Red Hot Love: The Morningstar Series: Book 5
Red Hot Love – Chapter 14

This summer has been the worst of my entire life. The moment that Ozzy and I had gotten a good distance between us and Azai, we felt a pain. It was subtle. Not so painful that we couldn’t stand it, but enough to make us cry. Which made me even more pissed off.

A sadness that I have never felt before settled in my chest that day, and it never left. I drowned myself in my mate all summer trying to feel better. As much as I love Ozzy, things have not been the same between us since we met Azai. We still wanted to be around each other, still love each other, but something is missing, and we both know it.

Ozzy begged me almost every day to talk to Azai at the very least. I refused every single time. Azai constantly texting and calling us didn’t help at all either. I was furious with Ozzy when I found out that he gave Azai my number. How dare he. Though, I never blocked him. I wanted to. I tried a couple of times. My thumb always hovered over the screen, ready to block him, but I never could.

Azai called Ozzy more than me, and that made me mad. My emotions are always all over the damn place. Half the time I can barely control myself. Sometimes Ozzy would just have to hold me while I cried. Still, I refused to talk to Azai.

When it came to Azai’s birthday, we didn’t go back to the school. Mom had asked me, but I begged her not to make me. So, she didn’t. Same with attending the school. I threw fit after fit about not going. Mom didn’t force me.

Ozzy wasn’t happy with me about it, but I knew he was going through his own emotions. He didn’t talk to Azai either, and I didn’t understand why. I know that Ozzy wants to. I know he is just as sad as I am. I’m just more stubborn, and I don’t need another mate. I don’t…

I spent all summer ignoring how I was feeling. If I ignore it, then eventually it’ll go away. Although we are mid October now, and the feeling still hasn’t went away. Sometimes I think about just giving in, to everything. Calling Azai, seeing him, marking him. It would feel so much better if I did, but I just can’t.

I’m not sure what is wrong with me. I don’t want Azai. I don’t. I have Ozzy, and he is enough for me. Why do we even need another mate?

When our friends found out about our third mate, all they did was tease us. They don’t know who it is, but they know he’s not a Fury. That alone has gotten us teased. Not to mention the comments they all keep making about me.

Ethan is the worst. Always making comments to Ozzy about sharing me. It was easy to ignore in the summer when we didn’t have to be around him, but since school started… Well… He and Ozzy have gotten into a few different fights. It’s been a lot. I didn’t even accept Azai, and already things like this were happening.

I thought about rejecting him. I think that we would have to go see him for that to happen though. That was something I wasn’t sure I could do. Could I really look into those deep blue eyes, and formally reject him? I feel like if I could, I would have done it already.

This whole thing has been much harder on me than it should be. I never feel safe anymore. Mostly because of Ethan’s comments. Still, I never go anywhere alone anymore. Hell, I barely leave my room these days. I just can’t shake the uncomfortable feeling inside of me. I never feel safe anymore, and everything hurts. Mostly I can handle it, but sometimes it is too much.

Halfway through the summer Mom begged me to go see Azai. I refused. If I could get through this on my own, then I wouldn’t need him. Ozzy and I could go back to normal eventually.

The more I pushed anything to do with Azai away, the worse everything got. Sometimes Ozzy and I would feel intense pain. At first we didn’t understand what was happening. That was when we found out what happens if a mate cheats. That f*****g a*****e has been sleeping with other people. He doesn’t even care about us.

When school started, something else started happening. Dreams. Every night I dream of him. His dark curly hair. Those deep hypnotizing blue eyes. That perfect and adorable smile. The way he would get so nervous to be around us.

Sometimes it was just his face surrounded by darkness. It was rare that he would say anything, but when he did… It was usually my name, or Ozzy’s. Sometimes it was Azai telling me that he didn’t want us back. Other times it was him begging me to tell him why I didn’t want him. All those times broke my heart. I would wake up sobbing, and the stabbing I felt in my heart was nearly unbearable.

Then there were times that we didn’t talk at all. Those times Azai’s lips were too busy for words. Thos dreams were so vivid too. It was like I could feel his lips on my body. He was so sensual in my dreams. It was f*****g amazing, especially when Ozzy would join those dreams. It was the only time that I felt… okay. Just okay.

Every other moment of my life I was faking it. Ozzy knew it. My parents knew it. I knew it. But I refused to talk about it, or to see him. I just have to hold out. Eventually Azai will seek us out, and hopefully by then he’ll want to reject us. All I can hope for now… is that Ozzy doesn’t hate me for causing us to lose our mate.

“Olive, you not hungry sweet heart?” Dad asked.

I had been staring down at my plate of stir fry. When my dad spoke my eyes snapped up to his. He and Mom are staring at me with worry in their eyes.

“Just kind of full.” I said with a smile.

Dad nodded, but didn’t say anything. They are both worried about me and Ozzy. It was getting harder to hide my depression. Maybe I should just give in, and talk to Azai. Every fiber of my being was begging me to anyways. Then Ethan’s words floated through my head.

You guys have a third mate? Ha! That’s f*****g hilarious. You’re gay now Ozzy? Or do you two just sandwhich Olive here? That would be pretty hot. Let me join. I bet this little slut spreads her legs so good for you two.

I shook my head. “Is it okay if I go to my room?” I asked.

“Sure honey.” Mom excused me.

I took care of my plate before heading to my bedroom. We live in an apartment at the facility like the rest of our people. Our’s is one of the biggest, since Mom and Dad partly run the place. My bedroom is decently large. I have my own bathroom off to the side. It isn’t huge, but it is enough for me.

I walked in, and plopped down on my big fluffy bed. My walls are a pristine white, I have pictures of Ozzy and I growing up all over the walls. My bed is a king size, and super comforatable. The deep red comforter is super fluffy. It makes me happy. Well, as happy as I can be these days.

Sighing, I rolled onto my back. What am I doing? Why am I pulling away so much? Is it really Ethan’s words, or am I scared of something else?

I thought back to the night we all shared together. Azai was so happy, and so nervous. It was adorable. I felt so comfortable with the two of them. Comfortable enough to fall asleep, and lay on Azai all night. Looking back though, I think that is what scared me. How comfortable I felt with a complete stranger, one that isn’t even a Fury. And just think about how Ethan would feel if he found out who our mate is. He would s**t his pants.

Would Azai get mad at Ethan the same way Ozzy does? Would he fight for me the same way Ozzy does? Something tells me that Ethan’s life would be in serious danger if Azai knew what he was saying about me. That both scared, and excited me. I should be only scared though. Azai is a Morningstar. He is dangerous.

My phone dinged. I grabbed it from my bedside table. These days I left it in my room. It was too hard to see messages from Azai pop up.

I unlocked the screen to see a few messages from Azai. Every morning I woke up to a good morning message from him, and every night I got a good night message. In the middle of the day he would ask how I was. It was almost like he didn’t notice I never replied. The messages of him begging me to talk to him told me that wasn’t true though.

Why is he even still trying? He’s clearly been f*****g other people. We’ve felt it. Why can’t he just leave us alone? It’s not like he really wants us.

There is also a new voicemail from him. Sighing deeply I decided to listen to it. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to hear his voice anyways.

“Uh, hey, it’s me, again.” His voice came out lighter than the last few messages.

“I don’t know if you know, but I’m coming to see you. I…” Wait, what did he just say? “I know that neither of you are happy about it, or will be happy about it, but.. I just.. I can’t wait to see your beautiful face. I can’t wait to just.. be around you.” He sounds so relieved it. “Even if you still don’t want me. I will always want the both of you. Forever. And I’m coming to fight for you. See you soon, my little Fury.”

The message stopped.

I left the phone drop to the floor with a thud.

He’s… coming… here?

He wants… to fight for us?

Why?

No.

This has to be a lie.

“Hey honey, Ozzy is here.” I looked up to see Ozzy walk through the door.

Mom is standing in my door way. I’m staring at her with my jaw on the floor. Ozzy walked over to me, and sat next to me on my bed. He kissed my forehead, but I was still staring at my mom.

“Your dad was thinking about making some brownies for you guys, does that sound good Olive?” Mom asked.

I still could only stare at her.

“You okay babe?” Ozzy asked me.

I still couldn’t react.

“Olive?” Mom asked as she walked into my room.

She reached out to place her hand on my head. I slapped her hand away. Both Mom and Ozzy gave me shocked looks.

“He’s coming here?” I seethed.

Realization settled in my moms eyes.

“He told you.” It wasn’t a question, but I nodded.

“Who?” Ozzy asked.

I turned my head to him as I crossed my arms.

“Azai. He’s coming here.” I said, and then looked back to my mom. “Were you not going to tell me?”

“He’s coming here? To see us?” Ozzy asked sounding hopeful.

“Listen Olive, I know you’re angry with me. No I was not going to tell you. I was going to let you both be surprised when he shows up in your class on Monday.” She said.

“Monday?” I asked. “He’s coming Monday? That’s tomorrow.” I said.

Mom nodded. “He technically is already here.” She said.

I froze.

“He is? Where is he staying?” Ozzy asked.

I snapped my head to him.

“Why? Are you going to go see him?” I asked angrily.

Ozzy frowned at me.

“He’s our mate. He came all this way. And we’re going to see each other anyways.” He argued.

I scoffed.

“Olive stop. You need to calm down. I didn’t tell you because you seem to get unreasonably pissed off when it comes to your third mate.” Mom said.

“But Mom-“

“No buts.” Mom interrupted. “Now you listen to me Olive Jean Jamison.”

Great she’s pissed now.

“You can ignore this bond, and act like it doesn’t affect you all you want. But your father and I, and Ozzy’s parents, are so sick of seeing the two of you so heart broken. You might think you’re hiding it well little girl, but you are not.” Mom sighed.

“It breaks us in ways you don’t understand to see you like this. Yes, I went behind your back, but I respected your wishes up until now. Honey, we just want to see you two happy. If that means setting you up with your third mate then so be it.” She stated before walking to my door.

Mom paused to turn and look at me. “You are not the only ones who have been suffering Olive. Maybe you should think about that.”

With those last words, Mom slammed my door shut. Things were quiet between Ozzy and I for a moment. Mom’s last words really got to me. She can’t mean Azai, can she? Azai doesn’t care about us. He’s been f*****g other people.

“I can’t believe she left us alone, and shut the door.” Ozzy finally spoke.

I turned to him, and huffed.

“I can’t believe they did this to us.” I said.

“Did what to us? Cared enough to sneak our mate here behind our backs? How dare they.” Ozzy teased.

I rolled my eyes.

“I forgot, you actually want this third mate.” I stated snarkily.

Ozzy sighed. He gently reached up, and uncrossed my arms. Ozzy held my hands in his as his bright blue eyes bore into my dark brown ones.

“Olive, baby, my love, the light of my life-“

“Get on with it.” I gritted out.

Ozzy chuckled. “I know you want to see him too. I know you want him Olive. You can hide your feelings from everyone else, but you can’t hide them from me. I just don’t understand why you are pushing away from him so hard. Is it really that bad that we have another mate?” He asked.

“Yes.” I stated while holding his gaze. “You’ve heard what people are already saying.”

“You mean Ethan.” Ozzy argued lowly.

Ozzy hates Ethan, and for good reason. Dude is a total f*****g psycho. I’ve had to stop Ozzy from killing him too many times by now.

I shook my head. “Everyone has-“

“Everyone has been teasing us in a friendly manor. Ethan is the only one who has been taking it too far. Do you really think our friends don’t want us to be happy?” He asked.

I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want him.” I stated.

“Well I do.” Ozzy said shocking me. “I want to at least try it out. Being without him these last few months… Olive it’s been hard. Our parents even noticed the difference in us. We haven’t been happy without him.” He said.

“I have been fine.” I said.

“No you haven’t.” Ozzy called me out. “I just want us to be happy Olive.”

“You aren’t happy with me anymore?” I asked.

Ozzy sighed. “You know that’s not what I meant baby. I love you, and I love being with you. The only time that I ever feel okay is when I’m with you. But it isn’t enough, and you know it. Something is missing from us, and that something is here now. We have a chance to make things right with him.” He urged me.

“He doesn’t care about us Ozzy. You’ve felt the same pains I have.” I argued.

Ozzy squeezed my hands.

“It’s not like we haven’t been together sexually. What if he feels that, and just acted out? What if he is just as sad as we are, and was just trying to lose himself?” He asked.

“And that would make it okay?” I argued.

Ozzy gave me a hard look.

“His birthday.” Was all he said.

“What?” I asked confused.

“His birthday. We didn’t go see him. I begged you to go, but we didn’t. That night you snuck into my room, and we had some of the best s*x we have ever had. That was the first night you slept with me to try and forget about him. You wanted to lose yourself to avoid thinking about him. It was amazing, and I’m glad we have each other to do that with, but.. Olive, how can you blame him for doing the same thing? If it wasn’t for us he wouldn’t feel that way in the first place. We deserved a little pain.” Ozzy said.

I was shocked. I remember that night well. Azai had called us a bunch the week leading up to his birthday. It took everything in me to not go see him. I just couldn’t. I was too scared. Scared of what I would do when I saw him. At the time I knew that Ozzy knew I needed a release. Maybe he is right. It’s unfortunate that I am just too stubborn.

I scoffed, and took my hands back. “Fine then. If that’s how you feel then go on, and be with him.”

“Don’t be like that baby.” Ozzy argued.

“I’m not being any way.” I argued.

Ozzy sighed. “Fine. I will go see him then.” He said.

“Good. Go.” I said.

Ozzy stood up, and walked to my door. Just like my mother, he paused and turned back to me. There’s heat in his eyes, and I tried to fight down my excitement.

“I won’t accept him without you Olive. So, please give it some thought baby. I love you.” Then he left me alone in my bedroom.