Rogue. Beta

8. INDIE

I didn’t know what it felt like to be jealous. I had never been possessive of anything in my life. Not of anyone.

“I’m so happy for him. He can finally let you go.” It wasn’t for my ears. But I heard them. They made me vibrate.

“What does that mean?” I snarled, turning back on them.

Clara glanced at Remi, clearing her throat.

“It’s uh – it’s nothing,” She answered, swallowing loudly as her voice shook.

“What do you mean he’ll finally let her go!?”

“That’s something you have to discuss with your mate, Indie,” The Alpha’s voice was cool and final.

I remembered I wasn’t supposed to have enough spine to question people. I especially wasn’t supposed to question my superiors.

My body still raged and I wanted to – I wanted to do something. Goodness, I had never felt like this before. I had never felt like I had to make everyone know someone belonged to me. My wolf never got so agitated about something or someone.

With this man I just met, my wolf was doing a lot of snarling. I was jealous. f**k, I was jealous. A burning sensation spread through my chest and stomach, blurring my vision. It was crazy.

“I’m sorry, Alpha, “ I cast my eyes to the ground.

“It’s alright. I know you’re overwhelmed. It’s okay.”

°°°

I met him a little way from the house’s entrance. I hadn’t meant to explode. I really didn’t want him to see the anger in my eyes. I didn’t want him to witness my jaw clenching or my fist quivering.

“You love her. You f*****g love her. Clara wouldn’t say anything else but you’ve been pining after her!”

I hated how my eyes stung. Hated how my heart beat in that moment. I could tell from his expression that he was surprised. His brows pinched and his lips parted a little. I had put him on the spot.

It couldn’t be helped.

I didn’t know what I was expecting. What was even wrong in loving someone? Up until a few hours ago, we didn’t exist to each other. Now, he was at the forefront of everything that mattered. What if it wasn’t like that for him too?

“Yeah, I kind of had a thing for her for a while,” He admitted and my heart slammed. I had expected a lot of things but not an outright confession.

There was no stuttering or beating around the bush.

“I – You – Why!?” I was stunned.

Sure the alpha was pretty and nice but why? What was so special about her!? From the way he said it, a while was a long time. My wolf snarled again, clawing at mm, wanting to be free.

“I thought she was everything great.” Time slowed. I heard my heart shatter into a thousand painful pieces. “I was wrong.” Time sped up again.

“Yeah? How so?” I pressed my hands into my hip.

“You’re everything great,” He said before placing a kiss on my eyelids. My eyes fluttered shut at the press of his lips.

“Your lips are really soft... And warm. Soft and warm. I could kiss them all day.” I felt my cheeks heat.

No. No way. When last did I blush? Had I ever blushed?

Growing up in the company I had, it was hard to feel embarrassed about anything. I had seen gore. I had seen violence. Ramirez had flashed me more times than I could count. Winifred's body was on display every night. I knew no shame or embarrassment.

“Awwn, you’re blushing! You’re really beautiful all red and embarrassed.” He kissed my nose.

My first instinct was to deny so I did.

“I am not blushing.”

The first instinct was to deny anything that would put me in a vulnerable light. It was something I had to fight all the time to fit my new role.

“You are. It’s cute. Don’t try to hide it. It’s also cute that you got jealous.” He kissed me again while I tried to fight off the gooey feeling in my chest.

“I wasn’t jealous. I don’t get jealous. I don’t blush either,” I exclaimed just as my assigned hater approached.

“Ugh, please don’t tell me you’re mated to this loser,”

“Oh, hey Ashley,” I said. The ugly head of jealousy raised again.

“Ashley, Mark. How are you guys?” My mate greeted the bully and her mate.

I listened to them exchange pleasantries. The first spark of anger started to grow into a grenade ready to blow.

We Lucianos were not known for a mild temper. I had had a long time to work on mine. Way before this mission. I did not want to blow. It would blow my cover. I could not afford that.

The little b***h started to insult me right to my face. I would have to give her another s******g. It hurt that I couldn’t give her a busted lip with my signature on it so she knew just who it was from.

“Look at her! Sure, she’s pretty. But can’t you see she’s weak? They used to beat her in her pack so you know she’s not all that. She doesn’t belong here. She doesn’t fit with you!” She was saying to my mate. Mason growled lowly. He ran his hands through my hair, not knowing I was trembling with anger.

I wanted to introduce this girl to my fist and some grass.

“Wanna hear something interesting?”

My wolf growled and stumped. She clawed at me and snarled to get out.

Ashley f*****g Walters was leaning into my Mason. I didn’t like it one bit.

“Stupidity comes in all shapes and sizes.” He said.

I knew that joke.

Laughter bubbled within me as the stupid girl’s brows furrowed.

“So?” She said in her falsetto voice.

“Some of them look exactly like you.” I burst into a laugh.

“You’re going to regret her, Mason. She’s going to be nothing but a setback. A f*****g damsel in distress. If things go bad, be sure you would have to rescue her all the time.”

I felt his anger surrounding me. He was losing his temper. My heart sped up, anticipating some violence. He was sizing up the opponent, fast and calculated. He could take them. We all knew he could take them. He would win without any help. Yet, he didn’t seem the sort to fight his pack mate. He didn’t seem the sort that let his temper go so I came in for a save.

“Some people deserve a nice smack sometimes. In the face. With a chair, ” I murmured under my breath.

I expected them to hear me.

Pretending to be an omega meant I had to act in a certain way. A way that would not pull attention to me. If I deviated, I could very well be inviting suspicion. Suspicion was the last thing I wanted. If they started looking into me, they would find enough dirt to bury me.

Being mated to the beta would be my excuse if asked.

“Excuse me?” Ashley’s sweet tone turned sour. Her eyes danced with angry colours. I couldn’t take her in public but I trusted Mason to deal with her. I didn’t know him but I trusted him.

“Oh! I was just thinking of how some people deserve to be smacked for their ignorant words.”

“You think because you’re mated to the beta you’re now at my level?” She started on a long and useless tirade. It made me blush. Such cliché lines. I would deal with you? Really?

Of course Mason jumped to my defence.

“I’m mated to Mason and there’s nothing you can do about it. Cry me a river and drown yourself if it hurts too bad!” I said again.

“She can’t speak to me like that!” She cried. She took a threatening step forward, Making me coil. The cold surface of the weapon in my jacket made me tense up.

The b***h's mate pulled her away, apologising to us. I felt bad for him. He was mated to a grade A cunt. He deserved someone sweet. So did Mason. Mason deserved someone sweet and truthful but he was stuck with me. For life. I shivered.

“I didn’t know you had such a fierce spirit,” he said with a big smile that put all of his teeth on display. His straight, pearly white teeth.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

And there was a lot he would never know. He thought everything about me was great. Wait till he finds out I was plotting against his pack.

“I’ll like to know everything.” He cleared his throat loudly. “ Do you fancy like – I mean, we could grab a bite or – or a drink. That’s if you want. “

°°

When he said grab a bite or drink, I didn’t imagine it would be something fancy. I almost looked out of place with my clothes. I dressed in a cute little gown at least. Rather than the shorts and boy band T-shirt I first considered.

We get a table outside. The weather was fairly nice. Warm but not hot, with clear skies. It was a bright day all together.

The waitress however, was too friendly.

“Mason, your back!” She wrapped her hands around him. My growl made her retract it in a few seconds.

“Thank you, Anya. This is my mate, Indigo. Indigo, Anya and I went to school together,” He introduced us.

Anya seemed nice enough, congratulating me on my ‘fine catch'.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your party. I was working that night. Hope you enjoyed it though!?”

He cleared his throat in unease. The girl was not making any plans to leave.

“Yeah, thank you. My mate and I are on our first date. Can you recommend your best steak, please?”

She finally left with our orders.

“I’m sorry about that. Anya and I used to be close.” I stopped myself from wondering how close.

The person who brought our wine was equally too friendly. He wanted to talk about football until Mason told him upfront to get our food.

“Tell me about you.”

It was a question I anticipated so I wasn’t thrown off guard.

“I’m the only child of my father. My mother died when I was born.”

It wasn’t a lie. If you’re going to tell lies, it’s important to only tell the ones that matter. It’s easier to keep track that way.

“My father loved me. I think he did. Maybe he still does. But over the years, he has thrown himself more into his work than ever,” I took a shaky deep breath. It was a half truth. I’m sure my father loved me. I was his treasure. His gift from my mother.

“Then, at eighteen, I didn’t – I didn’t shift. I can’t – I’m not sure why but my wolf won’t come out.” I was sure why though. I was caging my wolf. Myself and my dad. When a werewolf shifts for the first time, there is a complete merging of the two beings. My wolf side was feral so I had only shifted twice in my life. To make sure she didn’t get stronger.

A series of herbs and potions from a witch my father kept in our dungeon ensured my wolf was suppressed every full moon.

“It got worse. My father – he wouldn’t say anything but the others, they would. They – they beat me and they – they wouldn’t –“ I started to cry at that point.

Another lesson was to never give a full account. It would start to sound rehearsed after a while. It was also better short – fewer questions.

Mason reached across the table, covering my hand with his. He squeezed me in reassurance.

“You’re safe here. I’m sorry you had to encounter such bad people. That’s in the past now. They can’t hurt you anymore. I’m not letting anyone lay a hand on you again. Ever.” His eyes blazed as he squeezed my hand.

He meant it. This man would lay down his life to protect mine.