Dave waved a hand. “Hey, he's Beta. I have to, and he's calmer than you are half the time. But do you honestly think she could plan anything? She didn't know this was happening.”
Or had she? She was friends with Katie, so who says she didn't do something to the machine to spit her name out?
Dave crossed his arms. “I can see in your eyes you're spiraling.”
“Quit talking to my brother,” I snapped. “And I'm fine.”
“You don't look fine to me.”
I leaned onto my pool cue and glared at Dave. “And why is that?”
“Because you're letting your past blur your present.”
“You sound like Kerr.”
“Those were his words, but he wasn't wrong.”
“Did he ask you to talk to me?”
Dave nodded. “I thought he was being dramatic, but it doesn't look like it.”
I knew why Kerr told Dave. Dave and I were both raised to be Alphas. Unlike Kerr, he had high hopes. It wasn't until he met his wife that he decided he didn't want the role. But he understood every angle when it came to it.
“I didn't come here to be lectured.”
Dave shrugged, hitting another ball. “I'm not lecturing you. I'm just pointing out the facts. And the fact is, you are married whether you like it or not. And the fact is, the pack needs that. It also needs you to have a child to take over your spot. And I don't think pissing your wife off is a step in the right direction.”
I looked back at Nina's spot and frowned, seeing it was empty. Her brownie was still sitting in her spot, untouched. She cleared out quickly.
Why hasn't she come over? I would have expected her to say something. I had thought she would have gotten mad or at least glared at me from across the space. It's what anyone else would have done.
I quickly searched the bar, finding no trace of her, which told me she had run. I ground my teeth together.
“You wanna start the next game?” Dustin said, pointing towards the table.
I nodded and pulled my pool cue up and hit the balls. I don't even watch the ball move this time. My eyes flicked over towards the door.
I sighed and put my stick down. I needed to talk with her. “I'll be right back.”
I headed towards the door and quickly surveyed the sidewalk, finding no trace of her still. I started down the sidewalk and growled. Why the hell was I even looking for her? Our relationship was fake, and we didn't even talk to each other. Wasn't it better this way?
My brother's voice spoke in my head. You have to at least try.
My wolf agreed, which only ticked me off more. I hated that everyone seemed to want me to give her a chance.
I paused when I heard voices and laughter. My hands curled into fists, and I thought of her laughing and having a good time while I was just frustrated. Did she think this was all a game?
I stopped walking as I got to the corner and paused.
“You know, Nina, no matter what pack you're in, everyone knows the truth. You're just a loser. Even your husband thinks so.”
My body stiffened at those words, and I felt them sink in. Who was she with? And why were they speaking to her like that?
“You speak the same way,”my wolf growled.“You degrade her just as much.”
I frowned, knowing my wolf was right. I hadn't treated her any better than they were talking to her.
“You're just trash at the end of the day. A body that's dragging everyone down. If you truly wanted to be useful, you'd disappear.”
