Chapter 24 UNDECIDED
CURTIS' POV
I am hooked up with drip and I am slightly feeling better. The deep claw wound is still not healed and it pained like hell. Fuck, I challenged my Alpha. The realization made my stomach clutch with dread.
This was undoubtedly bad. I hope it didn't jeopardize my candidacy as an elite. In all seriousness, the conduct of my wolf was supposed to have me exiled or killed instantly, but for some reason he took me to the hospital for the doctors to patch me up.
Was my Alpha so benevolent, or was it the Gamma that pleaded for me? An alpha's wound would take days to heal. I knew I had no choice but to move about with this abraded wound.
Dr. Stone, Sianna's mom checked in on me yesterday. She examined me the instant she found out that I was injured and in the hospital. I got along well with her parents and they loved us being together. So she comes four times a day to look in on me. That's my future mother-in-law. I smiled slightly.
An ocean of guilt doused my mental state and that's why facing Sianna was a little difficult but last night I decided to see her and talk about what had been happening over the past few days.
Usually she would have the decency to text. When it registered that she blocked my contact, I was livid and terrified for fear that she might have learned about Jazmine. But how could she possibly be aware of what happened behind closed doors?
Losing Sianna would be devastating. I should not have put off talking to her about leaving her like that again. Hailey must have told her about spotting me at the ceremony. She probably overexaggerated the details, in my opinion. But I guess that the ordeal of our argument would make her give me the cold shoulder. I hate this blasted silent treatment. It was driving me crazy.
My shoulder and neckline was stiff and irritated because of the wound. I resisted the urge to touch it several times. Dr. Stone was applying a special healing ointment to accelerate the closure of my wound. Thank goddess for her. I have to treat Sianna better in the future.
Now my thought drifted to Alpha Vance. He interacted with his elites consistently. We reported directly to the Gamma first, then the Beta in his absence and lastly but most importantly to the Alpha himself. He availed time to watch us at training and got daily reports. Sometimes he would wake us up at all sort of hours in the morning to judge our fitness, accompanied by hours of rigorous training.
We had to do physicals that assessed our health, stamina and well-being to carry out "A or B" ranked missions. Our pack prided itself on ensuring that the warriors and troops that were sworn to protect the territory were taken care of. The alpha paid us incomes, and medical was free.
To everybody who knew me, Sianna being my girlfriend was nothing new. The majority of the warriors, including the Gamma, when she came around them and we sparred for practice, were completely aware of that reality. In most circumstances, the Alpha and Beta were also aware of whatever the Gamma was.
Thinking that she would have turned out to be my mate due to our strong affinity, I centered my entire life on her. We were both extremely disappointed when we turned eighteen and realized that there was no mate bond between us; Sianna cried for days.
My heart ached watching her wallow in that defeated state. Hence, we made the decision to stick together no matter what. We pledged to reject our mates and mark each other after she completes college and I was officially an Elite.
Dad was very traditional but my mom spoiled me so that I got anything that I wanted. For this cause, dad forced me to go to the mating ceremony as he was hung on to the possibilities of me finding my mate. I found her, alright! But she's not Sianna. The magical pull of the bond made my body react against my will around Jazmine. I hate it even though she is a lovely girl.
Jazmine was a down to earth person. She's bold to voice her opinions and daring to challenge anyone. She has a fun side that reminds me of troublemaker Hailey, and she is inclined to be as naughty as they come. It was hard to not give in, she wasn't afraid to grab my dick and state her claim. She gave me so many blowjobs that scrambled my brains, but that was just sex. With Sianna it was different, we had history and a solid love for each other. Thus, it crushes me to see Sianna dressed up so sexy and knowing that it wasn't for me. It sent sharp slashes through my heart and now my wolf was advocating for me to let Jazmine cater to my bleeding heart. My love for her was real, so why does it feel like we are becoming alienated? To whom was she going to? What the fuck is happening?
After many trips away, she was so thrilled when I finally returned home. Holding her in my arms again in the bedroom as we expressed our longings to each other was spectacular, but dad had to fuck that up with his ultimatum. I believed she'd wait until I got back for us to hash out our issues and resolved our issues.
Her intentions towards our relationship were clearly defined when she returned to the pack from boarding at college to bridge the gap between us by spending time together and developing our relationship. So what took place in the span of four days? Was she playing me all along, was there someone else? Who?
I needed to see her. She was being vague and evasive of my questions that night. I ruffled my blond hair with my hands on my head thinking. The Alpha probably thought that I was attacking her when he showed up. I wouldn't hurt her in any way. I loved her too much. She was my childhood crush and my future wife. Though the anger consumed me, there was also the fear that she didn't want me anymore.
My wolf liked Sianna too and got enraged when we both realized she could be cheating on us. I blacked out after the Alpha stabbed his huge paws into my neck. All it would take was one pull to rip my head off my shoulders. I'm feeling lucky to survive. I aggravated him when I didn't surrender and so he put me down. I don't know what happened after losing consciousness. I should clarify things with him before my image is scarred. He needs to know that I respect him and I was being driven by jealousy, and heartbreak. For the sake of my family and future, I must have a good reputation with him in order for him to think positively of me.
I am ready to mark Sianna and make her mine. We will talk, we will work it out and we will complete the mating process and be one. We had to. Fuck everybody! This was our life to live and my prerogative.
The lie told to my parents that my injury was from a rogue attack was a necessary evil. I can't have anyone thinking that Sianna and I had a fight. To others, our relationship should seem perfect. Too many question would surface for me to explain and Dad would use it as the ammunition of reasons why I should find my mate.
Sianna was a very private person and the only people who knew much about her personal life was Hailey, her best friend since childhood and Tara, who treated her like a big sister. I hope the Stone's and my parents wouldn't have to discover the rift between us. I was going to fix it, no matter what it takes.
My room door opened and Gamma Blayne who is my immediate supervisor entered and stood at my bedside. I bow in acknowledgement and he waved his hands to dismiss it. "How are you feeling?"
"Could be better but I won't back down from a mission." I tried to show a strong poise in the bed. A mission was the last thing that I wanted, because my heart wanted to find Sianna to resolve this matter. I wouldn't be at my best either because of the injury.
"That's good to hear. The Alpha wants all ten candidates on this "B" ranked mission. I wouldn't ask but missing out on it could cripple your position. You are in second place with Wade so this is a great time to show what you are made of."
"I understand, Sir."
He examined the bandages on my shoulder. "I will ask Dr. Stone to let you have some tonic and medication to numb the pain. This might be the final assessment and Alpha Vance won't let me go easy on you."
"Yes, Gamma Blayne. I'll prepare myself for battle immediately."
"You will be on a team, and hopefully you can fight alongside me. I will brief you further when we gather before departure at 0200. Take care." He turned to leave.
"Gamma Blayne, is there a way to speak with the Alpha? I think there is something I should clear up with him."
With unsettling features he replied, "It's best to leave things as they are. Don't push to see him now. Focus on the task that we must accomplish first."
Dr. Stone came in five minutes later to apply new bandages firmly. She gave me the tonic with instructions to take it. The tonic would serve for 10 hours while the pain tablets would last in my system for 12 hours. These were designed for military purposes and not the regular medication for patients. They worked well with the werewolf genes and I needed it base on the extent of the injury.
"Try to have the bandage changed again before you leave for battle. You could stop by the clinic or come back here to see me." She removed the drip and cords from my body. "Elites and warriors get preferential medical care."
"Thank you Dr. Stone." I could barely look her in the eye.
"Curtis, be careful out there. Come back in one piece." She gave me that motherly send off and pat my left cheek lovingly. "A nurse will come by to officially discharge you."
She gave the charts one last flip. "I had them send over a large breakfast. It's on the table, eat up. Don't think that I haven't noticed that you haven't eaten anything." Giving that sweet smile that Sianna inherited, she left the room.
Jazmine called last night and I spoke to her. I confessed to her that I was in love with someone else on the last day at the hotel. She cried and begged me to give us a chance. I told her that I would talk to my girlfriend and let her know. I wanted to be honest with Sianna but what the hell has she been up to? At the back of my mind, I was starting to question if I really knew her.
I checked my phone wishing for at least a single message from Sianna. Zero, no messages and no calls. Jazmine's messages were piling up on me. One said that she was crying her eyes out because she didn't know if I was recovering or getting worse. I finally responded when she threatened to visit our pack and see me at the hospital.
Me: I am ok, Jazmine. I am still in the hospital and the staff is attentive.
Jazmine: Send me a picture so that I can see for myself.
I rolled my eyes and sent her the photo of my pale self in the hospital gown.
Me: (picture) I will be on a mission later so I won't be able to message you for a while.
Jazmine: How many days will it be before I hear from you, again? (crying face emoji)
Me: It's hard to say Jazmine. Please just understand, okay? I wouldn't lie to you.
Not wanting to talk anymore I put down my phone and laid back in the bed. I hated how guilty I was feeling.