Just The Way

"But even though I hate it, I have to do it," Leo continues, defeated and sad. He's not outwardly blaming me, but I know he does, "So you should leave, because I won't. I'll stay here to deal with it."

"But, what about us?" I ask in a tiny voice, not even looking at him because I feel that ashamed. I'm a bitch, a cunt and a whore, just like Jace called me. The worst of the absolute worst, times two. A few seconds later, I finally let myself look at Leo because he's not saying anything. He just shrugs, "You said you love me, when we were in the car."

"I do love you," he whispers, not looking at me still, "And you are my fated mate, do you even know what that is?"

"I saw a documentary," I admit, he looks at me with a very weak smile. It’s such a sad smile, "I understand it's a big deal for your kind. It means that we have to be together forever, right? You told me so in the car too, you said we're in this for life."

"Yeah, but it's not like a requirement. This isn't a jail sentence