I grudgingly left my table as I decided to investigate the noise outside. My hearing picks up Alvin's voice and Laura shouting simultaneously. Zoning in on the commotion outside, my brows met in confusion upon finding out Logan can be also heard. Did he want something? I sure as hell made sure that he was able to relax from being cooped up from doing his homework. Dang, I was a few bucks poorer because of that kid. But, why the commotion outside?
I barged out of my office and was just in time when a fist flew right into Logan's jaw. My jaws dropped in horror. All the time I've spent here in Solace, I've never witnessed my packmates fistfighting inside my mart. Most of all, who's crazy enough to fistfight with ? He's such a sweet child and well-loved in our pack.
I went straight to Logan without checking my surroundings. My horror at witnessing this man child getting sock in the face gives me the chills.
"Goddess heavens, are you alright? Logan, your nose is bleeding!" I fussed over him, absentmindedly blotting the bleeding using the sleeve of my long-sleeve polo. The bruise is already blooming on his jaw. Evelyn would have my hide for this. Werewolves might have the faster healing capability but that doesn't mean we won't bruise for a while.
I can faintly hear Laura scurrying around for tissue and Alvin gritting his molars. Whipping my head around to face the attacker, thoughts were fumbling around my head. No pack member would dare hurt the young mutts around here.
"What's wrong with you?!" I spat against the attacker. Ready to throw hands if necessary. I was snarling with my fangs peeking as I tried to face the man off. I froze.
"What are you doing here?" Imagine my disbelief at the person in front of me. The swirling pattern of bottle green eyes evident in his black orbs. Those mesmerising orbs got me thinking for a minute.
The only answer I've got from him was his jaw gritting in suppressed anger. Betrayal can be read in his eyes.
Betrayal?
I looked back at Logan and sweep my eyes around me and balk at the attention that is currently directed at me. What do people do in this kind of situation? To add more to the problem, I'm currently against an Alpha who's now glaring down at me.
The fine hairs on my neck stood up in attention. One wrong move would lead my pack into misunderstanding if I may say. I was deep in my thoughts on how to solve this crisis when I felt a tug behind me. It was Logan grabbing at my arm and he is like a scolded pup right now.
A warning growl took my attention back to Atlas. Black orbs met my eyes. Yes, he is damn pissed. An ominous aura emanating from him. An aura of a pissed Alpha you don't want to mess with. No wonder Logan went into a submissive stance and so are the other two of my employees.
I did the same.
I bowed my head and tilt a little to the side. Showing one's neck is a pack practice that means submission. I might be in a submissive stance, but I am simmering in the insides right now at the audacity of this man to force his authority on us, I still pressed on. I don't want the pack to know that I'm connected to Atlas in any way possible. Mate or not.
"Outside." The deep voice commanded me as I clenched my fist in anger. The nerve of this man to order me around was grating at my nerves. Even our Alpha would never do this kind of disrespect over trivial things. He walked out of the mart and from the looks of it, he stops beside his car.
"Mav," my enhanced hearing picked up Laura's warning. Of course, no sane person would follow a pissed Alpha but then again I don't want to settle this in front of my employees slash friends. I don't want to give them any idea.
I looked at her and gave her a nod. "I'll be fine." My timid voice reached her in response to her warning. I was about to follow when Logan clung to her arm.
"Mavis don't do it. What if he's going to hurt you?" the tremble in the kid's voice got me smiling. Logan might be a kid but he sure does have the trait to protect his friends if need be.
"Don't worry kiddo, I'll be back and we're going to talk. All of you." It wasn't just only for Logan. My eyes stopped and looked at each one of them. I need to hear both sides of the story but for now, I need to hear it first from my pissed mate outside. From where I stand, I can feel him staring at me from the outside. Even the glass walls of my mart did nothing to his penetrating gaze. Evidence of it was the goosebumps littered on my skin.
I ruffled Logan's hair before going outside. "Tidy the place," few words that led my workers to work. The scattered skittles on the floor and a can of soda is the only evidence of the incident, Logan's injuries included.
The air outside was mixed with Atlas scent, which is not good for us. This means the bond was slowly working its way towards strengthening and the way Atlas and I right now, it'll be disastrous.
My eyes squinted when I saw him with his hands flat on the hood of his car. The ominous aura exuding from him kept me an arm's length away from him.
"What the hell is your problem? Why did you punch Logan?" My voice was calm when I asked him the question. Nothing good comes from pissing an angry Alpha further.
I noticed how his posture flinch when I mentioned Logan's name and the realisation come to mind. The betrayal I saw earlier in his eyes and the aura he is exuding explains it all.
A mirthless chuckle sprang out from my lips. "No way." the breeze ruffled my hair as I looked away at the man in front of me. There's no way. It wasn't plausible.
He did not respond to my question. Instead, he stiffened from his position when I was able to realise his dilemma.
"Just so you know Alpha, he is a 14-year-old kid. Why would you even do it? For the life of me, I can't understand why punched a kid in the first place? You don't even know him. Did he offend you back there? You should know better. What's the use of your keen smell Alpha?" The seriousness of my voice got a reaction from him.
The shock on his face got me thinking that it was the bond working. Acting out of character all of the sudden. To top it all up, a mated pair that isn't bonded were prone to drastic actions and irrational emotions. Hence them acting first before thinking. Also, he is an Alpha. A totally different matter because they feel strongly and they express physically. It would take a lot of getting used to before being able to not jump at someone threatening to them and the bond, of course.
The grim on his face express the shame he is feeling. The black orbs long gone as his wolf gave way to his bottle green eyes. "I wasn't able to control myself. I saw you two days ago. I don't even know what came over me. When I saw him again today and he was hugging that other girl, I thought he was cheating on you." the confusion on his face and his unsolicited concern mellowed out my anger.
Nonchalant, I pat his back awkwardly. This is what you call the bond thing. Making me act things out of my consciousness. Hope his anger would subside a little with this minute connection.
"It's alright Alpha, it was the bond talking." I looked around and exhaled deeply. We really need to do something over this fucked up situation.
"Alpha--" he sent me a glare that stops me from talking. Why is he mad now?
"Atlas, just please call me Atlas." In a more normal manner, he uttered the words and pinched his nose bridge. He moved away from his car and looked at the horizon. The distress is evident from his face. I don't know if it's the same for everyone, Alphas usually were able to conceal their moods and emotions in just a snap but this Alpha in front of me spells otherwise.
"I don't know what to do." The hurt in his voice crumpled my heart into oblivion. If your fated mate is distress and hurting, you're bound to get the feeling too. It is a lot stronger if a pair is officially bonded and if one is of a high rank in the pack.
"Well, you need to apologise to the kid and why did you even come the other day? I did not notice you." My voice came out softer this time, understanding for his plight leaking out from me as I looked at the horizon too.
He did not say anything and instead breathe deeply. He is troubled.
"Do you want to talk? I don't want this confusion too. It's making me miserable. I know most of it was from the bond but miserable nonetheless." I chance a glance at him at the same time he did. We shared a look of understanding, a truce. He really does have a gorgeous pair of eyes that and it's taking my breath away.
"You've got a plain brown eyes." The words formed in his mouth without emotion at all, just like stating the weather. He seemed in a daze.
I don't know if I should be offended or not but I'll take it positively. We are in a truce right now and I don't need another catalyst for misunderstanding.
Shrugging my shoulder and an awkward laugh I looked away. "Thanks, I guess. Talk?"
He snapped out from his thoughts and panicked a little. "I didn't mean it in a bad way, it's just your eyes is plain and it makes me think of uncomplicated things. It made me think about how to appreciate the simple things around me. It's calming." His hurried explanation made me giggle a bit. The tingles in my spine travelled throughout my body from hearing his weird compliment.
"Don't worry about it Atlas. We really need to talk. Where do you want it?" I smiled at him and he did the same. How nice my life could be if this is how things played out?
"Anytime is good for me." He leaned back against his car in a relaxed manner. The distress he was feeling was no longer there.
"Tonight then, let's meet at the park." I grabbed my hair as the breeze played with it again. It is kind of windy today. Maybe a storm is coming, I should really listen to a broadcast today.
"Before that, you need to apologise to Logan first. He is just a pup and Evelyn would have my head if she heard about what happened to her pup." A small laugh from me tells him that I'm exaggerating but he did frown anyway.
"I'll do the explaining," he offered kindly but then I know Evelyn, she is a close friend and I know how to pacify her without her knowing the deeper reason for the assault. I don't want to tell anyone about it yet. The talk must happen first before anything else.
"No need. I know her better. Let's head inside and talk to Logan. Explain to him and just tell him it was a misunderstanding. That you mistook him for cheating. He'll get it from there. He is used to people mistaking him as an old person, more than his actual age." I hurriedly told him as we walked back inside the mart. He didn't even acknowledge what I've said and just went head to where Logan is.
I trudge after him. I need to know how he'll handle it. He's going to face a kid he punched after all. It better be settled now because I'll be the one uncomfortable at the end of the day. I just need to get through today to be ready later tonight. I inhale deep and full.
"Step by step Mavis," a little cheer for ones' own to make it through the day without losing some serious shit. Little at a time.