Claimed

Chapter 12: Enigma

Red's POV:

The only people I'd been around in the last several years were my pack, and they really only came along later. For the longest time, it was only Darius, Ezra, Levi, Noah and me. And a lot of that time was spent as wolves who couldn't link. Socializing didn't really happen, so I knew I was out of practice talking to people.

I did not, however, realize how fucking out of practice I was, but it came pretty apparent when I found out Ben wasn't gay. It made me question just about every interaction we'd had. I was so... Relaxed around him because I figured there was no way in hell I could give a mixed signal or he could, we could just be normal. I shouldn't have assumed, but Goddess, he didn't even bat an eye at any of the many girls who approached him since arrived. Uninterested wasn't even a strong enough word. Except I probably should've realized that if girls in his own pack were hitting on him, it's because they knew something I didn't.

Lesson learned. I would've liked to learn it different, but here I was. Will I ever remember how to interact with people normally again?

I wanted to talk to Ben, but not really in front of everyone and that was my only choice until I remembered I had a phone. Ben put his number in when he was helping me learn how to use it, so I pulled up his number while we drove back to their pack.

Me: I'm SO sorry about earlier... I shouldn't have assumed

I sat in the backseat, my leg bouncing up and down. Ben checked his phone from the passenger seat and started typing into it. I glanced down at my phone, seeing the little bubbles he told me meant someone was responding.

Benedict: It's okay, apparently I give off gay vibes because most of your guys also thought I was gay. Let's do the same thing we did last time. Fresh start?

I snorted and responded.

Me: Again? Does that mean we erase all the bonding we've already done?

Benedict: No, just the awkward parts

Me: Deal

Ben glanced back at me and offered a smile, but he was totally blushing. He faced forward and I sunk back in my seat, drumming my fingers against my phone. Now that I knew he wasn't gay... Was it weird we were training alone in the middle of the night together every night? Did he have a girlfriend and that's why he didn't look at anyone else? I didn't see him hanging around anyone like that and I also never smelled anyone else on him. He just always smelled like himself... Really nice.

"Tess wants us to stop at the grocery store," Ben informed Hunter. "She apparently wants to have a sundae night but there's not enough ice cream."

"Sundae night?" Hunter frowned. "Fuck, she only does that when she has bad news."

"Bad news?" Darius repeated, leaning forward.

"It's probably nothing serious," Ben said.

Darius gave me a look and I shrugged. I wasn't sure what they considered serious in this pack. We were still getting to know each other.

Hunter pulled off the highway and we walked into the grocery story. It was my first time going in one without the purpose of stealing to feed my pack in a long time.

Ben gave my guys a field day when he told them to all pick out their favorite snack. They all split up around the store but I stayed near Ben. It was weird, but I would've done it before our dressing room incident and if he was honestly just going to be cool with me, I'd take it.

"You don't want a snack?" Ben asked while we walked down the frozen foods aisle.

"I'm good."

Ben frowned but didn't push it, just opened the freezer doors and started grabbing ice cream. "Can I ask you something?"