Talons

Chapter 121: The Taught

Rhea’s POV

I looked down to avoid Colton’s gaze after reminding him that he was the one to make the mess because truthfully, I almost laughed at him. It's true that the head of janitorial staff isn’t a nice person, but he wasn’t the one who knocked my food to the ground.

In the Claw pack, every member, from omegas to ranked wolves, is expected to clean up after themselves. The only people who get a pass are those who worked overnight patrols or have special exemptions; like injury or old age.

My family’s pack also has custodial staff who keep the environment clean, but they aren’t abused. 

After eating, a pack member can bring their dishes to a collection bin that’s periodically emptied and washed. Twice a month, every member, except for those at the highest rank, must take either a kitchen shift, or a yard shift, and it helps to keep things in perspective.

It helps those who are fortunate enough to have work outside of janitorial services appreciate those who do and helps to keep the peace.

However, there are some members who hate the duty so much that they pay ‘fines’ to avoid having to do them. That money is used as end of the year bonuses for those who are assigned to the department; so they don't complain.

Claw has never practiced rankism, and while our omegas reside separately, it's entirely by choice. They can live in any part of the pack they want, but they feel safer among themselves because, while it's strongly looked down upon, there are members who see them as lesser beings, and therefore easy targets.

Anyway, what Colton did was wrong and what the head of janitorial staff did was wrong; so they both deserve the experience of living in someone else's shoes. Maybe they'll be more considerate next time.

Colton's POV

Bernard keeps mumbling under his breath about the task being impossible, and I have to agree with him. The rice that was served with the steak is literally clinging to the floor, and I now understand what my mate was trying to show me.

I link Bernard who looks up at me in shock, but I can't tell if it's a condescending look or surprise.

"Just apologize and ask for help," I link, and Bernard shakes his head at me. This time, I know it's condescending; however, I ignore it because I have a surprise for him when my mate isn't around.

"Rhea, listen, I honestly don't know what I'm doing right now, and you've made your point. I should be more considerate to the people around me."

My mate's face stays neutral but the woman next to her looks like her jaw has come unhinged.

Rhea's POV

Colton telling me that he ‘learned his lesson’ seems sincere, but I don’t think he fully understands it yet. Life is already hard for some people and there is no need to make it harder simply because you can.

“Miss,” I say to the omega. "Would you mind helping them?” She nods her head vigorously and Colton hands her his mini dustpan and broom.

“The trick is to use slow and light strokes,” the woman offers, and the janitorial head rolls his eyes in between glaring at her. I don’t trust the man not to retaliate against the woman, so I suggest something that neither man was expecting.

“Alpha, is there n-no way to ensure t-this woman’s s-safety?” Colton gives me a wicked smile, and I involuntarily retreat a step.

“I was thinking the same thing, so I’ve already sent a link for someone else to supervise him?”

“Who?” the cold man asks, and Colton calls out the name Sebastien. “My son? He is useless. My wife and I take care of him and his poor mate.” I really don’t like what the man in front of me said, and for some reason, the image of a lazy person comes to mind, but the man who showed up doesn’t look lazy at all.

“Sebastien; how are the children?” Colton asks, fist bumping the man, who smiles brightly.

“Lydia has gone back to work, so it's just me potty training the oldest,” he replies, “but we are getting there.” I’m extremely confused by the interaction, and based on the conversation, useless doesn’t seem to fit. “What can I help you with?”

“I know you have a thing for cleanliness and organization. I was wondering if you would like to head the janitorial department of the pack for a week or two.” The man’s eyes go wide as he looks between his father and alpha.

“And this isn’t a joke?” Colton doesn’t answer his question, but his statement gives his position on the matter away.

“Did you know that your father doesn’t allow his staff to use brooms?”

“That’s ridiculous,” Sebastien replies, but then he tilts his head to the side in realization. “He’s being demoted. Isn’t he?”

“Don’t worry, it's only for a week. The second you get a spec of dirt on your shoe you’ll quit, and alpha, you’ll regret putting him in charge, he will work your ‘precious’ omegas to death.

Colton’s POV

Bernard’s little bit about his son working the omegas to death successfully put the look of fear on my mate’s face but Sebastien scoffed at his father’s statement.

“We’ll see about that,” he says, but I can tell that Rhea does not feel confident about the change.

Choosing to use her distracted state to my advantage, I grab her wrist and pull her out of the cafeteria, but I can feel her feet dragging so I know she’s looking back at the scene. 

“Don’t worry,” I say. “Sebastian's mate is from the Claw pack. She isn’t ranked, so she works in the kitchen, he won’t mistreat anyone; it's not in his character. His only enemy is clutter and dirt.”

“W-Where are we g-going?” My mate asks, so I let her wrist go and turned to face her.

“About the daycare project; I will allow it, but in exchange, I would like us to have a daily meal together.”

“I-”

“You can cook, and we can eat in our suite.” I interrupted my mate because I know she isn’t happy about what happened back there, and truthfully, neither am I.

“Just a meal?” I almost nodded, but Orlin reminded me of the garden and his fear, so I threw that in as well.

“Also; I don’t want you spending too much time away from home. I typically leave my office around 7PM, so I would like you back by then.”

“To do what?

“Just to talk. I just want to be around you.”

Rhea’s POV

I actually feel sorry for Colton who is basically a slave to whatever he feels toward me. It doesn’t make any sense how someone can go from hating me one day, to wanting to do anything to please me the next, and truthfully, I think it's unfair to the man. 

When we get back to his suite, he asks me to sit with him, and because I don’t want to fight, I listen.

“Tell me something about yourself,” he says, but there isn’t really much to say, so I reply to his question with one of my own.

“Colton, d-do you really n-not want to reject m-me? This… I… You don’t even like me.”

Colton’s POV

I hate that Rhea is mentioning a rejection again, but at least she’s asking a question that puts a different context to it. The short answer is no, I do not want to reject my mate, but I’m not ready to give her the long answer yet.

“Rhea, I know you don’t believe me, and I understand why you don’t want to be with me, but I don’t believe in rejections.”

“And if I had remained wolfless?” I know that question was meant to stump me, but I don’t even miss a beat. 

“I would still want you. I have wanted you for a long time, I just didn’t recognize it. That night in the woods; I know I was wrong, but you have to believe me when I say that I have never had to force myself on anyone. I wouldn’t have crossed that line.”

“But you-”

“Made a mistake. One that is now working against me, but as long as I have you, I will be fine.” I shift forward and hold onto my mate’s hand, relieved when she doesn’t instantly snatch it away. “When I was your mysterious friend, didn't you like talking to me at all?”

Rhea’s POV

Colton holding my hand feels weird, and I’m so focused on waiting for him to break my fingers that I zoned out and didn’t hear the question he asked.

“Why are you crying?” My eyes snap to Colton’s face, and I use my free hand to dab away tears I hadn’t known were falling. “Are you really that afraid of me?” I don’t know how to respond, so I subtly nod, and Colton gently places my hand down. “Is there any way I can change that?”

“I- You... You tried to k-kill me today Colton.”

Colton’s POV

My mate accusing me of trying to kill her made me flinch in shock. I was a jerk for pushing her food onto the floor, but that wasn’t anything close to trying to kill her.

“What are you talking about? Did anyone say something to you?”

“T-that shed didn’t collapse o-on its own.”

“So, you think I did it?” I find myself growing irritated, but I calm down when I remind myself that Rhea has every right to be skeptical of me. “Listen, I know you don’t trust me, but Janet, Crystal, and Tyson have nothing to do with our issues. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t do it in a way where they could get hurt.”

My wolf starts going crazy in my mind, telling me to explain further because he thinks my mate may misunderstand and think she is less important to me, but this isn’t an argument I’m going to let him win.

“I believe in the bond, so I would never kill you, but more than that I care for those children. I’ve been taking care of them since Tyson was five, and you showing up won’t spontaneously make them any less important to me.” My mate looks down as she starts to pick at her fingers, and I feel terrible for making her feel bad, but she had to know there are lines I wouldn’t cross.

“Sorry,” she whispers, and now I feel like an absolute jerk.

"Apologize!" Orlin growls, and this time I concede.

“No Rhea. I’m sorry. I made you feel this way, but I will fix it.”