Misfit Mates {the half-wolf and her recessive alpha}

Kiss Me

"Where are we going?" Midnight asks, sitting on my bed as I stuff the bills in my pocket, "I guess it's not to see an exhibition, is it? Because then you wouldn't have been wrong about the century, or maybe you weren't wrong because the renaissance basically did start in the 12th century... not in art, but the mess with the bourgeoisie that made people start denying the fe.."

"No, we're not going to go see any exhibitions," I interrupt her to make her shut the fück up, "We're going to go to a really fun and nice place where there are lots of games and entertaining things. You're going to love it."

"So why didn't you want Bastian to know? Besides... I'm really sleepy," she complains, "Can’t you go by yourself?"

"No, I can't. You have to go with me because if Bastian sees you here he's going to know that I was lying, plus I know that in about two hours he's going to ask me for proof that we're together at an exhibition so I need you," I grab her hand to make her get up, "And I promise that when you send me that video we agreed on... I'll send you something, too."

"Okay," she agrees, almost immediately and starts to cooperate. We walk out carefully because I don't want to confront my brother and once we're safe, we walk to Owl's chatting quietly. Midnight is talking more than usual and about things I honestly don't understand, "... so, according to Federico Quintanilla, the molecular follicle that we all discard every hour for dead cells is exactly what makes the stratosphere slowly deteriorating, but this has been going on since 1939 when world..."

"Mid," I stop her, even though I've let her ramble on for about fifteen minutes, "It's super interesting everything you're saying, but I'm not interested enough in your ramble to pay attention. Besides, we were talking about how cold it os today. And I don't understand how you went all the way back to 1939."

"Well, I was telling you that if we were twenty years in the past it wouldn't be getting so cold then you asked me 'And why is that?' and I started to tell you that in the last few decades, because of the..."

"Right, right, I remember now, I don't need you to repeat it," I hush her and put my hand on her back to lead her towards the back of this place. I knock on the door and Jeraldo opens a little to see us, I smile at him, but he doesn't open the door, his eyes stay on Midnight, "She's my friend. Completely harmless. She won’t play, she's just coming to keep me company."

"I need her ID," he says to Midnight, his voice unfriendly.

"I don't have any ID at the moment, sir..."

"Look at her," I put her in front of me but Jeraldo doesn't change the expression on his face, "She's a cute and harmless omega. I can't leave her out here."

"Why not?" asks Jeraldo, raising an eyebrow, "I don't like surprises and I don't like unfamiliar people. You know that. I'm sorry, but your friend can't come in unless she has some kind of ID."

"What if she shows you her boobs?" I ask, hopeful, and push Mid, "Go on, do it."

"Okay," she mumbles, uncomfortable, but starts to lift her shirt. Jeraldo stops her before she can do it with a flick of his wrist and a grimace.

"It's not necessary. You can come in, but," he steps closer to her face, "Not a single problem. You stay still and quiet respectfully and once you get out of here, you don't know anyone."

"What kind of illegal things go on in this place?" asks Mid to Jeraldo, “Because I can't promise I won't say anything unless I know what I'm going to face."

"God, these women," I laugh nervously and push Midnight inside before Jeraldo shoos her out, "Who gave them the right to speak?"

"I don't like your friend," Jeraldo complains, "If she doesn't keep her mouth shut, the consequences will fall on you."

I don't answer anything, just smile once more and walk faster, pulling Mid. I can already see Cummings in his usual spot being annoyingly smug, as usual.

"This doesn't look like the place you described," Mid mutters, sticking to my body and looking around awkwardly. I understand her being intimidated because everything in here looks dangerous and dark, but nothing bad happens here besides the indulgence of some addictions, "You said it was nice."

"Mmm, no. I don't remember saying that, I think I told you it was boring and dark."

"Well, I do remember, you said exactly, 'We're going somewhere very...'" she suddenly falls silent as Cummings approaches us.

"Hello, mate," Cums greets me and gives me a couple of slaps on the back, "Who's this beautiful omega next to you?"

"My name is Midnight," Mid replies, getting all flustered and hunched over like she always does when talking to anyone other than Bax, Bastian, Angie, Lion or me.

"She's my friend, but ignore her. She's going to go sit on that couch and be very still and quiet there," I say, pointing to the couch and urging Mid to leave with my eyes. She doesn't look too happy but she listens to me. Cums follows her with his eyes until she sits down and then turns back to me, "Now, are you ready?"

"The question is, are you ready, Gray? We all know which one of us is the sore lose."

"That's because you cheat and I hate it when people cheat," I complain. Unless I'm the one cheating, of course, “Let's get started."

My biggest problem with Cums is that he's always an annoying overgrown pup who thinks he's better than everyone else just because he’s ‘royalty’ and acts like a dumbass, but as soon as he puts cards in his hand, he turns into a statue. Which I have yet to accomplish. It's always the same thing. He doesn't even need much time to destroy me, I think this guy has super powers or something, he can't possibly beat me every time.

I'm pretty sure at this point what the play is in his hands and that I could win. I try to keep this under control, but Cums only needs a brief glance at me to realize what's going on so he backs off.

"Wait," I call him, when he wants to retract with literally all the money I came here with. I raise my hand to call my favorite girl and ask her for a loan. They don't give those to just anyone, but when you've been a regular for four years, you have your perks.

So I ask for more chips than I should to keep playing. Cums accepts, fortunately.

Now we're halfway through the game and at this point I've already regained some of what Cums won from me and a little of my confidence. I've realized what Cums' weakness is.

When he has a good play, he gets intense. And when he has nothing, he looks at the girls passing by us. Unfortunately they don't pass by many times so it's not good that that's the only advantage I have. If only my favorite one wouldn't leave as soon as she brings me something, everything would be easier.

A familiar laugh catches my attention and only then I remember that Midnight is here. Sitting in the corner with her phone in her hands, looking sexy.

"Pause," I ask, mid-play, drawing the attention of Cums and everyone else watching us play like it's the best thing in the world, "I need to go to the bathroom."

"Must be a bad hand," Romney speculates, "He's never had to go to the bathroom before."

"Well, excuse me but I've had two full bottles of water in less than an hour," I defend myself, hiding my cards in my back pocket as I stand up. I crack my back and then walk straight to Midnight, "Get up and follow me to the bathroom in exactly fifteen seconds. Don't ask questions and don't draw attention to yourself. I'll tell you what's going on when you're in there."

I walk towards the bathroom and fifteen seconds later Mid starts to follow me. I open the door for her, locking it as she passes and then walking to the sink to wet my face.

Playing against Cums always makes me feel like I've just been dragged through the mud, which I love and hate at the same time.

"Gray, I'd really like to know what's going on. Where I am, why you lied and also why you made that sexist comment to the guy at the door. Oh, and why you need me here in the alphas’ bathroom.”

"You're smart, Mid, I think by now you know I'm playing poker. A few years ago I had a slight... addiction and lost a lot of money. Anyway, Bastian is a crybaby and he doesn't believe I’m better now. But that's a story for another day," I approach her, "Did you like my friend Cums?"

"Ah... yeah, I guess. He's cute, but not too cute," she shrugs, "Why? Did he say something about me?"

"No, but I need your help. I need you to distract him with your body. I think it will be an interesting way to help you not be so afraid of being with someone," I take a breath and walk over to her when she hesitates, unsure, "You won't have to touch him or anything, really, you just have to sit beside me and look pretty. It's easy."

"But there are a lot of men at that table, it won't just be him watching me," she murmurs, uncomfortable and then lifts her mismatched colored eyes to mine with some fake innocence in her eyes, "A kiss might help me not be so tense."

"I told you, I don't..." her annoyed face stops me, "What?"

"If I'm going to help you, you're going to help me. You get something, you have to pay. Isn't that what you told me? It seems our relationship is very much about transactions," she gives me a sly grin, "And as p*****t, I want a kiss. A real one, not like that one you gave Gemma because... ew."

She’s not as naïve as she looks.

"I don't want to do that," I grimace, "At least with Gemma it's funny to exploit that grossness in such a grotesque way. Doing it for real is just... I don't want to."

"I don't want to send you that video you asked for and yet I'm going to. So, I'm sorry, but it's time," she closes her eyes and stretches her lips exaggeratedly, which makes me laugh.

The mere thought of doing it brings me back to a place in my life where I don't want to go back to, but I take a breath and brace myself anyway.

I lower my head a little and touch her lips with mine quickly.

There.

It wasn't as horrible as I thought.

"That one doesn't count. It has to last at least ten seconds," she demands and I step back in disbelief. Damn, all omegas are the same after all, aren't they? This time she's the one who approaches me and puts her hands on my shoulders, "Just close your eyes and pretend I'm Gemma. Try to do the same thing you did to her but on a much smaller scale."

I don't close my eyes because I know it will be easier if I'm looking at Mid's face and not imagining something else that could make me angry. She takes a very deep breath and leans off my shoulders to come up to my face and kiss me without any preamble.