Chapter 10 - Kelsey
Emotional exhaustion dragged me into a deeper sleep than I’ve had in months.
Everything spilled out of me yesterday when I faced Taylor in the woods. It wasn’t just him and Luke. It wasn’t just the constant battle I fight for a shred of respect at work. It was everything.
I’m married.
I’m the Beta’s wife.
My entire life changed in the blink of an eye, and I didn’t have a moment to pause and absorb any of it.
But I also understand that pausing wouldn’t have changed anything.
The outcomes would remain as they are. I would still be married to a man I hardly know, and I would still be fighting those daily battles for equality at work.
So, what would the point be of pausing at all?
Keep your head up and your eyes focused on your goals.
But deep inside, I can feel it all eating away at me. Chipping at my strength and wearing me down.
I wake up feeling a bit numb inside, but I push it away and climb out of bed, stretching and yawning. It’s still dark outside. The air is wonderfully crisp.
I smell the freshness of a new layer of soft white snow on the ground just outside my window.
I hope they don’t make a big deal out of everything at work today. Things are already tense there, and now that Taylor has been taken to the elders, I have no idea what people will think of me.
In a lot of ways, I wanted to just walk away from the whole thing and pretend it didn’t happen.
If Miles hadn’t been there, that’s what I would have done…
Although...
If Miles hadn’t been there, it would have gotten a lot worse, and I might not even have survived.
Sighing, I grab my phone to turn my alarm off, seeing as I woke up before it started playing.
Swiping over the screen, I see a notification from my team leader.
My heart pulls tight in my chest as I open it, worried because he’s never messaged me personally in my entire career there.
Kelsey, your leave has been approved by HR. Enjoy your vacation time, and we will see you when you return.
I stare at the message in disbelief. What in the world is this about? I didn’t ask for leave. Understanding spikes through me, and I groan, realizing it must have been Miles, interfering where he shouldn’t.
This man is driving me crazy. I get that he thinks he’s helping, but he’s not. He’s making things worse. I know how to handle bullies and keep my head down to avoid drama. He knows how to make the drama way worse and get everyone involved.
Angry, I storm out of my room and burst through his open door into his room.
“Miles, was this you?” I demand, holding up my phone to show him the message.
But when he turns around wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist, sitting low on his hips with water running over his chest, I lose my entire train of thought.
“Was what me?” He asks with amusement flickering in his eyes as he notices me tripping over myself.
“Uh, I’ve been put on vacation leave at work,” I stammer.
“So?” He remarks, confused.
“So? Are you serious? I don’t want leave. I have things to do there. I need to be out on patrol to take care of Rose Falls. I worked damn hard for that position at work, and now they are going to think I’m weak because I need to take a break from everything…”
“Kelsey, stop,” he says, walking over to me and placing his hands on my shoulders. He’s smiling and shaking his head as he stares down at me with gorgeous coffee brown eyes.
I bite my lower lip, distracted all over again. Heat is building on my skin.
“It’s not weak to give yourself a break every now and then. It’s healthy. A clear mind means you’ll do your job better when you go back. Just because you work hard doesn’t mean you’re not allowed your own life, too. You’re not quitting. You’re just taking a breather.”
His words wash over me, and as I stare up at him, I find it hard to disagree with him.
“So?” He grins.
“So,” I sigh, giving in.
“Let me take you out today. Get dressed. We’re going to town for breakfast.”
“Miles…”
“Just do it and stop being so argumentative,” he scolds me in a friendly tone.
My eyes drift from his face, down his thick, muscular neck, and along his broad shoulders. His body is sculpted to perfection.
I actually need to get out of his room before my wolf decides to do something stupid.
“Ok, fine, I’ll get ready,” the words spill from my lips in a hurry as I take a step backwards.
Back in my room, I lecture myself for perving him so blatantly right in front of him. I don’t want to give him the wrong impression. But dammit…he’s gorgeous.
***
Miles pulls the Jeep door open for me, and I climb inside, wearing my blue jeans and a white puffer jacket to ward off the extra cold day.
I knock the snow off my boots before swinging my legs into the car.
It’s weird not to be heading into work on a random Thursday.
Around us, people are walking toward their buildings, carrying paperwork and other things, going about their normal routines.
“I’m taking you to my favorite breakfast spot,” Miles says, starting the engine.
The Jeep grumbles a bit before it growls to life.
“We should park her in the garage when we get back. This snow is getting thicker,” he remarks.
“It’s really beautiful,” I reply, staring out across the meadow toward the forest. “Did anyone find rogues or evidence of rogues yesterday?” I ask, realizing I never got an update.
“No, no one did, but Kels, today you aren’t at work, ok. There will be no worrying about that stuff in any way whatsoever,” he says sternly.
I nod. I don’t think he understands how hard it is for me to turn my focus off. And the only thing I ever think about is work.
The realization upsets me, and I tense in my seat.
I’ve never considered before just how little of a private life I have. But it’s the life chosen. I chose to focus on my goals and achievements rather than other things. It’s important to be driven and motivated.
Miles turns the dial to increase the volume on the old radio, and a rock song fills the car. The music pulls me away from my thoughts and has me admiring the view again. Ok. So. Vacation time. Not thinking about work. I can do this. I can relax.
“The waffle palace?” I smirk when he takes my hand and pulls me toward the little breakfast spot. “This is your favorite?”
“Why do you say it like that? What’s wrong with waffles?” He asks, challenging me with a smile.
“Nothing. I love waffles. I just pictured you as more of a steaks and bacon kind of breakfast guy.”
He bursts out laughing. “You do know they make waffles with bacon on them, right?”
I tilt my head to the side, curiously impressed. “Well, this makes more sense then,” I gesture at the waffle palace.
He laughs and pushes me toward the door, leaning over me to push it open for me.
Inside, the magical scents of warm, freshly toasted waffles and creamy ice cream hit my senses.
A bubbly waitress comes to greet us at the door and leads us to our seats.
“Can I get you two some coffee?”
“An Americano for me, please,” Miles says.
“I’ll have a cappuccino, please.”
“Great. Today’s breakfast special is the glazed cherry waffle with camembert and figs,” she tells us.
I pull a face, and Miles laughs. “Don’t judge it till you try it. It’s actually amazing.”
The waitress leaves, and we browse the menu. I keep looking up at Miles and wondering if his charm is all part of his usual act as the Beta. Making everyone like him seems to be so easy for him.
I settle on the bacon-and-butterscotch waffle, and Miles chooses the special with a plate of bacon on the side.
“Where do you usually go for breakfast?” He asks.
“I like the Pink Pantry. That little bakery around the corner?”
“I know that one. They have the chocolate squares with cookie pieces inside them?”
“Yes, oh my goodness, those things are amazing,” I muse.
“I didn’t know they made breakfast,” he remarks.
“Oh, they actually don’t. But I made friends with the chef there, and they kind of made me a special breakfast just to be nice. The perfect eggs Benedict with bacon on a freshly made breakfast muffin,” I explain.
“I see,” he grumbles.
“Not a Benedict fan?” I ask, confused.
“And this chef that you made friends with…does he happen to be…”
“She,” I correct him, smirking as I realize what the problem is.
“Oh,” he says, perking up.
“Are you jealous that another man would want to make me breakfast?” I tease.
“You are my wife, Kelsey. No other man may dare make you breakfast,” he grins, looking sheepishly like he knows he walked himself right into a trap.
“Maybe we should check if the chef here is a guy. Then we’ll have to go somewhere else,” I feign horror.
He throws a little packet of sugar at me and glares at me with a playful glimmer in his eyes. “Watch yourself, girl,” he says.
I grin, sipping my coffee with a triumphant grin on my face.
The waffle is absolutely incredible. And eating breakfast in a slow, relaxed vibe instead of rushing around because I’m going to be late for work is quite a treat.
After breakfast, I take Miles to the bookshop on the corner so I can choose a new book. Seeing as I have some time off, I may as well use it for things I’ve been meaning to do, and reading is definitely something on my list.
“What kind of books do you like?” Miles asks, pulling one of them from the shelf as we browse past it.
“Mm. All kinds, actually. I haven’t read in so long that I can barely remember. Sci-fi for sure. And I love a good psychological thriller.”
He holds up the book in his hands and raises his brows, “Penelope’s First Love?” He reads the title.
“Ugh, no,” I pull a face, scrunching my nose. “Not romance.” The mere thought of suffering through some cliched romance story on my time off makes my toes curl in disgust.
“What’s wrong with romance?” He teases, laughing at the face I pull.
“You read it if you’re so into it,” I quip back at him.
He pulls a face very similar to mine. “Yeah, maybe not,” he says, pushing the book back into its spot on the shelf. “Those things are always overly gushy and unrealistic. Just like the movies.”
“Exactly,” I say, walking away from the romance section.