Rogue Wolf

Ch 34 chopsticks

Max and I approached the snack bar area the same time as Alpha did with his few guards. He was holding a couple bags from the same Chinese restaurant I had been to.

I could feel the tension. There was a brief standoff between Alpha and my Max. Alpha moved first, giving my Max a slight nod.

"It didn't look like your Scout had bought enough for everyone, so I brought more." Alpha stood there, holding his bags up in a mockery of my earlier gesture to him. "He did get your permission to invite us into your territory?"

Alpha left the question hanging, a taunt for my Max. I decided to push my luck and new status as Beta by speaking up before Max said something that would make both him and I lose face in front of the pack.

"The pack is family," I said with at glance toward Max. I kept looking between the two leaders. "You don't always get along with family, but that doesn't change who they are to you."

My Max gave me a slight nod, and I tried to hide my sigh of relief. The anger that had taken hold of him when I told him about Alpha seemed to dissipate. I turned back to Alpha.

"You're family, Alpha," I said, unable to stop my slight trembling even as I looked him in the eye, "and my Alpha Maximus has commanded me to do what is necessary to protect our pack. That means working this out with you. It isn't good to have our pack divided and fighting among ourselves, so I figured dinner together was a good place to start."

It sounded good, I hoped, trying to hide my nervousness. My impulsive invitation might still be my undoing if Alpha decided it was an invitation to take over.

"Are we fighting then? Is that what we have been doing?"

Alpha's voice was low and dangerous. He tilted his head a little, focusing on my neck where he marked me. He seemed to be doing everything he could to antagonize my Max. He probably wanted us to fight! He would end up really destroying us if we didn't get some sort of handle on him. The restless fearful movements of the omegas gave me an idea.

"Not yet, and I don't want it to escalate to that point. I don't like watching our omegas look like they've somehow won that old battle when they watch the slight bickering that's been happening with the guards."

Alpha glanced toward the cowering omegas, whose spike in fear made it look like there was truth to my statement; and who knows, maybe there was.

"Our Scout is right," Max interjected. "My Beta is showing the wisdom of his rank. Come, we will enjoy this meal together, like we once used to."

Our Scout, my Max said. And yet, my Beta. Somehow I would have to work this out. I honestly didn't know if I could. I couldn't stomach sitting with Alpha, despite my words. I piled my plate high after Alpha and Max got theirs. I gave my Max a smile and a deep head bow that could be interpreted as being for both of them.

I headed over to where Michael was standing with his head down at the end of the line, waiting to get his food. I motioned with my head and Michael followed me over to the side, settling himself down on the floor. I know Max stopped whatever Alpha was going to say as I sat down cross-legged next to Michael. I slid Michael a plastic fork, which he took kinda hesitantly.

"Unless you prefer the chopsticks?" I offered.

"I have no idea how to use them," Michael muttered.

"I was determined to learn. I've gotten pretty good at it. Mister Chen gave me some pointers."

"Mister Chen?" Alpha asked, sliding his food to the side and starting to stand.

Blasé, I told myself, not derisive. My voice still came out slightly amused.

"He's got one of the better Chinese restaurants on this side of town. I told you, I grew up here, been running these streets for years. I used to make deliveries for him for a bit of extra cash and free food. Getting in good with restaurant owners is a sure-fire way to stay fed. My mom was too doped up sometimes to remember groceries."

No one said anything as I went to town with the chopsticks from the side of the plate, sliding rice onto a strip of beef, rolling it up, holding it between the sticks and biting the end. Food wasn't the only thing I delivered for the old Chinaman. He was the one who started me dealing marijuana.

When Michael didn't dig in, I pushed over half of the food over, making a visible line down the middle of the plate. With a nervous glance toward Alpha and Max, Michael finally started eating.

Alpha eased back into his seat, not willing to look out of control.

"You'll have to tell me later about eating with sticks" said Max with a bemused smile. I smiled back at him, lowering my eyes shyly for a moment, happy to see him relaxed and in control.

"I've been thinking," Max said as he turned back to Alpha, "and watching the two of them together just confirms it. A beta deserves his own omega. Michael's status should be finalized as an omega."

"I thought you didn't want him bitten," Alpha growled, clearly unhappy.

"He's been working every day as an omega. He's part of our pack, one way or another," declared Max.

I kept my head up, gazing steadily at Alpha even as Michael lowered his head. Sitting this close to him, it was easy to smell the rage simmering in Michael.

Alpha only grunted and turned back to his food.

"Perhaps we can discuss it tonight?" my Max said to Alpha, making it less of a question and more of a suggestion laced with command.

I caught the look on Alpha's face as he nodded. It was the same look I'd had on my face earlier when I was in such desperate need of my Max. Somehow I had a feeling the two of them weren't going to stop at simply touching and tasting. If it came down to a dominating match, I hoped my Max came out on top.