Rogue. Beta

13. MASON

Breakfast was nice. Sort of.

“Oh my goodness, there’s a bird!” She exclaimed.

It was supposed to be a little getaway before I got swarmed with work and ended up crawling into bed like a zombie.

“Yeah, isn’t it pretty? I think it likes you.”

The small green bird hopped to where we sat. I expected her to admire the bird. What I didn’t expect was for to shriek, scramble away and spill orange juice all over my jeans.

“Get it away from me!” She exclaimed.

“What, why?”

Her ruckus already startled the bird. It beat its pretty wings as it took flight.

“Aww, now you startled our little friend,” I said, fake a pout.

“Good. I hate birds!”

She took a towel to mop up the liquid she had spilt on me. It was a... Well, it was an ero – exhilarating experience. It was... Something.

For the first time ever, her hair was not in one of her fancy braid styles. It fell to curtain her face as she worked to get juice out of my jeans. Orange juice. She was trying to get out orange juice!

“Why do you hate birds?” I asked, curious. “They’re harmless. Like that one. It was very pretty. I bet it wanted to be friends with you,” I said with a stupid smile.

I had to stop her from scrubbing at my jeans. The skin beneath them was already sensitive. I wasn’t looking to have red, blotchy skin.

When she raised her head up, her cheeks were darker than usual.

“When I was five, I got chased by a turkey,” She deadpanned, staring straight into my eyes. It was almost as if she was challenging me to laugh. So I did.

I burst into loud guffaws until she started to turn red with a different kind of embarrassment.

“I’m sorry. That must have been a terrifying experience for you,” I said, all traces of laughter gone. The way she looked, a slackened posture and fierce glare made me feel terrible. Like a jerk.

“You don’t even know the half of it,” She murmured. “One minute I was walking and the next I was running. The worst part is I FELL! And then it pounced on me and scratched me. See, I got this from an evil turkey.” She stretched out her left leg, pointing to her knee. And because I could, I kissed the tiny pale scar on her smooth skin.

I felt her skin heat up beneath my lips.

“Then at fifteen, I got attacked by pigeons. That was because of the stupid boy I was dating then. He thought it would be funny to throw pigeon seeds at me while surrounded by pigeons.”

I growled. I hadn’t meant to. But it slipped out.

“And the worst part, on prom night, a bird decided it would be fun to take a dump on my head! Ruined my pretty braid and all.” She sulked.

“Awwn, my baby. I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“Thank you.” She mock sniffed, laying her head on my chest in the garden.

If I turned on my notifications, I would surely find a thousand and one messages from Dylan. He would come storming to the pack house soon to drag me to my work but I wanted to enjoy my mate for a while. Sue me. Indigo Penn was the most important person in my life. For once, I was going to be selfish. Put my happiness before the pack. It was something Dylan and Jake always did. Put their happiness before work. Indigo Penn was my happiness.

The distance from earlier was gone. It seemed it hadn’t really been there before. Like it had been a figment of my imagination. Maybe stress-induced. She was all bustling energy now.

“Do you want to officially meet my parents? I’ve kind of not seen them since I came back.”

And then, the cold feeling was back. Like she had just pulled away from me in the middle of a warm hug. It was more pronounced because of the mood we were in. She drew away from me, rubbing her hands against her dress.

“Is anything the matter?” I asked, heart thudding.

A bird swooping in stopped her answer.

“Another bird!” She exclaimed, dashing to the pack house with her hands shielding her head.

That was the end of breakfast.

I picked up the few things we had brought out with us, going back inside.

I met her in the kitchen with a sheepish expression. It was one of the few times I remembered she was an omega. For all the horrors she had seen, it made me happy that she still retained a fierce soul despite it all.

“I didn’t mean to run out on you.”

“It’s okay.” I leaned in to press my lips against hers. And I felt that creeping hesitation again.

“I swear, that bird had murder in its eyes,” She shuddered. “Here, let me help you with those,” She tried to do the dishes for me.

“Nah, it’s just a few cu –“

“What the deuce is wrong with you!?” A voice boomed.

Ah. My Alpha found me.

°°

I called her once I got into my office. I still had a query from a whiner pack to attend to before getting into the Luciano issue.

We spoke for all of five minutes before Jake poked his head in. I wanted to take her out for lunch, but it didn’t seem like I would make it. I had so much to do. Augh. I was always enthusiastic about my service to my pack. But had they always taken so much time?

“I won’t starve. Mase. Focus on your work,” She said into the receiver. I could almost feel her rolling her eyes at me.

“Yeah? What will you have for lunch?” I asked, powering up my computer.

“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll make some pasta.”

“Uggh. I love pasta. Save me some. It doesn’t seem like I will be getting out of here for lunch.”

I called her again towards lunch. The feeling from the morning was back. The strain in my chest. The panic that I couldn’t place my hands on. I knew it was coming from her. It had to be. First, there had been an intense sort of anger. Pure hatred. Loathing. Then panic.

I called her and she sounded out of breath. She said she was fine. There was nothing in her voice to suggest otherwise. Asides the slight breathlessness when she picked up. She was fine but why did it feel like she wasn’t.

I couldn’t hear her thoughts but we were close to that stage. We were close to having a fully bloomed mating bond. One in which I could hear whatever went through her mind. And she would hear mine. The height of being joined. The c****x that never ended till death.

I would treasure it as much as I treasured my mark on her neck. I looked forward to it every day.

Remi got me a burger and fries for lunch. Looking worn out with her hair in a messy bun and her feet dragging behind her.

“You okay?” I asked in concern as she trudged to the door with slackened shoulders.

“You wouldn’t be if your mate was leaving in a few days for god knows how long,” She muttered like the dead, slamming the door shut behind her.

Yeah. That. Dylan could do with some tact.

“Yo, dude. Why did you get two burger and fries when I only got a sad burger!” Jake burst into my office.

“’cuz she hates you. You used to bully her, man,” I answered, taking a big bite out of my juicy, not sad burger.

“f**k, that was like a hundred years ago. She can’t hold a grudge for that long!” He exclaimed, putting his legs on my desk.

I stabbed at his ankle with a pen. He didn’t need telling to take his legs off my freaking work!

“Man, I was just kidding. She isn’t holding any grudge. For three years? Nahh. She’s not the type.” I wiped mustard off my hands as I spoke. I didn’t rea like mustard.

“She’s not the type, huh? Still have the hots for her?” He wriggled his brows like the perverted wolf he is.

“I’m mated,” I replied in a monotone.

“Not denying eh? My daddy didn’t let it stop him. You shouldn’t let it stop you,” He winked.

“I know you’re trying to piss me off, Jake. Your father is an asshole. I’m not. Tell me, do you still wanna smash Ashley?” I hit back.

“Ewww. No. What the f**k?” He wrinkled his nose like I just passed a bowl of vomit under it.

“Exactly. Now, shut the f**k up and let me eat.”

“Aren’t you a ball of sunshine today? What crawled up your ass and died?”

I didn’t answer for a while, focusing too much on my fries.

“Alright. Spit it out. What’s up with you? I was half asleep during the meeting. Doesn’t mean I didn’t notice you acting differently.”

It was almost unlike Jake to be so concerned. He had his points but caring hadn’t been one of them. Amazing how a single person could change another so much in such a short time.

“It’s Indigo.” I started, not knowing if I was supposed to be telling anyone. Least of all, Jake.

“Yeah, what about her?” He managed to look and sound concerned. For me. For her.

“Something is bugging her. I can’t tell what it is but it must be something big. It’s driving me mad.”

“Have you spoken to her about it?”

Gahd, it sounded so simple. All the answers to my problem. I could just ask her!

But, if she wanted me to know, wouldn’t she have told me? Or was it one of those things girls did? Sulk away so you go up to them to ask what was wrong. Maybe.

Except. She didn’t really sulk.

“By the look on your face, I can assume you haven’t spoken to her about it. That’s not smart, Mr Smartypants. It’s actually idiotic. You’re an i***t and I’m here to tell you that. Talk to her, man!”

Ah, Jake. Typical Jake.

“You’re –“

Dylan burst into my office.

“A full squad. Yay!” I clapped. “Why are you guys interrupting my work?”

He eyed the food in Jake and I's hand.

“So she got you food but conveniently forgot I exist!”

“Trouble in paradise?” I asked

“She’s not obliged to feed your fat ass, oh King,” Jake said.

“I think she hates me now,” He groaned, falling into a chair. Jake and I rolled our eyes.

“Shut up, Dylan.” Jake, the eloquent said.

“You did spring a nasty surprise on her today. Imagine if she told you out of the blue that she was going to Canada and leaving you with two new-borns?” I got out of my seat as I asked.

“She knows I’ve been toying with the idea. Someone has to be in Canada. For the past eight months, none of us have been there. We were supposed to be three months ago but the kids! And now – She should understand! “

“She will. Once you talk to her.” Jake said.

“I have. She hears my thoughts for chrissake!”

“Dylan, get the hell out of my office and go talk to your mate!”

He growled, low and threatening. But he did storm out of the room.

“Shouldn’t you be doing the same?” Jake eyes me.

“I will. Once I get this done.”

It took more time than I anticipated to complete. When I did, the skies were a little dark out.

She wasn’t in the suite when I got back. I didn’t think anything of it. Sure, I was disappointed, but she was either out with Clara or in her room. I didn’t start to panic till an hour later after I left her a bunch of messages without a reply. She wasn’t in her suite.

I called Clara.

“Hey Beta–“

“Are you with Indigo?”

“Nope. Haven’t seen her today.”

No. No. f*****g hell.

So maybe I was overreacting. It was only ten at night. There was still time.

I watched the clock till it struck eleven. I watched it as it struck twelve. My eyes were still glued to it as it moved to one. I screamed, toppling my dresser as the clock struck two a. m.