7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
Milo
After my breakdown in the shower yesterday, I’d gotten a clearer vision on what I wanted to do with my life here in the pack.
I knew Darius might never want me, and since no one else wanted me either, I was slowly getting used to the idea of being alone forever, however dark and depressing that sounded.
Maybe it was a mature way of seeing things.
I couldn’t very well get disappointed if my expectations were low enough to touch the ground, now could I?
I loved being in a pack, and even if I was the odd one, the unwanted one, I could still be useful.
While drinking my morning coffee outside on my patio, I’d sniffed the hint of Darius’ scent, but he wasn’t there.
He’d likely just passed by on a morning run in his wolf form.
It soured my morning routine, the scent enough to make my heart ache all over again.
But I was still determined to be useful, I just needed to avoid Jeremy, Dad, and Darius.
Another scent mingled with the pine trees and I groaned into my coffee, preparing myself for another ruined morning.
Dad’s grey wolf form broke through the trees, his stride calm and unhurried as he approached me. He truly needed to stop showing up here and dampening my mood. I was already feeling raw and exposed from yesterday. He couldn’t just give me one day of peace?
His wolf form changed to human and with both hands on his hips he narrowed his eyes at me. I just kept sipping my coffee. I hadn’t invited him. If he wanted coffee this morning, he could very well get it himself. Or bother Jeremy, who’s house was way more inviting than my mid-renovation home was.
“Why aren’t you mated yet?” he demanded in lieu of a good morning.
I ignored the fact he already knew about me and Darius. Jeremy had likely told him about it and how I was rejected. “Good morning to you too, Dad,” I muttered, sipping my coffee and pretending my dad’s dick wasn’t right there in front of me.
“This isn’t funny, Milo,” he grumbled as he moved up the stairs until he reached where I sat and joined, wincing at the bite of cold the metal chairs offered his bare butt.
“I never said it was.”
He gave me the look he always did when he was disappointed in me. It was basically the only look he gave me nowadays. “I know you’re fated to be with Darius. So why aren’t you with him?”
Jeremy had definitely told him.
I shrugged. “Not really your business what my fated and I decide on.” I tried really hard to sound casual and not cry from the heartache. Darius’ scent still lingered in my nose, the tiny glimpse of him I’d gotten.
“It is my business!” he snapped. “Whatever childish games you’re playing needs to stop.”
Childish games? Now I had a broken heart to content with and my only parent yelling at me. This was the worst morning ever.
“I’m not playing anything,” I replied, my tone thankfully didn’t waver.
“Look at Cass and Jeremy. Cass had no idea shifters even existed but they’re happy. If Jeremy could win Cass over, then why can’t you do the same with Darius?”
He truly believed I was to blame for not being mated yet? He was right, but still, it hurt.
He sighed with disappointment and stood from the rusty chair. “Why can’t you just be more like your brother?”
He left with those words lingering in the fall air.
Why was I so determined on staying in a pack where I wasn’t accepted as who I was?
‘Why can’t you just be more like your brother?’
Because he wasn’t broken.
I was.
He wasn’t ridiculed by every decision he ever made.
I was.
He wasn’t abandoned by friends.
I was.
He was loved.
I wasn’t.
And fuck Jeremy for having everything.
Did Dad truly think all was perfect for Cass and Jeremy? There really wasn’t anything Jeremy had lacked to tell Cass? Or hidden from him? I’d show Dad that Jeremy wasn’t as perfect as he thought.
It was no surprise at all that I found Jeremy in his wolf form playing with the pups while the parents watched on with huge smiles and gushing sounds of adoration.
I hated it here. But I was determined to prove that Jeremy wasn’t perfect, so I beelined for Cass who stood next to the parents, all watching the wolves play around like it was the best entertainment ever.
“They’re all so cute,” Cass replied to one of the mothers.
“They really are,” I agreed, smiling at my packmates and Cass.
“Milo!” Ria exclaimed happily. “Are you here to play with the pups, too?”
I loved playing with the little ones, but I preferred to do it without an audience, not like Jeremy who basked in the attention.
“Sadly, not today,” I replied with a fake pout. “I came to speak to Cass, actually. If you’ll excuse us.”
I led Cass away from the parents so they wouldn’t overhear, happy that he was actually following.
“Anything wrong?” Cass asked when I stopped.
“No, not at all,” I assured him. “I just wanted to hear how you’re doing with everything.”
“Um, you mean the pack? Because I think that’s going well enough.”
Yeah, too well.
“It looks like that to me, too,” I forced a chuckle. “But I was thinking more about you and Jeremy. It can’t be easy finding out shifters exist, and that you’re fated to be with one.”
Come on, give me something, anything!
He frowned and shrugged. “Everything between me and Jeremy has been easy ever since I became his.”
Seriously, nothing?!
“So, does that mean a claiming ceremony is in order?” I teased, hoping he wasn’t aware of that part yet.
“It does,” he smiled, taking me by surprise.
“Oh? When are you having it, then?” I asked, praying I would still be able to find some faults.
“As soon as possible,” he answered with a beaming smile.
I scented Jeremy just before he flew past me and tackled Cass to the ground.
“No licking!” Cass laughed, dodging the wolf’s attempts to lick him.
Jeremy then shifted back while still on top of Cass, making Cass flip them.
“Gross!” I groaned, shielding the view with both my hands.
I heard some giggling but like hell was I going to look.
“You hiding away the goods?” Jeremy laughed.
“I told you those were for my eyes only,” Cass giggled.
“I’m so okay with that. You flipping us around that easily before? Hottest thing ever,” Jeremy groaned.
A gagging sound escaped me. “Please stop.”
“Milo and I were just talking about the ceremony when you came running,” Cass said, smiling sweetly my way.
Wait? Was he on to me or something?
“Oh,” Jeremy’s brows furrowed.
“And I can’t wait,” Cass said, beaming down at Jeremy.
I let out a sigh. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”
Walking away with nothing but the knowledge that Jeremy and Cass truly were perfect for one another, was just the final nail in my coffin for today.
If Nathalia didn’t return my calls soon, I might actually take the biggest step in my life and leave the pack. For good.