Chapter 2 - ❝Just Talk❞

"Hey, Alpha, wait up!"

Tatum stiffened but continued walking at the sound of the all-too-familiar voice, instantly feeling caught. Sometimes, it was almost as if he knew she was thinking of him and decided to grace her with his presence on the corridors of HillBridge University.

Pshaw, there's no way that's possible, her Wolf remarks, surprising Tatum with her sudden comment, as it was rare that her Wolf was interested in anything besides training or dwelling on what-ifs about her dead Mate these past 8 years. Tatum had to agree because her mind was locked up tighter than the vault containing the Pack's heirlooms, and nothing or no one could have a peek at it, unless some sorcery was involved.

"You're not supposed to be hanging out with me." She stopped and said by way of greeting as Angier finally caught up with her, smiling that Texas-sized smile that popped his dimples to their maximum advantage, dirty blond hair flopping almost endearingly over those turquoise blue eyes in that just rolled out of bed sorta way. Her heart gave a lurch at the sight and Tatum just gave up on trying to remember some flaws he had or just a few goddamned mathematical equations to try and fight off these thoughts.

"Good afternoon to you, too." He rolled his eyes, continuing as if she hadn't just spoken, "I know you just came to a party last week, and you might think that I'm pushing my luck here, but wait!" He held up a finger, interrupting her as she opened her mouth in protest, already anticipating it, "This one is gonna be seriously epic! For starters, it's us only," His gleeful emphasis on the word 'us' clearly implied that he was referring to them Wolves, "And yes, the host is a freshman, but you might remember him from when we were kids. It's Beta Ezra Harland of the Mordecai Pack. So basically this guy is throwing money like crazy, it's gonna be at this huge mansion that belongs to their Alpha and since it's kinda exclusive and he knows a lotta people, many other Alphas, and their siblings in colleges all of the east are apparently flying over—"

"Angier." Tatum finally interrupted his excited ramble, her unimpressed eyes clearly conveying her reply.

Angier looked undeterred. "But you're not gonna be so nonchalant when you know who all will be there." He smirked victoriously, crossing his arms proudly.

"I don't care." Tatum resisted the urge to roll her eyes like Angier so often did, straightening the strap of her book bag as she twisted in her heel to resume her brisk tread to St. Bernard's building. He, on the other hand, did roll his eyes—huh, typical Angier—falling into step with her, not a single sign on his face that he was discouraged the slightest bit by her dismissal. "Well, from the top of my head I can name Alpha Seneca Mordecai and her Mate—duh, 'cause she owns the place—and then there's Alpha Dustin Holloway and his Mate, a few other Alphas I know you don't give a damn about and Alpha . . ." He trailed off, building up what he thought was anticipation probably, ". . . Alarice DeVega and her Mate, the Larzelere kid."

Tatum faltered in her steps and almost tripped over her own feet as she came to a halt, the mention of the girl she used to be very close with as a child triggering a bunch of memories she didn't want to remember. Angier chuckled at her very obvious failure at pretending she didn't care, knowing he'd won this round.

"She—um," Tatum struggled to find her words, suddenly overwhelmed by the onslaught of emotion, "She's M-Mated, too?"

Angier, perceptive to the swing in her mood, wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he stepped closer instinctively, without having a clue as to the fact that her heart was thumping for a whole different reason in a split second, "Yes, Tate." He said softly, eyes turning into two pools of sympathy that Tatum hated with a passion, "She found him a few weeks ago and they got married last week in a small ceremony. He's the late Alpha Larzelere's half-human kid."

Tatum felt nauseous, almost sick with the powerful bout of jealousy that coursed through her every time she received invites to celebrate or heard about the union of Alphas and their Mates in the extravagant balls they threw and the receptions they held.

She took a deep breath, shoving away the unwanted emotion in a way she'd become familiar with in her late teens. It hurt in that always-there way it did, the melancholy twisting up her insides, "All the more reason for me to not come then."

"What? No! Tatum, I know you don't mean that!" Angier rushed, panicking, "You have to be there, Tate-bear, please. I know all of them are Mated, but you know that the few that are left are gonna be Mated soon anyway, sweetheart." Once again, oblivious to any sense of personal space, Angier stepped closer and wrapped her in his arms, enveloping her in a warmth that soothed the ache inside of her, almost muting it to a dull throb.

Just like you will be, too.

Tatum couldn't even pretend to fight his hug, her self-control weakened by that thought that hurt a million times worse than the picture his words painted. She wanted to crawl into a whole and hide there, pretending forever that the possibility of that happening wasn't just around the corner.

But as everything was in life, this wasn't fair either. Not to her, not to her parents and not to her Pack.

So, for the umpteenth time, she forced a smile that felt like it was about to crack her face in half, making herself pull away from him, "I know." She whispered, wrapping her arms around her middle, "I'll be there. How worse can it be?"

Angier looked like he didn't know whether to smile or cry.

~ * ~

Luna Maarika Karas heard the front door opening and closing with a quiet click, alerting her to the arrival of her pup. She stood up from her work desk, putting away the pliers and the little pieces of semi-precious stones with which she was usually found designing some jewelry in her spare time, dusting off the stray pieces from her dress. She followed the sounds of movement to the kitchen, and finally found Tatum drinking water as she stood by the refrigerator.

"Hey, kid, how was your day?" Maarika asked, trying to make conversation as she opened a cabinet, pulling out a couple of mugs just to give herself something to do.

"It was fine, thank you," Tatum replied, putting the bottle back in the fridge. She gave Maarika a nod as she took a step to leave, like she always did, making Maarika grasp blindly to say something to make her stay for just a few more minutes. "Would you like some tea?" Maarika gestured to the mugs beside her tentatively, her hope written clear as day in her eyes.

There was an awkward pause as Tatum considered her answer. It seemed like their conversations were always limited to five to ten words these days.

Maarika felt a painful tug at her heart at the reminder of the reason for her pup's change in character.

"Yes, please." She finally answered, and Maarika sighed internally in relief. Tatum had completely shut down since that night eight years ago, and Maarika and her husband were helpless to do anything. They couldn't even demand that Tatum talk properly to her own parents because sometimes that just felt like too much to ask.

She smiled in reply as she put on the kettle, pouring the water and adding the leaves. Maarika couldn't even begin to imagine how much Tatum must be fearing her fast approaching twenty-first birthday, during which she was meant to take over as Alpha. She hadn't yet wracked up the nerve to ask.

"So . . . " Maarika started, unable to stop herself, "Is there anything you wanna talk about, pup?"

Tatum looked confused, "Talk about? I . . . I don't think so."

"About your twenty-first birthday?" She prodded further, hoping Tatum wouldn't shut the conversation down completely.

"Oh. No, not really." Tatum shrugged, tracing the marble patters on the counter with a finger as she avoided her eyes.

Maarika was disappointed, "So, you feel ready?"

"Sure," Tatum said without any real conviction, finally meeting Maarika's eyes with an expression void of any emotion.

Maarika swallowed down a comment, nodding as she poured the now ready tea into two mugs. No matter how much she or anyone else tried, it seemed like Tatum just couldn't bother to summon enough energy to give a proper response.

There seemed to be just one exception to that.

Angier Wellington.

Tatum wasn't exactly a ball of sunshine around him, but whenever he said something, there was usually a reply or even a smile or a laugh here and there. For the sake of her daughter's heart, Maarika hoped that there was nothing beyond friendship there, but sometimes it was just too hard to tell.

"Here's your tea." Maarika handed Tatum a mug, after filtering it and adding some milk. Tatum gave her a small smile, muttering a low, "Thanks, mom," as she grabbed her mug and left, making Maarika smile at her retreating back.

"I'm just one floor away!" She called at her back, hoping that Tatum would just talk.

She got nothing but silence in reply.

~ * ~

A/N:I've actually written a few chapters in advance so that I can update this book regularly.

Next Update: 18 MAY.

it's for real this time. REGULAR FREAKING UPDATES JUST LIKE 'SHE IS MY ALPHA'!

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