Feelings
Ellie watched in mild amusement as Joel hacked up his drink – Tommy thwacking his back. Though the alpha couldn’t help the slightly jab of betrayal at the fact that Joel had just used her to fuck around in the mess hall.
“I don’t even know what I expected,” Ellie muttered under her breath.
It was then that the alpha turned to you. You were staring towards a table where a familiar set of red curls sat – glaring back at you.
Elijah sat in the corner, along with her gang of nitwits. The beta’s faded black-eye was a constant reminded to not mess with you. Even though Joel had gotten yelled at for giving it to him.
Ellie frowned – remembering how Maria ultimately decided to not force the beta to apologise, saying it was probably better that he’d stay away from you.
The alpha turned her eyes to you and regarded you silently.
Your stance was relaxed – forcibly so. (e/c) eyes filled with regret, anger, and pain and you searched Elijah’s own from across the room.
You must have seen something because you froze.
Ellie decided that was enough and grabbed you by the elbow, dragging you over to the cafeteria line.
“This was a bad idea,” you whispered to Ellie, ignoring the redhead's green eyes boring into the back of your head.
“We’ll be fine,” Ellie said softly, giving your elbow a squeeze, “let’s just get our food and go…okay?”
You nodded robotically.
Ellie watched you shut down – face going blank and eyes devoid of emotion. Sighing quietly, the alpha looked back over to where Tommy and Joel were, only to find a rather exasperated Tommy and no Joel in sight.
“Fuck,” Joel wheezed.
Tommy sighed after Joel had managed to catch his breath.
“You done yet?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Joel replied.
“Wasn’t talkin’ ‘bout that,” Tommy sassed.
The alpha just raised a brow at his brother.
“You done whining about this shit? You gonna go do something or what?”
“Fuck off,” Joel grumbled, getting up.
“Where are you going?”
“Away,” the alpha replied ominously.
“Can’t avoid her forever!” Tommy called out – only causing Joel to flip him off.
Joel quickly weaved through the crowds, careful to stick to the sides of the wall – far out of your sight.
Speed walking off to the stables, Joel decided to go pay Mai another visit.
“Tommy just ain’t know what he talkin’ about,” Joel grumbled to the mare once he was in front of Mai’s stable.
The alpha made quick work of hooking Mai up in one of the grooming bays and got to work on brushing her coat.
“I mean, what the fuck does he want me to do!?” Joel ranted angrily, “I ain’t been in that kinda relationship since Sarah’s…”
The alpha sighed, leaning forward and resting his head against the mare’s shoulder.
“And now I’m talking to a fucking horse that has the same name as her dead friend,” that earned an offended snort from the mare and a dry chuckle from Joel.
“Yeah, yeah I bet you’re that alpha’s reincarnation or some shit,” the horse stomped its hoof and ended up digging into Joel’s foot.
“Ouch! Fuck!” Joel said quickly trying to push to horse's weight off of him, “bitch,” the alpha murmured.
“Trouble in paradise?”
Joel turned around.
There stood Dina, looking amused as she leaned against the gate.
“Something like that,” the alpha snorted.
“Can I be of any help?”
“Highly fucking doubt it,”
Dina laughed, “well you gotta tell me the situation to find out!”
Joel remained quiet as he brushed through Mai’s tail.
Sighing, Dina said, “sometimes making people wait can do more harm than good,”
“Don’t know how to approach it,” Joel grunted as he picked up one of the mare’s hooves.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” Dina teased.
“Pretty sure you have a good clue,”
“Well, if you’re talking ‘bout what I think you are,” Dina started, “then I’d say just continue on as normal – if you want your relationship to go that way just… how do I explain this?” Dina paused – thinking, before shrugging the thought off, “I say just do what feels right,”
“That is a lot easier said than done,”
“Maybe, but just try it,” Dina encouraged before going on her way.
Joel sighed – why was this shit so hard?
Elijah and Milo sat on the couch chatting away as you and Riyana hauled the dead deer through the entrance.
“We win!” You announced excitedly.
Both Milo and Elijah looked suspiciously giddy.
Riyana narrowed her eyes, “what’re y’all up to?”
Milo snorted before pointing to their little pile of dead rabbits.
“The fuck is that s’pose to mean?” You asked – raising a brow.
“We won,” Elijah smirked at the two gaping girls, “we got the most food!”
Milo cheered before high-fiving Elijah. You just rolled your eyes.
“Our deer is worth more than 5 rabbits.”
Riyana nodded alongside you.
“Nope,” Milo said cheekily, “you only got one catch; we got five – so we win!”
“What!?” You shouted - glaring at the two boys, “that’s cheating!”
“You never stated the requirements,” Elijah shrugged smugly.
“That’s no fair!” Riyana whined childishly.
“Yea it is!” Milo countered.
“No it ain’t!”
“Is so!”
“Is not-“
“What is all the ruckus about?” Isaac yawned as he padded into the main room.
Milo smiled as the man leaned over the couch and gave him a peck on the lips.
“Gross,” you said – throwing your shirt at the two.
“Hey! I ain’t need your sweaty-ass top!!” Milo cried – trying the throw the shirt back at you.
“I’m just surprised she managed to hit you,” Riyana snickered from behind you.
You turned to Riyana with a gasp – feigning betrayal, “how you wound me!” you cried dramatically as you clutched your chest.
“Shut up!” A voice rang out from the bedroom.
You all giggled – Cherry was not a morning person.
You opened your eyes…
Even though most of your time spent with your pack was filled with wonderful memories… it had been so long since you had re-lived one that wasn’t a nightmare.
Your chest throbbed at the reminder of a time that used to be.
Taking in a deep breath, you hoisted yourself out of bed.
Shuffling into the kitchen you bumped into-
“Joel?”
“Morning,” came the gruff reply, “how’d you sleep?”
“Okay…”
You rubbed at your eyes, wondering if this was an illusion. It wasn’t.
You sort of just… stared at the alpha. Not too sure what to do.
Joel shoved a plate in your hands before grabbing his own and marching to the TV, flicking on some weird-looking action movie.
“Seriously?” You asked as you joined him on the couch.
“What?”
“That CGI is terrible! How can you stand it!?”
Joel looked mildly offended, “it was very good for its time and it has a great plot!”
“Sure,” you snorted.
You weren’t too sure how, but after you had both finished eating – you found yourself snuggled up against Joel’s side.
“I bought some wood for your paintings,” the alpha said softly – resisting the urge to try and run his fingers through your hair.
“Thanks,” you said softly, turning to look up at Joel.
The air almost immediately started to get heated.
“What is this…?” You whispered as you felt yourself lean towards Joel.
“Honestly?” Joel paused, “I have no clue,” he whispered before leaning in and once again capturing your lips.