When they touch me (Shelagh Milano)

Chapter 59 ARTEMISIA

The next few days, I submerged myself in preparations for the big ball and the work with the pups.

Even if my mates are back to avoiding me most of the time, I still have some cute encounters with Logan or Matthew from time to time when they get to catch me alone, which helps me through these chaotic days in a good mood.

Fynn, as usual, is totally detached, but Drake speaks to me regularly. I remember Fynn telling me that his wolf has no patience, but, on top of that, I now discovered that he is quite funny.

It is amazing having him keep me company in my mind as he keeps Cassy in check, and I finally get the feeling of having a supportive wolf back.

What preoccupies me the most is Cayden's demeanour. Since our encounter in the hallways of the arcade rooms, he has acted increasingly grumpy towards me and ignores me where he can. I had been trying to get him alone, and talk it out, but he was always too busy for me.

It nearly seems like he can't stand me anymore as he keeps barking at me, and more than just talking about work or the pack, he doesn't talk to me at all.

"Babes, why are you making that face?" Lisa asks me as she stands beneath the scaffold I'm standing on.

I scoff, passing another few strokes of my brush. "Ah, I'm just in thought!"

"What are you doing, by the way?" She laughs, climbing up to stand next to me.

Lifting my brow at her, I simply answer, "I'm painting the wall."

"I can see that," she says matter-of-factly. "But why?"

"Don't tell Alberta, but I had nothing else to do, and they needed someone to do it," I say in a hushed tone.

Shaking her head, she crosses her arms amused. "You are so crazy."

"I just need to keep a few things out of my head," I chuckle as I restart painting again. "What are you up to?"

She shrugs, "I had nothing to do, so I thought about looking for you."

"You are cute," I say, and she turns to me, crossing her arms.

"I don't know, Missy. I really think you should watch what you do around here. People will take it for granted. Logan said you are a doctor. Is that true?" Again with Logan.

Keeping myself from rolling my eyes, I just continue painting. "Yes, I am. I studied it and worked as a doctor in my old pack."

"What are you doing here, then?" Lisa looks at me agape, making me face her.

But before I can answer, I get interrupted by an annoyed growl, "She wants to get the Luna position."

"Shut up, Fynn!" I shout, leaning onto the railings of the scaffold. "Stop spreading those idiotic rumours!"

A murmur vibrates through the air, and Lisa gasps. "Oh, my! That's something."

Clicking my tongue, I see Fynn carrying materials for the ongoing construction into the building.

'We are helping out as well, mate,' Drake answers my silent question, and I smile as he sounds so happy. 'An Omega told us you were here.'

Just a pity he is paired with an idiot.

'You are lovely, Drake. Thank you,' Lisa must be thinking that I'm an idiot as I must certainly look like one.

"Babes, so... Is Fynn this angry because you are having a thing with Cayden?" Lisa asks, making me nearly fall off the scaffold.

Drake's growl ripples through me, making me want to rip her head off only because of the anger he transmitts with it. "What?! No! I don't have a thing with Cayden! Fynn is just being an idiot."

I clear my throat, lowering my voice as I turn back around to paint, blushing at the fact that there must be a ton of people who are able to hear us.

Werewolf hearing is already enhanced and on this stupid scaffold, it must resound even better, like on a private stage.

"Duh, I totally get you. I mean, Cayden is a hottie, but I wouldn't exchange his brothers for him either. Especially as Logan is one of them." She snorts, and I let my arm slump. Really, again?!

"Was there something between you and Logan?" I ask her worriedly, but she laughs awkwardly, earning us another few curious looks.

"No! Noo! Are you kidding? He is just

my best friend, and my father trained him as beta, so we just spent a lot of time together," she moves her hand dismissively. "That would be so strange. Yuk, couldn't imagine being with him that way."

I smile at her, gulping. "Then I'm glad. I really like you, and would hate to see you hurt."

Even if her words should make me calm down, the way she says them, and her laugh paired with how she moves as she says them, make me doubt that they are honest.

But I shake my head, dismissing the thought, thinking that I will address it with Logan in a quiet moment.

'Scum and cheaters. You just are attracting all of it, aren't you?' Cassy groans condescendingly.

'Well, your honey boo, Rick, was the cheater. I'm sure that none of my mates now are,' I retort annoyed and I feel her steer to get back at me but just as she is about to do it, another growl resounds in my head. 'Shut up! Logan doesn't cheat. None of us would cheat on mate.'

I chuckle to myself while Cassy scoffs, retreating into the back of my head.

'Thank you, Drake,' I say, making him purr happily.

"So, what's it now, doc?" Lisa asks, tearing me away from the conversation in my head.

"Dr. Davies offered me a position in the pack hospital, but I asked him for a bit of time to think about it. I think I will take up the offer but I want to be useful to the pack first, get to know as many people as possible, and help as much as I can." I tell her and ignore another stupid remark from her.

As I listen to her speaking, I make the stupid mistake of getting distracted by a movement in the corner of my eye and I look to the entrance of the venue, seeing Fynn walk out of it.

He is just passing his hand through his hair, flexing his muscles in a delectable way unconsciously. I get dragged into a state of trance, making Lisa's voice sound like a constant hum as it passes into the background.

I can understand that she gushes

over Logan as he is gorgeous, but I

think it's strange that she is so set on him as Fynn is bulkier, he is taller, his strong shoulders wider, and his perfectly trained legs make his pants look like they are to burst any minute.

Drake chuckles in my head, and I jump as Lisa clicks her fingers in front of my face. "Missy! Are you listening to me?"

"Sure, yeah. Fine for me," I stutter, blinking repeatedly.

She smiles, clapping her hands excitedly, "Awesome! I can't wait."

As she squeals, I panic.

Oh my Goddess, what did I agree to?

'Why can't you never listen?' Cassy scoffs but Drake laughs.

'No worries, mate. She just asked you to go to the ball with her.'

'Oh, thanks Goddess,' I breathe out relieved, and concentrate back on Lisa.

"Well, that's all I wanted. See you at dinner, luv," she blows me a kiss. "Ah, and good luck with the Luna plan. Take my advice and think about it again as you could actually have a good chance at it."

Before she can get off the scaffold, I grab her arm, making her look at me confused. "Wait. What did you mean by that?"

"Nothing. Sorry, I just wanted to be funny," she shrugs, snickering.

"No, wait. Daisy already made a comment like that. There has to be something no one is telling me. What is it?" I ask distraught.

Her face morphs into a worried expression and she opens her mouth several times just to close it back again and finally gets saved by the idiot. "Don't push it, princess. That is a pack matter, nothing some outsider should know." "Stop insulting me. I'm a member of this pack," I stump my foot idiotically, as I turn to look down at him.

Now it really looks like some stage.

Like stupid Romeo having the audacity to insult Juliet on her own balcony.

"Ha," he pushes out mockingly. "Mind link Lisa then."

Gripping the steel railing of the scaffold, I growl, but before I can retort something, he beats me to it, laughing mockingly. "See?! Don't show off until some poor soul has to mark you."

With a groan, I detach a steel bar from the scaffold and throw it at him. Naturally, he dodges it easily, laughing like the entitled asshole he is.

"Don't listen to him," Lisa says as he walks away with a few warriors who look up at me with a grin, enraging me even more. "You have Logan. He is better anyway."

"For goodness' sake, Lisa," I breathe out. "Just tell me what it is."