Bonus （Jasper POV）
We were called into Devran’s office for a meeting today. I was running a few minutes late so I was jogging quickly down the hall towards the door that was already partially shut but I could hear the voices inside.
“I just want to welcome back Nealin from our training program. He’ll be working alongside our lead strategy man Milton. Welcome back man” Devran gave his little speech.
The wolves all slapped the shy boy on the back as I entered.
I remember Nealin from high school. He was always so damn quiet and to himself. I barely noticed him as a person. The only reason why I had at all was because I would catch him looking at me sometimes.
I wasn’t sure why but I’d feel eyes on me and when I would look around his eyes would always dart down as if I caught him or something.
He’s been gone a while though and I completely forgot about him until recently when Mira moved into his place and was told he’d be coming back.
I felt odd when he returned to the house that night. There was a weird tension there and I don’t really know where that stems from. I just avoided it.
Now we were standing around the conference table talking business and I felt those same eyes linger on me again. What the hell is this kid’s problem?
My eyes snapped over to his and sure enough those slate grey eyes dropped quickly down. My nostrils flared but I remained silent. Is he jealous that I'm close to Mira? Maybe he had a crush on her. She’s extremely beautiful so I wouldn’t be surprised.
My best friend has the most perfect clear complexion and ocean eyes. She’s got the blonde wavy locks that run softly down her back. Mira has soft pink lips and I call her sunshine because she glows in sunlight.
My best friend is beautiful and yet I feel nothing romantically for her. She is like a sister to me. Beyond that, because our bond is something I have never experienced before.
We’re so in tune with one another in a way I haven’t even felt between myself and my life long best friends Devran and Diego. We share this kinship and I feel protective over her.
So, I understand if that was Nealin’s problem.
“Soon our Delta will begin his training. We’re in the process of transition boys and I want us all alert and at our best. We are the next generation of wolves to carry our pack. I know that means as much to you as it does to me” Devran’s deep voice continued to speak from just beside me.
I needa pay attention.
“Jasp, you and Nealin will be going down to the training grounds this week. You already know what to do” Dev turned to me specifically. My head snapped up to his. I forgot he’d be coming too.
I wouldn’t be at the same training grounds that Dev and Diego went to. I actually train closer to home which I'm happy for because I wouldn’t wanna leave Mira.
Nealin would also be there for his own reasons but that meant we’d be traveling together. Why does that annoy me? I’m not that kind of guy. I’m easy going...but.
“That’s it gentlemen. Jasper, Nealin, figure out the plan on when you’ll be heading out” Dev ordered us before nodding for everyone to leave. I stayed behind.
“Why do we need to be together? We’re doing separate things” I asked my Alpha. Devran peeked over his broad shoulder from where he’d just turned towards his desk.
“I’m having him do a reconfiguration of our territories and mapping out check points. I thought you wouldn’t mind helping. Is there a problem?” He raised a thick dark brow at me.
I stiffened my spine and said a quick, “Nope.” I left after that, clenching my gut when I saw Nealin waiting around for me outside.
“Are you waiting on me?” I asked him. He started to fidget with his hands. “Um, Alpha D-Devran wanted this done s-sooner rather than later...are you, uh, available today?” He asked me in a stutter.
Is this guy always this nervous? His cheeks were smooth of any hair and they were tinted pink right now.
“I guess so” I scratched at the back of my head. What else could I do? It was ordered.
-
Nealin ended up with a bag of supplies he’d need. I was empty handed because I really wasn’t going to be the one mapping. That’s what he was trained for.
We have this forest mapped out in grids. Naturally in wolf form we usually know the whereabouts we're in the grand majority of our surrounding territories. We don’t have much reason to enter other wolf territories but our own.
It’s good to update the information and check on our checkpoints. It’s for cases like emergency evacuations or if war times occur.
Territory can also change borders depending on if Pack’s are overrun. Certain trails can be damaged due to landslides or any other natural disaster so we do these mappings and remain up to date.
“Where do we start?” I asked Nealin. He flinched slightly like I may have startled him.
“We can start on the east flank and work our way counter c-clockwise back to the village” he barely spoke over a whisper. I nodded and we took off beyond the treeline.
This would take days to map out but we’ll start East. Nealin had this large map and a short pencil. He squinted at it often and muttered to himself. I just watched as I quietly followed along.
He’d ask me to tie off certain trees with neon strips and he’d mark them on the map and continue on. I carried the roll of neon yellow plastic-like material that I’d tie off and cut as we moved forward.
“Here” Nealin pointed with the tip of his pencil and I’d do it again. I finally couldn’t take the silence anymore and started talking.
“So, Nealin, we don’t know each other much. Since you’re living with my best friend and all...I guess I’ll be around you” I told him. He paused in place and nodded yes.
I walked up beside him and looked down at him. He’d yet to look at me. He’s much shorter than I am so he only reaches to just about my shoulder. When he tipped his head up at me I didn’t like that weird feeling that surfaced inside me.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
“Y-you don’t have to pretend to be my friend...Mira is nice, b-but I don’t expect you to...t-talk to me” he stuttered out. How is this guy going to be a lead war strategizer? My lips pressed together and his eyes watched my mouth. It made me look away from him.
“I mean...I’m not saying we have to be best buds I just wanna know my friend isn’t living with a crazy person or something” I cleared my throat and walked on.
He followed then Nealin paused against a tree and scribbled something on the map.
“I’m not crazy,” he squeaked out. “You were always alone in high school” I pointed out for no reason.
“Do you remember me in high school?” He sounded surprised. I furrowed my brows. “Only barely,” I shrugged.
“I remember you” he said quietly and our eyes caught. Again I cleared my throat. This guy looks at me funny. I heard he is gay. He better not have some weird crush on me. I am very much straight.
“Mira has been through a lot. I just hope this roommate arrangement works out for her because she deserves some peace in her life” I told him before dropping the topic all together.
We went back to silently mapping. When I continued to feel his eyes on me throughout our trek of the Eastern flank I finally whirled around to face him which made him stumble in his step.
“Do you have a problem with me or something?” Nealin looked entirely taken back, “N-no, no I don’t.”
I sighed and ran my hand down my face. I’m usually a lot nicer. I wasn’t sure why I was being kind of a dick to the guy. Something about him was unnerving to me.
He’s such a small innocent guy. I could easily manhandle him and I’m not even a huge dude. Well that was a weird fucking thing to think about.
I shook my head and kicked at some rocks while I waited for Nealin to finish what he was writing. He’d been avoiding eye contact ever since I called him out.
When it got dark and the whole Eastern flank was mapped out we finally turned back home. I’m not sure what Nealin stepped on to make him lose balance but he suddenly toppled over and I was quick to grab his arm to catch him.
“Oh fudge” I heard him sigh. It made me chuckle that he didn’t curse but rather censored himself like a child would.
“Are you alright?” I asked him, picking up his bag for him. He nodded yes and readjusted himself. His scent wafted under my nose and it was something that resembled a soft pine aroma mixed with something else. It smelt nice.
The air felt strange suddenly and I looked down at Nealin who was still looking up at me with unreadable eyes. Then I realized it was because I was still holding his arm from when I had caught him from falling completely.
I quickly released him. Our eyes stayed lingering.
I sighed and decided to take the bag from him and carry it for him. It was heavy and he had had it on all day long. His lips twitched up into a soft smile. I cleared my throat and walked on. Nealin silently trailing behind me.
“This would have gone a lot faster if we shifted” I sighed at the day spent trekking.
“I can’t hold a pencil too well with paws” he actually cracked a joke. When I chuckled his cheeks tinted a bright red. Even in the dark my eyes could see them perfectly.
“Is your wolf as small as you are?” I asked him. He seemed embarrassed by this question but I hadn’t meant it rudely. “I’m not s-small” he frowned.
I took a step closer to him and measured our height difference. Feeling the heat of my body near his he stiffened slightly in his posture which made me do the same.
I was just trying to make small talk but he really knows how to make things awkward.
It seems without thinking Nealin placed his hand on my chest. I quickly looked down at it in surprise and his eyes widened to double their size before he snatched it away like my body burned him.
What in the Moon Goddess is going on around here?
We both got flustered and started walking again at a much faster pace to get ourselves back to the village. I couldn’t be alone with this guy anymore. Shit has been weird all day.
I don’t know what vibe I'm reading off him but it’s unfamiliar to me and it’s throwing me off big time. I sighed at the thought that he will be with Mira every day.
How often am I going to have to start seeing this guy? Hopefully not often. After this mapping mission I hope we stayed far apart.
Very very far apart.