43. You Look Better In The Toilet I

**Rosé**

We won. It took a few more laps, but our team won the title of the best swimmers and best teamwork. I think it might have been due to Manuel's supernatural swimming or Joshua's constant praising and worship of the guy who will never give him his type of day. No matter what it was, it didn't erase the fact that in our teacher's eyes, we were talented. They congratulated us. I hope this will be enough to stop them from making me do any more activities.

While walking back to our tent with Keona, a few boys snicker as we walk past them.

"I guess her legs are good for something other than being spread," one of them said to the other. A girl who was with them giggled. Keona rolled her eyes. She stopped and glanced at them, hands on her hips.

"Jeff, right?" She cuts him off before he can reply. "I know your name because while my friend here was working her butt off, your ass stopped midlap and refused to continue because you thought you saw a shark in the water. A shark in a body of fresh water. That also happens to be a lake. That's how stupid you are. But of course, try to shit on someone who's done more than you ever will."

"Shut the fuck up!" He shouts, walking towards us. "You know nothing about me! Who are you anyway?"

I could see Tommy close to the tree-line, not far from the clearing. He's paying attention to us.

"Do you even need to know? Just keep your mouth closed, that's all I'm asking. Or can't you even do that right?" Keona spat.

I stepped in front of Keona, stopping him from getting any closer.

"Rosé..." Keona muttered.

"I don't care about you, Jeff. Say what you want. Just turn away and leave her be. You don't even have to talk to each other for the rest of the day."

He's taller than both of us, making me look up in order to talk directly to his face. My words didn't get through to him, but I knew my eyes did.

I could tell by the way he hesitated. He doesn't know what will come next depending on what actions he's thinking of following through with. I've learnt to direct my intentions and emotions through my eyes. I want whoever crossed me to know that they can't get away with it easily.

He huffed, shoulders slumped. "Whatever. Keep your stupid friend out of my face." Then he turns around and leaves, along with his friends who give us the side-eye.

With him gone, my eyes searched for Tommy. He's gone. Why was he watching in the first place? Because he was curious?

Then again, when Tommy isn't active, he's always watching when it comes to me. I don't know who's worse, him or Denis.

Regardless, I have enough reasons to hate them both.

I held Keona's shoulders. "Are you okay?"

"Me? What about you?" Keona frowned. Her pouting made her look adorable. "He wasn't exactly the friendlier person I've ever met, and he wasn't even talking about me."

A smile formed on my face and my heart felt a little warmer despite me wearing a swimsuit in the fall.

"Should I give him a warning?" She ponders.

"Don't bother. He's your future Alpha's friend. They play on the same team."

"He is?" She asked in disappointed amazement. "Then why doesn't Denis do something about him?"

I didn't have an answer for her so I urged her to continue our walk.

"Aren't these things creepy?"

I was ready to turn around and snap until I realized that it was only a pair of boys stooping near the tree-line. Their focus is on an ant hill, not me. Bullies are great at making you feel paranoid.

"Wow, those are huge," she says.

Keona walked over to them and I followed suit.

These ants have slightly large heads and are larger than the tiny black ants I'm used to. They traveled from the ant hill to the hollow part of a tree, each of them carrying some form of food in their mouths.

"They're red carpenter ants," one of the boys tells Keona. "I heard that they like honey and sugar, as with most ants."

I stopped beside Keona. A little insect-watching never hurt.

_______

After dinner is the time I've chosen to act.

Everyone is leaving their table. Keona ran off with our dirty dishes. Queenie hurried back to her tent.

And I stole the charity money.

I leaned against the wooden column, watching my target's interactions. "Is it in place?" I whispered.

Syll materialized in the form of a robin and perched on my shoulder.

"All is well. This one has a lot of insecurity and negative energy directed at themselves. I can't wait to have a taste of their distraught spirit."

The thought pops into my mind that I should tell her about my interaction with Kara. I pushed it aside. "Have your fill," I told her instead.

My target splits off from Manuel and his left to stand there awkwardly. I pushed myself off the column and marched over to him. I was halfway there when someone grabbed a hold of my arm. The worst part is that I recognized his touch.

Denis hadn't changed out of his red hoodie. "I need to talk to you for a moment," he said. I could see the desperation in his eyes but I had no time for that.

"Not now, Denis. Save it for another time."

Joshua will leave at any second.

"It will only take one minute. No, two! Please, Rosé, just two minutes."

Oh, so now you have the audacity to plead with me? Maybe it's the mate bond talking. Whatever, he won't let me go until I give him my time of day. The sun is setting. It won't be long before they ask us to gather at the clearing again.

"Fine, but only two minutes, Denis. And I'm counting."

He nods, seemingly relieved.

That's how we ended up at the forest with my second meet-up of the day. I stared directly into Denis' face, refusing to look away.

I could easily give in to my anger but it won't help me in the slightest. I kept my expression calm and cool. Let's see what he has to say first.

"You must have seen this coming, so I'm just gonna say it," Denis said. "But I don't know what to say to you. I made you a promise and I couldn't fulfill it. That's how useless I am. What's the point of me being a werewolf when I can't do the simplest thing and protect my mate?" His hands went up to his head and gripped his hair.

*That's the same thing I've been wondering for a while too. But then again, I know your words are cheap.*

Even now in what should be an apology, all he keeps mentioning is himself.

"Rosé I won't ask you to forgive me, I won't, but don't turn away from me and don't ignore me. We're fated, and we're meant to be with each other so do whatever you want to me as payback! Slap me, kick me in the balls do anything-"

I didn't give two shits about fated mates, but I do care about the advantage it gives me. He's never acted like this before the day his brother brought me to the pack. Does initiating intimate touch make the bond stronger?

*What a sweet taste.*

That's the thought I had as I stopped Denis mid-speech by covering his lips with mine.