Chapter 17
I was laying on the floor of the living room staring up at the ceiling. I had been for the past twenty minutes. “And what the hell does that supposed to mean?” Mel rang out.
“That I kissed him first and then he evened the score, I guess. I don’t know!” I exclaimed. Who says that? Who devours somebody’s mouth that way then acts like it was to settle some imaginary score? I was reeling ever since.
“And he’s really that good of a kisser?” she asked again. “That was the hottest kiss I’ve ever experienced, yes” I threw my arm over my eyes and groaned.
“Babes, he likes you. I know it. You know it. Even Jasp knows it. Our Alpha wouldn’t just kiss somebody he didn’t want to kiss, especially that way. It wasn’t a peck girl” she snorted, sitting with her legs tucked underneath her on my sofa. “What’d Jasper say?”
“I haven’t told him” I admitted sheepishly. “Why not?” she asked.
“Because I feel like he’s going to get annoyed, like, he’s been sticking up for me against his best friend and yet we keep just making out like it’s nothing” I sat up to gage her reaction.
Her head tipped to the side like she was contemplating this.
“I guess you have a point. This haters to lovers thing is going to confuse everyone” she laughed. “We aren’t lovers!” I exclaimed. Two kisses meant nothing, or so I’d like to think.
“All I’m saying is...he kept your flower ring...the big sap” she started cracking up now at herself. I tried not to laugh. “He denied that being mine” I reminded her.
“Of course he did. You think he’d fess up to something like that? With that pride and ego, no way.” I shook my head but said nothing else. “So what happens now?” she asked.
“Uh...I’m going back to avoiding him.”
-
Grace, Jasper, and I went wandering the woods after I helped buy groceries for the elder wolves today. Jasper wanted to take pictures and her and I volunteered to tag along.
Us girls wore matching white boho dresses and while my hair was my normal blonde and wavy hers was a cinnamon color a bit lighter than her brothers and straight.
He wanted to capture us in the fields just running through them and twirling for motion shots where our dresses could show movement even in the still frame.
I felt like I was becoming a wolf myself. It wasn’t at all hard for me to wander the woods in a dress and flat shoes. I had become very in tune with nature and had healthy legs with the amount of walking I’d do.
“Here” Jasper stopped us as soon as he found the spot he wanted. He had a good eye and he would be picky about where he wanted to shoot if the image wasn’t perfectly how he pictured it. It wasn’t a sunny day at all. The sky was flat but the wind was warm.
“Grace, you look this way and Mira I want you to turn a bit more to this side. Cool, now twirl” he coached us. Her and I were laughing because we felt silly but it was also fun.
We’d packed some snacks so we could spend more time out here without having to worry about going back for food or anything. Once Jasper was satisfied with some shots we took a seat on the ground and started passing food around.
“Mira, what’re you going to do for your birthday?” Grace asked. My birthday is coming up this week. “I don’t really have anything planned” I shrugged.
“It’s your 18th you have to celebrate it” she practically whined. “I told her that. She said she wants ‘lowkey’ just her and her two only friends” he joked. I laughed but rolled my eyes.
“What do you want me to do? Throw a block party” I said sarcastically. Grace’s eyes lit up. “That actually sounds really fun,” she laughed.
“Not happening. If you guys wanna come by the house for cake or something I’m down for that” I offered.
“She doesn’t wanna have a party so she doesn’t have to invite my friends” Jasper laughed, but he really only meant one person in particular and he was right.
Plus I was cool with everyone in the community but I wasn’t about to make them celebrate my birthday. No one ever really has while growing up. Mom never knew what day it was never mind my birthday.
“What if a couple of us went into the clearing and had a bonfire?” Jasper added. “Like just us?” I asked.
“Yeah, we don’t have to invite a ton of people. Just us three, Mel, maybe since I’m inviting one sibling already I ask Declan, uh Gracy probably wants Daisy to come, but just like that. Lowkey” he offered.
“Plus there are still lanterns out there from the ceremony we can make it look pretty” Grace added. I thought it over for a minute. It actually sounded fun. I didn’t mind it being the 6 of us.
“Okay I’m down for that” I agreed which got me a squeeze from Grace in excitement. Jasper grinned like he’d accomplished something. “Perfect, I’ll get us a couple bottles of booze, Grace you get us a cake, and we’re golden” Jasper laid back in the grass.
“Friday then?” Grace asked, knowing that was the actual day of my birthday. We all agreed.
On our walk back to town we were taking our time on a lazy stroll. “Mel might want to invite Lyson,” Jasper pointed out.
“I mean she can, but don’t start telling people. That’s how news will spread” I pointed to both him and his sister. Lyson was a decent enough guy but we really never talk to him so I don’t know much about him aside from what Mel tells me.
He’s a blondie too. I joke Melanie loves her blondes. I do happen to know that Lyson hangs around some mutual friends as Jasper’s friends. That’s why I needed all of them to keep their mouths shut.
“What time? So I can tell Daisy” Grace asked.
“I don’t know. After sundown so 9 maybe?” I looked at both of them for confirmation. They seemed to agree. My birthday was only two days away so there wasn’t a very long wait which was probably good so no one would talk about it.
If nobody knew it was my birthday I could fly way under the radar.
-
It was early when I arrived at the Pack House to make breakfast. Today I was going to make waffles for everyone. I got started making the batter and pouring it out into the waffle press that could make four at a time.
There are a lot of people so I needed to get going if there would be enough for everyone.
Conan and Leslie along with the former Beta and his wife all came down first. They had their breakfast together and I could hear them chatting in the dining room. One of our kitchen girls, Liz, came from the back kitchen to help me.
Some of the waffles would be sprinkled with powdered sugar while others I’d leave plain. I also had a variety of diced fruits that could be put on top along with syrup.
More people started trickling down but most would go directly to the dining room so there was no need to come into the kitchen. Everything was served over there. Of course Jasper always popped in to say hello.
“Oh hell yeah, waffles” I heard him say before giving me a hug from behind. He placed his head on my shoulder and peeked at what else I was cooking.
“Do I get a fresh batch?” he batted his nonexistent lashes. “They’re all a fresh batch” I retorted. A throat cleared and Jasper stood from his bent position where he’d had his chin rested on me.
“Alpha” everyone in the kitchen greeted him with a bow of their head. Jasper and I didn’t.
“Do you need something, Alpha?” Liz hurried over attentively. He cleared his throat again, “Uh, powdered sugar.”
“Oh okay sure, here you go, Alpha” she handed him the container we used to sprinkle the sugar and bowed her head again out of respect.
“You coming, Jasp?” he asked his friend, clearly wanting him to join him. “Yup” he said, giving me a pat before following him out the door.
“Why was Alpha Devran looking at you like that?” Liz whispered. I had purposely kept my back to him while he was in the room so I hadn’t seen. “He, I don’t know how to describe it. He was just looking” her eyes looked up to the ceiling in thought.
“If he looked angry it’s just because he doesn’t like me” I laughed.
“No, it wasn’t that” she shook her head. I had finished the last of breakfast so I wasn’t planning on sticking around longer than needed.
After a quick lunch prep with the afternoon staff I started cleaning up even though there is staff for that and I’m mainly supposed to cook, not clean.
Once the back kitchen staff showed up they took over and I just washed my hands before leaving. In passing to the front door I do have to walk by the dining room.
Jasper knew why I would never say bye but we always saw each other later in the day anyways so it wasn’t needed.
“Mira” a voice called out. Goddamnit. I took a few steps back to reappear beside the dining area. “Hi Gran” I smiled.
“How are you, honey? Come eat with us it’s been too long” she waved me over. “Oh no, that’s okay I have some things to do” I lied. She’s smart and she knows I’m full of it.
“There’s plenty of time for whatever it is. Come on, have a waffle” she waved me to sit down by her. Jasper smirked, “Come sit Mir.” I could’ve killed him.
Diego and his sister Daisy were there along with Devran, his grandmother, Jasper, Declan, Grace, and their mother Elizabeth. Elizabeth loved me from having spent so much time with her son. She stood and gave me a hug.
“Hi beautiful girl, I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages,” she squeezed. “How are you?” I asked. All eyes were on me and I was trying to ignore it.
Elizabeth pulled me to sit down by her and we got to talking with her and Gran. They asked how Nealin’s house was and what I’ve been up to like it’s been years or something.
I put a waffle on a plate and reached for the syrup and powdered sugar but the container was down by Devran and I wasn’t about to ask for it. I grabbed some strawberries instead.
Before I could even cut into my food a shadow appeared over me and I flinched when a body bent over to sprinkle the sugar on my waffle. It was Devran which surprised me.
“Oh, um, thank you, Alpha,” I addressed him correctly since there were so many people present, including staff that were taking dirty dishes away.
Devran and I held eye contact for a moment before he returned to his seat. Peculiar. I could tell Jasper thought so too because he gave me a funny look while handing me a cup of coffee.
“Honey, Jasper says tomorrow’s your birthday. Are you doing anything special?” Elizabeth asked. Both he and my eyes went wide.
“Tomorrow’s your birthday?” I heard a gruff voice ask, but I pretended not to hear it while I answered Jasper’s mom. “Yes it is, but no I’m not doing anything special” I lied with a smile.
“How come?” she inquired. Lord help me. “I like lowkey things. Jasper’s enough to handle” I made a joke to stop her inquiry. She laughed. “Don’t I know it,” she agreed.
“Okay, eat your waffle,” he said, pushing my fork toward my mouth. That made me laugh. I could feel Devran’s eyes on me.
“You should throw a little party, Mira,” Diego commented. I looked at Jasper for help. “You just want an excuse to party,” he joked to his friend. They had a laugh and started talking a little bit which ended that conversation. I mentally thanked Jasper for the save.
Once Elizabeth left the room and I had had a few more words with Gran I excused myself. I said bye to the room in general and scurried out the door.
“If you aren’t having a party because you think I will disapprove I don’t care about it” I heard Alpha’s voice behind me. I had to put a stop to this. Him appearing. Him following me out of a room. It had to stop.
“I’d like you to make up your mind on whether you hate me or not. I don’t like not knowing when you’re going to be an asshole to me or not.” It was the first time I stood up for myself and I can tell it surprised him.
“Did you just call me an asshole?” his tone was clipped.
“If you despise humans just despise me. Don’t confuse me by being decent on occasion then turning it against me. Thank you” I concluded, walking away. Devran bursted out the front Pack House door after I’d just passed through them.
“Did I dismiss you yet?” he snapped. “See, this is what I mean” I pointed out, but my voice was weaker this time.
“You may not be a wolf but you’re in my town which means you acknowledge me as your Alpha regardless. Show me some respect” he growled. There were people in the streets and he’d just gained their attention.
“May I go, Alpha” I gritted out, not wanting to shed tears here. He was embarrassing me right now. “No, you may not,” he spat. I inhaled and exhaled a long breath trying to remain calm. Jasper must’ve heard the commotion because he appeared from inside.
“Dev” was all he got to say before he set him off.
“Shut the fuck up, Jasper. Once again you intervene” he growled out. “Someone has to! You are losing your shit man. Leave the girl alone” he growled back.
People in the streets all stopped in awe of the argument. They knew nobody should be talking to their Alpha like that. Even his third in command, at least when they were in public, because he demeaned him.
Devran swung around and grabbed Jasper by the shirt. I gasped and ran back up the Pack House steps to separate them. “Stop!” I exclaimed, trying to shove my small body between their big ones.
“Mira, get out of the way,” Jasper warned. He knew his friend was about to snap and he didn’t want me in the cross hairs. Diego appeared from inside and whispered, “You have an audience. Here isn’t the place to do this.”
When Dev spun around everyone scrambled to go about their business. “In my office, now” Devran commanded. He took me by the wrist and dragged me with them.