With that, he stormed off, radiating anger anddisgust.
Marlowe frowned at me with sad eyes. He said nothing as he joined the other elders in returning to the councilbuilding.
The crowd dispersed slowly, all keeping their eyes on me, as if frightened. Only Otis and Dustin remained at the end, and Dustin had a had around Otis’ upper arm, like he was going to whisk him away at the first sign of troublefromme.
“Gabriel…” Otis whimpered. “Please reconsider. You’re my best friend and I don’t want toloseyou.”
I sighed. “You’re my best friend, too, Otis. But I’m not letting myself be bullied into a life Idon’twant.”
“Why?” His voice cracked. “A life you don’t want is better than no lifeatall.”
I raised a brow, glancing from Dustin back to Otis. “You’re saying you don’t like your life withDustin?”
“N-no, that’s not what I meant,”Otissaid.
“What’s the matter with you?” Dustin asked, more gently than I expected. “Do you have a medical problem or something? Is there some other reason you don’t wanttomate?”
“Are you asking me if I’minfertile?”
“Yes.”
I crossed my arms. “I don’t know. I’ve never been tested and I’ve nevermated.”
“Then you should just give up and pick an alpha. Nobody’s going to willingly walk out there just to die. Not even you,” Dustin said. “You put on a brave face, but you’re scared on theinside.”
“Are you my psychologist now?”Ispat.
Dustin frowned. “No. But my mate’s worried about you, so Iamtoo.”
Otis looked like he was about to cry again. All the anger evaporated from me. My shoulders sagged and I muttered, “Just leave me alone,” before shuttingmydoor.
* * *
Later that afternoon,there was another knock. Probably the elders again telling me to get off my ass and start parading it around,quick!
Instead, I was greeted by a semi-familiar face. I squinted at the young alpha standing at my door. He was around my age with a bigcockygrin.
“Hello?”Isaid.
“Hi, Gabriel,” he said, taking a step inside my door before I could stop him. I staggered back, taken bysurprise.
“Um. Who are you? And is there a reason you’re in my house?” I asked. I squared my shoulders and stood directly in front of him. If he was going to tramp inside my front foyer, the least he could do was take his shoes off. Not that I particularlywantedhim inside my house because I didn’t even knowwhohewas.
The alpha paused. “I’m Jared. You don’t recognize me? I’ve seen you around the pack before. Well.Everyoneknows who you are now, but I did sort of know youbeforethen.”
So, that’s what this is about,I thoughtbitterly.
“Who sent you?” Iasked.
Jared frowned. “Dustindid.”
I growled. “Look. I appreciate you trying to help, but I’m notinterested.”
Confusion crossed Jared’s face. “Trying to help…? Sweetheart, youneedan alpha. I’m not sure if yougetthat.”
My skin crawled at the overly-familiar pet name. “Oh, trust me, it’s hard to forget when everyone keeps shoving it in my face. Now pleasegetout.”
Jared’s attitude changed immediately. He went from confident alpha to cruel bully in the blink ofaneye.
