The Lonely Rogue

Chapter 29 Junie

There really was no recovering from the moment Caspian and I shared earlier. Any ounce of casual conversion was gone and the silence wrapped around us like a heavy, wool blanket. I had to drag Viv out of her room just to break up the tension.

The day crept along until I finally threw myself down the steps and into the bar, an hour earlier than normal. Thankfully, Cole and Jett came around then and the extra company helped to defuse the situation.

"What happened today?" Cole chuckled, leaning across the bar to mock me.

"Nothing." I grumbled.

"I haven't seen Caspian this on edge in a while." Cole continued to hound me.

"We were just hashing out some apologies, that's all." I shrugged.

"Oh, that makes sense. Caspian doesn't do apologies very well." Cole nodded studiously and I rolled my eyes at his sarcastic remark.

"Junebug." Vivan whined as she clung to my arm, her gaze locked on Jett.

"What is it now, Vivian?" I sighed. She had been a mess since Jett arrived.

"He keeps staring at me." She whispered loudly.

"Here's a thought, go say hi." I detangled her from my arm and motioned across the empty bar.

Jett and Caspian were clearly hiding from us on the other side of the room, with their heads ducked down in a private conversation. It was still early, so no one else was here and we had the place to ourselves.

"I don't wanna." Vivian pouts.

I was beginning to feel frustrated. Frustrated by my inability to communicate well enough with Caspian, frustrated by the fact that I have to deal with Vivian's human needs and her mate bond with Jett on top of all of my issues. Frustrated by everything. I grumbled loudly and threw the dish rag I was holding angrily down on the bar.

"Alright." I snapped, storming across the bar and squaring up to Jett, "You need to man up and stop eye fucking Vivian from across the room. I've had just about enough." I snarled.

Jett was fuming as he glared at me, standing up from his chair and towering over me. Caspian stood at the same time and, almost on instinct, moved around Jett to stand next to me protectively.

"Excuse me?" Jett's jaw twitched. I could practically feel Caspian gearing up for a fight beside me.

"You heard me. Viv is a human, she's new to all of this and you're treating her like a plaything. Either accept her and be a decent mate or reject her and let us all move on." I refused to back down from Jett or allow Caspian to squash me.

For once in his miserable life, Jett was silent. Slow clapping came from behind us and, of course, it was Cole.

"That was the best thing I've heard in my entire life." Cole cheered.

Jett was just staring at me with a blank expression, unmoving and not reacting to any of Cole's idiotic jokes. Caspian hadn't moved from my side and Viv was hiding somewhere behind the bar. Suddenly, Jett's face seemed to come to life with a new, determined spark in his eyes. He walked around us and towards the bar, all of our eyes glued to him the entire time.

"Vivian?" Jett said, catching her attention. Viv froze, her face as white as snow.

"Y...yes?" She stammered.

"I would like to stop treating you as a plaything and accept you as my mate." He shocked us all by saying.

Viv gasped, Cole looked like he was about to piss himself, Caspian had a stone cold expression, and I felt smug for making him speak up in the first place.