A Worthy Wolf?

Chapter 10 - Niko

The one person I had not wanted to see was there. Right next to me. Talking to me. And I did not know what to do. The easy thing to do would be to smile politely, make my excuses and run. But my feet felt like they were stuck to the f*****g ground! My eyes were fixed upon hers and Raven was watching me with curiosity as she likely waited for my reply. I smiled, in what I could only hope did not look too awkward of a way. The poor girl likely thought I was having a stroke...

‘Or a break-down.’ My wolf unhelpfully added. He seemed to be loving every moment of my discomfort, that was for certain.

I took a deep breath. “Hey Raven, how are you?” I edged along, grabbing food as I went, desperate to make my excuses and get away, but trying to make things look as natural as possible. That was going to be the best way to go about it, I decided. I was there for my dinner, that much was evident. I mean, why else would I be in the dining hall at meal times?

The she-wolf have me a smile, and diverted her eyes to the food before us. A sense of relief took over me, and I could only hope it was purely a coincidence that she was here. She would grab her food and go. Her talking to me was out of politeness and nothing more, I reassured myself, because that was the sort of girl she was...

'Yet you are about to trick her for a guy you are not so sure about?' Vorn questioned, and my guts twisted with a sense of unease. Maybe my wolf had a point...

I chewed my lower lip a little anxiously as my gaze drifted toward her. Raven’s eyes were drifting over the desserts in front of us. “Hmm, which is good?” She asked, nudging my arm with her elbow. s**t. She wanted me to talk to her. I had to talk to her. What if I said something I shouldn't?

“You not eat dinner at home?” I asked, then realized how rude I sounded while Vorn chuckled to himself. Bastard. When I had been panicking about saying the wrong thing, I meant letting slip about the agreement with Gamma Brayden, not about simply making a fool of myself, or insulting the poor girl. That thought hadn't even crossed my mind.

Thankfully, Raven did not seem to notice my faux pas, and simply offered me a smile as she replied.

“Yeah, but Dad decided to treat Mum to dinner out. Date night, I guess. Even old married couples have them sometimes. Who knew?” She shrugged nonchalantly. “So, while they are dining out in a fancy restaurant, dinner for me tonight is from the dining hall.” She added, explaining her presence here, and I nodded.

I was an i***t. Even without the fact her parents were out for a meal together, her presence there would not be so out of the ordinary. A lot of the younger wolves who had come of age, even those who remained living at home with their parents, opted to come to the dining hall for their meals because it was an opportunity to socialize. But, it was just I did not see Raven here often, and curiosity got the better of me. Not that it was any of my business, yet my mouth was working before my brain...

“So, the dessert?” Raven repeated, with a slight raise of her brow, as a number of pack members walked around us. Our conversation was evidently holding them up and stopping the natural flow of the queue for food. I nodded. Food was a safe conversation topic...

“Chocolate swirl cake is always good, but the Italian ricotta lemon cake is my favorite, I think.” I told her, pointing it out. “Or the New York cheesecake.” I began to move away, hoping that I had done my part. Now would be my opportunity to make my escape. Find a secluded table somewhere to eat my dinner alone.

With a table found, further away from the crowds than I usually opted for, just to avoid Raven, I sat myself down, only to my surprise, a moment or so later, footsteps sounded next to me. I looked up, only to find her looking at me almost pleadingly. “I'm sorry, you don’t mind if I sit with you, do you? I looked around and couldn't see any of my friends. I think they all left now. I sat chatting with them as they ate, rather than getting food.” She gave a shrug, like the idea did not bother her, but I could not help but think they were not the best of friends treating her that way.

I sighed, with a nod. “And they left when you decided you were getting food?”

“More that they left when they were done.” She defended them, as she gave a wry smile. The girl may be of Beta blood, but she was still the same sweet girl I recalled from high school. I knew her brother, Teddy. Had played in many of the sports teams with him, in fact. I watched as Raven sat herself down and she looked almost uncomfortable. Far from the confident, self-assured, outgoing girl Gamma Brayden had led me to believe he was marrying...

Gamma Brayden’s words flickered through my mind. His reasoning. His expectation. None of it truly made sense. Guilt was eating away at me as I pushed my food around my plate, my appetite having suddenly left me. I knew I should never have agreed to it. But he would have found someone else. I sighed.

“You not hungry?” Raven asked, bringing me back to the present. “”I would think you would be starving training all day!”

I turned to look at her and was met with those smoky blue eyes watching me with concern. A warm smile upon her lips. Another rush of guilt washed over me. “Look, Raven, can I tell you something?” I said softly, not sure if I was about to make the biggest mistake of my life or not...