< 16. Love-struck fool
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- Love-struck fool
Skye’s P.O.V.
I sat at my easel, my pencil hovering above the sketchpad as I tried to focus on the lines in front of me. The art center had always been my sanctuary, a place where I could lose myself in the quiet rhythm of drawing, shutting out the noise of the world and, more importantly, the demands of my family and my inner wolf. But tonight was different. Tonight, Lila was here.
I stole another glance at her, and my breath caught in my throat. She was focused on her painting, her brow furrowed in concentration, a small smile playing on her lips. The soft lighting of the room highlighted the delicate curve of her cheek, the way her hair fell over her shoulder. I had always thought she was beautiful, but seeing her like this, so at ease and in her element, made my heart ache in a way I wasn’t prepared for.
You’re staring again, Cooper, my wolf pointed out, amusement clear in his tone.
I’m not staring, I mentally shot back, though I knew it was a lie. I had been staring at her on and off all night long, my eyes drawn to her like a magnet. It was impossible not to.
You’re definitely staring, Cooper teased.
And don’t even try to deny it. I can feel how much you want her.
I sighed inwardly, trying to refocus on my sketch.
Of course, I want her. She’s my mate.
The word still felt foreign in my mind, a concept that was both exhilarating and terrifying. I hadn’t expected to find my mate so soon, and certainly not like this, under such complicated circumstances. But now that she was here, every instinct I had was screaming at me to
claim her, to make her mine.
So what’s stopping you? My wolf asked, his tone growing more impatient.
She’s right there. You could have her in your arms in a heartbeat.
She’s still getting over Brandon, I reminded my wolf, though the thought of that man’s name sent a wave of possessive anger through me.
She needs time.
Time, time, time, Cooper huffed.
All you ever talk about is time. You’re wasting it, you know. She’s our mate. She belongs with
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<16 Love-struck fool
- Why keep fighting it?
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I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to sketch a line on my paper, though I barely registered
what I was drawing.
Because she’s been through enough.
I’m not going to add to her confusion by throwing myself at her when she’s still healing.
But what about us? What about what we want and need? Cooper growled, a hint of desperation in his voice.
We need her.
I need her.
My heart twisted at the raw honesty in my wolf’s words.
I know, I admitted, my chest tightening.
I feel it too. But I can’t rush this. She needs to come to us on her own terms.
She’ll come to us faster if you stop pushing her away like a fool, My wolf argued.
You’ve been avoiding her all week, and it’s driving us both crazy.
I couldn’t deny that. I had been avoiding her-intentionally keeping my distance, not because I didn’t want to be near her, but because I was afraid of what might happen if I let my guard down around her. Every time I saw her, every time she smiled at me, the urge to pull her into my arms and just kiss her was almost unbearable. My wolf was constantly urging me to act, to close the distance between us, to show her how much she meant to me. But I knew I had to be careful. Lila was vulnerable, still reeling from the betrayal of her ex-fiancé, and the last thing I wanted was to scare her off.
She’s stronger than you think, Cooper said quietly.
You saw it yourself tonight. Look how happy she is, how much she’s thriving here. She’s ready, even if you’re not.
I glanced over at Lila again, watching as she delicately shaded a section of her painting. There was a contentment in her expression that made my heart swell with pride. She really was doing well, finding her place in Fairview, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for keeping my distance instead of being a part of ‘her new life’. Maybe my wolf was right. Maybe I was being too cautious, too afraid of what might happen if I let her in. But then again, the thought of hurting her, of rushing into something before she was ready, was enough to make me hesitate. I couldn’t bear the idea of causing her more pain, not when she
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<16 Love-struck fool
had already been through so much.
You’re overthinking it again, my wolf grumbled.
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Just be with her. Stop worrying about what might happen and start focusing on what you
want to happen.
I bit back a smile at my wolf’s persistence.
You make it sound so simple.
Because it is simple, Cooper replied, exasperated.
You’re the one making it complicated. Just go over there and talk to her.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady the conflicting emotions swirling inside me. Maybe my wolf was right. Maybe I was overcomplicating things. But even as I considered getting up and walking over to Lila, my nerves kicked in, the uncertainty and fear creeping back in.
You’re hopeless, Cooper muttered, though there was a hint of fondness in its tone.
But I suppose that’s why you’ve got me. To give you a little push when you need it.
I chuckled softly under my breath, grateful for my wolf’s unwavering support, even if it came
with a side of sarcasm.
Thanks for that.
Anytime, my wolf replied smugly.
Now, if you’re not going to go over there and talk to her, at least stop staring like a love-struck puppy. It’s embarrassing.
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. My wolf was right-again. I needed to find a way to stop torturing myself, whether that meant talking to Lila or just focusing on my art. Either way, I couldn’t keep going like this, caught in a limbo of wanting and holding back.
As I turned my attention back to my sketch, trying to lose myself in the lines and shapes, I made a silent promise to myself: I would find a way to bridge the gap between us, to be the man Lila needed me to be. Whether that meant giving her space or stepping up when the time was right, I would do whatever it took to keep her in my life.
And maybe, just maybe, I’d figure out how to stop staring at her like a love-struck fool in the
process.
