Transition - Beta's Omega

( 5 )

( Decker )

My parents – mostly my mom – had gone all out for my birthday. The large white gazebo-like tent had been put up and buffet tables had been set up with trays of finger foods, both savory and sweet. I shouldn’t have been worried about inviting Kayley since many members of the pack stopped by to, wish me, and to gorge on the food laid out. Some were dancing to the music that played from a playlist I had worked on for months – just for this occasion. By the time Kayley did show up – with Wyatt – it was natural, and no one questioned it. It was because of this that I was hidden by the tree line, watching as I thought about approaching the girl whom I was currently crushing.

“What are you doing?” the sudden sound of Seff’s voice behind me made me jump and squeak as I turned around to glare at him.

“Not cool!” I hissed out.

“Dude, I was as loud as an elephant…you didn’t hear me calling out to you?” Seff looked proud and amused while I was having a silent panic attack of nerves. I turned back around and quickly found Kayley standing with Wyatt at the buffet table. I should go over and say hello. I did, after all, invite her. “What is up with you today? Aren’t you excited?”

“I am,” I said distractedly.

“Oh, sure you are,” came his snarky reply, but I rolled my eyes as I pushed forward and rejoined the festivities.

“Hey,” I said in greeting.

“Ah, there is the man of honor!” Wyatt exclaimed with a knowing smile.

“Happy birthday, Decker,” Kayley said softly, and I gazed over at her.

“Thank you,”

“So, big man, how are you feeling?” Wyatt asked as he flung his arm across my shoulders. I wanted to shrug him off, but I had to remain calm and casual.

“I’m good…just a bit nervous,” I didn’t want to admit that, but I couldn’t lie. Not while Kayley was waiting for me to answer her cousin’s question.

“As you should be, the first transition is always the worst…trust me on that,” he said seriously as he removed his arm.

“Yes, I’ve heard,” I remarked.

“Oh Kay…look over there,” Wyatt’s voice had gone up a notch and I frowned as I glanced over to the spot he was pointing. “Why don’t you go over there and grab some of those while I have a chat with your boy here,” I immediately blushed at his choice of words while Kayley looked like someone had knocked the wind out of her. She stared at me for a moment and, without mind-link, I knew that we were communicating somehow. I was letting her know that this was it, ‘the talk’ and she was asking me if I’d be all right. I gave her a quick, subtle nod and she left us. “So…what are your intentions with my cousin?” he asked as he turned back to the buffet in front of us.

“Intentions? We are just friends,”

“Right…of course, you are. That’s why you stop by King’s Apple every afternoon after school and that’s why you’ve been picking her up each evening,”

“Hey! Friends spend time together!” I exclaimed defensively.

“Sure, friends hang out…but when it’s just the two of you…well, I’d consider that dating,” Wyatt said before he stuffed his mouth with a small chicken pie.

“No, no, no,” I shook my head. “We are just friends, you know, two people getting to know each other,”

“Right, so that’s why you came all the way to the door to pick her up? and that’s why you offer her a lift home even though you know she hangs out with me until my shift is over,” he gave me a knowing look and I did my best to act natural.

“Friends, Wyatt. Just friends. I cannot offer more than that and you know why,”

“Oh, I do. I just hope you realize that even when you do meet your mate…if you hurt her, I will hurt you. Do you understand me?” his voice had lowered, and I gulped loudly. I could take him on. I knew I could, but I also had to keep in mind that he was taller than me by a few inches and his body was a lot more muscular than mine. Not by much, but still. I also had to remember that Wyatt was a few years older than me, and experience counted. No matter what anyone said. “Do. You. Understand. Me?”

“Yes, I do,” I hurriedly answered.

“Good,” he said with a smile. “So, while you are preaching that the two of you are only friends, I’m holding this against you, as I assume that no matter what, you’ll remain friends, unless she decides otherwise, are we clear?”

“Clear,”

“Good,” he stuffed another pie in his mouth just as Kayley was slowly making her way back to us.

“Everything alright here?” she asked softly.

“All good Kay, no worries yeah,” Wyatt said as he leaned down and kissed her temple. “Have fun and don’t come home too late,”

“Yeah,” she mumbled out as we both watched him walk away. “Wait a second,” she then called out as she held the paper plate out to him. However, Wyatt was too far gone and distracted to hear her. Kayley had piled the plate with tiny tartlets. I snatched one off the plate and she looked up at me with wide eyes. The shortcrust pastry wasn’t sweet, which helped balance the sweetness of the caramel filling.

“So good,” I whispered as I took another one. Kayley hesitantly took one and bit into it and I shook my head. “No, the whole thing at once,”

“Excuse you!” she snapped as she continued to nibble on it. I rolled my eyes and chuckled at her response. Shy, timid, and sweet Kayley was adorable. Feisty, fiery, and sarcastic, Kayley was just downright sexy. Although we tried, we couldn’t finish the plate and while Kayley tried to figure out what to do with the remaining tartlets, I simply took the plate from her and put it on the edge of the buffet table. Either someone would take it, or it would be thrown out later. I wasn’t about to have either one of us feeling sick to our stomachs because of it. Although I did need someone salty. I glanced over my shoulder and spotted Gwen’s famous meatballs.

“You’ve got to try one of these,” I said as I held out one for her. Kayley blushed but with determination in her eyes, I watched in shocked delight as she parted her lips. It was clear what she wanted, and I should have done something instead of gently placing the small meatball against her lips. Kayley took the offering easily, her tongue darting out at the last second, brushing against my fingers. Time stood still – I swear it did – as I stood there watching her hum and moan around the mouthful of deliciousness.

“Good, right?” Seff broke the bubble we had been in. The asshole had impeccable timing. Kayley’s eyes went wide when she realized what had just transpired between us and the soft blush on her cheeks went an alarmingly shade darker.

“Dude,” I groaned out as I turned away from her and popped one of the meatballs into my mouth.

“What?” he asked, oblivious to what he had just interrupted. Although, I suppose I should’ve been grateful as I was on the edge of giving in to my deepest desire. That would have been disastrous. “I don’t think we have officially met,” he then said to Kayley.

“Ah, no I don’t think we have,” she said. “I’m Kayley Thorin,”

“Nice to meet you, Kayley, I’m-”

“Seff Logan,” she said with such awe and blind admiration that the spark of jealousy that erupted inside of me turned into a low growl that had Seff snapping his attention to me.

“What?” he asked and this time I simply shook my head.

“It’s nice to finally meet you too,” Kayley whispered, and even though I shouldn’t be jealous because, seriously, Seff had found his mate already, I couldn’t help it. Of course, I also knew that her sudden shyness was because of meeting him for the first time and I also knew that she would continue to be shy around him until she got to know him better.

“So, man…where is Luca?” the direct change of topic made me breathe easier as I shook my head.

“No idea,”

“Have you met Luca yet?” Seff asked her and I wanted to punch him in the face. Hell, Kayley was just a friend and yet I was acting like her mate. Goddamn it!

“Not officially, but I’ve seen him at King’s Apple,”

“King’s Apple?” Seff repeated, confused, and I groaned as I now realized that I would have to tell him how we went there every day after school. What he didn’t need to know was the reason.

“Yeah, he and Decker stop by every day after school,” she said with a sweet smile and I don’t know how, but I somehow knew that she was playing coy on purpose.

“Oh, since when?” this question was directed to me and I shrugged, trying to act casual.

“For a while now,” I said.

“Huh, still…that’s new…” Seff was still frowning as he stared at me, and I knew he was trying to figure out what had changed. “And you are there every day after school too?” he then asked her and when she nodded, it clicked for him, and he turned back to me. “Ah,” was all he said, and I gave him a look. A look that I hoped would tell him to be cool. “Well…that’s nice. Anyway, the reason I stopped by was that my father wanted me to let you know that the cellar is ready for you,”

“Great, thanks,”

“But I am still looking for Luca,” Seff had a desperation about him that I couldn’t put my finger on.

“What’s going on?” I asked curiously.

“I haven’t seen Robin,” he whispered. He hadn’t been quiet enough as Kayley had leaned into the conversation and the second he said her name, it had clicked for her too.

“Oh, Robin isn’t here,” Kayley offered, and Seff immediately turned to her, silently questioning. “She went with Jessica and Jason to the beach for some bonfire party,”

“Damn it, Decker!” he growled out. “You were supposed to be keeping an eye on her!”

“Dude, seriously? It’s my birthday!”

“I don’t care, she is breaking far too many rules these days,”

“What do you mean?” Kayley asked and right then, Seff seemed to realize where he was, and he slapped my arm before he hurried off. “Is he ok?”

“Nope,” I sang out, popping the ‘p’.

“So, she is…?” she didn’t have to finish that question for me to know what she was asking, and I still couldn’t lie to her.

“Yeah, but…keep that to yourself please,” I begged. Kayley nodded but the smile on her face was captivating. “Why are you smiling like that?”

“No reason,” she said smugly, and I wanted to push, I wanted to know the reason behind that bright smile, but my mom chose that moment to grace us with her presence.

“Decker, it is getting late – oh, hello!”

“Hello, Mrs. Kenway,”

“Oh, deary me, please no! Call me Tara, Mrs. Kenway makes me sound so old, and I am far from it!” I rolled my eyes at my mom even though I was silently panicking inside. “And who might you be?”

“I’m Kayley Thorin,” she said, and I was relieved to see that although she was blushing, she was standing up straight, almost as though she wanted to impress my mom.

“Lovely to meet you, dear, will you be hanging around for the transition?” she then asked her, and I held my breath. Would she?

“Yes, I think I will,”

“Splendid!” my mom exclaimed as she glanced back over at me. “We should head over soon, it’s getting late,” I simply nodded as I smiled at Kayley.