7. Fragile Humans
1471 Words
Cindy
I wasn't worried, the wound was shallow and barely bled. If someone walked in and looked at Reiss' face, they would have thought I'd broken all my bones.
While he inspected my hand and started cursing under his breath, his other one never left my face. It was strange, yet oddly warm and comforting. It made me want to lean into his touch. Is this what receiving affection from an Alpha feels like?
Colt and I were never close, but I heard talk. Saw the way other pack members seemed to glow when they received his attention. I figured it must have had something to do with the link they shared. A link I've only experienced vicariously through my little sis.
"Alpha Reiss." He looked up. "Your hand on my face is making me uncomfortable."
That snapped him back to reality. "Oh, I'm sorry." He let me go, exposing my now warm cheek to the cold air.
Reiss got up and walked to the other side of his office. While he was away, I caressed the same spot. He returned with a first aid kit and kneeled at my feet.
"Show me your hand again, Cindy," He said.
I did as he said, and he sighed before dousing some dark purple liquid on cotton.
"Why does it take so long for humans to heal?" Reiss held my hand. He gently treated my cut, leaving purple on my skin.
"I wish I knew that too. I mean, some animals can replace their own organs, yet we die when we lose a head." *I should stop talking, I sound dumb.*
Yet I earned a chuckle out of him. "That does sound unfair."
"I agree." Of course, he knows you agree, Cindy. You're the one who said it.
A loose square bandage was placed over my wound and he used another one to wrap around my hand and keep it in place.
That should have been the end of it, but it wasn't. Even after taking care of it, Reiss didn't let go of my hand.
In fact, he swept his thumb over my fingers, eyes down as if mesmerized by the gauze.
"Alpha Reiss."
He drew in a breath. "Yes, Cindy?"
"Remember that girlfriend you have?" I quirked my eyebrow. "I don't think she would appreciate us being this close."
I was joking, mostly. If Emery walked in right now she would misread the entire situation and think I was flirting with him.
Reiss laughed, a low and deep laugh that was too charming to belong to a mortal.
"What if I told you that it was okay?" He said in that same, low tone. He raised his head, silver gaze meeting mine.
What did he just say?
Was he... trying to be seductive? No way. Please tell me this guy isn't a perv.
"Then I would remind you, again, that you have a girlfriend," I replied.
"Hm..." The smile vanished from his face. Then he chuckled.
"What?"
"I'm just glad that you're the type of person who has morals." Reiss smiled.
Wait, was he just testing me?
I frowned. I didn't like being tested.
Or teased.
If you could call that teasing.
He didn't stop smiling even when he picked up the kit and laid it on his desk.
Reiss slowly turned around, leaning his backside against the mahogany wood. "You don't need to worry, I have no interest in what you're imagining. You're here under my protection. I don't like the idea of taking advantage of that."
He took up a folder. "Plus, even if I still had a mate out there somewhere, I love Emery too much to dive between my mate's legs without granting her any kind of closure."
I guess he really does love her. I was too worried about it for no reason. How did my mind even get that far?
"By the way," he started talking again. "I have a meeting with your pack in an hour to discuss terms. It's online. Do you want to attend?"
My ears perked up at the mention of the meeting. That means there's a chance I could find out more about Larry's condition, or even ask about my family.
But that could wait. I had something else to settle. "Maybe next time but can I leave? The files are still on the couch, though."
From the corner of my eye, I could see the door open the slightest bit. Cerberus stood on the other end.
He tapped the surface of his watch. I got the message right away.
Alpha Reiss kept his gaze on the file in his head. "Go ahead. I'm sure you have an assignment to take care of."
He didn't need to tell me twice. I simply nodded. "Later, Alpha Reiss."
He nodded, still not looking up.
I bolted out of there as fast as I could whilst attempting not to feel suspicious.
Cerberus and I walked side by side. In the middle of the staircase, Cerberus grabbed my elbow.
"You still have time to back out," he said. "Elijah doesn't play. If an incident happens they will all say it's your fault. Even Emery."
"Let me go, or I'll make you."
He tilted his head, surprised. Cerberus slowly released my arm from his hold.
I rubbed my elbow. Didn't think I'd say that, did you? "I already agreed. If I back out now, no one will take me seriously. I think you know that, Cerberus."
His mouth opened, then it closed. "Gosh. Fine!" Cerberus threw his arms into the air. "Do what you want to. But I won't be there to help you when you eventually end up hurting yourself."
________
Regardless of what Cerberus said before, here he was, stomping his foot with his arms folded. Bless his heart.
Elijah stayed true to his word as well. He met us at the top of a cliff all decked out in a sleeveless jeans hoodie and cowboy boots. He reminded me more of a middle-aged biker than a man who couldn't be older than thirty-one.
A few other people were here including the Gamma called Allister. Yet, I had yet to see Emery.
"Well, well." Elijah took two steps forward. "Look who came after all."
"You don't have to make it a big deal, I'm here, aren't I?" I placed my hands above my shorts. "What's the test? Do I have to spar with you? Hand wrestling? Beat you over the head with a brick?"
Elijah and his lackeys laughed. All of a sudden he paused, expression as cold as winter. "Cute. Here's what you have to do."
My hair whipped into my face, sent flying by the breeze flowing all around us. What lay beyond the cliff was widespread greenery and no clear visual of the ground.
"I made sure to make it easy for you since I didn't want you to have a hard time. You can thank me later.
I ignored him.
"Two flags are on the other end of this valley. One, yellow. The other is blue. The yellow one is yours. If we get there, capture yours and bring it back to the bottom of this cliff before you, we win."
"Wait, who are we?"
A man and a woman stepped forward, dressed similarly to Elijah. "Oh." Guess it's not a one-on-one after all.
"As I was saying," Elijah continued. "If you get the blue one and make it here before we do, you win. Fair enough, wouldn't you say? A simple game. No one could mess that up."
I bit my bottom lip. Sounds simple, but was it really? I wasn't sure Elijah was the type of guy to play fair.
"What's the catch?" I finally asked. He chuckled.
"No catch. Just a forest full of creepy crawly insects and wild animals. Nothing too dangerous."
Great. I suppose I should've brought a knife with me.
"In fact, you have the advantage." Elijah smiled. That sealed my final judgment. I didn't trust him one bit. "We'll give you a fifteen-minute head start. We're used to these areas so we're not worried. You, on the other hand..."
"I accept your terms."
Let's get this over with.
We marched down the hill and arrived at the bottom of the cliff. I stretched my limbs and made sure that my sneakers were not too tight. Cerberus was elected to be the referee. He stood in front of us, a timer in his hand. "Ready?" He asked.
I nodded. All I needed was to go straight ahead and I would reach the other side of the valley in no time. It would take approximately thirty minutes to get the flag and twenty minutes to double back.
I inhaled the sweet, fresh, forest scent.
"Go!"
My legs shot off like there was no tomorrow.
- Writer
