Chapter 414

"And now Chester is in there right now talking to her," I concluded the story. Nan's eyes remained on the hallway that Harper's room was down. I could tell from the nervous way she was biting her lip that she was nervous.noveldrama

We were all pretty much thinking the same thing... what were they talking about?

Third Person POV

Once alone, Chester closed the door to Harper's room. His heart went out to Harper in a way; he had been through a lot with her. Experienced a lot with her. He always told himself that if he were to fall in love with anybody, it would be Harper. But then he found his mate and everything changed. He hated that he was losing his friend like this, and he hated what they had become.

"You can't keep attacking my mate every time you see her, Harper,” Chester finally started to speak after what felt like an eternity of silence. "It's not fair to anybody involved and it's not fair to yourself to keep holding onto the past like this."

She chewed on the inside of her cheek, as she often did when she was nervous.

"I thought it was going to be us against the world," Harper snapped back. "You always said that I was the only one who got you. That it was me and you forever despite all the obstacles..."

"I said that in the heat of the moment, Harper," he said, narrowing his eyes at me. "You can't fault me for the shit I say during sex."

"It doesn't make it any less true! You were supposed to reject her, just like I rejected my mate!"

His eyes grew large at his admittance. He hadn't heard that Harper found her mate or that she rejected him.

"You rejected your mate?" Chester asked, his brows knitted together tightly. "Why would you do that?"

"For you!" Harper said loudly; she was sure the others had heard her by now. "I rejected him for you, just like you were supposed to reject her for me."

Chester stared around her tear-stained face for a bit longer, his resolve fading slightly and the fight leaving his body. He had no idea that she rejected her mate for him... he had no intentions of rejecting Nan... the thought of it made him sick to his stomach.

Unbeknownst to Chester and Harper, Nan had snuck away from her friends so she could listen to what they were talking about. Her heart was in her throat as she peeked through the door and saw them talking.

Chester had stepped closer to Harper and Nan didn't like their close proximity; it made her feel uneasy.

Chester put his hands on Harper's shoulders, forcing her to remain still and to look up at him.

"I didn't know you felt that strongly," he murmured. "I thought this was a casual fling... but knowing you loved me like that. Enough to reject your mate..."

Nan's eyes immediately filled with tears at the sound of Chester's voice; it was soft and compassionate. Like a lover speaking to his woman. She bit her lip to keep from sobbing, but she needed to hear more; she needed to hear what he was going to say next.

"I would do anything for you, Chester," Harper whispered, her lip trembling. "When will you learn that?"

"I guess I couldn't read you as well as I thought, he admitted gently. "One thing was always certain; you were my best friend. The only one who truly understood me and loved me just the way I was. I never had to be anyone different. I could sleep around, and you'd still be here waiting for me with a warm bed. I always looked forward to spending time with you."

Every word was a blow to Nan's chest and heart; she thought she was going to fall to the ground.

"I don't regret anything that we shared," he continued softly.

A small smile tipped the corner of Harper's lips.

"Me neither," she whispered.

Nan watched as Harper stood on her toes, her cheeks flushed, her eyes hooded and her lips parted

slightly as she neared Chester's net

mouth Chester stood still, looking down at her and Nan was seconds away from turning and leaving, but then Chester's voice made her freeze.

"But I'm pretty sure I'm in love with Nan," he said softly, making Harper pause and open her eyes even more. "She's my mate, Harper. The thought of rejecting her makes me sick to my stomach. I could never reject her... I'm falling for her pretty quickly and that scares the shit out of me. It's a new feeling that's foreign to me... but it's real and it's there. I could never be what you need me to be because I don't belong to you and I never truly did. It's Nan... I'm choosing Nan."