We reached 50 stars!⭐️ Thank you sm! As promised.. two chapters today!💚
"Not until you talk to me." I said, shaking my head.
"Ain't got nothing to say."
I exhaled sharply. "Gally, I.."
But he was already moving around me. I huffed, spinning around to catch up. "Okay, fine, I get it. You're mad."
Nothing.
"You should be mad. I would be mad too. I.. I should have come to you first."
Gally let out a humorless chuckle. "Yeah, no shit."
"I didn't mean to..."
"To what?" He finally turned around. "Run off to him? Let him put his hands on you?" His jaw clenched. "You think you can just waltz over here, say a few pretty words, and I'll forget all that?"
"I wasn't trying to hurt you," I said, softer this time. "I just...I was scared, okay? I almost passed out, Gally." My voice cracked, but I kept going. "I couldn't breathe, I..."
"Yeah? And he was the one you needed?"
I blinked. "What?"
"You heard me," he bit out. "You were scared, and he was the one you ran to. Not me.
Why, (Y/n)? Why him?"
I let out a frustrated breath. "Gally, it wasn't about him. It could've been anyone. I just needed..."
"Bullshit," he snapped, stepping closer. His eyes never left mine, pinning me in place. "It's always him, isn't it? You were worried when I shoved him across the Glade, worried when I fought him, in the circle, worried when he nearly stepped one damn foot into that maze. You only seem to care when it's him."
"That's not true." My voice shaked.
"No?" He let out a short, humorless laugh again. "Then tell me why I saw it, (Y/n). The way you looked at him. Like it was the end of the damn world."
I shook my head, looking down. "You don't understand..."
"Then make me," he snapped.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I could feel my chest rising and falling too fast, my eyes burning. Tell him. Just tell him the truth. But I couldn't. You know why? Because I'm still struggling to believe it myself. It doesn't make sense. If I say it out loud..then it's real. And I don't know if I'm ready for that.
Gally's breathing was rough and then, before I could react, his hand shot out, fingers gripping my jaw, forcing me to look up at him again.
"Come on," he muttered, voice low and dangerous. His thumb brushed over my skin. "Say it. Explain." He tilted my chin up, his grip firm but not hurting. "Say where the fuck I'm standing, because I don't fucking believe you anymore. I don't believe what you've said on the bonfire night."
"You." I chocked out. "It's you Gally."
I sucked in a breath and let it all out at once.
"I love the way your eyes change color in the sun, how they turn more blue when the light hits them just right. The way they flicker with something soft when you think I'm not looking. I love your freckles, your hair when you come out of the showers, all messy and damp."
I could feel my pulse hammering in my throat.
"I love your stupid muscles, and how you show them off without trying. The way your hands are always rough but careful when you touch me. I love how your brows furrow when you're thinking too hard, the way your nose scrunches when something pisses you off but you don't wanna say it out loud. I even love the way you lean against something or the way your shoulders tense when you're holding back from saying something mean."
I swallowed hard. "I love how you let Chuck stand in front of you in line for food. I love how you laugh...not the short chuckles, but the real one, the one that makes your shoulders shake. I love how your face softens when you see something good, even though you pretend you don't care."
Gally didn't move. Didn't blink. His jaw clenched. My heart was hammering against my ribs so hard it hurt.
Then, slowly, his grip on my jaw loosened, his thumb brushing over my lips in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. His eyes softened..just a little. And then, finally.. finally..he exhaled.
Gally's hands found my waist, yanking me forward. My chest pressed against his, and when I looked up, our lips were inches apart.
"You mean that?" His voice was low, rough.
I didn't hesitate. "Every word."
And that was all it took.
His mouth crashed onto mine, hot. I gasped against him, and he took advantage of it, tilting my head back, deepening the kiss but then his fingers slid over my hands, and I winced.
Gally froze. He pulled back just enough to look down, his brows furrowing. When he saw the cuts, the splinters, the raw skin, something in his face changed.
"What happened?"
I swallowed, suddenly a bit nervous. Slowly, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the carving.
I held out the small pendant. He reached for it slowly and turned it over in his palm, tracing the rough edges, the shape of the ears.
"You made this?" His voice was slightly higher, pure disbelief.
I grinned. "What, surprised I can actually build something?"
Gally huffed a laugh, still staring at the wolf. "A little, yeah."
"Well, you're a Builder," I said back, crossing my arms. "Had to adapt to your hobbies, didn't I?"
He smirked, shaking his head, like he doesn't quite believe me, but there's this look in his eyes...soft, kind of amused.
"Why a wolf?," he asked, but his thumb kept brushing over the wolf like it was something precious.
I grabbed the leather strip and reached for his wrist. "Hold still."
He didn't move, just let me tie it around his wrist.
"Well, you remind me of one. They're caring in their own ways, growling literally all the time and above all, they're devoted to family. In their own ways."
For a second, he just looked at me, with this small smile. Then, to my surprise, he said, "Thank you. It's... very pretty."
The way he said it..so honest, so real..made my chest tighten.
Before I could say something else, he reached for my hurt hand. His fingers brushed over the scraped skin, then he lifted it and pressed a slow, deliberate kiss.
I stared at him, my breath caught in my throat, my heart skipping a beat before racing even faster.
Then, before I could fully process it, his expression changed.
"Come on," he muttered, and before I could ask what he meant, he grabbed me..hoisting me up over his shoulder in one smooth motion.
A surprised yelp escaped me. "Gally!"
He ignored me, walking like he hadn't just thrown me around like a damn sack of potatoes.
The second Gally set me down on the high table in the med-jack hut, I knew I wasn't getting out of here anytime soon.
He stepped between my legs, grabbing my wrist, his fingers brushing over my palm as he turned it over. His eyes darkened when he got a closer look.
"You're something else." He said pouring something over a cloth before taking my hand again. He grabbed a pair of tweezers and started pulling out the splinters, slow and steady.
I was about to make a smart remark when he leaned in. Close. Too close.
His breath was warm against my skin before his lips brushed my neck...slow, teasing, but careful around the bruises.
A smile crept on my lips. "Gally.."
He hummed against my skin. "Hm?"
Before I could answer, he pulled back.
I blinked, suddenly too aware of the loss of warmth, and watched as he...casually, like he hadn't just kissed my neck...went right back to treating my hand.
"You asshole," I mumbled, breathless.
His smirk was pure arrogance. "Hold still."
I narrowed my eyes at him, but before I could come up with a comeback, he leaned in again...his lips meeting mine.
I gasped against his mouth, my legs wrapping around his torso.
Then...just as quickly as before..he pulled back.
I barely managed to glare at him before he grabbed my hand again, inspecting it.
I huffed. "You can't just...just start something and then stop."
Gally glanced up, smug. "I can do whatever I want."
I clenched my jaw, hiding a smile. "I hate you."
"Mmhmm." He pressed another kiss to my wrist, soft, teasing. "Sure you do."
I hated how my stomach flipped.
This time I leaned in, closing the gap between us. Slowly, carefully. His hands slid up my back, pulling me forward.
"No more Thomas," he murmured against my mouth. "You hear me?"
I let out a laugh. "Ew."
Gally let out a chuckle our noses still touching.
Then something hit the roof of the hut with a soft plink. Then again, and again.