Chapter 3: Making Plans

“Til…” Anna’s voice whispers, a gentle shaking on my upper arm. 

“Mmm?” I groan as I stretch and ease my chair back up.

“We are here. You feeling okay enough to hop out?” She asks me gently. 

“Yeah, yeah. I’m good.” I open my eyelids, resisting the urge to groan in frustration, my eyes still unwilling to do what I want them to. Which seems like a simple enough task. Is it hard to want them to just freaking work? Anna must sense my annoyance as she takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. 

“It’s only been a few hours. It could take a few days to fully come back. Be patient.” She mutters as I hear the click of her door opening and her warm hand leaves mine. Muffled voices talk to my right and with a shaky breath, I fumble for the handle and push the door open. My fingers lightly trace the window to the top of the car door as I stand and hold on. Shit, my legs are wobbly and my back stiff as a board. 

“Shit, sorry alpha.” A gruff, sleepy voice says. “I forgot to mention that I gave these two permission to come late.”

There is a light sardonic chuckle that makes my skin crawl. I can’t tell if I like it or fear it. Either way, it creeps up my spine, making its way through the base of my skull, causing my headache to start back up and become more unbearable.

“You gave them permission without telling me first?” A deep voice rings out, full of authority.

“I apologize Alpha Onyx.” Anna says, her voice firm and full of confidence. “There was a rogue attack that left one of our pack members injured and almost dead. She was one of the required warriors.”

“So you replaced her with… the next worst warrior in your pack?” His voice is aimed in my direction and my scoff comes out unbidden. I am thankful for my lack of working eyes at this one moment. The level of eye roll I would have given would be enough to get me punished, I am sure. 

“I am the injured one.” I respond, pretty sure I am facing the right direction.

Feet crunch on the ground as someone comes closer and I tilt my head so my ears can listen better. Within a few strides, I can sense an overbearing presence, that same goosebump effect happening as I can feel hot breath fanning my ear.

“And how are you injured?” The deep voice asks. My instinct is to turn my head to face the sound, my nose brushing along a stubbly chin and my cheeks heat in embarrassment as I rear back and stumble into the car with a pained groan. And a hand reaches out, grabbing onto my right bicep, steadying me. 

“I was slammed through a marble counter by my throat.” I say, trying to find where he is. My eyes are moving, searching, yet they show me nothing. Man, I wish I could see the look on his face when he realizes he may have gotten his worst case yet.

“I meant, what is the extent of your injuries?” he asks flatly, a hint of concern hidden behind his demanding presence. 

“Stiff body, pretty sure there were broken bones, but those seem to have healed.” I shrug. I don’t know why I leave out the bit about my eyes. There is no way an alpha like him hasn’t noticed I’m practically blind, but it feels like a minor defeat admitting I can see nothing. 

“And your eyes…?” he asks. 

“Will be better soon,” I say forcefully. My stupid cheeks heating in embarrassment again.

“So you can see nothing?” He sounds surprised.

“Not currently…” I respond.

“The healers think she will have her sight back soon, though. She is a quick healer.” Anna interjects.

“She should have stayed in your pack to heal. Do you think I am beyond reason?” He asks his voice distant as he no doubt looks toward Anna.

“I insisted on coming. I promise being blind won’t hinder my fighting skills in the slightest,” I say confidently. Mostly because it’s true. When you have no skills, can being blind make me much worse than I already am?

“Mmm.” I feel a shift in the air and his hand moves from my arm. “We do not take it easy on anyone, even if they are injured.” he states firmly.

“I am not asking you to take it easy on me, Alpha.” I mutter, and the air grows tense. It is beyond stupid to speak to him the way I am, yet here I am, acting a fool.

“You seem confident in your skills.” he muses and I can’t stop the burst of dry laughter that breaks from my lips.

“Oh yes, I am very confident indeed.” I say back on a light laugh, trying to hide my smirk. 

I swear I can hear Anna rolling her eyes and groaning internally. No doubt she will yell at me later for my lack of tact. 

The problem with being smart? I sometimes lack social cues, and as much as I’d love to blame my injuries, it’s just a part of who I am. A curse, some would say. I call it armor. I have the only two people in my life I trust. Everyone else can deal with my abrasive attitude. And it’s not like I will be here long. I think I have already proven that with my most recent battle skills.

His breath tickles my ear once again, his lips so close I swear I can feel them on my earlobe. I shudder at his closeness, not sure if I hate it or love it. Either way, I know it’s dangerous. I know he is dangerous, I can feel it just by his presence.

“We will see if that smart ass attitude will stay intact when I am done with you.” he murmurs menacingly, but I swear he sounds somewhat amused.

“If there is one thing I am sure of, Alpha Onyx, it is that my smart ass attitude is probably the only thing that will stay intact with me.”

There is a long pause, as I assume he looks me over, or looks at Anna with disappointment. He must be doing something, but I grow more anxious in the darkness.

“Mmm,” he murmurs. “I do love a good challenge,” He whispers just for me.  

I whip my head to face him, my lips brushing over his skin, though it is softer, more plush, and I freeze in panic. Shit, shit, shit. This isn’t the same stubble on his cheek…

His lips pull into a smile beneath mine, and my legs grow weak, causing me to press forward with more pressure. His presence is gone in an instant and I realize… I just kissed the badass alpha who is going to make me a rogue. Even if it was an accident, I am mortified. Forget my heated cheeks. My whole body turns into an embarrassed inferno and my mouth drops open. I’m sure making me look like a damn fish out of water.

“Tic, show them to their cabin with the rest of their pack mates.” and then he is gone, a swirl of cool air replacing his now vacant spot. 

“What the hell just happened?” Anna hisses at me, making me jump in freight. My hand flies to my chest, making sure my heart is still inside.

“Other than the damn heart attack you just gave me?” I growl at her. 

“Did you just kiss the Alpha?” she asks. I want to hit her. Like really, I am blind and she is assuming I intended to kiss the guy who holds my doom in his very hands?

“Yeah.” I scoff, “Full blown make out, tongue and all. Did you not see it?” I mutter, stepping away from her car door, her hand guiding me. 

Two deep laughs break from somewhere in the night and I groan. I suppose both Beta Atticus and Alpha Onyx are still close enough to hear me.

“If you want to survive, you are going to need to…”

“Fall in line?” I scoff, and she sighs. 

“Tilly, it’s not about falling in line. It’s about respect, and I get it. You are more on edge because of everything going on, but please, rein in the sass?”

I fall silent. It’s hard to not feel guilty when your best friend is begging you to do better. My mind wanders back to Hammy, and him asking me to do my best for him. So I sigh in defeat, a weird tickle in my chest which I’m certain is a pang of disappointment. Anna is right. I need to rein myself in. I may be sass, but I’m not outright disrespectful like I was with Alpha Onyx. Maybe I am on edge because my senses are screwy.

“Sorry, Anna.” I rub my temple, a burning headache building within. 

“I know.” She whispers.

“I will have a warrior park your car and bring your belongings to your cabin in the morning.” Beta Atticus says. “Do you need more helping walking or are you okay?” he asks. 

“I’m good.” I mutter, feeling disappointed in myself. Damn it. My false bravado turned me into a mouthy little shit and I just made my chances that much harder. 

We walk in silence, the chirping of the crickets and croaking toads nearby penetrating the night air, giving me an odd sense of comfort.

“We will see you in a couple of hours.” He says as we slow to a halt. 

“Thank you.” Anna says. 

“Beta Atticus?” I say with a sigh.

“Yeah?”

“I am sorry for how I acted.” I whisper.

“It’s not me you need to apologize to,” He says, sounding amused. “I mean, Alpha Onyx doesn’t enjoy being touched, and you uh.. Well…”

“It was an accident!” I squeak out.

“I’m sure it was.” He says, a heavy hand landing on my shoulder. “Get some rest. Tomorrow will be rough for you. It seems you may have made an impression on the Alpha. Not something I would ever really wish on anyone.” he mutters as his voice fades. 

Well, shit. I get the feeling that tomorrow will not end any better than today did. If I had my sight, I might try to run away and just make myself a rogue now. A hand clasps my upper arm and I am dragged through a door.

“Don’t even think about it.” Anna hisses at me and I frown. 

“I wasn’t.” I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest. 

“Liar.” she chuckles as she pulls me and shoves me down on a bed. “I got your back, Til. I promise.”

“Okay.” I agree. But it doesn’t make me feel any better. In fact, all I feel is impending doom settling deeper in my bones. No matter how much she wishes it, by the end of this training she will be heading back home without me. Not because I know I will fail, but because I know it’s not even worth sticking around to test.

All I have to do is get my eyesight back and find the opportunity to leave before she finds out and follows me.