All the way back to the Night Forest Packhouse, my wolves kept repeating in varying levels of shock and vulgarity, {That was crazy.}
Nothing too terrible, but I figured they were on my beta's warrior link and I had to be eavesdropping by accident again.
Harvey, my good beta, had to allow, {That was unexpected, but good job men.}
Immediately, this was followed by someone hoping for a free drink from Big Brother Beta when they got back.
{Not that I mind,} my good beta shrugged coolly, {But we're not home. It's best we keep vigilant.}
{Then when we get back home, Beta?} Someone pressed.
{That'll depend on my mood.} Harvey said. The warriors cheered. They were that confident they could keep their big brother beta in a good mood till we got home. But to be fair, Harv sounded like his usual wry calm, and it wasn't the first time I'd seen my good beta reward the men with drinks at the packhouse. It was very probable that as long as nobody messes up while we were here, once home, that free beer at the packhouse dining hall was as good as theirs.
What about me? I felt I handled everything pretty well too. I kept my smile plastered on (more out of an automatic reaction from the shock of it all) all the way. My face ached a bit, but good job me! I think I would reward myself with something yummy when I got home too. Maybe ice cream. Not any regular ice cream. Not even the fancy gelato Ki kept stocked in our freezer now. I was gonna go to Gate City and eat fancy ice cream at that fancy Snow Peak Cafe that Wolfgang and Fluffy had brought Lala. Here's hoping it existed in this timeline.
Just as I was wondering if the $40 bucks in my wallet would be enough to cover a three-scoop waffle cone, I accidentally picked up another mindlink. I recognized Neil's voice, {That's gonna be a new recurring nightmare, eh Ki?}
Eh? What did I miss? Ki? I suddenly remembered how Ki could never quite sleep at night and worried. Did something happen just now to further scar my beta? But Ki had replied completely unperturbed over the mindlink, {Not at all. As a matter of fact, that went splendidly.}
I looked at the beta smiling like a flower at his tablet across from me in the car. He was definitely pleased at whatever was on his screen.
I guess that was the second beta who was in a good mood.
{Then you're even crazier than that crowd, Ki.} Neil told him as a matter of fact.
{Yeah, that was a crowd of vicious, violent gyaara right there!} Jax announced of my predominantly elementary and middle school girl fanbase.
It wasn't all that bad! But maybe it was because it wasn't my betas who had to be the physical shield whenever the crowd got too physical.
It was a good thing the warriors were all properly geared in Betaman's warrior jackets and riding gloves.
Jax bemoaned his beautiful face on repeat though. I was concerned enough to check on him over the mindlink, {Are you okay? Is it healing?}
This also gave away my presence on their shared link.
Apparently, I had asked over the entourage-shared link - because Jax was bemoaning across the board to everyone present. The other guys immediately told me not to give Jax my attention.
Actually they told me that he was an {idiot} and {attention whore}. I sort of inferred the rest of it.
{Please mind your language, men.} Harvey reminded primly, now that I was online.
So someone tried to amend their choice of vocabulary, {He's just an arse.}
I'm not sure why he thought that would be better.
{No, no.} Neil stopped whoever said it, {You can't say arse either.}
{I'm not an arse.} Jax added sounding offended, {I'm an ass. A f***ing sexy ass.}
{You can't use the F word either.} Neil reminded him.
{I'm a popping sexy ass.} Jax corrected to the mirth of the other men.
{I don't think ass is appropriate either.} Someone opined.
{How else can I say it then?} Jax wanted to know.
{Butt?} Someone in the group offered tentatively.
{But what?} Jax asked.
{I think ass is okay.} Another warrior offered his two cents worth, {As long as you don't say hole, its decent.}
Say what now? Hahaha. I was quite sure there would be a lot of mamas in our pack who would feel differently.
Harvey's mouth flattened into a thin line.
Ben chuffed out loud. I think he would've laughed, but he caught Harvey's expression and managed to catch most of it into his hand with a cough, "Sam, just drop out of the mindlink for a bit. I think Harv's gonna blow a hole."
Harvey narrowed his eyes at Ben. But Ben only smirked back. Even Ben was in a good mood.
I shook my head and laughed, "Whatever Ben. You're even worse, really."
It's not like those guys knew any better, but Ben was definitely doing it on purpose.
Ki decided it would be a good time to distract me with something on his screen. It was the first news footage he had downloaded on his tablet. It worked. Seeing myself on his screen immediately caught my full attention, "That's me?"
Yes, I must have sounded like an idiot.
In my defense, I would never have imagined myself in such a light.
But there I was, stepping out of a long champagne limousine with a floating train of tresses like some kind of royal deity being escorted by uniformed warriors. At least I think that was supposed to be me. In truth, it only looked like a vague likeness of me.
I watched as the girl was led out away from the car, and then how the warriors around her bowed and repositioned themselves smartly to move out. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought I was watching the news about some visiting foreign princess.
Despite the full-blown royal entrance, the girl in the video barely spared the warriors' ceremonial greeting a second glance. It was as if this was the kind of thing that happened every time she alighted from a vehicle. Yeah right, as if that was realistic.
The only reason why I was unmoved in the video was because I had no idea it looked like that while it was happening. I didn't even notice the warriors bowing at my arrival. I mean, my POV during the time was on the cameras across the barriers.
From the screen, none of the other cameras or barriers were visible. It was as if they didn't exist. Certainly, the subjects in the scene did nothing to indicate their awareness of being watched.
The camera zoomed in to three particularly strapping young men in handsomely cut navy blue suits. Matching white shirts and black skinny ties. Oh wait, I knew those three!
"That's you guys!" I exclaimed in recognition.
Yes, I sounded like an idiot again. But they were... I mean, I looked around me at my three betas and then back at the screen in disbelief.
"Wow, you three look incredible." The words were out of my mouth before I thought better about it.
This caught Ben's attention immediately. He leaned over to share the screen, "What are you showing her, dog?"
I ignored him because I was too busy trying to figure out how my three betas could project such a different persona on screen.
I barely recognized them. Even during the close-up shots… I think Ben was the most unrecognizable. My childhood friend with a bad attitude was the Young Beta standing closest to the Alpha Princess. Even his usual impatience looked cool on camera. When did he turn from impatient, sarcastic pup to cold, efficient beta? And how did he end up looking taller? O.o Did Ben grow again?
I looked up from the screen to take a second look at Ben - just to make sure it was the same wolf I was looking at. Ben's face was very close to mine because he was trying to watch the video too. From this angle, he looked a little cross…which was one of his normal expressions especially if he were trying to figure out something he thought was very likely going to be a waste of his time. I looked back to the screen. Onscreen-Ben was looking… hmm… what would be the right word? Stern/serious/coolly intent - it was the same expression as his cross one, but it looked different from on TV. He looked like he was considering something of terrible import. What sorcery was this? How did my Ben turn into that brooding cool dude in the video?
But the same magic worked on all my betas equally. Harvey looked calm and steady - which was his usual self, yes, but I hadn't noticed till I saw him on screen that he was actually really good-looking. Okay, let me explain (I swear, I wasn't crushing on my good beta). I've heard the other girls say he was hot, but I never quite saw it. But watching him in the shot standing between Ki and Ben… I looked up to check Harvey out in real life, and then tried to compare him with the image on Ki's screen.
The Harvey in front of me was just Harv, my good beta. The guy on the screen had the same coppery short curls and navy suit, but Onscreen-Harvey coupled with the usual wry smile was weirdly attractive. Like I was quite sure my girlfriends in any timeline would have immediately labeled a guy like that as hot boyfriend material. He looked like the kind of guy girls crushed on.
But it was really Onscreen-Ki in his smiling gentle mask that made me realize why the others called him my Charming Beta. Yeah, I could see how he was probably the pretty face that held the record for the most broken hearts among my wolves. It was suddenly as obvious as day. If I hadn't known Ki personally, I would have labeled him as a true blue playboy - the classy, sophisticated kind who would take you to fancy places and make you feel super special, but you'd always know he'll be with some other beautiful woman on the nights he wasn't with you.
At least if I were the casting director, that would be the kind of character I'd make him play.
Wow, I guess I was more judgey that I thought. How could I even think something like that about my sweet loyal Ki? Omo.
I blamed TV magic or whatever that was painting the scene from this morning in the most unrealistic light. I mean, come on! In what kind of reality would three guys with completely different personalities dress in perfectly pressed and matching suits and interact like they were totally in sync with each other? Because they did, from Harv's casual slant next to Ki to the way Ben's smirked would quickly be mirrored by the other two as they glanced over at the camera.
The camera was now focused back on Ben, who was beginning to look disturbingly handsome in a clean-cut, intelligent, strikingly emerald-green eyes kind of way. OMG. Was this what the other girls at New Leaf Academy saw when Ben went up to the stage to order the middle school section around? Either my betas were extremely photogenic, or looked more handsome the further you are from them, or there was some kind of magic enchantment spell happening. Mind blown.
I can't believe I never noticed how good-looking my betas were! I mean, I've always known, but I never quite saw it for myself until I saw this video. (Did the cameraman have a crush on my betas? Why was the camera resting on them every time there was a lull?)
Eventually, the camera panned out as Ben and Ki each stretched out an arm to usher closer towards them that princess again. Now up close, a very young and very beautiful girl with electrifying blue eyes and hair that defied gravity. That hair! It was like a shampoo ad - swaying and waving as if there was a constant wind around her all the time. There was nothing natural about that hair.
The camera panned back to watch her move across the stone paths with her entourage. She walked gracefully, her wide skirt swaying with her movement. She wasn't smiling or talking, but my eyes were drawn immediately towards her. Oh wait, I knew her!
I realized anew all over again, "That's me?"
I looked surprisingly like my future self (the irritating one who was almost 18). Wait, why did that feel so unexpected and surprising to me?
Oh yes, I'm an idiot. I really am.