It had been a month since Elena refused to speak to Caleb, she let out a sigh as she lay in bed staring up at the ceiling. A part of her contemplated talking to him, to find out what that almost kiss was but another part knew it was pointless.
No matter the reason for the almost kiss, he had found his mate and it wasn't her. Elena knew she had to finally get over him, once and for all.
"You keep sighing like that when I walk up I'll think I've done something wrong."
Lucas smirked as he stood in her doorway. He'd spent every night with her, holding her as she slept. Elena had joked that he might as well move in.
"Why would my sighing make you think you've done something wrong? That sounds like a guilty conscience to me," she accused as she stood and made her way towards her kitchen.
Lucas chuckled behind her and she smiled. The sound of his laughter always made her feel light, it was infectious.
"Well, you always seem to sigh when I walk up," he gave a wounded look and Elena laughed.
"Now you know, I sigh all the time because of you," she teased.
Lucas playfully pushed her shoulder as her laughter increased. He joined in until her laughter suddenly faded. Curious, Lucas followed her gaze and saw her looking out the window at Caleb and Mary. They were taking a walk around the grounds.
Feeling sympathetic, Lucas placed a hand on her shoulder. She jumped at the contact and looked up into his soft eyes.
"Are you ok?" he asked and her brows crossed in confusion.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
Lucas cast a look at his brother and then back to her. Elena's heart sped up and she gasped.
"You knew?"
He nodded and she instantly covered her hands and groaned. Elena sat on the sofa and hid her face in one of the pillows. Lucas chuckled and took the pillow away from her.
"It's ok. You weren't obvious about it but being a wolf I could hear and smell your reaction to him," he explained.
Tears started to flow as she nodded, taking in his words. Lucas watched as her face stilled. Her eyes widened as she slowly turned to face him.
"Does that mean that everyone knew?" she asked.
"Well … erm … I mean … no …" He stammered.
Elena stood and stormed into her room. Lucas tried to follow but she locked the door.
"Elena, please!" he called out as he knocked.
"Go away Lucas!" she called back.
With a heavy sigh, he left, kicking himself for being so stupid. When he got home his mother noticed his expression.
"Lucas? Everything ok?" she asked as he came to sit beside her.
"I did something stupid."
"Oh, I'm sure it's not that bad," she reassured him.
"Oh yes it is, I was with Elena and I accidentally let slip that everyone knew how she felt about Caleb."
"Ah!"
"Yeah, exactly. I hadn't meant to, but she's been doing nothing but sighing and looking sad ever since Mary came. I caught her watching them and I asked if she was ok as I nodded towards them. She asked if I knew and I didn't want her to think she'd been obvious. So, I told her as a wolf I could sense how she felt."
"Ah!" she repeated.
"She caught on to what I said and then asked if everyone knew and then she went into her room and told me to go away. I've really messed up," he sighed into his hands.
Helen patted his back sympathetically. Ever since they had brought her home, Lucas had always been so close to Elena. She had wondered if Elena was Lucas' mate. However, since nothing happened, she thought maybe not.
"Lucas, go to bed and go back in the morning. She's just upset right now, she'll need you."
Lucas looked up at his mother and nodded.
In the morning, he raced back in time to see her walk out of her bedroom. Her eyes were red-rimmed and she had fresh tear tracks on her cheeks.
Elena stumbled a little and Lucas noticed a clay bottle in her hand. It had a familiar design on it. One of the elders made a type of moonshine that was strong enough for a wolf to get drunk. He put it in clay pots with a swirl pattern.
"Elena?" Lucas asked cautiously.
"Yeah!" she slurred before taking a large swig from the pot.
"Why don't you give me that!" he asked, holding his hand out.
Elena stared at him, then at the pot before looking back at him.
"Sure," she agreed, holding the pot out to him.
Lucas took it warily before she walked past him, opened a cupboard and pulled out another one. He sighed as she lifted it to her lips and took a long drink.
"Elena, I don't think that's a good idea," he warned her.
"Oh yeah … is that what you think," she slurred.
She stumbled as she turned to him. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes were glassy. When he didn't answer she moved over to the couch swerving as she went.
"Elena, please," he begged, as he knelt in front of her.
"Please what, Lucas?" she demanded. "Why shouldn't I drink huh? Tell me why not!"
"I know you're upset but getting drunk is not a good idea," he told her softly.
Elena took another drink and laughed.
"Upset? What reason do I have to be upset? Go on, say it?" her voice was slurring and getting louder. "Everyone in the whole pack knows, including Caleb what I felt for him. They know how much I wanted him, loved him. Everyone knew!"
She was standing now and Lucas held his arms out just in case she fell. Elena wobbled and swerved as she bent slightly to hover over him.
"Did everyone have a good laugh at how pathetic I am? Huh? Do they talk behind my back? I bet they do, I bet you all do!"
"No!" Lucas called out wanting to deny it all.
At that moment, Elena tried to step around Lucas and instead tripped over his knee. She started to fall forward and instantly Lucas was underneath her to cushion her fall.
He grunted as the contact winded him slightly. Elena slowly raised her body and looked down at him. Her eyes were glazed and her cheeks were flushed. Waves of soft brown hair blanketed them.
Lucas lifted a hand and gently tucked some behind her ear before cupping her cheek.
"No one thinks that about you. Everyone loves you so much, I promise. You're not pathetic, you're amazing," he whispered.
Elena stared down at him for a long time. Her eyes searched over his face looking for something, he wasn't sure what but he remained still. Waiting for her to finish whatever she was deciding.
Then, to his surprise, she leaned down and captured his mouth in a soft, gentle kiss. Her lips felt soft against his rough ones and it took all his willpower not to respond.
She pulled back, looking him in the eyes before leaning down again. Lucas remained frozen as she drunkenly moved her lips against his. His lack of response urged her to press harder. Eventually, Lucas gripped her shoulders and pushed her back.
"Elena? What are you doing?" he asked, searching her face.
The sight of her flushed cheeks and glazed eyes was slowly pulling at his resolve. The feel of her lips on his had shot straight to his dick and he was hard and aching.
Elena shot up and attempted to run back to her room but Lucas was quick on her heels. He gripped her arm and pulled her back towards him. She stumbled into his chest and stared wide-eyed up at him.
"Don't run away. Talk to me," he whispered, cupping her cheek once again.
"I don't want to feel like this anymore," she whimpered. "It hurts so much."
Lucas' heart broke as a single tear slid down her cheek. Without thinking, he crushed his lips onto hers. He'd do anything to take the pain away.