Page 29 of Fight
“I’ve known Augustine for twelve years,” I explain. “We met when we were fifteen in school, and stayed in touch despite living in different cities. He’s been to my fights. I think Cerenity has been to a couple of them too, knowing how they’re connected at the hip. You already know she watched me fight at Club Serene for the fundraiser. Is there an actual question in there?”
“He just seemed really worried about the omega. I didn’t know if there was something more between you two. It would be awkward if he was in love with her or something,” he says with a shrug.
Jasper is not only a dickhead, he’s also fishing. “Are you homophobic, Jas?” I ask him, raising a brow. It’s unusual to find alphas who are, since pack mates are oftentimes pulled together regardless of sexual orientation. The pull of an omega is so strong, when you find your match, male or female, doesn’t matter.
Destiny and biology don’t give a single fuck.
“What? Are you kidding me?” Jasper asks, jaw dropping.
“This conversation is leading in an odd direction, and I’m unsure how to take it,” I tell him honestly. “Does it matter to you where I stick my dick?”
“No of course not, but what happens to you if he decides to drop your ass for her? An omega is always going to top being with a beta,” Jasper says honestly. “Did you think it wouldn’t? Oh that’s cute.”
“I think you’re speaking about things you don’t understand,” I rumble. I seem much calmer on the outside than I am on the inside, but my heart is cracking at the thought that he may be right.
It’s one of the reasons Auggie and I have been on and off and we stopped talking completely at one point. I know they’re meant to be, and I’ve had my jealous moments.
I won’t allow Jasper’s insistence on being the dick cheese under my shoes rattle me. At least not where he can see. Deep slow breathing is the only thing keeping me together right now.
I can’t help but feel that he planned this conversation after exhausting me, so I would be foggy during it. As my trainer, he knows exactly how far he can push me, and it’s frankly shady as hell that he’s doing this.
Tommy and his stonewalling last night made me uncomfortable, but now it’s making me downright suspicious. I’m not just a meathead who fights well, there are indeed brains in my thick skull.
“It’s small minded to believe people can only care about one person,” I continue, deciding that I’m done playing possum. “If you believe any differently in a society with different pack structures when your sister’s is a prime example of this, then you need to take a deep look inside of yourself. Any other questions?”
Jasper’s neck flushes, and I watch as it moves all the way up to his ears. When you’re as blond as someone like him, sometimes your embarrassment or anger are clear for everyone to see. Otherwise, he has a mean poker face, which is why I’ve only ever played cards once with him.
Never again. I enjoy my money when it’s still mine, and not lining someone else’s pockets because I got cocky.
“Yeah,” he grunts. “I don’t understand how those relationships work, though I see it does with my sister’s pack. I figure some people deserve fairytale endings when they’ve gone through as much trauma as she has. The rest of the world, do we really get lucky?”
“Why shouldn’t we?” I ask him. “No one has a perfect life, Jasper. The only thing you can do is find the happiness you can amidst life’s shitty moments. Grow the fuck up. If I find out you know where Cerenity is, they won’t find your body.”
My body is vibrating in anger as I walk away from him, though I pull out my AirPods and shove them in my pocket in case Jasper decides to escalate things.
“So you’re threatening me over a girl who is your competition essentially?” Jasper yells after me.
Turning, I throw open my arms as I bear my teeth at him. “Fuck yeah I am. That girl is my best friend’s end all be all, right next to me. They have their own shit to work out, but if he doesn’t find her he will never be the same. Our lives have been intertwined since the day they met. You don’t fuck with fate,” I yell back, realizing too late my mistake as his jaw tightens.
Fuck, he knows Auggie is Cerenity’s scent match. Goddamn it. I should have kept my mouth shut. Growling under my breath, I walk away before I reveal any other information, like why Cere doesn’t fucking know it.
Feeling as if Jasper won this battle of wills, I decide to run the long way home to punish myself. I don’t know what Tommy and Jasper are lying about, but I damn well plan to find out.
Chapter Seven
CERENITY
Ifeel like shit. Groaning, I stretch, freezing when I feel soft sheets against my skin. Blinking, I wince at the headache pounding behind my eyes, and last night rushes back to me all at once.
Sitting up, my arm is tugged, making me look back as I hiss in surprise. There’s liquid dripping into my vein, but I don’t know what it could be.
Am I being drugged right now?
My breaths come out in small puffs, making me realize that I’m freaking the fuck out, and that’s a great way to end up dead.
I would still be sleeping if I was being drugged, I muse. I also wouldn’t feel like shit either or be in this nice of a room. It’s all done in dark colors, the blinds are drawn, but as I shift I realize I’m not wearing any panties and I’m wearing someone else’s shirt.
What the fuck happened last night?