Of Runt (Redone)

Chapter Thirty

   The sound of the door shutting has me sitting up. I rub at my eyes, I must've fallen asleep sometime after Vic left."Were you waiting up for me?" Archer asks raising a brow. A sort of anger rushes through me as he starts to smile so I toss the blanket off me.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" I retort heading directly into the kitchen without sparing him a second glance.

I hear him scoff as he he follows after me. I busy myself with putting a kettle on the stove. He leans on the counter beside me, his arms crossing over his chest as if he should be upset. "Shouldn't you be?" I push.

He takes a deep inhale before sliding a box over to me. It full of tea packets David taught me how to make. However Archers arms go right back across his chest. His normally tan skin is still a few shades pale but I'm not sure if it's the paleness or an indication of his frustration that his glowing amber eyes seem even brighter. No matter how bright they glow they cannot hide the dark circles under them. 

"Someone got into my pack without being detected, tried to murder my brother, and escaped. Not to mention my best tracker couldn't pick up a scent. I don't get the luxury of rest."

  I bite down on the inside of my cheek using that pain to hold back my anger. Something I've come to realize is that Archer thinks too highly of me, puts too much faith in me. Just because I couldn't pick anything up doesn't mean anyone else could. I am a Runt after all, it doesn't matter I'm supposed to be a Luna. I am still currently a Runt. "You put too much faith in my tracking abilities. I could have missed something, it was a crazy moment."

His next words sound a tad irritated which seems to rile my wolf up more. "I had all the other trackers scavenging the woods and no one else found anything." Why didn't he ask me to come? If all the trackers were involved then I should have been too. Before I get the chance to say anything he lets out a heavy sigh. "Which brings me to me being grateful you stayed here like I asked Vic to tell you."

I turn my body completely toward him. My eyes narrowed at him but he refuses to meet my gaze. "I could've helped."

"You did your job, you brought me back."

This time I scoff and turn back towards the stove. I'm not sure why I was trying to get him to look at me, the moment he does it'll crumble all my resolve. "You have too much faith in my magic now too. I'm not confident in my work, especially something I've only ever watched David do. If I had messed up one ingredient-" I cut myself off, my voice cracking and the feeling of tears threatening to spill. The whistle of the kettle has me pulling it off the stove and into two cups. "You could've died. I mean more than just your heart stopping for a few moments. You would be in the packhouse as your mother prepares your body for the council. You-"

"I don't regret saving my brother."

"I'm not saying you should. I'm saying you should take a moment to rest because despite you being an alpha you still have your limits! That for the moment your body is fragile and overwhelming yourself will not help anyone."

"What would you like for me to do? I still have responsibilities to attend to."

  The air feels tight around me but yet I feel exposed. It's like I'm the prey in the open with nowhere to go. Forgetting about the tea on the marble countertop I move past him and head outside. My emotions are bubbling just like the kettle did. Instead of whistling steam it's silent tears. I can't find the right words to express myself, I feel like I'm drowning in the hot water of my emotions.

  The entire time he was gone, the entire time I worked to make that cure I was shoving my emotions to the side. That is what I'm best at. Pretending my emotions don't matter, that they simply are a distraction from my work. Now, now I can't control them. They are threatening to break free from their cages with every tear that slips out.