BETA's LOVER

Chapter- Fourteen

MACKENZIE- rest part of prev chap...

I was having palpitations now.

Gosh Alistair.

"We won't be having guests because of recent increase in hunters killing our town's and neighboring towns animals illegally. We decided to have the party despite the uproar to release the tension among the pupil. We might hold another party at the later end of the year, when the chaos settles down, then all of the townspeople will be invited," He explained, his brows furrowed together in concentration, eyes focused on the ground.

I kept glancing at him in between our stride and felt a smile forming on my face at his thoughtfulness. He remembered what i have said back then and even brought it up by himself as if it bothered him. To be honest, i had long forgotten that i asked something and it was left hanging with no answer.

"Oh. So did you catch the hunters and question them about it?" I asked him, curious about the issue now.

His eyes gleamed at my question.

.............................

Quinn

The lounge was calm, with only the soft murmur of conversation between Cylon, Jazmine, and Arthur breaking the stillness as we waited for Mackenzie and Alistair. Alistair had gone to fetch Mackenzie, and the men were in the mood for drinks. How could I possibly be left out? It was the perfect chance to shatter the silence that had lingered between us for weeks. So, I suggested the women join them—something to ease the tension. They agreed almost instantly, and Jazmine gave me a thumbs-up, her silent approval filling me with a sense of accomplishment. Killing two birds with one stone: I got to enjoy a drink, and even better, it was free. No judgment, right?

But I wasn't about to let myself get carried away. After all, Cylon was sitting next to me. The last thing I wanted was to embarrass myself in front of him. I had to show some restraint.

"What's taking them so long?" Cylon's voice broke through my thoughts, his fingers drumming against the armrest of the sofa.

I shrugged, hiding the smile that threatened to break through. "I wish they had just spend more time together," I muttered to myself, not expecting him to hear.

I hadn't seen Mackenzie since the evening, she and Jazmine had left me with the chefs. I had been so caught up in meeting people, learning about their cultural dishes, and yes, gossiping a little, that I lost track of time. But I wasn't complaining—there was always something to talk about. I loved gossiping, even though Mackenzie never did. It was one of the quirks that made us such an unlikely pair.

It had started back in college, with me ranting about some girl who had driven me crazy. Mackenzie had just stood there, her high ponytail swishing as she listened, neither joining in on my rant nor stopping me. Instead, she just chuckled—a soft, almost knowing laugh—and I figured she must have agreed with me. It wasn't until later that I realized that she wasn't the type to gossip—she'd simply been quietly agreeing with the frustration of the moment. From that day on, we became seatmates, and somehow, without saying a word, we fell into a rhythm. I had talk, she would listen, nodding along without ever passing judgment.

Then came the project that solidified our friendship. We spent hours together working on it, and slowly, I started to see the cracks in the walls she had built around herself. One day, though, things took a turn. A classmate accused me of spreading rumors, and I was floored. I had never said a word. It was Mackenzie who stepped in, her voice calm as ever. "She's got enough going on in her life to worry about your secrets," she said, her gaze turning steely as she pointed out that it was one of the girl's friends who had gossiped.

I had been speechless, but at that moment, I realized that Mackenzie wasn't just my seatmate anymore—she was a true friend. Since then, we'd seen each other through the ups and downs, especially when it came to her complicated relationship with her mom. I became her support system, always by her side when things got tough. Our friendship had slowly grown into something that felt like sisterhood.

The sound of footsteps pulled me out of my thoughts, and I looked up just as Mackenzie and Alistair entered the room. Mackenzie was wearing Alistair's coat, and they both looked... comfortable. I couldn't help but smile. It was a small but meaningful sign of progress.

She waved, then sank onto the sofa next to me, rolling her eyes at my teasing smile but fighting back a grin of her own.

"Here," Alistair said, holding out a half-filled glass to Mackenzie. She took it from him, murmuring a quiet thank you, but her gaze never quite met his.

I couldn't help but watch them. Alistair's gaze lingered on Mackenzie for a moment before he was distracted by the others. Taking a sip of my drink, I exchanged a look with Jazmine.

"Did you notice something between them?" Jazmine whispered, her voice almost conspiratorial as she leaned in close.

"Quite clearly," I replied with a knowing smile.

Jazmine's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Didn't I tell you? He likes her. He's trying to warm up to her. But Mackenzie... I have no idea how she's handling it."

"Well, let me tell you what I've noticed. Over the past week, Mackenzie's opened up to him a little. That's huge, Jazmine. It's progress," I said, a smirk forming on my lips as I hid it behind my glass. "Now we just need Alistair to step it up a notch."

Jazmine giggled, nudging me playfully in an unspoken agreement.

I stuck my tongue out at Mackenzie when she caught us in the act. Her eyes narrowed in curiosity, but I just shrugged nonchalantly.

"Why don't we play a game?" Jazmine suddenly announced, standing up and stretching her arms above her head. "It's boring to drink alone without any fun."

We all exchanged looks, a mix of reluctance and amusement before we nodded in agreement.

"What do you suggest we do?" Arthur asked, looking lovingly at his wife.

Jazmine's grin widened. "We're going to play Jenga—but with a twist." She glanced at me as if there was some secret message behind her eyes.

I raised an eyebrow. "A twist?"

"A twist," she confirmed with a sly smile. "I have actually prepared it for the upcoming party, but we're playing tonight. I have marked some of the blocks with dares and questions. If you pull a question, you have to answer it or drink. But if it's a dare, there's no getting out of it—you have to do it, or the game stops. Everything else is regular Jenga. Stack the block and pass the turn."

I clapped my hands in excitement. "I love it."

Mackenzie, unimpressed as usual, took another sip of her drink, but I could tell she was secretly intrigued. I hid my smirk behind my glass as I watched her.

"Help me set up?" Jazmine asked Arthur, who smiled and kissed her hand.

I loved how openly affectionate they were with each other.

Cylon and Alistair moved the table to the side, clearing a space for us to sit on the floor. Cylon looked up and patted the space next to him. I smiled shyly and sat down beside him, feeling his gaze linger on me for a moment before he looked away. The butterflies in my stomach were impossible to ignore. After the kiss we'd shared, everything felt different—new and electric, like stepping into an entirely new universe of emotions.

Mackenzie took her seat next to me, and my eyes immediately went to Alistair. He was completely focused on her, sitting down next to her with a quiet intensity.

"Are you comfortable?" he asked her softly. "Do you need anything?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Mackenzie replied, her voice calm but polite.

I watched them, a smile tugging at my lips. Before I could look away, I caught Alistair's eyes and gave him a quick thumbs-up. He nodded, his relief evident. I felt a sense of pride for him. He was making progress, and I wanted him to know I was on his side.

As the game continued, Jazmine, Cylon, and Arthur began setting up the Jenga tower. We all sat in silence, the air thick with anticipation.

"All done!" Jazmine clapped her hands together. "Who's going first?"

We all exchanged hesitant glances, chuckling like teenagers unsure of who would take the first step.

"I wll go," Cylon said, winking at me. I raised an eyebrow, impressed by his confidence.

He pulled a block from the tower, inspected it carefully, and then shrugged. "Blank," he said, placing it on top with a casual air.

"Why'd you place it like that?" Jazmine asked, already irritated.

"Don't be a loser," Cylon shot back, and Jazmine rolled her eyes in response.

"You go next," she told Arthur, who sat beside Cylon.

Arthur picked a block carefully, and when he turned it over, his face dropped. He shot Jazmine a look of disbelief, and she couldn't help but laugh as she read the dare aloud.

"Kiss the person on your right," Jazmine read, her eyes glinting with mischief. All of us looked at Cylon, who made a disgusted face. Arthur, however, was only too pleased.

"Dare is a dare, honey," Jazmine teased as we all laughed.

The night went on, and the Jenga game turned into something more than just a way to pass the time. Each block became a challenge, a little test of courage, sometimes silly, sometimes daring, but always revealing something new.

And through it all, Mackenzie—always so composed—let herself relax, a genuine laugh escaping her now and then.

It was her turn next, and as she carefully pulled out her block, I couldn't help but watch her with admiration as expected from a keen observer. The tower remained standing not moving an inch.

When she read the block, her gaze shifted to Alistair, and for the first time in a long while.

.............

MACKENZIE

I looked at the piece in my hand and reread the task that was written over it.

"What does it say?" Quinn asked me curiously, peering from beside me.

I read it out loud;

"**Dare: Blindfold the person to your left and feed them something sweet. You have to feed them with your hands.**"

The room was silent for a split second, and then everyone burst into laughter. I turned to face Alistair, who was already raising an

eyebrow, clearly amused by the task.

"I'm to blindfold you?" I asked with a shake of my head, it seemed ridiculous.

Oh shut it! Enjoy the life, Mackenzie. Don't be a sucker.

My mind shouted my lack of enthusiasm and excitement for this particular dare.

"That's right," Alistair replied, his voice a little lower than usual, a teasing smile dancing at the edges of his lips. "Do your worst."

I had no idea why, but I suddenly felt a bit more self-conscious. This was supposed to be a game, but the thought of blindfolding Alistair, of feeding him something sweet while his hands were out of sight, made my stomach do flips. It wasn't just about the task—it was the closeness it demanded. The kind of closeness I didn't quite know how to navigate yet and knowing how horny my mind gets whenever I am close to him. Alistair's closeness f***s with my nervous system.

I grabbed a scarf from the Jazmine and took a breath before I faced him. I met his sparkling eyes before he turned around for me to blindfold him. Quickly I tied the blindfold around his eyes with a little more care than I intended, my fingers brushing against his rather soft skin as I adjusted it.

Alistair's breath hitched slightly. "Careful there, Mackenzie. I'm starting to feel like I'm in the hands of a pro," he teased, but there was something in his tone that made my pulse race.

"Shut up," I muttered, trying to hide the fluttering in my chest.

"Here, feed him this," Cylon said who had a smirk playing on his lips. Rolling my eyes at their excitement, I faced Alistair.

Grabbing a piece of chocolate, my hands stood frozen in the air at a far away distance from his lips. I placed one hand over his knee to let him know I was sitting close to him and was about to feed him.

"Okay, open up," I said, my voice came out a little shaky. Alistair's hands came forward and rested on my knee a bit higher than usual. But he seemed unfazed by the closeness as I was.

Alistair complied, his lips slightly parted. I took a deep breath before carefully placing the chocolate in his mouth, letting my fingers linger over his lips just a moment longer than necessary and as I was pulling my hand away, he did the unexpected.

He licked my finger and sucked on it!

I felt electrifying sparks fly from my finger in his mouth to my core. I gulped and could feel the heat creeping up my neck. It wasn't the first time we had been near each other like this, but it always felt different—more electric, like the space between us was charged.

The air seemed to shift, and then he opened his mouth to let me pull my hand back and I could feel his breath warm against my fingertips. I saw his teasing dimple smile that I couldn't resist and then he slowly chewed the chocolate, and for a moment, neither of us spoke.

"That was..." Alistair began his voice slower than before.

He was still blindfolded, and I could hear the faint trace of something different in his tone now, something deeper.

"Sweet. Nice."

I swallowed, suddenly aware of the tension that had built between us. It wasn't just a silly game anymore. There was a quiet intensity in the room, in the way our bodies were so close, in the way our breaths seemed to sync for just a moment there.

He withdrew his hand and chuckled to himself as he removed the scarf from his eyes. Making me frown as to why he was laughing about himself.

He probably enjoyed his little show.

"That was quite a show," Jazmine commented but was elbowed by Cylon and they all laughed together.

I was sure I was pink with embarrassment. I looked down at my hands, especially my fingertips which were pink from the assault.

Okay, that's too extreme and secondly, you quite enjoyed it. Didn't you, you little fox?

My mind seems to be busy today reading and commenting on the way my body reacts to his little touches.

"You okay?" Alistair's soft voice reached my ears, making me look up at him. He wore an innocent curious face as he looked

delicately at me.

This small action made me want to lay my head on his chest and just be held by him.

"Yes," I said, feeling a lump of emotions stuck in my throat.

Why was my heart and mind occupied by him?

Do I have feelings for him?

To answer my question, I looked up again, and to my surprise, his eyes were already on mine. He didn't break eye contact, and it felt like he was waiting for something—waiting for me to say something or maybe to do something.

Later, my mind was less on the game and more on how to forget the tingling sensations in my body after the incident.

The men were almost drunk and we decided to call it a night through the game, I got to see Alistair's new side, the one that came out when he was tipsy. At first, he gently held my hand, and then—without warning—he started running his fingers through my hair. The touch surprised me and made me feel something I couldn't explain. I liked it though. The way his fingers brushed down my hair, twirling the ends around his fingers, felt... intimate. That lasted quite a few seconds, suddenly he sat up straight while withdrawing his hands away. I blinked not quite sure what I was seeing was right and not imagining from the amount of drink I had.

Alistair was blushing! Yes, you read that right! His ears were red and his cheeks tinted pink and the sight made me laugh at him.

He looked at me with a frown and scratched his head in embarrassment.

After all the hardships and loneliness I suffered, God, was this a gift given to me in the shape of a man? Alistair came into my life like a wrecking ball, shaking my emotions upside down.

OR it was another life lesson?

Shaking my head the thoughts and I could feel a headache coming my way. I sat down on the bed, getting ready to lie down when Quinn came and sat beside me, making me raise my eyebrows at her in question.

"From my observations, I can tell Alistair likes you and cares about you,"

Instead of answering, I asked, "Are you and Cylon together? How long has it been?"

"Yeah. Over a week," she replied, her face lighting up with happiness. I could tell she was happy in the relationship but I had to burst her bubble no matter how bad I felt.

I took her hands in mine, my concern weighing heavily on my heart. "Quinn, you know we'll be leaving soon, and you don't do long-distance relationships. How can you trust someone in just two weeks? Have you thought this through?" My voice was thick

with worry, desperate for her to understand my fears.

She met my gaze, her expression calm, but there was a spark of something in her eyes—hope, maybe even a touch of certainty.

"Mack," she said softly, "I like him. And we've made a decision—we're going to live together after a while. I'll find a job there, and problem solved." She squeezed my hands gently as if trying to ease the weight of my concern. "And about trust... Mackenzie, my sweet friend, sometimes you have to let go of the baggage of the past. Sometimes you just have to leap, even if you don't know what's at the other end."

Her eyes softened, searching mine for understanding. "I can't quite explain it, but these two weeks—they've shown me everything I need to know about Cylon. About how he feels about me. Sometimes you don't need years or a perfect plan to know what's right. Why keep worrying about what might never happen? We hold the steering wheel of our lives, Mack. It's up to us which way we

turn it."

She held my hands tighter as if the strength of her words could make me believe it too. I saw the quiet resolve in her, and I knew—despite all my doubts—that she had already made her choice, and she was ready to embrace whatever came next.

I pursed my lips feeling tangled up in my emotional mess.

"And Mack, just... open your heart a little for Alistair. Don't push him away."

With that, she went to bed. I watched her as she adjusted the blankets, feeling like my heart was still a tangled mess of confusion.

But how do I do that Quinn? I push people away because I'm afraid of getting too close. I guess I don't know how to let myself...

depend on others.

Sighing, I looked down at my hands, my fists clenched tight as the weight of my past pressed down on me.

How could I let myself get close to someone when I was scared of losing them?

Scared to love, scared to trust.

"Where are you going?" Quinn called softly from her bed.

"Some fresh air," I said, forcing a half-smile. "I will be back soon. Go to sleep."

And with that, I walked out of the room, my mind swirling with questions I didn't yet have the answers to.

I sat on the wooden bench by the lake, the cool night air wrapping around me like a familiar, solitary cloak. The moon hung high above, casting a soft, silvery glow across the water, which gently rippled in response to the wind. It was quiet here, almost eerily so, and the stillness seemed to deepen every thought that passed through my mind. This was my spot—the place I came when the world felt too heavy, when the noise of everything else became unbearable. The lake had a way of quieting the chaos in my head, at least for a while.

Tonight, though, it wasn't just the usual clutter in my mind. I had been grappling with something far deeper- trust. The idea of letting someone in, of opening myself up without expecting them to hurt me or abandon me. It was a constant battle inside me—part of me longed to connect with others, but another part was terrified of the vulnerability that came with it.

How do you trust someone? I thought to myself, over and over again. How do you know when it's safe to let your guard down?

I don't know how long I had been sitting there, lost in my own thoughts, when I heard footsteps approaching. I looked up, expecting the usual figures of the night, but instead, I saw Alistair.

"Late night for a walk, Mackenzie?" His voice broke through the silence, light and teasing. He was walking toward me with his usual easy confidence, hands stuffed in his pockets, but I could tell from the way his eyes scanned the area that he wasn't entirely comfortable with me being out here alone.

"I wasn't planning on company," I said, trying to sound casual, even though part of me was relieved he was here.

Alistair raised an eyebrow and sat down beside me without hesitation. "And yet, here I am. You really shouldn't be out here alone at night. You never know what kind of trouble you could get into." There was a playful edge to his words, but his concern was clear, just beneath the surface. He always knew how to mask it, but I could see it in the way he looked around, making sure we weren't being watched.

"I am fine," I said, shrugging, though the weight of my thoughts felt heavier than I wanted to admit. "Just needed to think."

I could feel his gaze lingering on me, like he knew there was more behind my words, but he didn't press. Instead, he leaned back on the bench, staring out at the lake, his expression quiet, thoughtful. After a moment, he broke the silence, his voice soft but serious. "You always come out here when something's bothering you."

I shrugged again, trying to keep my expression neutral. "Just got some stuff on my mind," I muttered, hoping he wouldn't push.

He didn't let it go, though. Alistair wasn't the type to drop a subject when he was curious, especially when it came to me. "What's going on? You don't seem like your usual self."

I let out a long breath, glancing at the water instead of him. "I have been thinking about trust lately," I muttered, not really knowing how to begin.

He didn't say anything right away, but I could feel him waiting, sensing the weight of the words I was struggling to get out. Finally, he spoke, his tone more measured than I expected. "Trust? That's a big one. What about it?"

I didn't really want to go into it, but I could feel the question sitting there, heavy in the air between us. I didn't look at him when I spoke again. "How do you trust someone?" I asked quietly, trying to sound nonchalant, "How do you let them in without

wondering if they're just going to hurt you or leave when things get tough?"

There was a pause before he answered, and I could feel him studying me, probably sensing that I wasn't being totally honest. I wasn't sure why I was even saying this much. I hesitated but glanced at him as he turned to me, his eyes softening. "You can't control how people will act. You can't predict what they'll do. The only thing you can do is decide if you're willing to take the risk. And sometimes, that means letting them in, even when it feels like the hardest thing in the world. But you can't shut everyone out because of the few who've hurt you."

I looked away from him, letting his words sink in. I had spent so much time building walls, keeping people at a distance, because I couldn't bear the thought of being disappointed again. But what if, by doing that, I was shutting out the very people who might be worth trusting?

"I don't know," I said, looking down at my hands.

His eyes softened as he met my gaze, and for a moment, I could see something in him that mirrored the hesitation I felt. "I get it," he said quietly. "It is not easy. But one should not stop trying, Mackenzie. Trust isn't about expecting perfection—it's about being willing to put yourself out there, even when you know it could go wrong. You can't live in fear of what might happen next, or you'll miss out on everything that could be good." He paused, letting that hang in the air between us.

I looked at him, feeling a strange mixture of comfort and frustration. It was so easy for him to say, like he had it all figured out. But maybe, just maybe, he was right. Maybe trust wasn't about getting it perfect. Maybe it was about choosing to try, even when it scared the hell out of you.

He make it sound so simple, I thought to myself.

But I didn't know if I was ready to do that.

"I don't know if I can do that," I admitted quietly, my voice flat. "Maybe some people can, but I'm not sure I am one of them."

Alistair didn't push me further. He just nodded, like he understood, but didn't need me to say more. "Fair enough. Trust isn't something you figure out overnight. It takes time. It doesn't mean letting your guard down completely, but being open to the possibility that someone might be worth it." He smiled a little, but there was an honesty to it that made it feel real. "And maybe, just maybe, you'll find that it's worth the risk."

I let his words linger, letting them settle deep in my chest. It felt like a weight had been lifted, but there was still so much I didn't know, so much I needed to understand.

"Thanks, Alistair," I said after a long pause, my voice quiet. It wasn't much, but it was all I could give him.

He gave me a sideways glance, his smile returning, but softer this time. "Anytime. Just don't stay out here too long, alright? It's dangerous, even for someone as tough as you."

I smiled back at him, feeling lighter than I had when he first arrived. "Okay. I am just heading back," I said, standing up, dusting my jacket out of habit.

He said, standing up. "Alright, lets get going,"

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