that I learned Julian had been trying to keep me engaged in conversation to distract me from the pain.

And he was pretty good at it. Annoying me.

I ran through the ground, circling it as my legs fell into a steady pace. It had been long since I took such a long jog, oflice work and Lea’s school had left me sitting in a desk for long hours.

So it was nice to run around in the open ground where there was an abundance of fresh air and

greenery.

Xena too seemed relatively relaxed compared to the human world where she had been locked.

My phone beeped once but I ignored it and was looking at the greenery when I bumped into

someone.

“Ow,” muttered as my forehead and shoulder crashed against something hard.

1. up.

“Hey, sorry, I did not see you…” A voice began but stopped as I rubbed my forehead and looked up.

A familiar face with blond hair, brown eyes, and a kind smile was looking back at me.

“Anastasia?”

“Sean?”

We both muttered at the same time and then chuckled.

“Gosh, how long has it been since I last saw you? 5 years? 7?” Sean asked, wiping his head with at small white colored towel.

“Not sure. But around that” I answered, still smiling at him.

Sean was the son of Dad’s beta. Unlike me who had opted to study in the local alpha academy, Sean opted for another academy in a different state.

It was rumored that it was largely because he found his fated mate to be studying in that same academy and they wanted to spend time together.

So, how have you been?” He asked me and I shrugged.

That was a difficult question to answer.

10:31 Mon, Aug 26

Chapter 24

“I am doing fine, monly”

“And Julian? I heard you guys got married and stull Sean asked and I

bit my lower lip.

was going to get more such questions from people who had not been around and were just returning to our pack. I should not get uncomfortable as if I was at fault for whatever Julian did.

So, I held my chin up and answered in one go.

“Well, he found his fated mate so I had no oth

option but to walk away”

Sean blinked and I saw the surprised or rather shocked look on his face. “No way, you guys were inseparable. I remember how everybody used to look up to you guys being a couple that defied the Moon Goddess” wishes.”

I tried to not let my smile waver but it did a little.

And Sean shook his head.

“I am sorry. That was not the right thing to say,”

I shrugged, “You don’t have to apologize for something that is not your fault.”

He nodded and then slapped my shoulder playfully

“Well, it is good to see you here. Want to race with me? Like old times back when we were kids?”

Sean asked with a bright smile. I replied, “Came on

The two of us walked back to the starting point of our race, the wooden bench that used to be our starting point and the large banyan tree at the border of our territory that would be our end point. “You know the rules right? The loser treats the winner with ice cream.”

I grinned. We used to eat loads of ice cream back in childhood and had almost tried every flavor possible in all the ice cream shops all over the werewolf territory.

“Sure”

Sean rolled up his sleeves and we placed our right foot on the starting mark that he drew on the ground with a stick.

“On your mark, get set, go”

Sean turned into a blur the moment those words left my mouth. I tried to chase him but Goddess. he was way too fast for my snail speed.

“Xena, buckle up”

2/5

10:31 Mon, Aug 26 LG G

Chapter 24

I told my wolf who gave me an amused look but decided to join the fun. I could feel her strength in my legs as we ran, cutting the wind that slapped in our faces.

The race was a short one given that we used to run that distance as kids but it was fun nonetheless.

Before I knew it, Sean had already reached the tree and was leaning on the trunk with his hands. folded upon his chest.

He was grinning too and I saw the way his eyes noted my appearance and his gaze traveled from my feet to my eyes.

Sean noticed that I had noticed so he quickly looked away and pretended to be busy in his phone.

I reached the end point a minute later, panting and struggling for breath.

Sean announced, “4 minutes, 25 seconds. Not bad”

I grumbled, “And what was your time? 3 minutes, 2 seconds?”

Sean showed me the stopwatch in his hand. It showed 59 seconds.

“Show off I muttered, earning a chuckle from him,

I too leaned my back on the trunk of the large tree as I stood beside him for a while, catching my breath.

“Just like old times. You always lost, didn’t you, Anastasia?”

I raised a fist to punch his shoulder but he had turned and grabbed my hand in less than a second.

“And slow as always” Sean whispered, still holding my hand.

Sean’s eyes were staring into mine, and I noticed how uncomfortably close we were.

His smile wavered a second later as I saw his eyes dip to my lips and I turned my head to the side.

“Sean, I…”

I fumbled as he saw my face turn a light shade of pink and let

et

go of

my hand.

“Sorry, I was just too busy playing the whole teasing game we did as kids. But, we are not kids anymore.”

He stepped away and I let myself breathe again.

Sean turned his back to me and was busy rolling down his sleeves and drinking water from his bottle while I wondered what to do.

10:32 Mon, Aug 26 GG.

Chapter 21

Simply walking away from him would be too abrupt so instead I asked.

“How is Julia?”

Julia was his fated mate for whom he had traveled to another state instead of studying here with us.

He stilled for a moment and I felt his body go rigid before his shoulders slackened.

“We broke up a few months ago.”

I stared at him in shock. I did not know fated mates broke up too. Wasn’t the Moon Goddess‘ pull of the mate bond too irresistible?

“I….well, that is unfortunate,” I said, trying to get the right response out of my mouth.

He shrugged, “Not really. I found out my fated mate was going around with loads of other men as well so as much as it hurt me, I ended it. I thought you knew”

Sean added that last bit, sounding a little surprised.

“Not really. I was living in the human world for the past five years so I have been out of touch” I supplied.

That line made him look even more surprised.

“Why would you go to strangers instead of coming to your own family and pack?”

Stupidity. Recklessness. The need to prove I could do it all alone. Needing some space from the pitiful gazes.

There were many reasons but none that I wanted to give. It would all make me look like I wanted sympathy.

“Well, I am here now”

Sean replied, “So am I” and then turned to look at me.

“I know how it feels to be wronged by the one we loved with all our heart. I know the pain and the misery you must have felt, fated or not. So, let me tell you this Anastasia, if you ever need someone to talk to, to be around…or just stand silently beside you, know that you can count on me,”

Sean smiled and then gave my shoulder a small squeeze before walking away.

I kept staring at him for a while before he crossed a few feet and then turned back to look at me. “You owe me an ice cream, by the way”