The pack
My eyes watch Chhaya. I sit on a log, surrounding a fire. She is gorgeous, and to say I am not attracted to her would be a lie. She watches the frogs jump in the ponds. Her gaze follows each leap with a childlike curiosity, a soft smile on her lips. Every so often, she reaches out as if to catch their reflections, her fingers brushing the water's surface gently. It's as if she's lost in her world, completely entranced by the simple dance of nature. Her smile ate at my soul.
"Just let yourself have her," Atohi tells me. Lost in thought, I never heard him approach.
I wipe the sweat from my forehead. "I would only hurt her."
"I don't see how that's possible," he tells me.
"I will only find my heartbeat one day, and she's not mine."
He nods. "I have touched other girls who are not my heartbeat Alpha, you know before."
"And did you have intentions of being with them for more than just sex?"
He laughs. "No."
I shake my head.
Just start somewhere, Yona, don't make it too serious, just a little sex here and there. "She'll find her heartbeat and you'll back off," he says.
"And what if I can't back off?" I stare at his face.
"Don't cross that line." His eyes grow big.
I nod. That seems impossible. She's not mine, but I feel very protective and drawn to her. I have no idea why. Conflicted and torn, I grapple with the pull of my emotions. There's a yearning deep within me, a desire to be near her that battles fiercely with the rational part of my mind. Yet, fear of potential heartache keeps me on edge, hesitant to step beyond the boundaries I've set for myself.
"What are you doing, demon lover?" Waya says with that stupid smirk approaching us.
I try to leave my laughter inside."Waya enough."
"Just imagine when you're sleeping next to Jane, and you wake up in pain with her eating your arm," I see the twinkle in Waya's eyes.
Looking over at Atohi's face, I know he didn't find it amusing. He stands up and steps into Waya's face.
"Keep Jane's name out of your jokes, Waya," he barks.
"Dude, stop being a bitch."
My eyes see Chhaya watching us, she seems concerned over the fighting. Her face breaks into a frown.
"Atohi let it go," I ordered, hoping he would obey me.
Neither he nor Waya breaks their glares. At Waya's side, I see fits forming. Then I see Chhaya approaching, and she moves over to Waya, grabbing his hand. He looks down at her.
"If "Chhaya" gets hurt, you'll have to answer to me, back off!" I yell louder than my first order.
"We can settle this later, not around Chhaya," Waya says.
Atohi lets out a deep breath of annoyance. "Next, Waya, you won't be so lucky," he hissed, storming madly in the opposite direction.
I direct my attention to Waya. "Stop, with the Jane jokes."
"Dude needs to toughen up," he tells me.
"Waya, she's his heartbeat, he's going to get offended."
He nods. Still holding Chhaya's hand, I feel confused. He is not being with her, I will make sure of that.
"What is this?" I try not to appear jealous, even though I hope that wasn't the feeling, which came over me.
"What?" Waya shrugs his shoulders. Seeing Waya holding Chhaya's hand sends a jolt through me, a confusing mix of emotions I can't quite decipher. Part of me wants to dismiss it as harmless, just a friendly gesture, but another part can't shake off a twinge of jealousy. I wonder if this possessive streak is a reflection of deeper feelings for Chhaya that I've been trying to ignore.
Chhaya drops her eyes to the ground, something seems to be bugging her.
"So are you a couple?"
Chhaya drops his hand and walks away. I wanted to follow, but I decided against it. I don't want to come across as overprotective.
"You seem mad?" Waya looks at my face.
"I am not, I just don't want Chhaya hurt."
"I didn't know anything was going on between you guys, last night we had sex and now she's been clingy to me ever since."
I feel the redness hit my face
"So do you want a relationship with her?"
"I don't know, she's a beautiful girl," Waya rubs the back of his neck.
I nod, dropping the subject and not starting an argument. I mean he technically didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who rejected her right? I must suffer the consequences of that.
My leg moves towards the woods. I decided to take a walk and sit by the river. It has always been my favorite place to sit and think. I find a log that sits alongside the river and I take a seat.
As I exhale, I take a deep breath of fresh air.
It was just a few days ago that I was thinking about backing off if she found her heartbeat, and now she's with a member of the pack.
"Alpha." I hear Chhaya's sweet voice.
I don't even want to acknowledge her. I feel disappointed. Waya didn't seem very interested in her. Why did she sleep with him?
"Chhaya. "
She walks over and sits next to me. I can't help but feel annoyed. I stand up from the log and turn to leave. I feel her warm hand grab mine.
I hope she couldn't see the disappointment on my face.
I gently pull my hand away, and I turn to leave. I don't want to be an ass. I need some time to clear my head. Nothing happened between her and me, so I don't think I should have hurt feelings. Just the other day, she was clinging to my arm during our walk, and now she's sleeping with Waya. Like, damn. Though it was ultimately a friendly gesture, and after I rejected her.
"Yona," I hear the sadness in her voice. I instantly rattle my urge to comfort her.
Turning to face her, I noticed she was crying. I feel like a jerk. She was upset about something, more than me getting up and leaving from the log.
I move towards her, to where I'm standing directly in front of her. My hands gently stroke her cheek, wiping away a freshly fallen tear.
"Why are you crying?"
"Last night was a mistake, I should have thought and made a better decision."
I take a deep breath. I should have laid down better rules for the pack. I mean this is practically my fault.
"Why do you say it's a mistake?"
"Because he doesn't want to be with me. Last night was just sex for him."
"He said that."
She nods.
I take a deep breath. I can't help but feel a little bit irritated with Waya. Why hurt a girl you see every day if he wanted a fill, he could have picked up any girl in the bar.
I open my arms. "Come here."
I feel her warm body enter my arms. She seemed so upset and I hated that.