The Lesser of 2 Evils

XAVIER, UNEXPECTED ANSWERS FROM UNEXPECTED SOURCES

Stunned by her answer, both Scott and I stand in silence, staring at her. She barely blinks, meeting our gaze steadily. For the first time in my life, I don’t know what to do next – or even what to say. Thankfully, Scott saves the day and asks all the questions that are rolling around in my mind like marbles.

“Ok, first off – what do you mean ‘breeder’?” Scott asks her, likely hoping as I do that it means something different for her than it does for us. She quickly puts that disillusion to rest.

“In our pack we couple for the betterment of our species. Partners are prearranged at birth to ensure the best for our pack,” she fumbles a bit as she speaks, embarrassed by the topic and to be discussing it with two complete strangers. If Scott is feeling anything similar to me, he is thinking about whether he is going to be sick or not – I know I am.

Once upon a time the she-wolves in packs were treated as little more than breeders, in order to rebuild shifter numbers after humans nearly eradicated us off the face of the earth. But that was centuries ago – I’d like to think we’ve evolved since then but apparently; I’d be wrong.

Apparently, some packs are still living in the same old traditional ways.

“And you’re promised to Alpha Lincoln?” Scott asks her, prying further. She blushes, no longer able to hold our gaze.

“Yes, since the day I was born,” she answers and I believe she’s being honest. Gunner doesn’t detect any deceit in her responses and her body language indicates she’s uncomfortable because of the topic, not because she’s lying.

“And let me guess – your wedding day was the same day…” Scott starts off saying but trails off. He leaves her to pick up his sentence and she does so easily.

“The same day I turned eighteen,” she concludes. Holy shit – they don’t fool around in her old pack. I’m guessing without having to ask that she’d be pregnant that same night or soon after. I’m feeling extremely sick.

“Well, he knows nothing about you being here and for now, it’ll stay that way,” I decide on the spot yet not promising too much. I ponder for a few moments on what to do with her, whether she should remain a prisoner or not. I don’t look at Scott because I already know how he feels about her.

“I’m trusting you to stay in my territory, free from this cell but confined to a room we’ll assign you – for your own safety. You’re still a rogue,” I remind her when she looks disappointed at hearing she’d still be restricted. I trust my pack to behave and not act recklessly aggressive toward her but there’s no saying what anyone might do if they felt threatened by her for some reason.

Again – she’s still a rogue.

I turn to Scott and give him directions on what to do next. For lack of a better option, she’ll stay in a room in my wing of the packhouse where no one goes uninvited except cleaning staff. There’ll be no hiding her presence and I don’t intend to but at least this way she can be monitored and watched over until we figure out what to do next.

Or rather – she does.

I feel like I’m taking charge and, in a way, I am but ultimately, at the end of the day – it all comes down to her and what she wants. If she tells me she wants to walk out of here and straight into free territory to take her chances with the other rogues – I’ll let her. If she tells me to call that bozo Lincoln to come get her, I will. I’d be the first one to tell her she’s making a mistake but I’d let her do it all the same – I don’t own or control her.

“Something isn’t right about this, I’m telling you…” Gunner insists, unsettled and pacing incessantly. Ignoring my wolf, I turn back to the conversation at hand.

“By the way, I’m Beta Scott and this is Alpha Xavier,” Scott says by way of introduction. It never occurred to me that she has no idea who we are and we still don’t know her name. I guess it would be preferable to calling her ‘rogue’ all of the time.

“Kristina,” she says softly, her voice now scarcely a whisper, all confidence gone. The blush is back which only makes her lovelier and I can’t help but wonder what she smells like when she doesn’t stink like rogue – all women smell good and I just bet Kristina smells amazing.

“I tell you something is wrong with the situation and you turn pervert?” Gunner asks me, incredulous. For a wolf he can truly be a spiteful bastard when he wants to be.

Ignoring my other half, I say my goodbyes and leave the room, trusting Scott to take care of the arrangements. I doubt my companion is still in my room but the evening is young, there is still time to find someone else.

Coitus Interruptus my ass.