Chapter 27: Rejected by My Best Friend & Alpha

VIVIAN'S POV

"Zeke! Zeke! Zeke!" I called, banging on his door.

Swinging the door open, a groggy Zeke stood there. "V, what are you doing? It's after midnight."

"Are you going to invite me in?"

He stepped aside, gesturing inside. "If you so rudely insist, I guess come in."

I brushed past him, entering his room. I heard the click of his door. I walked over to his small couch, which I spent many nights crashing on. I slung myself down, patting the seat next to me. "We need to talk."

He rubbed his face, trying to wipe away the sleep. "This better be good. I was in a dead-ass sleep."

"It is. Somehow, Samantha is abusing Chris. I don't know how, but it's some mental abuse. Or maybe it's physical. But she's creating some mental warfare on him. I was with him tonight, and he left with her. But when he came back, he completely forgot why I was there."

Zeke sat down next to me, confusion lacing his face. "That is strange. But maybe Chris is into drugs."

"You think she's drugging him?"

"I'm not saying that. Maybe Chris is a willing participant."

Resisting the urge to slap Zeke, I snapped. "Chris would never do drugs. If there's any drugs in his system, they're not being put there by his own decision."

Zeke shrugged. "How much do you really know the guy? Up until recently, he was your bully. Then, all of a sudden, you were dating him and playing house. It doesn't mean you really know him. You only know the parts of him that he wanted you to know."

I glared at him. "I know Chris a lot better than you think."

"Chris is a tool. I don't know why you're so set on saving him anyway. He seems perfectly content being with Sam anyway. Why can't we just let them be?"

"Because he's being abused! And don't you want to get back with Samantha?"

Zeke reached out and grasped my hands. "I told you what I wanted. I want to undo our rejection. I don't care about Sam. I regret what happened between us. I made a mistake. I don't know what came over me. We're meant to be, V."

I stared into his eyes, seeing the Zeke I had known for so long. The genuine, honest Zeke. But I felt nothing, unlike the butterflies I used to feel when he stared at me. I imagined brown eyes staring back at me instead. I pulled my hands back. "I'm sorry, but it's too late for that."

He looked down at our hands. "I don't think it is. I will help you because that's the right thing to do. But when Chris disappoints you, I'll be here."

"He won't."

"Chris can't give you what I can."

"He can give me more."

Zeke's nostrils flared, but he ignored my dig. "What else can I do for you tonight since you so kindly woke me at this ungodly hour?"

"Do you mind if I crash on your couch? My parents aren't let me show up in the middle of the night."

"Sure. My place is your place. Always."

I smiled. "Thanks."

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Feel free to sleep in the bed if you'd like..."

I swatted his hand away. "Nice try. Good night, Zeke."

*****

The following day, Zeke was still asleep when I slipped out. I needed to start on my plan to find out more about Samantha. Leaving the pack and going outside the walls was a good place to start. But first, I needed to go home.

My mother was the only person I knew who had left the walls before. She'd been a rogue before she found my father, and she might have had helpful information. Before being a rogue, she'd been part of a pack, thrown out, and lived off the land. I'd ask her about the outside.

I headed home, determined to find out more information. I didn't need anyone else's help to ask my mother for information. I just needed to get her away from my father, who always became enraged when those times were mentioned.

Arriving home, it almost felt like it'd been years since I'd been here. I felt like a different person. This place now felt like home. I almost felt like I needed to knock. Should I? I had a key, though. I unlocked the door, calling out my presence. "Mom, I'm here."

"Honey, what are you doing here?"

Good, I didn't hear Dad. He must be at work. I heard her rustling in her room, so I headed there. I saw her making her bed. "Hey, Mom. Do you have some time to talk?"

She didn't look at me. "Sure, baby. What did you need?"

"I needed to talk about when you were a rogue."

She stopped what she was doing and looked up at me. "What?"

"I needed to talk to you about your time before you joined the pack. I need advice."

She sat on the bed, a look of concern washing over her face. "That time is behind me. I don't think it's a good idea if we hash over it. Why are you asking about it?"

I walked over to her and sat down next to her. "I just need to find out about someone and go past the walls. I need to be safe."

She gripped my hands. "Do not go beyond the walls, honey. Whatever you're planning, do not do that. You're safe here."

I looked into her eyes, seeing genuine fear. "Mom, I'm going whether you help me or not."

She sighed. "I should have known this was going to come and bite me in the ass eventually. I guess it's time I told you the truth."

I blinked, shocked that she had cursed. I had never heard her curse in my entire life. "Told me what?"

"The truth about where I came from and who we are."

A knot of dread formed in my stomach.