adjective ~ different from what is usual or expected

CHARLIE

Being completely sober in a room of drunken laughter wasn't as bad as I thought. Having a sober mind gave me great concentration. I got to watch all the high ranked wolves make fun of themselves, stumbling, with bellowing laughter as they celebrated. It had been a while since so many wolves gathered and grew merry.

The last time was the coronation, and you were only allowed two drinks at that one.

Crazy right? Only two drinks!

But back on the subject of being sober and wise, it always gave me the greatest opportunity to weasel out the haters. Much to my assumption, Alpha Grey was sober; the same glass of champagne in his hand as an hour ago. How I knew? I could smell its warmth and his sweat along the stem.

My wolf may be crazy, but Axel was one of the best trackers out there. When Phoenix and I tamed him more, we even had packs reaching out to borrow me. Jokingly, they should've paid me, but I realised it would come across as a little taboo to pay a man for his services.

I snorted to myself, walking around the room to meet Sean. He was gruffly stood, his arms crossed as he eyed the room. He was larger than me, so I matched his stance to look less puny.

"Evening." I mumbled.

He raised an eyebrow. "What do you want?"

"Anything unusual?"

"Nothing too bad," He muttered.

My jaw tightened as I watched Pollux inhale yet another cupcake. I feared it wouldn't be long before he wandered back to his room. Then I'd have to leave.

Sad times.

Glancing at Sean, I pried into his mind, and he let me through. Does Alpha Grey seem strange to you?

'You mean besides the sneer and lack of conversing with others?' Sean's voice was mocking.

The warm, flat champagne, too. I smirked.

'I have been watching him.' He nodded.

Good. I dropped my stance, moving a step away from him. He keeps staring at Pollux.

Sean's eyebrow quirked as he stared at the two. 'Nova too.'

My beast grumbled, protective of his tiny luna. He will do nothing. Anywhere he goes, you follow him.

Sean turned to me, amused. 'Last I checked, I was in charge of security.'

I frowned, huffing. "I am beta, so I'm pulling rank."

"You are sober. You are grumpy." He stated.

I shook my head. "I am enjoying it."

"You want your mate."

"Shush!" I hissed, glancing around. "Don't draw attention to her."

He chuckled, and the teasing softened the mood. I sighed, standing beside him once more as my eyes flickered over my cupcake-inhaling brood for the evening, before settling on my mate. She was smiling softly at something Molly had said, the two of them free from the infants. As it was so late, both the alpha and delta pups retired back to their bassinets atop the stairs. There were guards on either side, and nobody but the nursemaids or their parents could go near.

Not only that, but I was certain Nova would know if anything was wrong. Besides her uncanny ability to see the future, she was so in-tune with her young that she could probably read their damn minds.

"Where is yours, anyway?" I wondered.

Sean's lips pursed with a frown. "She freaked."

"She did?" My eyes widened. "I thought she was getting better."

"I did too," He sighed. "Her old alpha is here, and she feels on edge around him."

"The Wolfsbane alpha, right?" I asked, scanning the room.

He nodded, already locked on target. I found him too, locking my gaze on the dark-skinned, short male. He was an older alpha, his hair greying at the roots, but his grin was broad and merry as he danced with his mate.

"He doesn't seem so bad." I muttered, looking back at Pollux.

"He isn't. Her pasts still haunts her, and she fears her alpha will hate her."

"But she speaks to her parents still, right?"

"Every Saturday," Sean nodded.

"Surely they have calmed her anxiety?"

"They... try their hardest." He sighs, glancing down at me. "It is hard for them to understand her trauma. They kidnapped and held her hostage for two years. They killed her best friend in that time. They killed a lot of girls..."

Much like my mate, I knew how Sean felt. Both our girls were struggling, but luckily for Rose, her alpha seemed okay. It did not surprise me that Calida's alpha was not here tonight. Out of all the alphas, he was one of three that did not show and sent condolences in the form of flowers instead.

I sucked in a sharp breath, meeting his gaze. "I feel for her, I honestly do. But she has come out of her shell a lot more over the past nine months. It's still early days."

"I know," Sean patted my back. "Thanks."

I nodded once before glancing back at my task. Pollux was looking oddly suspicious as he backed out of the main room and into the dark of the night. I sighed, excusing myself from Sean to follow him. I kept my distance this time, not wanting to interrupt his drunken intentions.

Pollux didn't like to mingle. That was obvious. All night he avoided any deep conversation, settling for loud jokes or greetings around the buffet table. If there was no food, there would be no Pollux.

It was simple.

I found him slumped over the railing again, fists holding so tightly onto the wood it surprised me he didn't crack it. He inhaled sharply, exhaling shakily. I stayed within the shadows of the entryway, giving him space.

Trying not to stare at him to make it obvious, I gazed out across the moonlight. Behind me, I could hear the loud laughter of packs from all over the globe enjoy themselves. I distinctively picked up on my mate's giggle as she cooed at one of the twins. It sent a strange pang to my chest whenever I saw Calida so happy around them, and I only hoped that one day, I could stand beside her. I would never have children if I could only have Calida by my side.

She was everything to me already.

Sighing softly, I gazed back at the night. It was so quiet in comparison. All the critters were asleep under the moonlight. If I concentrated enough, I could hear owls soaring through the air, hunting for any misbehaving mice. It was a pleasant change to the bustling of the party, and for once, I enjoyed it more out here.

"I know you are there, Charlie."

I turned to look at Pollux, clearing my throat. "No, I'm not."

He looked back at me, narrowing his eyes at the shadows I hid within. "Why must you follow me?"

"I am your guard."

"I don't need a guard."

"You do." I insisted.

"Why? Can't you just tell me why?" He grunted.

Sighing, I approached him and stood at his side once again. "You are a lycan."

His forehead creased with confusion. "Right?"

Giving him a look, I tried to convey the best I could without disobeying Phoenix's commands. If it was so easy for me to tell him why, I would've already. But I had to stick with naivety.

"You are a lycan." I repeated.

His lips pursed as his eyes scanned my face. I was aware of his strange ability to feel emotions, and for a split second wondered if he noticed how I felt just a moment ago when thinking of my mate.

"I am a lycan." He muttered.

I watched him curiously as he shook his head, spitting a patronising laugh.

"Of course, that is, it."

"Pollux..."

"No, no, it's fine. I get it now, Charlie, I do." He rolled his eyes, sighing. "I am weak."

"What?" I spluttered. "No, that's not it!"

"Well, what else is it?" He insisted. "I am a lycan. You said it yourself. Lycan's are weak."

"Lycan blood, Pollux!" I interrupted his pity party. "Lycan. Blood!"

He paused, blinking at me. Realisation washed over him, and soon that angry scowl turned into a pitiful one.

"Of course." He mumbled again. "I assumed you would be with your mate."

"Not tonight."

"I am sorry for ruining your evening, Charlie." He frowned.

"I may be on duty." I stated. "But I am also your friend, Pollux."

He jerked slightly when my hand fell to his shoulders. Pollux was not a large male, his five foot five frame was actually one of the smallest in the pack. But he was also slim, and although strong enough to beat me in a race, he was nothing compared to a werewolf.

Not that it was a bad thing, it was nice to see he did not conform.

I wondered for a moment if Nova's twins would be short like she was or massive like Phoenix.

Then again, she had to poop them out... Ouch. Imagine pooping out one of his babies!

"Charlie?"

I blinked, focusing back on Pollux. I had zoned out, staring right at his forehead.

"Something on my face?" He asked.

I snorted a laugh. "Sorry, no. I just zoned out."

"Everything okay?"

"Wasn't the mind-link. Everything is fine. The party is actually going down very well." I cleared my throat. "Why are we out here?"

"You stalked me."

Rolling my eyes, I tutted. "I am on duty."

He smirked slightly, but nodded his head. "You are."

Hesitating, and wanting more out of the man, I thought wisely.

"I am on duty. Which means I adhere to strict confidentiality if the person I am working for requires it."

Pollux quirked an eyebrow. "Okay..."

"So anything you tell me, I will not judge and I will tell nobody else."

His face softened under the moonlight, ghostly pale. "Is that so?"

"I am on duty."

"You have said that," He mused.

Silence wrapped around us and when I realised he would not talk, I turned back to the gardens. After a few minutes of listening to the wind in the trees, I noticed Pollux nervously wringing his hands around the railing. I stayed quiet, pretending that I didn't notice until he spoke.

"How would one go about leaving a pack?"

My back stiffened, my wolf grumbling. "Does this person wish it to be permanent?"

"No, no. Just for a... holiday."

"It depends where they want to go."

"Human territories."

"Why would they want to go to human land?"

"Just to explore what they haven't already."

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, finding him already staring at me. "Would this person be coming back?"

"They would still be part of the pack." He nodded.

"They would need permission from the alpha and any other alpha's land they may cross." I explained. "It would have to be signed by both the alpha and luna."

His expression dropped a little, and he looked away from me. "I see."

"However, the luna of this pack is very understanding. If the wolf in question felt uneasy about discussing it, I am sure there is a beta lying around who can support them."

Pollux's lips quirked, but he said no more. I straightened my spine, knocking his arm with my elbow.

"The wolf... isn't running after another wolf, are they?"

"No, they just want some freedom." He muttered. "It has been a long, long, year."

I hummed, agreeing. "It has."

Silence encompassed us both as we stared across the vast space of gardens and trees. It was a pleasant change, so used to the busy high life of the party and pack life that I found my heart swelling with content. Usually Pollux and I would squabble, and the extroverted façade could become rather exhausting after so long. I wondered if, for a moment, he felt the same.

From what he said, he wanted to leave. To travel. I knew he had moved around a lot before, and I can imagine giving up whatever life he had for his sister was a major life-fuck. I would miss him when he was gone, the quirky male an honest companion in my life. I enjoyed my time with Pollux, but I respected his need to be himself. He was only young, too.

"Want to go back in?" I asked softly.

Pollux was already facing me, his eyes narrowing, much like his sisters did. I narrowed my eyes in return, wondering what he saw.

"What?"

"What were you just thinking about?"

I hesitated, surprised. "Why?"

"I was just curious about what goes on in your mind."

"Going by your question, I assume you already know what I was feeling."

"A contentment." He mused. "It is the first I have noticed that emotion on you. Even when you look at your mate, I feel longing."

I shifted my weight, pushing away from the railing. "I'm fine."

His lips quirked. "Of course you are."

Weird witchy twins were going to rat me out as being anything but amazing.

"Let's go back inside." Pollux murmured. "I think the party is nearly over, anyway."

Question of the Day:
First time seeing one of these? I've added loads to previous chapters, thought I'd bring them back as I used to do them allll the time. Feel free to go back and answer any!!! All for fun!!!

Today's question - you ready for christmassssss? If you celebrate ofc