Arise

I ran past the crowd of people and into the pack house. I threw my jacket over me and opened the door to the one place I knew CeCe would go: the daycare.

I knocked before opening the door. I half-expected CeCe to be in the corner crying, but she was pacing back and forth.

"He had one damn job. I only ever ask for this one thing every time he sees my parents."

I looked over to Val but she only shrugged at me.

"Are you okay?" I asked taking the corner next to the window.

"No. My mate is a dumb ass."

This was not the way I expected this conversation to go.

"CeCe," Val said, waiting for CeCe to look at her. "Why didn't you tell us the truth."

"It's her business, Val."

She shook her head. "Really, Rosetta?"

I knew to shut my mouth then.

CeCe sighed before taking a seat on the floor, ducking her head. "I didn't want anyone to know he did it to me. It was an accident. We were in a fight--I don't even remember what for--and we just started throwing things in half-shifts. I got in his face and he did the only thing he could, except his claws didn't retract in time." A tear slid down her face as she sniffled.

"When was this?"

"About a week into living with him."

It all made sense now. Val spoke my thoughts out loud. "That's why you moved into the pack house."

"I didn't leave because I was scared. He told me to leave--said he didn't want to hurt me again." Her voice began to break. "I didn't want anyone to know because I didn't want Caleb to force him out of the pack. I was trying to protect him."

I walked over to CeCe, sitting down beside her and rubbed her back. "Why?"

"Because people do stupid things when they're in love."

Val walked over to the sink and filled a cup with water. Walking over to us, she handed the cup to CeCe and sat down in front of her. She place her hands on CeCe's knees. "Are you sure it was an accident."

She nodded her head vigorously. "He wouldn't hurt me."

I was skeptical too. "Then why does he push you away?"

CeCe's voice was barely a whisper. "The same reason you push Logan away."

I stared are her, lips parted and eyebrows furrowed. Before I could ask her anything, CeCe screamed in frustration. She rose up and started pacing.

Val asked, "What are you going to do?"

"Punch him in the face."

She rolled her eyes. "This is serious. You can't keep going on like this."

CeCe shrugged and headed toward the sink. "I've been doing just fine."

"CeCe." CeCe had stopped paying to attention to Val until she said, "Reject him."

She froze and turned her head. "What?"

"Reject him--"

"I heard what you said. I'm not doing that."

"Why not?"

She sighed. "He's my mate, Valerie."

Val crossed her arms over her chest. "You've been doing just fine with Travis."

This was not going to end well.

"Shut up."

I started making subtle movements to the door. I needed an exit to escape the result of this argument.

"You've been lying to everyone. You Alpha and Luna, the pack, and your parents. The least you can do is stop lying to yourself."

"Screw you." Her flashed gold and fur started sprouting. She curled her lip, revealing canines and let out a snarl.

I slip myself out the door and waited for the fight to end. CeCe just needed to let her emotions go and Val was giving her the outlet.

"What is going on in there?"

I yelped and turned around, coming face-to-face with Logan and Shaw. Both of their face showed concern.

I laughed nervously, shifting my feet. "Just your average wolfish aggression." I smiled sheepishly before moving away from the door to allow them to go inside.

I peaked through their massive bodies and saw Val and CeCe on two different ends of the room. Toys surrounding them in every space possible. At least they used those instead of their fists.

"Luna?" Logan stepped past the door frame and stood between the two girls glaring at each other. "Are you alright?"

She stopped her glare war on CeCe to nod.

"Caleb needs you." It was all he said before she left.

Shaw slowly approached his mate."CeCe. . ."

She cut him a glare and snarled.

He growled in return. "We need to talk."

Logan quietly walked backed to the door where I stood against and tugged at my hand. Taking that as my cue, I shut the door behind me and then pressed my ear against it.

There was no way I wasn't going to miss out on this conversation.

"Rosetta," Logan hissed.

I waved him off and whispered, "Give me five minutes."

I pressed my ear even more to hear the muffled words better.

He shook his head in disbelief. "Give them privacy."

"I will in five minutes." I could barely hear them with Logan trying to interrupt.

He rolled his eyes and scoffed before pulling me off the door and walking me down the hall, arms over my shoulders.

I pouted. "Now I have to wait."

He turned me around to face him. Folding his arms over his chest, he said, "We need to talk too."

I raised my eyebrows. "About what?"

He looked around the hallway then tugged me behind him as he opened the door to the emergency exit stairs. He closed the door and looked at me expectantly.

It didn't take much to realize he was angry at me. "Your're mad."

"I'm angry."

"It wasn't my place to say anything."

"Safety of this pack comes first. You should've came to me the second you knew she was in danger."

I scoffed. "She's not in any danger. You weren't even hear when I found out." I was also Beta and didn't owe him a damn thing, but I kept that part to myself. "If she was in any real harm I would've told Alpha."

"He hurt her." He took a seat on the staircase and rubbed the back of his neck anxiously. He cared for CeCe deeply. Of course he didn't want to see her get hurt by the one person who wasn't supposed to hurt her.

I sighed. "I know you're worried but it was an accident. He hasn't touched her since."

He rested his head against the railing. "He said as much."

"Then why are you angry at me."

"I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at myself."

"Why?" Then it dawned on me. "Their relationship has nothing to do with us."

He gave me a blank stare. "Is there even an us?"

I looked away. "You know how I feel."

"And you know how I feel. We've been good, Rosetta."

But we hadn't had we?

"No we haven't." My lips quivered and my knees began to shake. I grabbed on to the railing to support myself.

"Did you know that I slept at Caleb and Val's place for weeks after you left. I refused to stay at your place any longer, and then I moved into the pack house. I didn't eat for days and couldn't get out of bed. I tried sleeping but it made things worse because every time I closed my eyes all I could see was you walking out. You screaming at me, calling me crazy. Lying to me even when I just wanted to help." His face blanched. He tried to speak but I spoke over him. "All I ever wanted to do was help you, but you said things and called me names that I can never forget. I can't be with you because when I look at you half the time I think about what went wrong." My chest moved in anger. "So I guess we aren't all that different from them after all."

I opened the door, walking out and slamming the door shut behind me. I was done being nice.

I was done.

At least I thought I was.

I had a few minutes to myself and made a fast exit to the house. I had made it just ten feet away when Logan spun me around to face him.

"What are you--" I yelped as he wrapped his arms around me, squeezing me tight and refusing to let go.

My arms dangled to my sides, unsure where to put them.

I felt his face nestle into my neck as he brushed his hand over my hair. His breath made the hairs on my neck lift as he spoke. "I am sorry. I don't know how many time I have to say it, but I will say it everyday for the rest of my life if it means being with you."

Heat rose to my cheeks and surrounded me.

He swiftly kissed my neck and walked straight into the house, leaving me utterly speechless.