Talons

Chapter 100: The Embarrassed

Colton’s POV

I can’t believe I have overlooked something so simple. My mate hasn’t had a shower since she arrived and she’s been covered in mud, she’s been cleaning, and while I don’t think she smells bad, I know enough about women to know she must feel disgusting. 

I can only imagine what Luna Mavis must be thinking, but right now, I can't worry about her. All I can think about is my mate, who made it clear that she is unhappy, not just with me, but with her overall living situation.

I was so embarrassed by my own actions that I snatched the phone, whispered an apology into the line, then hung up. I hope Luna Mavis doesn't have a heart attack, but I didn't want her to hear anything else her daughter had to say. 

When guests usually arrive, our omegas have the rooms fully stocked for them, but Rhea is staying in my suite, and I no longer permit anyone to clean without me being around.

For the year that I've been unable to have s*x, I've had women try to sneak into my room using omegas as a cover.  To prevent that, I banned anyone from entering and I've been doing most of my own cleaning.

Aside from that, people don’t really know Rhea is here because she hasn’t been introduced to anyone. For those who were around when I brought her onto pack territory, she was just a passed-out woman. They have no idea who she is, and with my gamma at a pack rehabilitation visit in another state, the only person who would go around telling people is gone.

With my embarrassment faded, I realized that I was way too aggressive toward my mate. She is currently crouched down in a corner, likely waiting for me to strike her, but I just wanted to take the phone away, nothing more.

“Should I get to work on her personal items?” Holly links, and I nod. She pats my shoulder as she leaves, and my mate and I are alone again.

“I will give you back your phone when I’m certain that you won’t try to escape.” I step closer to her, and she curls her body up impossibly tight. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, turning around and walking out of the room. 

I shut the door behind me and pass Mandy, who is carrying a set of clothing with her. I recognize them as the clothes my mate was wearing during our rejection hearing, and while they are clean, I can’t help but to be annoyed by the sight of them.

Rhea told Miracle and Mandy that she was doused in freezing water every half hour and that the temperature in the dungeons was made intentionally low. I know exactly what that feels like because when I was younger, the same method of torture was used on me by my father.

“Please Mandy. Find out if there is anything else she needs. I thought you were taking care of everything for her.”

“She isn’t my mate,” Mandy replies, and I wince. When I had locked Rhea up, I had given Mandy a command. I told her to let me take care of my own mate, and the weight of my words must have left her unable to help.

“Okay, I’m sorry. Please help me with my mate.”

“We will have to go shopping for that,” Mandy says, and I nod.

“Just not now; I need you to do something for me.”

Rhea’s POV

Mandy comes back holding the clothes that I had on when I was locked in the dungeons and a few minutes later, Holly comes in with toiletries. I’m eager to shower, but I’m scared. Colton may come in while I’m washing or send people to catch me off guard.

“Want me to sit in the bathroom with you?” Mandy asks, and Holly volunteers to guard the door.

I nod vigorously, snatching the things from both women as I disappear into the restroom. The water feels good on my skin, and I can feel the grime being rinsed away.

“Is there any shampoo?” I ask, and Mandy asks Holly to grab some. She comes back a few seconds later and hands me a red bottle that I squeeze into my hands and lather into my hair. 

I spent too long not combing my curls and they have become a tangled mess again, but I used my fingers to work my way through the coils, massaging my scalp that had started to become itchy.

“B,” Mandy says. “I want to take you somewhere on the territory.” I nod. I had involuntarily agreed to Colton’s request for me to go outside and I would feel much better doing that with my cousin around.

I finish up my shower and exit the restroom fully clothed. Holly has already left, and after pulling my hair into a high pony, I tell Mandy that I’m ready to go.

I follow her out of the packhouse, passing by a few males who stare at me in confusion. I don’t know if it’s because they recognize me from school or because I smell like a rogue.

We get to a bench, and I sit, taking in the Iron Pack territory, which I have never visited. This area looks like a gated community, and I wonder if the entire pack is this luxurious. 

“This is my favorite place to read.” Mandy says. “People don’t often come this way since it's a little off the path, but Colt said that you may like that.” I cast a glance at my cousin, hoping she can see I’m unhappy with her words.

“B, just relax, walk around, get some sunlight. You don’t look very good.”

“I don’t feel very good either,” I admit.

I’m used to cooking my own meals, but other than the rice I made, I have only had those sandwich looking things that people keep feeding me.

My cousin stares at me before sighing heavily. I know she is conflicted; she is a beta female and right now her loyalty is being split.

“I have to pick up Carly from my in-laws. Will you be okay by yourself?”

I don’t know if I will, but I nod anyway. Like my cousin said, the bench is off the main path, so I can see people walking in and out of the Packhouse, but no one is even looking in my direction.

Mandy goes to leave, but I grab her hand, and she looks at me in concern.

“Can you call my mother?” I ask. “Tell her that I’m alive.” Mandy’s eyes water, and she nods before leaving.

After a while, my butt started to go numb from sitting. I Stand, and in the distance, my eyes catch sight of a stepping stone. It’s covered in grass, but I find myself tapping it with my foot. 

“Where are your brothers and sisters?” I say to it.

"Have we already gone crazy?" Sylvia mocks, and I chuckle at her. "Want to investigate?"

My wolf knows how much I love exploring nature. Before she came around, I used to have a recurring dream about a prince finding me in the woods because that’s where every princess fell in love.

Eventually, those dreams gave way to nightmares after Colton’s attack, and to be honest, I can’t remember the last time I dreamed about anything pleasant.

"Stop thinking so much," Sylvia says, and I nod, using my foot to pat different areas of the grass to find another stone.

The path leads into the woods, and without realizing how far I've gone, I keep following it. When I get to the end, I look to my left and right because I feel like I’m in some sort of movie.

There is a wooden gate, badly weather worn and covered in vines. I grab the handle and open it, amazed by what’s inside. It's overgrown, and probably hasn’t been tended to in years, but it's a flower garden. 

Absent-mindedly I start pulling up the weeds, wishing that I had a string trimmer to help speed up the process.

With a little work, the place would be beautiful, and I think I just found the project that will occupy my time while I’m trapped in this prison. I’ve replayed all of Alpha Newt's words in my mind repeatedly, and his wording was poor. 

While I cannot defend myself against Colton for twenty days, he mentioned something about being subject to charges of ‘acts of aggression’ for two months, not six. All I have to do is survive that long.

Then I can walk off pack territory without breaking any oaths, and Colton won't be able to accuse Lark’s pack of anything. 

It was a mistake on Alpha Newt’s part, one I’m sure he knew I would pick up on and exploit, which is why I will wait three months before disappearing. Cleaning this place up should occupy me until then.

I don’t know how long I’m bent over in the grass but when I look up, there is a giant tree that I rest my back against. I take a deep breath, wondering if this was Luna Stone’s getaway spot.

I remember the woman used to love flowers, and it was her who actually got me into experimenting with their growth. I remember her bringing my mother an arrangement that was so beautiful that I couldn’t stop staring at it.

Later that evening, my mother told me that the woman had ‘created’ the flowers, and that was the beginning of my experiments.

Feeling parched, I stand to head back to the Packhouse, but my eyes lock onto the form of a giant wolf approaching. 

I get into a defensive position, ready to shift if he attacks, but Sylvia stops me. 

"It's him; it's our rogue!" I study the wolf and my eyes go wide. I find myself running to him, wrapping my arms around his neck in a way that must be confusing to him. 

“What are you doing here? Did you follow me?” I ask. “It’s not safe for you here. I can’t protect you from him.” I hold the wolf tighter before another round of questions leaves my lips. 

“Are you a member of this pack? How did you get in? Do you think you can help me get away?” I don’t know why this rogue makes me feel safe, and I hate that I’m not fated to him instead of Colton. 

I don’t care how old he is or what he looks like, all I know is that other than Jack, he is the first male wolf who hasn’t made me feel threatened. He could have easily claimed me back then, but he didn’t and hasn’t tried.