The Alpha's Mute

Chapter Three

Chapter Three 

Niklaus Wade

     'I wish they'd just shut up.' 

I show Hazel what I wrote in my journal and she gives me a sympathetic smile while nodding in agreement. She hands me a bandage that I use to wrap around my finger. She offered to do it for me but then remembered how I have touching issues and handed it to me instead. 

"It's not my business but what did happen?" She asks me as she leans back against Hunter, her mate.

He's gingerly running his fingers through her curly locks, whenever he runs into a tangle he meticulously combs through it so that he doesn't hurt her. He treats her like she's his prize possession and adores her in ways people would wish their mate and lover would. 

They are truly that couple you always envy but couldn't hate because they limited PDA, were respectful of others and were kind to everyone. I couldn't even hate Hunter when Hazel started spending more time with him because he's such a gentleman about it. I wanted to hate him, truly I did but there are just some people who you want to hate but hating them just made you a horrible person. 

I turn to a clean sheet of paper and begin to write my long response to her question and I inform her about everything. I didn't tend to keep things from Hazel because there wasn't a need to, she's understanding and gets me. 

She's amazing, it just sucks that her other siblings are annoying and not my type of people. They share similar features and look quite identical as they were quadruplets but they were all so different at the same time. 

'I didn't see the beginning but I did see Gnashton smash Weston's face into the desk repeatedly until he became unconscious.'

When I show Hazel what I wrote, she gasps and leaps off of Hunter but winces as Hunter accidentally pulled her hair due to Hazels quick movements. 

"Babe, are you okay? I'm so sorry," Hunter apologizes immediately.

Hazel turns around to look at Hunter and smiles with a nod. She touches the side of his face gently and presses a soft kiss onto his lips that Hunter welcomes instantly. 

I gag silently and turn away. My eyes shift to the cafeteria filled with students until my eyes land on Caspian who sits on top of a circular table with people gathered around him. His body is expressive and it looks like he's telling a story of some sort so I conjure up that he's probably telling an overdramatized version of what really happened with Gnashton. 

Caspian loves playing with fate which meant he was the head of gossip. Everything came from his end in a version unlike how the situation or the story he told actually happened. I could only imagine how he was turning things but he especially fueled rumors and gossip about Gnashton and it was so hard to understand why. 

It was also hard to grasp why he surrounds his lies around Gnashton when he's violent and impulsive in his actions. Caspian has had a taste of Gnashtons full rage, it put him in the hospital and despite him being a werewolf himself it still took a humanly long time for him to heal. It's like he enjoyed being beaten, like he thrived off pain. 

"Weston?" Hazels worried voice breaks my thoughts and I look away from Caspian to Hazel, "I thought he was gone."

'That's what I thought too...'

"Are you okay? Weston is such a...ugh," she puffs out a breath of air.

A smile spreads across my face while Hunter laughs. Hazel didn't curse, she's pure as snow and has never uttered a curse word but I knew she kept her words purified because her youngest quadruplet, Archer, cursed like a sailor. She's a potty mouth and Hazel grew to hate it which explains why she never curses. I admire everything about Hazel. 

'I'm fine.'

"Times like this I really wish I could comfort you," Hazel pouts.

Her eyes told me she wants to hug me but the idea of her affection wasn't appealing. I love her but I still didn't want her touching me, I didn't want to freak out on her.

'I'll be fine. I'm tough.'

"That's true," Hunter agrees with a nod of his head and I smile at him. 

Hazel playfully rolls her eyes. 

"But why did Gnashton snap at Weston like that? They've never really interacted before," Hazel picks up a fry and feeds it to Hunter who sucks it into his mouth instantly, his arm going around her petite waist. 

I shrug, tired of this conversation because I'm confused as well. The incident happened first period, two periods passed by since then and I couldn't stop thinking about it. My brain began to hurt because I kept thinking up scenarios as to why he attacked Weston. 

Maybe Weston and Gnashton have a feud going on without anyone knowing. Maybe Gnashton had a girlfriend that Weston stole but I've never seen Gnashton with a girl. Maybe Gnashton doesn't have a reason to begin with and seeing Weston's face just set him off. All these maybes without one really making sense minus the last one that I was planning on going with because it was the only one that really made sense given Gnashton's personality. 

"What did you plan to do for your birthday?" Hazel asks me.

'Lock myself in my room binging on Friends while stuffing my face with Moon Pies. Might get up to occasionally pee.'

Hazel and Hunter spoke at the same time as Hazel said: 

"Sounds lonely."

At the same time that Hunter said:

"Sounds like a plan." 

Hazel looks at her mate and gives him a look. It wasn't a glare because Hazel was literally never angry, ever. It was more of a, 'are you kidding me,' look that made me grin slightly. 

Before Hazel can suggest I hang out with her, Easton, Eros and Hunter, the bell rings dismissing us from lunch and to fourth period. I didn't like hanging out with large groups of people, socializing in general was exhausting even if all I did was sit there. It was hard keeping up in conversation when I had to quickly write down what I wanted to say and show everyone. 

Sometimes the topic would change and what I wrote became irrelevant and off topic so I ended up waiting to contribute but by the end of it my hand would be cramped because I kept writing constantly so I just gave up trying to make friends and interacting in big groups. Besides, all of the people in a room was suffocating to begin with. 

It's times when I'm in those situations that I begin to think about that single 'what if' I tried too hard to suppress. That what if I could speak. 

I shake my head and release a deep breath through my nose and rise from the circular table I'm sitting at. I don't wait up for Hazel and begin to walk out of the cafeteria by myself but slowly because of all the students leaving at once. 

The final period went by in a blur, it was art but also the shortest period of the day. The only thing I consistently continue to hear is the gossip about what happened in first period. Version after version, it was all different and very unlike what actually happened. I'm over it all by now but it wasn't like I could say anything or tell them to shut up. Even if I did speak I couldn't do that because I didn't have the courage to. 

Eventually, I'm walking out of the back of the school and through the schools parking lot trying to find Caspians red suv. He's the one who drove me to school and he'd do it all year because I'm afraid of driving. My adoptive parents are afraid of how small my wolf may be because small wolves get mauled in the forest so it isn't a practical way to get to school but they also pay Caspian too so he does it. Elliot doesn't know that I know Caspian gets paid and continues to tell me that Caspian does like me but that's not true but it's fine because I didn't like Caspian either. 

I find him. He's leaning on the door of the drivers side of the car and he's talking to a group of six people with there being four males and two females. I throw my head back and groan silently because I really didn't want to run into people. I'm exhausted and just want to go home, eat and then sleep. I didn't have any homework so this is the perfect day to do that since the rest of the year wouldn't be so relaxed for me. 

Okay, this is what I'll do. 

I'm going to walk up to his car and slip into the passenger side before anyone sees me. Caspian talks forever so I may not get home instantly but at least I don't have to awkwardly wait outside the car while his 'friends,' glance at me like I'm some unwanted bug. 

I approach the car trying to be silent but luck isn't on my side and I stumble on the wheels of the car as they were turned to the right instead of facing straight because Caspian is a horrible driver and didn't know how to drive well. The car is crooked and he's over the line but that isn't important. What is important is Caspian and the people around me, they look at me and at first Caspian turns around so I think I can just get in but I'm dead wrong.

Caspian pushes the people out of his way and comes to me, raising his arm to put around my shoulder but I step back instantly. His mouth forms an 'o' shape and I can tell he remembers my touch anxiety so he tilts his head in the direction of his 'friends.' 

When I don't move, he kisses his teeth before giving a fake laugh and turning to look at the group of people. He waves them over and they come instantly like they're puppets. 

"Guys, you know about the whole monster Gnashton s**t I told you about?" He asks them and they all nod enthusiastically.

I furrow my brows together. What's he getting at?

"Well, Niklaus was in the period when it happened and he can verify exactly what I told you guys," Caspian turns to look at me as he leans against the hood of the car.

They all silently wait for me to speak as does Caspian and I look at him as if he's an i***t. Again, he remembers my speech problem and walks past me and he rummages through the back seat of the car before he shuts the door and comes back to where he previously was with a notebook and black marker in hand. He flips the notebook open and hands me the items. 

"He's gonna write down what happened," Caspian smiles fakely as he tells the group this. 

"Write? Is he some loser who can't speak?" A guy snickers. 

Caspians smile fades and he cracks his neck before he kicks the guy down. He falls with an, 'oof,' flying out of his mouth. 

"Get out of my sight," Caspian's smile returns and I blink, unable to comprehend what just happened.

The guy stands and dusts of the back of his pants with a glare as he walks away. I stand there clutching the book to me with my eyes on Caspian who wears that same smile he usually does but the smile doesn't reach his eyes that don't hold anything and can't be deciphered. 

Caspian looks back at me and I immediately look down at the notebook and begin to write down what actually happened because Caspians lies are lies. I don't care about Gnashton but it felt wrong to have only lies floating around the school. It's disgusting how the school feeds off this type of stuff. Gnashton deserved better than that. Not like I cared or anything because I don't, I'm just a decent person. 

So I write down everything and give it to Caspian to read to the group of people. He reads through it and squints his eyes only slightly before he snickers and gives a grin. 

"See, he's just written everything I've told you guys," Caspian begins and I frown, "Gnashton was injecting drugs into his system and lashed out. He was trying to kill Weston, who knows if the guy is awake."

The group begins to buzz with conversation, there eyes filled with amazement some with terror and shock. I glare at Caspian and reach to snatch the notebook from him but he has better reflexes and jerks it away. He rips the paper out of the notebook and folds it into fours before stuffing it into his back pocket and smirking at me. 

I don't know how to respond, I don't even know what to do with myself. Caspian really is just a narcissistic manipulative and fake asshole. For a moment I really thought he was...I thought he was nice. I thought he was standing up for me but maybe he was just covering his own ass, of course, he couldn't be seen with a 'loser.' 

I roll my eyes and drop his marker as I enter the passenger side of the car and slam it closed. 

Caspian says his final words to the group and turns to enter the car, leaving the marker on the floor. He doesn't say anything to me as he plugs the auxiliary cord into his phone and blasts music I didn't listen to. My ears pound but I don't turn it down nor do I look away from the window. My eyes remain trained on the scenery that we pass by. 

It's silent the whole drive back home but that was to be expected. 

He hops out of the car as I do and pops open the backseat door to grab his things while I walk up the driveway and press my thumbprint into the key pad that's beside the steel door that slides open. I walk inside and ignore Caspian who calls for me to hold the sliding door open because I didn't care to help him when he's such a jerk. 

I walk deeper into the house and walk down the hall until I get to the staircase and jog upstairs. I walk past doors that lead to a room that wasn't mine until I get to mine and throw the door open. 

I close my door and toss my bag that was on my back somewhere in my room. Where? I don't know. 

My eyes close and I relax but my peace is cut short when I hear the loud sound of yelling. Elijah is yelling. I walk over to the door and press my ears against it and try to make out what's going on.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Elijah screams.

I hear Elliot's faint voice but I can't make out what he's saying.

"Move," that's...that's Gnashtons voice.

"I will not f*****g move. He's human, Gnashton Wade—"

"My last name is not Wade, you're not my real dad."

"Does it look like I give a s**t? He's in a damn coma!" Comes Elijah.

"Honey, please," I think that's Elliot. 

"He deserves it, he deserved to die—"

Slap.

My eyes widen. 

"No one deserves to die," Elliot says.

"I sure as hell should've." 

Footsteps.

Sobs.

"Come back here, young man!" 

It's silent and my heart strums in anticipation of what's to come next. What comes next isn't what I expected.

My door is throw open and I trip backwards and fall. Gnashton closes the door quietly and presses his back against it as he locks it. His eyes reach my own as he sees my position. 

I flinch, there's banging that can be heard outside but it isn't on my door, it's more distant. I begin to believe that someone, most likely Elijah is banging on Gnashtons door.

"Open the door!" I hear Elijah's alpha voice and I shrink to myself. 

Gnashton moves away from the door and comes close to me. If it were anyone else I would've immediately shuffled back but I stay put as he gets onto his knees in front of me. He doesn't touch me, he doesn't say anything either. He just looks at me and my trembling falters. 

"He's tired, let him sleep," I hear Elliot's soft voice say.

I don't hear Elijah's reply but I hear his loud footsteps as they descend downstairs. My eyes go to the door briefly but they travel right back to Gnashtons green ones that don't look away from my face. My cheeks feel warm and I fiddle with my fingers. 

This is weird. 

"Love," my eyes snap back to the door. Elliot's voice is right in front of the door. "I know you're in here, Elijah went to blow off some steam. I'll go calm him down, maybe...maybe Niklaus can help you calm down too." 

My eyes go back to Gnashton, his eyes are closed. Why did Elliot suggest that I'd be able to calm him down? 

I hear footsteps and that's when I know he's left. 

But now it's just....

Him and I.