Being ungrateful
The minute the guests began to leave, Xander’s face switched up. He left Faye with the Lunas of some other packs discussing. She notices and tries to follow him. He sees her coming behind him.
He gave her a scornful look. She portrayed a fake face nubile. Xander said nothing when she started, “We are at a crossroads Xander,” Faye said. “There’s no shutting anyone out. Just answer me this,” She sighs, “Is she alive?”
Xander didn’t give her the pleasure of making eye contact. He walked out on her.
Catherine must be wondering what the hell is going on about now. I promise to meet her before nightfall. It is getting late.
Xander was in a hole-and-corner intrigue.
Faye clenched her fist at Xander’s crudeness. She wouldn’t want to make a scene her first day Luna of the pack. She maintained her state of mind and returned back to the other Lunas. She watched him leave the door in a rush.
Xander ran into Eric in the courtyard. They were by the fountain, the memory of the Alpha striking down his beta was not to be missed.
Eric brought out his palm for a handshake, “Congratulations Alpha,” he smiled nervously.
Xander patted him cordially on the shoulder, “Thank you, we’ll talk later.”
He proceeded to leave when Eric asked, “I haven’t seen Jackson around in a while… I just thought to know if he was okay.”
——————————————
TWO WEEKS AGO
Jackson and Xander were in collusion to look into Faye. They had just gotten back from the human world from their investigations of Catherine’s past which was to no avail.
“You see her leaving the gates,” Xander pointed out the car. “She must have been sneaking out right under our noses.”
“I can follow her and track down what she’s on to,” Jackson suggested. “I will get close.”
Xander cautioned, “Don’t be in a hurry just yet,” Xander said. “I don’t want you getting caught in her web Jackson.”
“I will keep a close right here in the pack house,” Jackson said confidently.
“When the time is right, I’ll give you the order,” Xander said. “Just lay off her for the meantime.”
***
Xander was on the balcony with Catherine and Jackson pulled over in the courtyard. Faye walked out of the house conspicuously in anger. Apparently, she had just confronted Xander and Catherine but somehow ended up in a tight spot.
Jackson signaled Xander on the balcony. Xander beckoned and approved the search. Xander and Jackson had been in accord since days before, “You know what you’re signing up for,” Xander said keenly, “Try to be a survivor and not a victim.”
“I can defend against all odds,” Jacksons said assuredly. “Trust me on this Alpha.”
“If you are not back before the coronation, I’ll see it as your demise,” Xander said with a brazen tone. “Jackson survives. Come back to Eric and the pack.”
——————————–
PRESENT
Xander looked at Eric and was short of truthful words, “Jackson will be back soon enough,” he let out a brief smile. Eric was relieved to hear that, “Okay,” he nodded. “For a second I thought he was missing.”
Xander patted him one more time and left. He had walked out of the courtyard and turned back to look upon Eric’s face. He filled his beta with false hope. Xander thought of his words again, ‘Jackson will be back soon enough,’ a misconception birthed from deception.
He always had no reason to lie to his pack. Times were changing and he had to deal with putting the people first. The purpose was good but the people were valuable. More valuable than the cause that he wouldn’t dare hurt them.
I hope this is all worth it in the end. Sacrifices can’t be for nothing.
***Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Xander was in the woods that night. He had made it out of the coronation travesty. He searched around for Catherine in the spot they agreed she’d stay.
He coos as he walks about the pine trees. He waited to hear the slightest response or reaction from her.
He walks further in between the clustered trees. He coos again. Finally, he heard a sound, a clamorous uproar from a shed.
Why is she yelling?
Xander found Catherine was puzzled about why she wailed like she was in a scare. He reached to touch her. She had crouched her body on the ground, she flinched to his touch.
“We don’t have time for this,” Xander said. “You have to move from here. Far away… maybe back to your world and your promised riches.”
“You are so centered on your fulfilments,” She said. “It’s not just the money Xander. I have a life I can’t just be bought.”
“You are talking like we never agreed on this,” Xander said. “Look, I don’t have much time. We don’t have much time.”
“You just want to throw the cash at me for my service right? She asked furiously. “A job well done. Your services were well appreciated right?’
“I am literally busting my ass to be here right now. And you are-“, he sighed. “-you are being an ungrateful bitch.”
“Ungrateful!” she shrieked.
“I saved you from going to jail. You criminal,” he snapped. “A flick of my wrist and you’ll be behind bars Catherine Brown. You’ll still be a washed-up dropout pulling lowly shifts at a fucking liquor store or something.”
Tears had filled her eyes. She was torn apart by his words.
I was nothing. He said I was special but it’s all a big lie. I never meant anything to him and I’ll never mean anything to a rich arrogant supernatural. What was I thinking? I need to run away and save myself from this debacle.
***
Xander watched her slowly leaving the shed. “What are you doing?” he asked boldly.
She turned away and started running.
Xander picked up the pace and ran after her, “Hey!”
He should be back at the pack house about but finding Catherine was already as difficult as it is.
It was easy for her to vanish into the wilderness at night. He didn’t catch a scent of her. He walked aimlessly yelling her name.
It would be bad if anyone who wasn’t me found Catherine first.