4, I don't need to be here
Tite
I stood in the walk-in pantry for ten minutes trying to collect myself. I would have fled to my room, but I knew the chance was high I would run into someone. I knew I didn’t have it in me to face anyone right now. The outcome would be one of two. I would meet someone who pissed me off and I would end up either clawing them or cursing them. Neither were a good option. Or I would end up meeting someone who was nice, or respectful, and I would start bawling my eyes out. Couldn’t have that happen either. So I stood in the pantry, letting my emotions wash over me. I knew this would happen, I reminded myself. None of the people I loved or who loved me stayed. Why would my mate be any different? The way he had looked at me, for a moment I had thought he wanted me just as much as I wanted him. That he could feel the connection despite being human. But I was wrong. He had felt lust, not love. He had seen me as something to bed and leave. Like I was a fucking sweet butt. My wolf whimpered from the pain. Well fuck him! I didn’t need him and I didn’t need a mate. I would go out and help Gus in the bar as I had promised, then I would find Amber and talk to her. She would help me talk to Ulf and I didn’t give a shit about talking to my father. When I had talked to my brother, I would call Luna Rayvin and take her up on her offer to put in a good word for me with Alpha Brutus. I would go to the Mistvalley pack and I would be the best fucking spy anyone had seen and I would put this life behind me. It was about time I took charge of my own life. My little pep talk did me good. I still felt the hurt, but I had also managed to make myself pissed, which was an easier feeling, one I had more experience in dealing with. I took a couple of deep breaths and walked out. I took the back passage into the dining room. It let me take the door that was next to the bar, meaning I didn’t have to walk past the main table. I was avoiding both my mate and my father.
“Hi there, Shorty,” Gus said with a smile as I joined him behind the bar. I stuck out my tongue at him and he laughed. I knew I was shorter than most in my pack, despite being an Alpha. My mom’s witch genes were strong in me. I was almost a copy of her, except for my eyes. I had got my father’s ice blue ones. My brother, on the other hand was almost a carbon copy of our father. Which is why most pack members forgot he was just as much half-witch as I was.
“What do you need help with?” I asked my mentor. The rugged man who had never mated and most pack members were scared of, had taken me under his wing when he saw me being neglected after my mom’s death. He was most often found behind the bar, even if no one had appointed him to be the barkeep, he had just assumed the role. He was also the best tattoo artist in the state. He had taught me both of his professions.
“Everything is up to speed. The guests have been served. I just need your help when the rush starts,” he said to me. I had refused to look over at the main table, but now I glanced at it. My mate sat with his back towards me, next to another human. My father and his men were not there. They were probably in his office. They could have stayed at the table, discussing whatever it was they were discussing in a mindlink. But it would have looked strange with them sitting quietly for half an hour and then suddenly all the decisions had been made. Not even humans would look past something like that. As if I had summoned him, my father came walking with Ulf, our Beta and Gamma. Johan smiled at me as he saw me behind the bar. He made a detour and walked up to me.
“Hi there, Tite. Settling back in after our trip?” he asked.
“Yes, uncle Johan,” I said and put my smile in place. He and Anna had taken me to visit their daughter, Luna Alice, and her mate in their pack for a month. Alice’s parents had wanted to see their grandson, and Alice invited me along in a not so hidden attempt to make me transfer to her pack. I would have accepted it if I didn’t find normal pack life boring.
“Good. Could you bring a round of beers over to the table?” he then asked. I wanted to say no. Two people I was actively trying to avoid were at that table.
“Sure,” I told him instead. He gave me another smile and walked off. Gus was already pouring the beers from the tap. I took the other tap and helped him.
“It’s serious, but we need more information before we can decide how we act. We will send one of our members back with you and they will look into things and report back to me.” I heard my father say to the humans as I walked up to the table. I put the beer down next to my father. We weren’t some fancy shit place where the beers were individually served. They should be grateful I didn’t demand them to drag their asses to get their own beers.
“Thanks, sis,” Ulf said. I nodded and felt my mate’s eyes on me. I ignored it, refusing to look at him.
“I don’t like to send you, Ulf, you are just mated. But I don’t know who else to send. You will have an easier time in a way,” my father said. I had turned around and was about to walk away, but stopped. It was true. Most wolves would have a hard time being alone and away from their pack any longer than a couple of days. It was easier if you travelled with others from your pack. But alone? It would hurt most wolves. But Ulf was part witch, he would have an easier time coping. I thought about Amber, she would have to stay behind and wait for Ulf.
“Send me,” I said. I regretted the words the moment they left my mouth. It was not part of my plan and I wanted to take them back.
“What?” my father said. I could hear he wasn’t pleased.
“Send me instead of Ulf. He needs to be here, I don’t,” I said and turned around to face the table again. Everyone was looking at me.
“No offence, miss, but you are a…” the older human started to say, but didn’t finish. I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. I had forgotten how medieval humans were. The MC clubs rarely had female members. They had plenty of women, but none were full members.
“Yeah, I’m a woman, deal with it,” I told him and saw my father frown. He didn’t like my sassy personality. Tough luck. From the age of twelve I had basically been raised by a pack of wolves who were a cross between a viking and a biker. Sass came as part of the package. If he had wanted a perfect little princess, he should have raised me as such.