Talons

Chapter 37: The Comeback

Rhea’s POV

Summer break is about to begin, and while I would normally take classes, I have decided to focus on Sylvia this time around.

Pack restrictions against me have been lifted, and my brother was able to hire me as an outside consultant on the farms. That means I won't have to worry about money; consultant fees cannot be set or regulated by the council.

I will be staying with my grandparents because they live closer to the orchards, and it raises less suspicion. I know my parents wanted me to come back to their cabin, but since they are still active pack members, they should limit their interactions with me for appearance’s sake.

The incident with Alpha Newt was beyond shady, and the council hasn’t quite let it rest. While they have turned their eye away from me for the time being, it does not mean they have forgotten.

My phone vibrates and I answer Coach Jim’s call. He has been begging me to stick with ‘his’ boys because so far, I am the only one who has been able to push them past the threshold they needed to meet.

Of the group I tutored, only two did not meet their mark, and they were among the last to join the sessions.

“Please Miss Talons, you’ve got a way with those boys that I can’t explain. We can even double your pay.” I’m not money hungry, but I am greatly swayed.

“I have family plans for the summer coach.”

“And I don’t want to stop you from enjoying them, but come August, I want you on campus. I can arrange for housing, meals, and if you want you can work out with the guys.” Coach Jim is good, and he is definitely not human. He wouldn’t have offered me something that could potentially kill me if he were, but he clearly isn’t worried about my safety.

“I'm not sure if working out with grown men is safe for me, but I will consider your offer. If you text me the details, I will go over them with my parents, and get back with you in a few days.” The coach sighs before agreeing and hanging up. I half believe he is with the council, but he hasn’t given himself away just yet.

I head into the shower, and when I am done, I see that my phone is glowing. I missed three calls from an unknown number, but instead of calling back, I text the person. A few minutes pass, and I get a response that is familiar, but I don’t want to assume.

[Mike? Brent? Brice? Chris? Lou? Raul?] I type out the names of the guys I tutor and a few of my classmates who may have gotten my number from a professor. 

[Wow… You know a lot of men,] the person responds. 

[Work hazard,] I reply. [So, are you going to tell me who this is or are we still playing your game?]

Colton’s POV

I’ve not been sleeping well, and I often find myself pacing in the gym, throwing punches at the bags, and when that doesn’t work, I call Gale who gives me nothing but momentary relief. All the terrible things I have ever done to B keep floating to the surface of my mind, and I’m feeling guilty for giving the girl self-esteem issues that I’m not even sure exist.

“What is happening to me?” I ask Orlin, and he tells me that it's in my nature as an alpha to protect weak wolves from harm, especially when I know who and what Jack is about. My wolf thinks that I will feel better if I hear from B, but when I call her, it bounces to an automated message saying that the subscriber cannot be reached.

"Try calling from a different number." I’m shocked that my wolf even remembers to do that, but when I was younger, I used several apps to spoof numbers so that girls couldn’t prove they were talking to me. I download one, and call B with no answer, so I send a message, but she takes over half an hour to respond. 

[Who is this?]

[Guess…] I reply, trying to spark the friendly nature of our old conversations even though I now know the girl had blocked my number. For some reason that doesn’t bother me, it means that she isn’t out to impress me, which is refreshing.

[...Raul? Logan? Terrence? Carlos? Neil? Vince?] I am almost shocked by the amount of names B lists out, and I’m a little put off that they are all male.

[Wow… You know a lot of men.]

[Work hazard,] she replies. [So, are you going to tell me who this is or are we still playing your game?] I smile because she knows who I am, or rather she knows I am the same person who had been texting her before.

[I hadn’t heard from you in a while. I wanted to make sure you are okay.]

[Well, that’s ‘nice’ of you, and to answer your question, I am fine. Now if you don’t mind, I would like it if you stopped texting me.]

[Why?] I ask. I desperately want B to tell me that she knows who I am, but she hits me with a statement that makes me laugh louder than I meant to.

[It's just weird.]

[Coming from a weirdo like you,] I respond playfully.

[Wait.] There is a long pause and then she sends another male name. [Tucker?] I stare at the text for a while. I feel like I have heard Mandy mention that name after B’s welcome home party, but I’m not sure. 

Rhea’s POV

I think I know who I am texting, well I know it's the same person who I had been texting before and an eerie feeling overtakes me when I get the inclination that it may be Tucker. I’m immediately relieved when the person asks if Tucker is my boyfriend, although he could just be pretending I’m wrong.

Sylvia thinks that it's someone from Lark’s pack because they decided to text me when I’m about to visit home, and I kind of agree with her thinking. I see no harm in continuing with casual talk, so I let the conversation flow; I have cut the person off before and I will cut them off again if needed.

My wolf is slightly concerned that this too is a trap set up by the council, but I’m not dumb enough to reveal things that could get me or my brother’s pack in trouble. Worst case scenario, a bunch of teens are having a good laugh at my expense, which is the norm for me anyway.

[What do you do now? Aren't you finished with school?] The person asks, and I’m surprised they even remember that I could have graduated if I wanted to.

[I am continuing my studies for my bachelors, and I am a student/ tutor/ science farmer...?] I send an emoticon that looks confused because I just realized that I don’t know what to call myself.

Colton’s POV

B is a tutor, which explains all the male names she listed. I know it isn't a fact, but I am more than sure the only people who ever needed tutoring in high school were male, including myself, and I can't see much changing in college.

I had originally texted to bring up Jack, but I find myself enjoying the conversation in a way that scares me. Carter is right, I am emotionally attracted to the girl. Brain isn’t someone I am trying to sleep with, so I can speak freely, and because she doesn't know who I am, I see no need to put on a show for her.

"But you would," Orlin adds slyly, and I shrug. B is legal; short, skinny, and ugly too, but legal.

Somehow, the girl and I get onto the topic of diet and exercise, and it occurs to me that she is trying to figure out if I am a pack fighter, so I throw her for a loop.

[I’m not really big on exercise.] I don’t receive a reply for a long time, but when I finally get one, it’s worth the wait.

[CRISIS AVERTED.] I reply to her with laughing emoticons and a wink.

[Can I bother you for advice?] I send. [I need the perspective of a girl.]

[Ask the one you have.]

[I’d rather not.] I’m confused by B’s text, but she is probably guessing.

[I likely can’t help, but okay.]

[There are two girls that I can't choose between. Can you help me decide?]

[Umm… I am not sure I am qualified for such a task, but I can try.] I explain both girls to B, trying my best not to sexualize them, but in the end, I am unable to avoid it. [That's all you know about them? Sounds like you need to try harder; come back with more information if you actually want decent advice.] I chuckle at my phone, and Carter snatches my device away from me, making me jump. I hadn’t even noticed he had come into the gym.

“You're talking to that girl again, aren’t you?”

“I am, and I just asked her to help me choose between Jessica and Gale.”

“That's kind of f*cked,” Carter says, and I use his shock to snatch my phone back.

“Why?” Carter eyes dart to his mate, who is stretching on a nearby yoga mat.

“Hun, what if you found out that a girl planned our valentine's day celebration?” Mandy’s eyes snap toward her mate with a vicious scowl, and I physically see what he means.

“Why would that be bad?” I ask, taking the heat off Carter, who has gone to rubbing his mate’s arms and back, assuring her that it was a hypothetical question. She knows he isn’t lying, but she is still pissed, so I have to repeat my question twice.

“It's not bad, it’s just not good,” she finally says. “It's like me naming my first son after a guy I dated.” Carter growls and I laugh. I really like Mandy.