Chapter 38 Watch Out
My legs lay against his as he rubs my back soothingly.
“What happened?” He asks again.
It’s kind of embarrassing to say, and it makes me nervous, but I figure it’s better to just get it out. “Someone started a rumor that I slept with a counselor.”
The hand rubbing my back stills.
“Why would someone do that?” His voice is lower.
“I don’t know.” Deep down, I know I shouldn’t lie or withhold this from him, but I don’t want him to confront Kai. I don’t want Kai to fight with him.
“Baby, I love you, but I know you’re lying. I can hear your heartbeat. Why won’t you tell me?”
I lean my body into his, my side flush against his chest.
“I don’t want you to start anything.”
“Whoever this is started it first.”
“Well then, I don’t want you to continue it.” I know it’s hard for him to calm his anger, but he does it for me.
“I won’t get involved.”
“It’s Kai, you know that guy I hung out with a few times before we met? He was acting all close with me, so I told him to leave me alone. I guess that set him off, and now he told the whole camp we slept together.”
He breathes in and out several times. He’s told me that sometimes, if they get really mad, they shift without meaning to. I know by the slight shaking of his body that he’s fighting the urge. I lean away from him, bringing my hands to cup his face. His beautiful eyes look into mine, and I can physically feel him calm down. His jaw is clenched shut tightly, but his breathing calms down.
“I don’t want you to get upset. I just want you to comfort me.”
“Has he done anything else to you?”
It’s no use not telling him everything at this point. “He hasn’t really done anything else to me persay. He actually threatened to ‘have words’ or something with you if he ever saw you.”
“This is the same guy you were in the pond with before?”
I nod.
“That scrawny thing wants to have a go at me. Maybe you should let me get involved. He needs to be put in his place.” I can hear the fire in his tone at the notion of them fighting.
“That’s what he wants, and I don’t need to give him anymore reason to come after me. This is bad enough.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.”
I feel relieved after talking to him. Even though I have to go back to the camp and deal with it again, I feel better. I feel lighter. The sun is almost set by the time we finally decide to move from the chair. We go inside to get dinner before bed. He always buys special food for me, which I love, since the camp food isn't the best.
“What’s for dinner?” Noah pops out of his bedroom as though he’s been waiting for us to come inside.
“Nothing for you,” Alec mutters back.
Noah pouts, making me giggle. “Your girlfriend is nicer to me than you, and you’ve been my friend longer.”
He goes to the cabinet, rustling through the snacks available. Alec made me and Noah grilled-cheese sandwiches after much begging from Noah.
“I’m so lucky my boyfriend is a great cook.”
He’s truly good at cooking, but I find it shocking that he doesn’t cook often. Well, only for me, he says.
“I’m so lucky, too. It’s so great having you here. When are you moving in?” Noah earns a kick in the shin from Alec’s foot.
These two bicker more often than not, but it’s like they’re brothers. It’s sweet to be around, it's comforting.
“What are we watching tonight?” Noah follows us into the living room, settling onto the couch across from us.
I pick an action movie, hoping they'll both enjoy it. It’s a good movie, but being here lying against my personal heater on the couch, I can’t help the sleep that takes over. I don’t even realize I’ve fully fallen asleep until I wake up being carried up the stairs.
“Go back to sleep, I’m taking you to bed.” I don’t think twice imediatlyy closing my eyes again, welcoming a peaceful sleep in his arms.
Alec POV
I wait until she’s out the door. Until she’s into the woods further than the normal human’s eye could see. Then I lose my cool.
The anger courses through me at an undeniable speed as I feel such an overwhelming urge to protect my mate. To take out the threat that has already hurt her. Some of the anger turns onto me, the anger that I let something like this happen. That I didn’t take care of him from the beginning.
I hear his door open as he comes out of his room. He’s probably heard me losing my cool in here.
“You okay? Do you need to go outside?”
We try our hardest not to shift in the house, as it only makes a mess. It’s been a long time since we've had one happen, but I know the possibility is high right now. But I don’t want to go outside just incase she could possibly hear me. I don’t want to worry her.
“No.” It comes out as a growl, which is far from convincing, but he stays where he is, not moving.
I try to steady my breathing. My body stops shaking so severely, and I feel the urge to shift leave me.
“What happened?” He asks as soon as I’ve calmed down.
Stay calm. I chant in my head as I tell him what happened. He’s appalled, as any normal person should be. But it takes me by surprise to see his anger.
“What are we gonna do to him?” He growls out.
I suppose this is the natural anger caused by the future Luna of the pack being threatened. This is what my mom meant when she said being Luna would happen naturally for her and the pack.
“What can we get by with doing to him is the real question.”
That Kai fucker better watch out cause I’m not sitting back and watching this happen.