"Rose." Hugh called as Lucian and I stepped into the kitchen.
I turned around to look at him. "Yes?" I answered.
He smirked at Lucian with a victorious look making Lucian narrow his eyes at him suspiciously.
"We better go home before dawn." He simply stated.
I raised an eyebrow at him. "I already know that." I replied.
"Then you also know that we only have about one hour to go back before everyone wakes up." He taunted.
"Get to the point Hugh." I sighed.
"There's no point in staying here, after all." He shrugged his shoulders as looked around at the house.
"Yeah yeah, we get that. Rose will be back after she eats something." Lucian snapped at him. "Come on Rose, let's go." He said as he turned me around to the kitchen again.
"And how exactly is she going to eat with that mask on?" Hugh asked making me gasp and quickly turn to look at him.
How did that slip my mind?
My gaze turned back to look at Lucian, his horrified expression mirroring mine.
"I really wanted to have a meal with you." He spoke in a pained voice making my heart reach out to him.
I yearned to spend time with him too. Having a meal and a nice chat together.
I turned my glare to Hugh who just shrugged his shoulders.
"I'll be waiting outside." He called out victoriously as he walked out the door.
I sighed deeply.
"I'm really sorry." I apologised. "I rea-" I continued but Lucian cut me short.
"Can't you just take it off? I'm your mate Rose."
"I can't reveal who I am right now Lucian." I sighed.
"Why? I can understand other people but why can't you show me?" He said, frustration evident in his voice.
"I told you already, I have to-"
"Yes, yes, again with that protecting me excuse." Lucian rolled his eyes. "Well guess what Rose, I'm pretty much capable of protecting myself." He snapped angrily.
"Don't you get it?! We weren't even supposed to meet. If people found out about me having a mate, they'll use you to get to me." I snapped back.
"Oh, so now you're telling me that you wish to have never met me?" He asked as his eyes turned black. "Great Rose! Just great! Let's just pretend we never met!" He yelled as he turned his back to me.
"That's not what I mean Lucian and you know it." I told him as I tried to contain my own frustration.
"No Rose, I don't. With you, I don't know anything anymore." He replied as he turned to look at me.
"Then just let me explain!" I told him sternly.
"I don't wanna hear it right now Rose. You should go." He stated calmly as he turned around once again.
"What?" I gaped at him, my voice below that of a whisper.
"Just go!" He yelled at me, making me gape at him in disbelief.
My startled expression soon turned to that of anger and hurt.
"Fine!" I yelled back as I ran out the door.
I know that I really had to leave but him telling me to go like that hurt me. It was as if he didn't even want my presence with him.
Hugh was standing outside, looking at me sympathetically. He obviously heard everything.
"Rose I-" He started.
"Not now Hugh." I cut him off as I quickly marched to a tree before climbing to one of its branches and making my way back to the pack house.
Hugh can just go back the same way he came.
Since I didn't really know where this part of the woods was, it took me some time to find the right route back home.
I guess I should have asked Lucian, but it slipped my mind completely, and honestly, after what happened, I stopped wanting to talk to him anymore.
It doesn't matter now thought.
When I finally reached back home, I jumped right in through my window and for some reason it felt like I haven't been in here for so long.
This night was very long indeed.
I took a much-needed shower, being careful not to get the water on my wound since it'd probably sting so badly.
I still had about thirty minutes until I had to go down and prepare breakfast, so I decided to lay down for a bit.
I let out a frustrated groan as the fight I had with Lucian replayed itself over and over again in my mind.
He just doesn't get how paranoid I am. I've already lost a lot of dear ones to me and I don't want to risk losing anymore.
What if after I show him my face, someone follows him once and they saw me. They'll know who I am.
It's even worse that now I know that my parent's death wasn't some freak rogue attack, but was a planned out, fully paid assassination.
We can't trust anything or anyone around us. We can never know who's watching and I won't risk getting my face uncovered and known for the sake of a damned meal.
I really wish things were different so Lucian and I could be like any other normal mates.
But soon......soon.
----
"Is this it?" Hugh asked as I gave him the envelope that Brandon handed me as I sat on their bed, eating some ice cream with Gabrielle.
I nodded my head as he shook it, making whatever is inside it rattle once again.
Hugh reached for a pair of scissors and proceeded to open it up.
He then held it from the bottom and turned it upside down.
The sound of something rubbing against the paper sounded before a key of some sort fell into Hugh's hand.
All three of us looked at it in confusion.
"A key?" I stated more than asked to myself.
"What kind of key is it?" Gabrielle asked from beside me.
Hugh hummed as he studied the key.
"It looks like a locker key." He finally said after moments of thinking.
"A locker?" I asked to make sure and Hugh nodded.
He turned to his computer and started typing on his keyboard, probably searching for what the key opens.
Gabrielle and I waited in silence as we dug into our ice cream.
The silence was killing me as the fight last night wouldn't go away and it would always hunt my mind when there's nothing inside of my head to occupy the place instead.
I had to do something, anything to get my mind off of it and I hoped with every second that passed that Hugh would just hurry up so that I'd be on my way to wherever this key will take me.
After what seemed like forever, Hugh turned around to look at us.
"This appears to be a key to a locker in the train station in town." Hugh spoke with a hint of confusion.
I was confused too. Why would someone hide something in a locker at a train station?
Hugh threw me the key and I was quick to catch it.
"I'll be on my way to check it out. Cover up for my absence if Uncle Adam called for me." I said as I got out of bed.
"What? Aren't you going to wait until it's night time?" Hugh asked with wide eyes.
"No. I have to get my mind off of things." I replied.
"April I'm really-" Hugh started, probably knowing exactly what I meant.
"It's fine Hugh. It wasn't your fault." I cut him off and left the room.
I knew what he wanted to do, and I was not ready to hear an apology from him. It wasn't his fault, so it wasn't necessary.
I went back to my room and started getting ready. I have already finished all my chores and there was nothing else to do in the pack house so hopefully, Uncle Adam will just forget about me today.
It didn't take me time to have all my gear ready and be on my way to the train station. I couldn't take any of my dear weapons though since they'll grab a lot of attention and get me in trouble with the local police. So I settled on a small pocketknife in my combat boots. I would depend solely on my fighting skills if something happened, which I highly doubted it would.
"I'm ready Hugh." I called into the earpiece, signalling for him to tell me the best route out of the pack territory.
"East side." He replied.
"Got it."
And with that, I was on my way.
------
Hugh's POV (probably the first and last)
I sighed deeply and ran a hand through my hair.
"What happened Hugh?" Gabrielle's curious voice asked as she approached me.
"I made Lucian and April fight. I should've just kept my mouth shut." I said as I hugged her torso.
She was standing up and I was sitting on my chair which made her tower over me and for my face to only reach her stomach.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and ran he hand down my hair gently.
"And what are you going to do about it now?" She asked making me look up at her.
She had a suggestive look on her face, and I knew exactly what my little mate meant.
I smiled up at her.
"Help make things right."