The Exiled Alpha

Chapter thirty-one

Today was the day. The day my normal, not so normal, double life comes to a stop. It's Friday, the day of the meeting. I had this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach and I was afraid of what's going to happen tonight. What will happen and if my secret will be revealed and my friends will find out I've been lying to them ever since we met. I couldn't even look into their eyes. I was too afraid that they'll see right through me if I make eye contact.

Even though father said we can stay at home, to calm our nerves down, I still went to school. It was easier going to school and doing other things to stop my mind from constantly thinking about the meeting at the well, like a broken record. At least I could get my mind off of things like this. And I could spend time with Natalie, Norrie and Paul. I could be around them and just dwell upon the feeling of a normal life for just a few more hours. Before I have to face Frederick and his whole pack, hoping to stop the war before it outbreaks.

"So, I heard you and Mr. Sexy are a thing now." Norrie leans closer to me, her shoulder brushing against mine. She brings me out of my thoughts and I could actually kiss her for doing so. I've been worrying so much that the anxiety is slowly getting the best of me. I lift my head up to look at the brunette, noticing her cheeky smile.

"Where did you hear that?" I play off as if I don't know what she's talking about. My fork glides through the green salad, tossing it around with disinterest. Norrie rolls her eyes at me, glancing over to Natalie like she'd try to say 'can you believe her?'.

"The whole damn school is talking about it, Mack. How could I not know?" I purse my lips together at her answer. Really? The whole school is already talking about this? I glance around the cafeteria, noticing more than a few eyes turning away from me. I was too worried about my crumbling future to even notice the rumors and whispering about me and Elliot.

"Oh." Is the only thing I can get out of my throat. It's not that it doesn't bother me, but now I'm starting to understand what Elliot meant when he said he enjoys the rumors. Because it's the least of his problems. Let everyone gossip around you, it's not like they know the real you.

"Hey. Is everything okay?" Natalie brings my attention to her and I glance across the table to her form. Her expression is consumed with concern for me and I have difficulty with coming up with a lie. To my surprise, Alec is the one who comes in and saves me.

"I'm sure Mack is just fine. Her father's side of the family came to visit and she was up late with her cousin." Al says, which makes me part my lips in surprise. After yesterday, things weren't nearly close to smooth with Alec, but he just showed me that he still has my back.

The scenes from yesterday almost play out in my head like a movie.

"Elliot... he's my mate."

After that I blacked out. I woke up most likely after an hour or so on Alec's sofa. When my eyes cracked open the invasion of the light made my eyes hurt and everything turn white. But my eyesight quickly adjusted to the living room lighting and I noticed Alec and Ryker both standing on either side of the living room.

The air in the room was tense and they both stared at me with different expression that sent the same message. Panic and anger, sadness and confusion. They wanted the truth from me.

"Who's Elliot?" Ryker asks, his arms crossed on his chest. I squint my eyes at him, propping myself on my elbows. "With all due respect, but I just met you. So butt out of my stuff." My voice is hoarse and shaky and my words scratched against my dry throat. Ryker's jaw clenches, as his steel blue eyes glance over to Alec for help. But the werewolf doesn't say anything to him, he doesn't even want to look at me.

"I couldn't get anything out of this guy for an hour, so you'll have to talk, Beacon Hills werewolf." Ryker turns back to me, uncrossing his arms and walking over to the sofa. He sits down on the edge of the cushion, looking at the plasma television in front of us.