The Big Bad Beast (bxb)

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Thanks, But No Thanks

Red P.O.V

The awkwardness that filled the room didn't leave with the alpha and the other older male. In fact, it only seemed to intensify the longer the four of us remained in the office. With Grace long gone, the need to be in the office diminished, but no one moved, no one spoke. I didn't want to be the one to speak first, and my brothers didn't either. Welfen seemed lost in his own world, distracted with whatever was on his mind.

Ignoring the awkwardness of the situation, Mitchell spoke up. The thing he asked, though, didn't seem to please Welfen. It seemed to make him look sad, if not angry, but only at Mitchell. "Are we free to leave now?" Mitchell asked politely, a hint of sarcasm in his tone, looking at Welfen with a slightly challenging glance. Welfen looked at Mitchell, his eyes focusing on him, on the room, snapping him out of his mind. Welfen glanced down at me, his eyes questioning slightly. Did he think I'd want to stay in this mansion? I understand that we are mates, but that doesn't mean we are going to jump into . . . whatever this is! I lowered my eyes from his gaze, not wanting to look him in the eyes when I confirmed that I wanted to return to the foster home. That foster home might not be the safest, most comfortable place, but it was definitely home.

I snuggled closer to Mitchell, using his body as support, as a comforting system. I knew that Welfen wouldn't like what I said, which made it even harder. Some part of me didn't want to see Welfen upset, see him hurt. Perhaps it was a part of the mating call that I knew would begin kicking in. I would feel a pull towards Welfen, one that I eventually wouldn't be able to ignore.

Would I even want to ignore it?

"I would like to be able to go home," I whispered quietly, knowing that everyone was able to hear my quietly muttered words. I didn't look up to see Welfen's face, but I could sense his eyes on the side of my head. Silence filled the room for mere seconds before Welfen pushed the temporary chair backward, standing quickly, looking around with a distraught expression, looking for something to focus on.

"If that is what you want, I'll get a few wolves to escor-"

"It won't be necessary," Mitchell interrupted him, sending him a single glare. "I think we are more than capable of protecting our brother, should the scenario present itself," Mitchell said, gesturing slightly for Brynn to stand up from his chair. Brynn glanced between Mitchell and Welfen, sensing the feud developing between the two. Although both were looking out for me, their pride was going to get in the way. I hope one day that they'll both look past there silly pride and realize that they should just be friends instead of declaring war without knowing the enemy.

"It isn't me questioning your defense, it's me being concerned for the safety of my mate, and I would be more reassured to know that multiple people were protecting him," Welfen defended his cause, which made a warmth develop in the pit of my stomach. It was nice to know that he was concerned about my safety. "More eyes the better," Welfen reasoned, looking at Mitchell, hoping that he understood what he was proposing. With the way Mitchell's arms wrapped around me tighter, he heard his words but didn't agree. A part of me wanted him to agree with Welfen, but I knew he wasn't going to.

"And I told you it won't be necessary," Mitchell said, walking out of the room, his words tense. I peeked my head over his shoulder to send a final glance towards Welfen, trying to ignore the almost hurt look surfacing on his face.

"See you at school?" I asked, which made him perk up, nodding drastically. Even though we learn in two different buildings and would probably never have to run into each other . . . I have a feeling Welfen's going to ensure that we see each other a whole lot more often.

"Most definitely," Welfen agreed, looking ready to chase after us as we made a bigger gap between the two of us. It almost physically hurt, and I couldn't figure out why. The growing distance made my body feel colder, timider. I didn't like it, but it was mainly because I didn't know why it was happening. "I'll see you at school," Welfen cried out right before Mitchell turned a corner, discontinuing my view of the future alpha-wolf.

Brynn rolled his eyes, looking at me like I was ignorant, but I didn't understand why. He shook his head, walking ahead of Mitchell, looking more than ready to get out of this mansion. I couldn't say I blame him though, we've really overstayed our welcome, although Welfen would probably say otherwise.

I shook the thought away. Mate or not, I needed to stop thinking about him as much as I was beginning too. It couldn't be healthy to think about someone as often as I was about Welfen. I need to cut it in the bud now before my head was consumed with nothing but Welfen. That already sounds like a curse.

But it was destined to happen. We were mates, a goddess decided that we were meant to be together. I never stopped to think about it, but what did it necessarily mean? Were we going to be romantic partners? Soul-mates? Or was it going to be an unbreakable friendly bond? Considering they were werewolves, I bet it was the whole soul-mate, romantic life-partner thing.

Was it what Welfen wanted? Truly wanted? To be bound to someone he knew very little about instead of searching the world for someone to fall for? Was it what I wanted? I never once in my youth imagined being bound into a mating scenario with a werewolf, and yet, that was the situation at hand. I could always say no, reject the entire thing. A pain spawned in my stomach, making the thought disappear. No, the rejection wasn't an option, at least, not anymore.

Was it ever?

It didn't matter now, I could deal with it at school, whenever I returned. At least we weren't in the mansion any longer. In a flash of speed, my brothers ran away from the werewolf territory. A single howl followed suit before we were too far away to hear it anymore.

Somehow, I knew it was Welfen.