Inamatus (Sequel to ILR)

Chapter 12

   "-and then I fell from the tree. I broke my shoulder and was in a sling for about a week. Thank Goddess for werewolf healing." I laughed at his idiocy.

   "Did you at least learn your lesson? Don't climb trees all the way to the top when the branches clearly aren't stable." He shook his head and I scoffed. "Of course you didn't. You seem like the kind of person who makes a mistake and then does it again." He rose a blond eyebrow at me.

   "Do I now?" I nodded with certainty. He made a face before nodding.

   "Seems accurate." I looked him over. He had been telling a story from his childhood, tan hands flying all over the place to gesture. Every now and then I caught the girl at the counter looking over with displeasure. Not quite sure if it was because he was being noisy, she was jealous, or if she was just having a bad day. Hell if I were a human I might be jealous too. Lycer was hot as hell. Weird name, but hot.

   "Did you know you have a weird name?" He looked me up and down, rolling his eyes in disbelief.

   "Says you , Maxillius." The way my name rolled off of his lips sent shivers down my spine. I squirmed a bit at the feeling. He looked over me and smirked. "Do I make you uncomfortable or something." I had to think about that. Did he make me uncomfortable? He did just being here originally but we had been talking for two or three hours now. I had gone through two coffees and one and a half muffins. He went for tea but he still hadn't finished his first one. It was rather large though and my coffee was small compared to it. He seemed harmless enough but I still didn't know why he was here. That made me uncomfortable.

   "Not completely." He leaned his head on his hand, arm resting on the table. His green eyes looked scrutinizing.

   "Most people love me you know?" Cocky much. "Yet from the moment you saw me you seemed disgusted.

   "Well you're a rogue," I spat the word, a hurt expression going across his face. "What did you expect?"

   "You know, not all rogues are bad. You should know this. You smell like an alpha so I'm assuming you know at least some of those in your pack. How many of them were once rogues?" He was almost spitting his words, his calm demeanor turning angrier and angrier by the second. "How many of them had a parent, or even both of their parents, that were rogues? Are you saying that they're bad? Not to be trusted? I'm a rogue by choice, a traveller." His words were getting faster and angrier. "I've met more rogues than you've ever experienced first hand. Not all of them were bad. Not all of them even did bad things. Hell, some of them were born rogues or forced to be rogues when their packs were destroyed. Some were just little girls who needed a friend in life." Next thing I know he is pushing back his chair. He threw some money on the table and left, the door slamming behind him.

    I sighed. He was right. About 10 percent of our pack were rogues at some point. Hell, my own mother was. I shouldn't act like they're all bad. But rogues hurt my mother. . . They scarred her physically and emotionally. How can I forgive rogues after that?

   I groan in irritation at myself, pushing myself out of my seat to follow Lycer. I followed his scent towards the woods. He really was a nice guy, very cocky but nice nonetheless. 

   "Lycer?" I couldn't see him but I could smell him. His scent was circling an area not too deep in. "Lycer I know you're here." Leaves rustled and my wolf begged to come out. To run. To feel free. That wasn't the priority though. "Lycer I'm sorry." I looked up, remembering his story about tree climbing. Almost automatically my eyes zoned in on a blond head of hair.

   "No need to apologize dear boy!" His voice had a bit of a whimsy tone to it, as if the little argument in the cafe never happened. He hopped to another tree branch, swinging a bit before landing stably. "I shall be on my way soon!" I don't know why but I felt a pang of sadness at that. "You have wanted me out of your hair before you even knew my name so I will grant you your wish."

   I can't believe I'm going to say this but, "You don't have to." He stopped moving, looking down at me. His green eyes held surprise. 

   "So you've decided I'm not a threat?" 

   I was reluctant in my response, "I'm not sure." If he is though, I will deal with him and take responsibility for whatever happens. 

   "So you don't trust me? Is it because I'm a disgraceful rogue?" He hopped to a different branch again. My neck was aching a bit now. 

   "I said I was sorry!" He scoffed. "You're acting really childish right now." 

   "Look, Maxillius, I came here for one thing and I intend to get it out of the way soon. You won't have to deal with me again. I was never a fan of the alphas of this pack and you seem to carry on that legacy." The alphas of this pack?

   "What the hell are you talking about? Just who the hell are you?"

   "It doesn't matter." He stopped hopping and looked me up and down. "What a shame. I feel bad for that mate you never got to meet. Then again, they probably wouldn't approve of the way I'm looking at you." He mumbled, "Let alone my thoughts." I felt that shiver again and cursed under my breath. "Goodbye Maxillius. I'll be out of your hair now."