Vague Rejection

CHAPTER 7: The unlikely adventures of Mr. Broody and Ms. Semi-optimistic

RED

"You know you could have just left me in the cave. I would have been fine waiting for you while you hunted." I laughed as Vos glared at me and slammed the pieces of wood on the muddy ground.

"Really Red? Could I have really left you there?" I gave him a cheeky smile and leaned against the tree trunk as I tried not to glance at my still deformed paw. I woke up this morning only to find the cave empty. It was lonely and I honestly thought Vos had left me, so typical Red fashion, I screamed for him until I could feel my own ears bleeding from the inside out; safe to say, Vos was hunting and hurriedly ran back thinking something happened to me, but yeah, I was safe and well... he was irked.

"Anyway, how do you know so much about mates?" I asked, observing him skillfully light a fire and start to skin the rabbit he caught. Yes, another rabbit. I wasn't able to eat the one he gave me yesterday and he nagged my ear off about eating right, so here I am.

He continued his work for a while before giving me an answer. "I've been through a lot."

"Are you going to tell me what 'a lot' is?" He shakes his head as he tosses in the last pieces of wood into the fire that has barely lit.

"There's a time for everything." I sighed and continued to observe him. How his muscles contract with every move, how his breath hitches when lifts heavy pieces of wood out of the way and how he seems to be in tune with whatever I do. "and now it's time for you to drink water."

I immediately scratched my nose. By water he means that brown liquid thing. "I'm really fine now. I don't think I need any more of that." I pointed to the bottle he was holding, "in my system."

He looks serious as he settles beside me. "Red, you still need energy. Your foot is still a paw and you can barely stand." I take the bottle hesitantly and eye the offending bottle. Truth is, I don't really want my paws to go away. What if this was the last thing I have of my wolf? What if I get my feet back but I totally lose my wolf? "You're going to be fine. Your wolf will return."

"How can you say that for sure?" I asked in a small voice, my grip tightening around the bottle.

"I told you, I've been through a lot." He whispers it so silently that I don't think I would have heard it if it weren't for the very silent environment we were in.

"Vos, I can't hear properly anymore, my eyesight isn't as clear as it would have been, I can barely move efficiently. I am essentially human." I feel like I'm at the very end of my rope. I'm trying so hard to hold on by making jokes, trying to laugh, but nothing. "I don't understand why this is so hard on me and it was so easy for Sapphire."

"First, I know you're stalling, so drink this first." I glared at him playfully. Yes, I was stalling, but I was also serious. I don't understand why Sapphire's rejection seemed so easy compared to mine. I accepted the bottle and took a long sip, forcing myself to swallow the bitter liquid. "Second, there's nothing wrong with being human. Third, it just seems that way because the Princess had Or- Alpha Orion from the get go. Their mating was foretold in a prophecy. Alpha Orion was her mate and family. She had someone to share all her baggage with. He also didn't waste time in claiming her. Fourth, I'm sure you know better than anyone it wasn't easy for the Princess."

I sighed. "You're right. I guess I'm just jealous. I don't know why I cannot reject Abe, I felt like I physically couldn't and, because of my stupidity, I lost my wolf."

"You're right." Shocked by his words, I glanced at Vos only to see him smirk at me. "You should have rejected him right off the bat but you didn't. Why is that?" I shrugged. I really don't know why I didn't reject him.

"I guess... I just wanted to give him a chance, to give our mating a chance." He nods once, then gets up to finally place the rabbit's man on the fire. "You know what? I don't know why I was expecting another hug from you." He glanced at me with his eyebrows raised. "It seems like you have this alter ego. You're broody Vos during the day and you're mushy Vos during the night. Who are you really?" He smirks, making my heart do that uncomfortable fast beating again.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I rolled my eyes and leaned against the tree trunk and stared at the cloudless sky. I wonder if my mother- my eyes widen at my own realization. My mom!

"Oh my goddess! Vos I have to go back to the palace! Screw my paws! My mom will kill me for wandering outside again! Oh my goodness! She'll be so worried and s**t! If I ruin Sapphire and Orion's honey moon I will box myself!" Vos stares at me blankly.

"They know you're safe." I blinked at the information and processed it again. No, this doesn't make sense. "Okay, say that to me again, but slower this time."

"They know you're with me. They know you're safe." He retrieves a phone from his pocket and opens his recently called logs, the first name that showed being my mother's.

"YOU HAD A PHONE THIS WHOLE TIME AND YOU DIDN'T BOTHER TO TELL ME!?" I yelled as I threw him the closest rock to me.

"You didn't ask."

"Oh my Men! Men are so clueless!" I held out my hand and gave him an expectant look.

"What?"

"Give your phone, waterfly!" I shrieked, upset about the whole thing.

You're being too sensitive.

Shut up conscience!

Damn, I want my wolf back. Conscience go away!

I'm part of you, i***t!

I roll my eyes at myself and am brought back to reality when Vos stares at me with amusement.

"What? Don't judge me for talking to myself!"

He holds his hands out in surrender and hands me the phone. I take it from him and hurriedly look up my mom's number.

            •      •     •

"You-you traitor!" I screamed, again throwing a rock at Vos' face, but the man in question merely smirks and crosses his arms across his broad chest.

"You never asked." He says calmly.

"Because you're all broody when I ask you about things!" His eyebrows were raised.

"Also, why do I being an alpha, matter anyway?"

"Waterfly, you should be in your pack! Not with me! I've troubled you long enough. Damn it, an Alpha, that's what!" His face changed from teasing to broody in a second. All traces of humour had gone from his face.

"It doesn't matter." His tone takes on a harder edge to it and now I actually have the tact to stay out of it.

He already told you he's been through a lot. Don't push it.

"Anyway, what do you think of my new nickname for you?" His eyes met mine and I know he knows what I'm doing. He knows I'm diverting the topic on purpose; at least he looks relieved.

"Waterfly?" I nodded my head seriously.

"I've called you that twice and you don't seem like you minded." He removes the rabbit from the stick and places them on make shift plates made out of leaves and hands one to me, which I gratefully accept.

"If I did mind, would that have stopped you from calling me waterfly?" I shook my head no, which earned a chuckle out of him.

Yas Red! Make him feel better!

"But why waterfly?"

"Cause Vos means water in some parts of the world and I don't know, it sounded cute." I shrugged and started to dig into the very tasteless rabbit.

"You're a very bad cook." He rolls his eyes and starts eating his own food.

"All I had with me was some herbs I found. Did you expect a gourmet meal?" I shrugged and dug in again. So much for keeping the conversation alive, huh?

We spent time eating in silence and soon after that, I leaned against him and once again stared up at the sky. He was still very much half naked, by the way. He tensed at first then relaxed as he turned his torso towards me so my whole back was leaning against the front of his chest.

"I'll tell you all about me one day, Red." I nodded my head and lean my head against his shoulder as I turned to him.

"I'll be waiting." I whisper back as I purse my lips to try to hide my grin from him.