Riley
Only one more day until my parents are back home. Since the rogue attack things have been uneventful. Harry and Todd love going to the trainings that Archer and the rest of the pack do. Archer watches over them and will let them participate in some activities but makes sure nothing will be too strenuous for either of them.
That’s where they’re at right now, I would join them, but my mind feels muddled with thoughts of school coming up and about Leviticus.
Both topics cause my stomach to churn in anxiety, so I decide to go to the kitchen to see if there’s any ginger ale. When I walk in there, I’m surprised to see a petite girl at the sink as she washes dishes. I tilt my head to the side and clear my throat.
She turns towards me, her eyes wide as I startled her. I can tell from her aura that she’s an Omega, but I don’t understand why this is the first time I’ve seen her in the few days we’ve been here. And I’ve never seen her any of the times that I’ve visited the pack.
I smile warmly as I say, “I’m Riley, who are you?”
She smiles at me as she says, “I’m Delilah, I’m filling in for my mom today because she’s sick.”
I nod in understanding and I grab the ginger ale I wanted out of the fridge before I sit up on the counter and look at Delilah as she continues to work. I say, “How old are you, Delilah?”
She smiles softly, “17 almost 18.”
I nod and ask, “Do you attend Evergreen High?”
She nods and says, “I do, I recognize you. You used to date Zane Phillips of the Red Dusk Pack.”
Red Dusk Pack… interesting. How is it that I never knew his pack’s name before?
I purse my lips and say, “That I did.”
She looks me up and down with an amused gleam in her eyes as she says, “He’s kind of a jackass, what did you see in him?”
Her blunt statement caused me to spit out my drink making both of us laugh. I shake my head and say, “I don’t know how to explain it. I was just… drawn to him. It’s weird.”
She shrugs, “Stranger things have happened. The way he broke up with you was rather abrupt though.”
I nod as I mutter, “You’re telling me.”
The front door opens, and I can hear all of the boys talking as they come into the house. I know I should probably leave, but this is the first time I’ve really connected with another girl. It would be nice to go to school with a friend by my side.
I ask, “Did we have many classes together? I don’t remember seeing you much.”
She shakes her head no, “No, we didn’t. I think we had one last year. Besides, most people don’t notice me.”
Her statement causes me to take a real look at her. It makes sense why she would go by unnoticed. She’s petite so she can slip in and out of crowds easily, she’s in jeans and a gray hoodie so nothing is eye-catching, her sandy brown hair is in a simple braid, she wears no makeup, but her complexion is clear. She’s pretty, but she’s not super eye-catching.
As I hear the boys get closer as they are searching for me, I suggest, “Would you want to hang out sometime?”
She looks at me curiously then says, “You don’t have to take pity on me, Riley.”
My eyebrows furrow as I state, “That’s not what I’m doing, Delilah. I don’t have many girlfriends and I thought we might have fun together.”
Her lips press together as she nods, “Yeah, sounds like a plan.”
I smile and suggest for us to exchange numbers. She takes my phone and puts in her number when I hear one of the boys say, “Do you smell that?”
I sniff the air, but I don’t notice anything specific. I hear a different boy say, “What are you talking about, man?”
I hear hurried footsteps before the door opens and I see Caleb as he ran into the kitchen. His eyes darken as they land on Delilah and he lets out a growling sound as he says the simple word, “Mate.”
Delilah sets my phone down and looks at him with confusion on her face before she looks at me and back at him and points at herself as she asks, “Me?”
He rushes over to her and wraps his arms around her as he hugs her tightly and lifts her off the ground. Her eyes meet mine, full of surprise and hesitance. She doesn’t know how to react to him.
The others walk into the room and Archer comes by my side as he says, “Caleb, you’re scaring her.”
He drops her but still has his arms wrapped around her as he growls softly. Brandon came closer and I could tell he wanted to pull Delilah away as her face has paled with panic. Caleb’s eyes get darker when Brandon comes near him and Brandon puts his hands up as he backs away. Archer doesn’t move from my side though as he says, “Caleb, she doesn’t have her wolf yet. Come to your senses and you’ll be able to realize that too. You’re scaring her.”
Delilah’s eyes flicker to Archer as Caleb takes deep breaths of her scent before he slowly lets go and mutters, “Sorry.”
She breathes out as he takes a step away from him. She looks at him and says, “Yo-you’re the Gamma.”
He smiles as he nods and she looks back at me and Archer and shakes her head as she mutters, “This must be a mistake.”
I watch as Caleb’s smile falls, and he’s stunned by her words. He’s not used to women rejecting him. And now, the woman who he is supposed to be with forever thinks there’s been a mistake.
Archer asks, “When’s your birthday?”
Her eyebrows furrow and she pouts softly as she’s in deep thought. I grab her hand and her eyes meet mine and I say, “The moon goddess doesn’t make mistakes, Delilah.”
When I say her name, I hear Caleb repeat it under his breath. His eyes never move off her as he stares at her in adoration.
I continue, “You’ll find out in a couple of weeks.”
She breathes out as she shakes her head, “I’m just an Omega, I don’t- I don’t deserve to be a Gamma’s mate.”
Caleb couldn’t help the whimper that slipped through his lips and her head snaps towards him as she shakes it softly and says, “I’m sorry.”
She takes off out of the building and Caleb goes to run after her, but Archer grabs his arm and says, “Give her time, man.”
His shoulders slouch as he nods his head.