Chapter 6: Chapter 6

SIX

Confused. That seemed like an understatement, it could not describe how conflicted Black felt. He could not control the thoughts that were going through his mind— thoughts about a girl he did not even know. A girl whose name and face were the only thing he knew.

Why do I keep thinking of her?

Black clenched his wrapped fists and continued hitting the boxing bag in front of him. He had thought so much about Willow that it was starting to agitate him. He hit harder and faster. His emotions were piling up and he could not even properly chooses which emotion he was feeling.

He felt a longing feeling when he thought about her eyes, anger when he remembered how he could not decipher her natural scent but could only smell rogues on her and he felt confused because he never thought about someone like that. Something had never bothered him in such a manner.

Black closed his eyes before continuing his assault on the boxing bag. All his unwavering emotions being taken out on it. Sweat trickled down his forehead, and his hair was tousled but the adrenaline that fired through his body was nowhere near to stopping. He could feel eyes on him, people were looking at him but he paid no attention to them.

He had become accustomed to how they would whisper even when he was nearby, it was like sometimes they forgot that he was a werewolf like them that had heightened senses. He could not avoid the curious whispers and stares of the rest of the pack members. Everyone had something to say about him. They all had their own things to say about him. He did not blame them for their need to have something to gossip about.

He shifted his body to get a look at who was talking about him now. He clicked his tongue and continued boxing, not wanting to pay attention to the men in the room. The training facility was his sanctuary but over the years he had begun to dislike it. He spent most of his time there if he was not there then he would be at Nina’s cottage or Isaac’s house. Now, he spent less of his time at the training facility and preferred working out outside Nina’s cottage.

Everyone had a reason to gossip. Black was a member of the Alpha family, older than Isaac but he was yet to find his mate. Even Caleb, Isaac’s younger brother had more chances of finding his mate, unlike Black. Everyone found this as a good topic to gossip about, showing him pitiful glances when they saw him.

‘Do you think he’ll ever find his mate?’

‘Poor guy, it must be hard. Everyone around him has a mate.’

‘He looks sad ever since that black girlfriend of his found a mate.’

Hearing their whispers and presumptuous thoughts made it harder for him but he kept his cold exterior. He kept an unbothered and aloof expression on his face. Sometimes he thought their comments funny–Zaira had never even been his girlfriend. She was his best friend and he kept that relationship with her. Both of them had never voiced it out but their relationship stretched deep. They understood each other’s pain.

He threw one last punch before he exhaled and unwrapped his hands. It was frustrating to be in this building. He was about to walk out when someone called out to him.

“Black!” He turned around to face the owner of the voice. He stared at the black-haired man with tired eyes, wishing to be anywhere else. “You must be tired man?”

Black kept staring at him, his head slightly tilted. When the man realised that he was not going to get a reply, he cleared his throat and continued. “Well, a couple of dudes and I are going to some club outside the pack. How about you join us?”

Black closed his eyes and breathed out before he opened his eyes. A drink would not sort his emotions, he knew that and what he really needed was some peace and silence. He knew what the other men meant, drinks and women. That was what happened at most clubs but all he needed was to clear his mind and flush out every thought of the woman that had been bothering his peace.

I’ve obviously failed to clear my mind.

He thought about it for a while. A couple of drinks sounded okay, he needed to relax and calm his thoughts–alcohol could probably do that. And he would only be able to finish the task that Isaac gave him if his mind was clear.

“No, thanks.” He replied before walking away. He thought about it and being around a lot of people did not seem appealing. Women in clubs always pushed their boundaries too far and he was not ready to endure that.

He walked away and chose to pay his cousin a visit. Caleb would appreciate his presence, he was like his unofficial gaming partner and Aleisa always appreciated an extra hand when it came to taking care of Kace.

;-)

Black opened the door and entered the house that was like a second home to him. Caleb was in the living room with headphones on his head and a gaming console in his hand. The teenager did not even notice that he was in the room until Black took a seat next to him. Caleb looked spooked before it dawned on him, he slid down the headphones to his neck and smiled.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Caleb teased with a goofy grin. “The mysterious Black Sutton has decided to grace us with his presence,” He continued.

Black flicked his younger cousin’s forehead before resting his head on his arms on the couch and stretching his legs. Caleb looked at him with a suggestive smile, handing him a console. Black looked at it for a second longer before shaking his head and closing his eyes.

Caleb huffed. “I’m gonna have to look for a new partner, I can’t deal with this inconsistency.”

Black ignored Caleb and tried to sleep but he had not gotten any sleep. Sleep that had always been so easy for him had become so hard. After a while of trying to sleep and failing miserably, he opened his eyes and groaned. He turned to look at the person next to him, Caleb’s headphones were back on his head and his attention was on the phone in his hands.

Black stood up and walked up the stairs until he was standing at the door of Kace’s nursery. Aleisa was standing by the little boy’s crib, mumbling gibberish. Black rolled his eyes at Aleisa’s failed attempts to lull Kace to sleep. Aleisa ran a hand through her hair and sighed heavily before she turned and shrieked in her spot.

“Black?” Aleisa gasped, holding her chest. “Why are you always so silent? You scared me.” She said and walked over to him. “You didn’t tell me that you’d come over?...never mind, you never do.”

Black walked to Kace’s crib and picked him up, holding him against his shoulder. He could swear that it was not that long ago when Aleisa gave birth, now the little boy was going to be turning two at the end of February. Kace had even started moving around the house slowly. It did not take long for Kace to relax in Black's arms.

“You must be some baby guru or something. How do you always manage to make him sleep and not only him but the twins as well?” Aleisa asked.

Black looked up at her. “I don’t know but it’s great to know that your kid loves me more than you and Isaac,”

Aleisa glared at him. “Kace loves me but I cannot say the same for Isaac.” She replied.

Black placed Kace back in the crib before turning to face Aleisa who had a look of amazement dawning on her face. She smiled at him and the look in her eyes told him that he would not like what she was going to say next.

“I know that you don’t like talking about it but...don’t you think Isaac and everyone else is right...” She started and paused waiting for his reaction. Black remained silent, staring at her intensely but that was his normal stare. It was like he always over-analysed everything.

“I think you should spend more time on yourself and looking for your mate,” The unpleased look on Black’s face was enough for her to want to throw the topic under the mat but everyone was concerned, especially Isaac and she promised herself to talk to him.

“...I just think it’s about time and you ne—”

“You said it yourself, I don’t like talking about it so let’s not talk about it.” Black’s voice was firm which caused Aleisa to sigh and her shoulders to sink in defeat.

She knew that fate always had a way of making mates meet each other and that Black would eventually cross paths with his mate but fate was taking too long. She had known Black for two and a half years and she considered him family, not just because he was her mate’s cousin but because gradually and over the time she got to know him she accepted him as her family. She knew that Black yearned for his mate, whoever she would turn out to be. Under the cool and mysterious facade was a guy whose life had been mercilessly ruined by a person he considered to be family. Under the perfect warrior was a person that also wanted to have a bond as beautiful as the one shared by mates.

“Um okay then...” Aleisa accepted defeat and walked with Black as they left the room and headed downstairs. “Isaac told me about the rogues, so how is that going?” She decides to change the topic.

Black turned to her and raised an eyebrow. It almost felt like she was mocking him, he definitely did not want to talk about that as well. But how was Aleisa supposed to know about that? How was she supposed to know that he did not want to talk about that because it reminded him of the girl that haunted his thoughts since he set eyes on her? He stepped down the stairs and walked with her to the kitchen.

“I don’t want to talk about that either,” He grumbled before opening the refrigerator.

“Why is that? Is it much worse than we think?” Aleisa asked, obviously growing concerned because of his reply. “You should tell Isaac if the problem is more serious than we think, if it isn’t just two or three rogues then we should look more into it.”

Black stared at the woman in the room who was barely twenty. She had a lot to handle at such an age, a two-year-old kid, a whole pack and Black’s two cousins. He admired the fact that she did it all effortlessly, offering help where she could and wanting to help, always on the frontline.

He nodded before taking a seat on one of the seats around the counter. “Don’t worry, if anything goes wrong I’ll have your little mate know.” He said and took a sip from the bottle of water he got from the refrigerator. “I’ll have those rogues dealt it, don’t doubt me.”

She did not doubt him. She was well aware of Black’s capabilities. He was not the best warrior in their pack because of child’s play. He was good at what he did and if there was someone who could handle a couple of rogues then Black was perfect for the job.

“Okay then.” She smiled at him but still kept the mental note to raise the earlier topic when she had a chance. “Food? My food might not be as great as Nina’s but it’s good enough.” She said and Black nodded. Perhaps the food was what he needed.

“Great, Isaac might arrive soon so I better prepare a lot,” She started rummaging through the cabinets and bringing out things that she set on the counter.

Caleb walked into the room. “This isn’t about us, you’re preparing a lot of food for you and not us.” He said and took a seat as well.

Black laughed lightly, Aleisa did eat more than most females he knew. She took advantage of the blessing of a fast metabolism, it was something he had noticed about her when he first met her. It seemed like a long time ago but it had only been two years ago when Isaac had made him and Zaira, Aleisa’s bodyguards. But everything had changed over the course of time, Zaira was now the Luna of another pack and Black was still here.

“This is why I don’t like you, Caleb,” Aleisa glared at him before focusing on the task at hand, cooking for herself and three male werewolves.

“It doesn’t change the fact that you have to see my face every day.” Caleb replied smugly.

Aleisa ignored him. Caleb was a handful just like his brother and she had to put up with both of them.

..........

Willow sat at the bar with her fingers curled around a cup that was filled with alcohol, everything around her was too noisy. She wanted to leave the place, the smell that filled the entire place already made her chest constrict and she could not bear the loud music. The inside of the club was too hot and she needed to have a fresh breath of air. She found herself wondering why she had thought it was a good place two years ago.

Was it because of immaturity that she loved the thrill two years before when she entered this place for the first time, two years before?

“Oh my god, this place looks fun!” Twenty years old her had screamed over the music when her friends ushered her to the dance floor.

But that damn immaturity had ruined everything for her. She entered the lion’s den without realising it until it was too late. She drowned the half-empty glass and placed the cup back on the countertop, the taste of the drink torturing her throat and mouth but she wanted something to make her feel numb. She drank but it was never too much, she only did it when she felt it. The taste and smell of alcohol was not one she liked, she preferred to only drink when the situation allowed.

The bartender refilled her cup, Willow nodded and she looked up to meet the eyes of a man with cut short hair. “Hi, I couldn’t help but notice a beautiful woman seated alone.” He greeted her with a small smirk and took a seat.

She stared at him with half-open eyes, the alcohol had already started taking a toll on her. He looked like one of the men in the army, cut short hair, broad shoulders and defined muscles. She could see the outline of his body because the t-shirt the man wore left little to the imagination. He was good-looking as well. Willow would have liked him if she did not get a whiff of his scent...tainted—a werewolf.

She sighed and ignored him. The man obviously did not realise that she wanted to be left alone or he noticed but continued talking to her. “Can I get you anything? Get any drink and I will gladly pay for it,”

Willow wanted to tell him to go fuck himself but she held her tongue. She had walked into the club prepared for the worst like every night but Levi saved her, like always. He told her that she would not do anything because he made sure of it and instead of being the sex toy of some other werewolf, she had the evening to herself and Levi was supposed to spend that evening with her. He had walked off a couple of minutes ago to handle something in the back, telling her not to move and order any drink she wanted. The man seated next to her did not know that he did not need him to get any drink, a friend had already made sure of it. Someone who did not want to have sex with her.

“I’m okay but thanks for offering.” She replied curtly and took a sip of her drink, swirling the liquid.

“Don’t be like that sweetheart,” The man was persistent and moved closer to her.

Willow turned to face him, irritation was starting to creep in. She was about to curse at him but when she caught a whiff of his scent once again she paused, it was stronger because he was closer. She finally realised that his scent was different. He was a werewolf but he was not like the rest she was ‘acquainted’ to. He was not a rogue...he was like Black.

She looked at him with wide eyes, and questions once again popped up in her mind. If normal werewolves hated rogues then what was this man doing in this place filled with rogues? She had noticed the hateful and disgusted look on Black’s face when he asked her why she smelled like rogues. It was enough to tell her that werewolves in packs did not get along with rogues. She now had a lot of questions but she could not ask the man because it would seem weird because she is a human and also because Levi walked back at that instance and ended the one-sided interaction.

“What’s going on here?” Levi was glaring at the short-haired man which proved Willow’s theory even more. The man distanced himself from Willow and stared back at Levi with a smirk.

“I’m speaking to a pretty lady. What is it to you, filthy rogue?” The man spat back. His words did not sit well with Willow.

Levi looked to the side, clenched his fists and looked back with a ticked jaw. He had been called a lot of names by other werewolves over the years of his life but it did not mean he got used to it. The insults to taunt his existence were always downgrading.

“Really? I’m filthy? I don’t understand how I’m the filthy one when you are here in a club filled with filthy rogues.” Levi mused, his eyes never leaving the man. “Why don’t you walk away?”

Willow felt even more asphyxia as she looked at the two men that were glaring at each other, hostility clearly evident. The other man stood up but not before throwing another insult to Levi’s face. Levi moved closer and took the seat the short-haired man previously occupied.

“You okay Wills?” He asked her and she nodded. “Is he the guy that bothered you earlier? Because if he is I will walk over to him and teach him a lesson.”

Willow shook her head. “He isn’t.” She spoke out. The thought of Black once again invaded her mind and she remembered how well-built he was, obviously, he spent a good amount of time working out. She looked at Levi. If that had been Black and Levi initiated a fight, Black would win, that is if his body was not just for show.

“I can still go over and punch him if you wish?”

Willow laughed. “It’s okay Levi. You already took care of it.”

Levi nodded and asked the bartender to give him a drink. He was now very worried, more werewolves were coming to the club and not all of them were rogues. He feared that his brother was getting himself tangled up with people other than rogues and it worried him. If this continued, they would end up dead.