Talons

Chapter 33: The Mysterious Friend

Rhea's POV

It has been months since the incident with Alpha Newt, but I am still recovering in terms of muscle damage and scarring. The flog used on me was poisoned, but because at the time of the beating, I did not have my wolf, the damage was not as severe as it could have been.

Sylvia and I haven't intensified our training efforts yet because she says we need to be healthy before we can jump into action, which makes logical and medical sense.

My family cannot visit me the way they had intended, because restrictions have been put in place by the werewolf council, so they need to keep their distance from me. That works in my favor because it allows time for suspicions about me to die down and luckily, it prevents my parents from finding out about Tucker.

In time, I will be added to the pack financial records as a field consultant, so making contact with the pack will be regular, normal, and expected.

Raven graduates with her associates degree in communications soon, and Tucker has already enrolled her in some business program that she seems excited about. The two of them have something I used to be envious of, but as time passes, I only feel discomfort.

My sister has made no indication that she will reject Dolton, nor has she entertained the idea of leaving Tuck. They have made plans far into the future, and I'm worried she is going to hurt the man or get him killed.

Tucker has been incredibly supportive of us from the beginning, and I have grown comfortable around him. Which is good because his family has cut him off and he now lives with us full time.

I had hoped it was not because of Raven but, I have overheard a few of their exceedingly rare arguments in which their relationship is mentioned as some sort of issue. It's not my place to pry, so I have been minding my business until it becomes something I feel like I have to get myself or my family involved in.

I look over at my phone and see that I have a missed notification and excitement overtakes me. I was hoping it was a reply from Jack, but it's the random person I've been chatting with for a while.

When I was released from the hospital, my sisters held a belated birthday celebration for me. It was short and sweet and when I got to my bedroom that night, it was filled with gifts. It took me time to get through them, but everything except one gift was exactly as expected.

Mandy and Carter got me a bracelet with molecule charms, Raven got me an aquarium with fish, Robin and Luke bought me a collapsible vertical climber, and my parents gave me money.

I love all the presents, especially the fish tank which I find myself staring at for hours, but my favorite is the disguise glasses frame necklace I received. There was no name on the box, but it did have a cell number that I at first believed was Jack's new number, but I was wrong.

Since then, I have been texting the person who at first only asked me to guess who they were, but now we chat about random things. I think not knowing who the other person is gives me a sense of exhilaration, which is why I haven't earnestly tried to figure out who it could be.

[Guess yet?] The message read. I respond with a thumbs down. [Are you even trying?] Once again, I respond with an emoticon, which gets me a sad face in response.

[How is work?] I reply, not really wanting to go into the whole guessing game again. I am fine with not knowing who it is I’m texting. There is nothing personal about our conversations and it gives my mind time to stop thinking about Jack.

[You have absolutely no interest in knowing who I am, do you?] I send the shrugging emoticon before I counter.

[I think this game is fun, but you haven't answered my question. Did you take my advice?]

[I did, and it worked, but not the way you said it would.]

[Practice makes perfect my mysterious friend.]

Colton's POV

Texting B always puts me in a better mood. Since she doesn't know who I am, and obviously has no intention of trying to find out, I feel like I can let my guard down completely. Being a future alpha is not all good, there are many people who want to use me for status, and women want to try their luck for an illegitimate pup.

I have never had a paternity scare because I have been using condoms since the incident with Britt, but Trey, my future gamma has had several.

She-wolves cannot get pregnant until after their first heat, which randomly hits after their first shift, and even then, it’s hard without a mark, but Trey has a thing for women in heat, and he has had three females come out around the same time.

Fortunately, none of them were his, but as a ranked pack member, he was made financially responsible for all three women until after paternity could be established. If it were not for the fact that our fathers are good friends, I would have replaced him because he is making me look like I make make poor decisions.

Trey isn't a bad gamma choice though, and he has never been disrespectful of women, at least not that I have seen. He just hasn't had that many partners, which is why I think he is struggling to control himself now.

As gross as it may sound, my father was right. I have been with so many women that s*x is not a big deal for me anymore, and while I still have urges, it's nothing like Trey, who becomes agitated and aggressive.

[Practice makes perfect my mysterious friend.] B adds another emoticon that makes me laugh out loud. She hasn't told me anything personal about herself, but it doesn't stop me from asking.

[Other than studying, what are your plans for the day?]

[Hmmm… I was planning on cleaning my fish tank.] It's my turn to send an emoticon. The girl does nothing fun or interesting at all.

[Don't you have friends?] There is a long pause before B gets back to me.

[Aren't you?]

"That's f*cking sad," Orlin says in my mind. I nod at his statement. If B is considering me, a person she does not know as a friend, then she must be a lonely person.

[Hey, I should go. I have work to do, but it was fun… Linus?] I smile at her attempt to guess who I am, but she is wrong.

[I live another day.] I respond with a smiley face at the end.

[In that case, hear from you later!] There is no point in responding because when B says she is going, she is gone.

I make my way into my closet for a change of clothes. I had been working out before I decided to text B, and I'm sure I smell, but I'm too lazy to shower. I've got a girl I've been seeing coming over and I'm just going to end up sweaty again, so I'll wait until after I kick her out to prepare for the night.

The door knocks and I already know who it is, so I get up and let Jessica in. Her nose scrunches, but she doesn't say anything about how bad I smell, which would have been good if she did.

I'm tired of women belittling themselves for me, but it seems that is all they know how to do.

"Pick a movie," I say, handing Jessica my phone. I'm not the ass I used to be, and I've decided I can at least rinse off for the girl.

I head into the shower, and when I come back the sofa bed is already pulled out and Jessica has synced my device to the projector in the room. I roll my eyes at the movie selection, but Romcom seems to be the go-to for women.

Rhea's POV

I don't usually check my phone while I am studying, but Jack hasn't texted me in days, and I really miss talking to him. He used to call me at least once a week, but now I'm lucky if I get a text.

Sylvia hates that he makes me feel that way, but she hasn't seen him yet. She only has my memories, but I cannot wait for the two of them to meet. I think she will feel as pulled to him as I do and I'm hoping she will agree to him.

My wolf grumbles in my mind and I giggle at her. She knows my thoughts, and she is not thrilled that I'm planning to open my legs before my urges have hit, but I want my mind to be in control of my actions, not my hormones.

"How is that not the same thing?" My wolf asks and I laugh loudly, making Tucker shake his head while calling me a weirdo. He doesn't mean it in a bad way, which is why my wolf and I don't take it personal. He just doesn’t know that I have a sentient being in my head.

I go into my bedroom, closing my door for privacy before I open my messages. I'm shocked by the obviously female middle finger in the photo I was sent, but not really surprised.

[Stop texting my man b*tch!] My wolf and I shake our head at the message before sending 'okay' as a response and blocking the number. I completely wipe the thread and put my phone on silent.

"Aren't you curious as to who it could have been?"

"Not really. It was pretty obvious to me that whoever was texting me was doing it to be funny, but they have the wrong girl if they think my feelings will be hurt over someone I don't know."

"But your feelings are hurt. I can feel it."