Story Idea #6

Chapter Two Cont.

Arriving back at the pack house Arabella wanted nothing more than to curl up in her bed and never return, especially when Oliver disappeared immediately after helping the other girls take their clothes inside, and Christy left to deliver Jacqueline to her mate like a meal on a silver platter. Sadly though, just at that moment the pack's Gamma decided to show up and remind Arabella of her private training, something that Arabella refused to miss, no matter how melancholy she might be feeling.

"I'll be there in just a minute" Arabella remarked, "I just have to take these bags to the barracks where I'm staying, where do you want to meet?"

Jason looked at her skeptically before replying, " I can help you with those bags, besides, I doubt you would be able to find the meeting place even if I did pick one. If you don't mind my asking, why are you staying in the barracks instead of the pack house?"

Arabella handed the Gamma a few bags and began the hike to her current residence before responding, "You're right, I've been out shopping all day and probably couldn't find anything. As for that, when I first got here Oliver offered to let me stay in the barracks because it seemed like everyone sort of forgot I was staying here, I haven't really considered moving into the pack house. Besides, I don't think I'll be making friends with the pack members any time soon."

The Gamma offered Arabella a pitiful look, but somehow it didn't bother her in the same way that same look made her blood boil when other people did the same thing. The pair walked in a comfortable silence until they arrived at the barracks and Arabella opened the door to the room that she was staying and Jason set down the bags he was carrying, smirking in the doorway before he said, " So by 'the barracks' you actually mean that you're rooming with the top warrior?"

Arabella set down her bags on the floor next to her bed and turned to Jason, responding, "I am rooming with Oliver, but it's not like that, I could hardly even call us acquaintances. He's more like my designated pain in the rear."

Jason's eyes lit up as they left the barracks and he replied, " I'm not so sure that he would agree with you, Oliver seems rather smitten."

Arabella scoffed and rolled her eyes before answering, " Oh, you mean the pet names? That's just him acting like there's something between us, I guarantee you, it means nothing except that if the pack ever disbands he would be able to find work among the humans as an actor."

Arabella laughed to herself for a moment at the idea of seeing Oliver on Broadway, he would play the part of Justin from 21 Chump Street perfectly, he had the hopeless romantic part down perfectly. But her soft snickers stopped at the knowing look in the Gamma's eyes, and she pondered his next words all the way up until they arrived at the area where they would be training. "I meant that glimmer in his eyes. Whenever he looks at you, it's like you're the only thing he sees. And before you deny it, I may not look it, " He began, gesturing toward his wrinkled and clearly aged body, " But I have been in this pack far longer than you might imagine. That look is the same thing that I used to see in my mate's eyes. I don't mean to imply that he's your mate, I think that even as a human you would have been able to feel it. Honestly, the pet names just prove that he definitely has a major crush on you."

This little speech puzzled Arabella, and she couldn't help the multitude of questions that immediately popped into her mind. Did everyone else see this 'glimmer'? When the Gamma said "The way my mate used to look" what happened to his mate? Did Oliver really have these feelings for her? What about his mate? It was possible that she didn't have a mate, but Oliver surely had one out there somewhere, did he forget about her? And wasn't the Gamma supposed to be telling her to let him down gently? Or to remind him of his mate? The Gamma had made several astute observations and drawn a few conclusions, but hadn't said anything to influence her opinion or actions. Arabella couldn't help but compare that if Jacqueline had said something similar it surely would have included pressuring to 'go after him' or something, even if Arabella insisted that she didn't like him. With a newfound respect for the friendly old Gamma Arabella prepared to train.