My Weaknesses

Chapter 10

I need to speak to the alpha. Even though he's an asshole and always has been ever since I got here, he still has some good advice. Plus he's the only one, Luke will listen to.

The next morning I decide to skip breakfast and go straight to his office. I bound down the stairs quietly. I spot Luke who is poking at his food solemnly. He catches my eye but I look away and go outside.

There's a separate, smaller house a short ways from the pack house. That's where alpha lives with his mate. I knock on the door a couple of times before Loraine opens the door. "Hey Karina. If you're looking for Thomas he's upstairs, second door on your right." She beams at me and steps aside to let me in.

"Thanks Loraine!" I call over my shoulder as I head up the stairs. I knock twice before entering. "Good morning Mr. Alpha!"

He looks up from his work and a look of surprise registers. "Why are you here?" He asks, genuinely confused.

"Well I-"

"Before you answer that, I want to know what happened between you and Luke last night." He says this sternly, probably meaning that Luke has been acting strange since then.

"How is he?" I ask, suddenly I'm genuinely concerned for his well-being.

"Usually I'm the first person he talks to about you but now he's not even speaking. I mean usually when he's "in love" with a girl he talks to me no matter what happened but ever since last night he hasn't spoken."

"He wasn't eating this morning either." I take a seat and pull it up so I'm right in front of his desk.

"Damn. You have the boy wrapped around your finger." He chuckles softly and continues with his work.

"I didn't ask for him to fall in love with me."

"And I'm sure you didn't ask to fall in love with him also." He retorts.

My face goes beet red at his comment. "I'm not in love with him."

"Sure your not. I'm sure it's perfectly explainable why your face turned red at the mention of you being in love with him." He laughs at my reaction.
I huff and get up to leave. "You don't have to leave I was only joking. Just tell me what happened." His face is dead serious now, this makes me wonder how close these two are.

I roll my eyes and take my seat, "Last night I made him jealous and he tried to mark me." I pull down the bandage for effect and his eyes widen.

"Without your consent?" He asks quietly and I nod. He runs a hand through his hair and leans back in his chair. I stand up and look in a mirror that is nearby his desk. I can see the hickey he left from last night. My eyes find the bite mark, and it definitely looks unfinished.

"What should I do?" I ask him with a sigh. I poke at my bite but it doesn't sting. Actually it gives me nice feelings, one of them is a sense of belonging. I belong to Black Snow Pack and I belong to Luke, the beta.

"You know we need him. You know we love him. Just let him claim us. It won't be like-" I cut her off right there. I don't want to hear his name.

"The way you're contemplating whether or not you should be with him is stupid. Though what he did was out of line I think you guys really love each other. If you want I can talk to him later." He offers and I'm grateful to have spoken to him.

"No, thanks. I'll go talk to him myself." I smile at him and for the first time in days I'm happy.
* * * * *
By dinnertime I know I'm going to chicken out. My students made fun of me after seeing my mark. They're going to have hell to pay tomorrow. I go downstairs to see everyone gathered at the table. I silently thanked god for making this pack not as big as Silent Moon.

There are a few empty seats but I look for Luke and I spot him, talking to another girl of course. There's is one empty seat next to him (which is next to the head of the table) and I take it before anyone else can.

I sit silently for a while but Luke doesn't even glance in my direction. I'm starting to think this is a bad idea. I begin to look around for Claire and I spot her. I wave at her and she beckons for me to sit next to her. I need her right now.

As I get up to leave suddenly Luke puts his hand on my thigh. "Stay." He says firmly, he squeezes my thigh and pulls me down softly. His touch is gentle and cautious.

I sneak a glance at Claire who looks confused. Something registers in her and she immediately looks away, her face is a deep shade of red. I look back at Luke who looks as if he's contemplating something. He leans in closer and says, "Will you stay?" His mouth is only a few inches from mine and his hand slowly moving up my thigh.

Before I can answer a few people whistle drawing my attention away from him. Alpha walks in hand in hand with Loraine. They look so happy together.

Butterflies are gathering in my stomach and I think Luke feels it too because he squeezes my thigh. "We don't have to be together but I'm here for you." He whispers this softly into my ear and kisses my cheek tenderly.

"But I want to be together!" My wolf cries from inside. Even I can tell Luke is trying to convince himself more than I. Alpha starts talking about some banquet that's coming up in a few months but I don't pay attention.
I can feel Luke staring at my mark with guilt. Without looking at him I put a hand over his and interlock our fingers. They stay like that for the rest of dinner.
* * * * *
He won't let go of my hand. He drags me everywhere he goes, except the bathroom I'd break his hand before he'd drag me in there with him.

I haven't seen Claire since dinner and I feel bad. Luke senses my discontent and pulls me aside. "What's wrong Karina?"

"It's just that Claire-"

"Oh right. I think I stopped you from sitting next to her. You can go but we have things to..." He pauses to put a hand on my cheek, slowly moving it down to my mark lingering and then sighing heavily. "...talk about."

He kisses my cheek and walks out without another word.