Chapter 39: Part 39

/Rowan's POV/

My beta showed up in the afternoon like he's got a sixth sense when I had no desire to see anybody. After receiving a response from Erin, my mood dampened. She texted at the crack of dawn, adding to my worries. Why was she up so early?

The itch to phone her was there, consistent and desperate, but I was embarrassed after last night. Never in my wildest dream did I expect my family to behave like animals. Especially my mother. She added fuel to the fire instead of diffusing the situation.

As I thought about it, my blood boiled, leaving the crescent prints of my nails in my palm. Reed went to check on Jade, having not heard anything from her.

"Reed! I know you are in there!" A voice called out, followed by incessant knocking.

Looking up from the laptop, I sigh, pushing the device off my lap and standing up. Charles knew everything about my schedule, so there was no point hiding from him anyway.

I opened the door, rubbing my eyes and wincing, having spent hours in front of a bright screen. Leaning against the door, I raised my brow at him. "Charles...what do you want?"

Instead of a reply, he held up a sixpack of beer cans, and pushed past my shoulder, stepping in. My head poked out, and I scanned the empty hallways with disdain. Ever since last night, there was barely any moment or noise in doors. It was as if everyone decided to stay indoors for a change.

"I would have preferred vodka, you know?" I said, closing the door and turning around, watching as he sauntered towards the couch. My friend dumped the cans on the table before propping his feet up.

"I...I thought you would be happy after last night." The beta called out over his shoulder, rummaging through the drawers in search of the bottle opener.

I winced, feeling my temples throb as I recalled the events of the night before. Right. It almost slipped my mind that Charles left the scene as soon as he dropped Erin.

"Where should I start?" I huffed and sank onto a chair, lifting my feet and dropping them on the table with a barely concealed wince.

The beta handed me a bottle and turned his body towards me, raising his prominent brows. "Was it that bad?"

"Worst!"

"I can see that on your face...what happened?"

Taking a deep breath, I sagged in the seat, head plopping back. The beta kept quiet as I narrated the whole story, his eyes comically widening. As a person who was not present, he seemed upset and embarrassed on my behalf. It was way worse for me.

"I don't know why that stupid Ryan thought it's a right time to bring it up?! He's unbelievable! And on top of everything, Erin is upset and barely spoke to me. What the hell am I supposed to do now?"

I emptied nearly the entire bottle and slammed it back down onto the table, trembling fingers flying to the label and starting to tear at it. I felt like everything was my fault. With a loud sigh, I leaned forward to grab a second bottle, but he moved it out of my reach with a concerned expression, lines appearing on his forehead. "Okay...I don't want to get you drunk so early."

"Then why did you bring them?"

"So that we could watch today's match, and I was hoping Reed would be here too. Where is he?"

"Out"

"That narrows it down."

"Please don't start! I am not in the mood for your quirks or loud matches."

"So what's your plan then? Stay inside the room until your mate miraculously realises you are sorry and forgives you?"

"That's neither here nor there," I settled on, shaking my legs and avoiding his eyes.

"You are hopeless!"

"Thanks for the reminder. I'll keep that in mind while handing you a pay check."

Charles cursed under his breath, his tone immediately softening. "My dear friend, what I was trying...."

"Can it!" I bit out, folding my arms and leaning back. Blinking, I stared at the ceiling, counting the wooden beams and wondered distractedly if I should call for someone to clean them. What was wrong with me? Shaking my head, I pushed my legs off the table and grabbed that second bottle of beer.

"Rowan!"

"If you are going to make me talk about my feelings, then I'll probably need it."

Charles rolled his eyes before leaning forward and hiding the rest of the cans behind his pillow. "Listen...I get that it's complicated," He said after I gulped down almost the entire bottle. I remained on my feet, and subconsciously started pacing, all while feeling his gaze following me.

"But you cannot avoid the reality of the situation forever. Just go to her and apologise."

"How?!" I let out a groan, coming to a stand still in the middle of the room. "Reed told me she admitted that it's true. Every single thing Ryan said about her last night."

"And? Does that make you change the way you look at her? Are you suddenly repulsed by Erin?"

"No!" I yelled a little too loudly, almost crushing the can in my hand. The judgmental looks from my family were an eye-opening and only cemented that I could never have their kind of thinking. "She's...I could never be disgusted by her."

Charles almost let out a sigh of relief, further sinking into the couch. "Then I don't know what's the problem here?"

"The problem is I don't know what to say or how to apologise...." I raked a hand over my messy locks before tugging on them, feeling them clump in my hands—the beer. I wrinkled my nose in disgust.

"Oh...that's a valid concern. You don't want to say anything stupid and further mess up the situation." The beta hummed. "Maybe start with that. If anything, women truly appreciate honesty."

"Since when you are an expert on these things?"

Charles made a pfft sound. "How about forever?"

I eyed him, tapping my feet against the floor. He was quick to squirm under the intense gaze before eventually giving in.

"Fine! I may have watched one too many episodes of How I met your mother."

"Knew it!" I smugly smiled.

"Anyways...what really happened five years ago? Is there something else to the story I am missing here?"

"Well, I was not there at the scene, but I know why the whole thing blew up." The beta twisted his lips. "The Alpha on the other end was none other than Hagrid."

I was too stunned to speak for a few moments, hands falling by my side. Alpha Hagrid Jones was one of my father's best friends son. We had a mutual relationship with his pack, so no wonder he's present at the event.

"The second in command of the Claws Pack?"

"Mhm, the very one!"

"Interesting..."

***

Walking into the publishing office, I was hit with a strange scent, my nostrils burning and eyes roaming around. As usual, there were familiar faces smiling back at me, but the scent was different.

"Isabella!" I tried to sound cheery while waving at Erin's best friend.

By the press of her lips and nod, I realised that she must have heard about the night before. Of course. They are best friends.

"Did everyone have lunch? I was hoping we could eat steak pasta from that newly opened place."

Isabella shook her head, fingers busy clicking at the keyboard. "No, thank you. Someone already bought lunch for everyone."

"Huh?"

Before I could open my mouth to ask her further about it, she glared at me and pointed towards the closed door. "Erin is in there! Go!"

As I pushed the door, that scent hit me with full force. I slammed the door behind me, almost startling Erin in the process.

"What are you doing here?"

"Who was here?"

She inched closer, and my nostrils flared, an ache fostering inside as I smelled someone else on her. My eyes turned dark.

"Why?"

"Let me scent your first. That scent is bothering me deeply. I want it gone."

She crossed her arms. "You are acting like an Alpha again."

"That's because I am!"

"Do we have to do this here?"

I let out a growl. "Please. I was already in a bad mood earlier, and this is making it worse."

"Fine."

Immediately, my nose was pressing into the gland against her neck, her body collapsing against mine. I nuzzled comfortingly against the sensitive skin, her sweet flowery mixing with mine. Respectfully, I kept my mouth far from her skin. It was evident that she was incredibly burdened, and only agreed for my sake, so I would never forgive myself for taking advantage.

We stayed in that position for quite some time, and a calming silence surrounding us. "Your scent becomes sweeter when you are relaxed, did you know?"

"I do now."

***