Chapter 12 – Ironic meanings...

Lucy's POV

At lunch, I sit outside on the grass with Amy and Jess as they excitedly ask me questions about the events of yesterday. I've already explained it to them (in full detail may I add) three times, and so it's starting to get slightly boring now.

Amy and Jess have both known about Beck since the very first day I met him, although they've never actually met him in person, and they think he's absolutely awesome. They don't ask too many questions about him or my life outside of the pack, though, as they both seem to respect that it's my little getaway from the usual drama of my pack life.

"So, wait, Beck and Justin don't get along?" Jess asks, at the exact same time that Amy practically sings, "I smell jealousy..."

I roll my eyes before replying. "No, they don't exactly get along, but it is not because of jealousy." I make sure to keep my voice firm as I say this, not really wanting to get onto this subject and just hoping it'll get dropped which, of course, it doesn't.

"So why exactly don't they like each other, huh?" Amy challenges.

"Well, for starters, Beck can't stand working with other people-"

"-except you," Jess butts in smugly, but I just decide to ignore her and continue on.

"-and Justin's just Justin. He'd been in a bad mood all day, probably because he had to cancel a date or something, and so he took it out on Beck."

"Yeah, yeah," Amy replies, patting my shoulder. "You just keep on telling yourself that."

I roll my eyes again.

The idea of the two guys being jealous is just preposterous. I mean, it would imply that both of them have some kind of interest in me and that, let me tell you, is absolutely impossible.
Firstly, Beck is just a friend, and never have either of us even hinted at liking the other. There's no way that Beck sees me as anything other than the little Omega he took under his wing all those years ago; he practically thinks of me as a sister. 
And, secondly, it's ridiculous to think that Justin could possibly be interested in me. I mean, he rejected me, he's the biggest player this pack has to offer, and he sees me as nothing more than just some pathetic Omega wolf.
So, honestly, my two best friends are just insane.

"So, why exactly did you need Beck's help anyway?" Jess asks for what seems like the thousandth time, causing a sigh to escape my lips.

"You know I can't really tell you," I reply.

And it's true, whenever they've asked me about the rogue situation and what's going on, I've had to keep my answers as vague as possible. I'm under strict orders to give out as little information as possible and it's not exactly like I can go against the Alpha's orders.

"I know," she sighs. "I just hate that you have to keep secrets. You never keep secrets from us." And, again, it's true; I can't remember the last time I've had an important piece of information that I was unable to share with either of them.

"I'm sorry," I apologise sincerely, hating it just as much as they do.

We all fall silent as we sit there and I take the time to slowly look around at my surroundings. It's a pretty normal lunchtime, I guess, with nothing spectacularly special going on. It's just the same old friends hanging around in the same old places... the popular people hanging around by the school entrance and the picnic benches, with us lesser individuals having to make do with the grassy field.

As I glance over at Justin and his friends, I freeze, surprised to find that he's already watching me. He's stood with his girlfriend and Dean, with a few other friends hanging around as well, but he's completely ignoring them.

What the hell?

I give him a quick questioning glance but he immediately looks away, going to reply to something that Rachel said and I can't help but roll my eyes, knowing fully well that he'll probably be onto someone new by next week.

What an ass.

I mean, I'm not exactly a big fan of Rachel, I'm not going to lie, but it's obvious that the girl has fallen hard. And everyone, probably including herself, knows that he's only going to go ahead and break her heart. The guy seriously has no shame.

Just then, the bell goes, indicating that we have five minutes to get inside and collect our things before next class. Together, Amy, Jess and I all make our way inside, preparing ourselves for an afternoon full of work and moaning bitchy teachers.

***

When school finally ends for the day I immediately make my way towards the forest.

Amy and Jess know that I'm going to be late home and so I don't bother to wait and remind them; I just want to get away for a bit and go and see Beck. He always manages to cheer me up after a crappy day at school.
And, yes, my afternoon at school has been very crappy indeed.

To start off with, every single one of my afternoon teachers seemed to have it out for me, and that's even including the human teachers that don't usually treat me like shit. Also, I had Justin and Melissa in two of my afternoon classes and, let me tell you, listening to Melissa Gregger shamelessly flirting away with Justin is not something I enjoy. In fact, it's disgusting.
And then, to top it all off, I had some moron tracker trip me in the hallways on my way to last lesson, leaving my knees lightly bruised and my books and papers scattered all over the floor.

So, if you hadn't already guessed, I'm really not in the best of moods.

Once I reach the cover of the trees I quickly strip off my black jeans, my checked shirt and my converse before phasing. Immediately, I feel better as I feel myself relaxing into the comfort of the forest, listening to the sounds of all the little woodland creatures as they scurry around in the bushes. Then, getting a good grip on my clothes between my teeth, I set off.

It only takes me half an hour to get to the place we met up with Beck yesterday and I quickly phase back and get changed before setting off on foot, heading in the direction of the cave that he lives in.

Within twenty minutes I'm at the entrance of the cave, listening to the sound of running water coming from the nearby stream. The freezing cold stream that I've washed in all of one time and vow never to do again; it's like taking an ice bath, seriously. I have no idea how Beck does it.

"Beck, you in?" I call out, not sure whether he's back from town yet, as I look around.

I see a pair of jeans and two T-shirts hanging up in one of the nearby trees, about halfway up the tree. They're still damp, obviously hung up there to dry, and I can't help the small laugh that escapes. Beck takes absolutely no risks when it comes to his clothes, not wanting to let anybody even have the chance to steal them, which is one of the reasons for why he's such a good tree climber. He always hangs his clothes to dry in the most unreachable of places.

"Yeah, get your ass in here, Shorty!" I hear him call back from inside, and don't hesitate to do as I'm told. Beck's cave is like a second home to me, so familiar and relaxing that it's kind of like a sanctuary, and so I can't help but smile as I enter.

The entrance of the cave is quite narrow, twisting around in a small sort of curve before opening up to a wide circle of space. A space that now occupies everything that Beck owns.
There's a single-sized mattress on the far side of the cave (which is now worn and slightly dirty from over the years) that is used as Beck's bed. A small grey cooler sits just a little way away from the mattress, holding onto a few drinks (both alcoholic and none) that Beck has managed to steal over the past week or two. Shelves stand off to the right of the cave, holding onto books, a few photographs that he doesn't like talking about, and other little things that he's collected over the years. The bottom shelf is used solely for long-lasting foods, such as crisps and whatnot. I know, it's not exactly healthy, but he never really minded before I came along. However, after spending a couple of months or so with me berating him about how he's going to end up killing himself before he's thirty, he makes sure to go out and steal an apple or two a few times a week just to shut me up.
One point for me, I think.
Other than that, there are just two beanbags and an old sofa (which I'm seriously not going to go into much detail about just how he managed to get his hands on) on the left side.
And that, people, makes up Beck's cave.

"Hey," I say when I see him sat on the sofa, his nose currently stuck in a book.

"Alright, Shorty?" he replies, not taking his eyes off the page he's reading as he does so, and I can't help but roll my eyes. Who'd of thought Beck would be such a bookworm, huh? Not me when I first met him, that's for sure. He most definitely is, though, and has been for as long as I've known him.

I go over and sit next to him, waiting for him to finish the page and put the bookmark in, which he eventually does, leaving the now closed book resting on his knee.

"You okay?" he asks, studying my face closely and obviously picking up on my mood instantly. He's always had a talent for that, picking up on my mood and just working with it.

"Ugh, don't even ask," I sigh, shaking my head. "I just seriously hate school."

"You don't hate school," he disagrees with a small smile, turning his body slightly to face me. "You just hate the dickheads that are at your school."

I return his smile with an exasperated roll of my eyes, knowing that he's right. I love school, and I love learning, and we both know it. In fact, Beck's the one that actually managed to stop me from dropping out when things got too tough. You see, he never got the chance for a proper education, and he won't tell me why, but I do know that he feels like he missed out. After all, he had to teach himself to read and write which must've been pretty tough. It's one of the reasons for why he loves books so much.

"Seriously, though, how're you doing? What's new with you? I know you were holding out on me yesterday because we had company," he says, giving me that knowing look that he always seems to have when trying to get the truth from me.

"Well," I say with a sigh. "Where do I start?"

"Um, well, I believe the beginning is always a good place," he informs me, using a mock serious tone, and I quickly nudge him with my foot as a response.

"Okay," I say, spinning around on the sofa so that my back's resting against the arm as I drape my legs over his lap, making sure I don't kick the book on the floor as I do so. "Well, I suppose the first thing I should tell you is that I've found my mate. Oh, wait, I mean my predestined mate," I correct, rolling my eyes again.

Suddenly, Beck freezes, and I move my eyes from his book collection (taking note that he's added three more since I've last been here) to look at him. Some form of emotion passes through his eyes but, before I can read it, he's pushed it away again (yet another thing that Beck seems to have a talent for: hiding his emotions).

"Oh, yeah?" he asks, smirking at me. "Who?"

"You wouldn't believe me," I tell him truthfully.

"Try me."

I sigh before answering "Justin Detroit," and cringe as he freezes up for the second time in the past two minutes.

"Justin Detroit as in your ex best friend Justin Detroit, the same guy that completely crushed you?"

"Yup," I reply, popping the 'P'.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice softening as he seems to realise that this predestined mate story does not have a happy ending.

"He, uh, rejected me," I admit awkwardly, not really wanting to talk about it.

"What?!" he practically explodes, obviously fuming. "The asshole rejected you, just like that?"

"Well, yeah," I reply, slightly confused by his reaction. "But I've always known that if I ever had a predestined mate then I'd get rejected, even if it wasn't him, you know that."

For the past year leading up to my eighteenth birthday I'd been complaining to Beck about how I'd be the odd one out. All the other girls would be off searching for their perfect guy whilst I'd be stuck alone for the rest of my life... the outcast, the Omega.
That was the first time that he'd seemed one hundred percent serious about me moving in with him; he absolutely hated seeing me so upset.

He sighs and shakes his head before looking at me again. "I know," he replies. "It's just... god, you deserve so much better than this, Luce."

Okay, now that does surprise me; not only does he sound so sincere but I also can't remember the last time he actually used my name.

The nickname 'Shorty' just seemed to stick after he used it on the very first day we met, after I'd told him about how I was just the pathetic little Omega. I'd told him that I was nothing special, average in the looks department and fairly short in size, and he'd told me that being short isn't necessarily a bad thing. Being short and small gave me more stealth and speed, and stealth and speed are two very much needed attributes for someone who lives as Beck does.

I just shrug in response to his words. "It's not so bad; I've always known that no guy could possibly ever be interested in me anyway."

"Okay, that's not true," he disagrees with me immediately, looking at me as if I'm something close to an idiot when, in actual fact, he's the idiot if he thinks anything different. I mean, come on, I've got possibly the lowest ranking in the entire pack. What guy could possibly look past that?

We fall silent for a few minutes before I decide that it's time for a change of subject.

"So," I say, the change in my voice alerting him of the change of topic. "You find anything useful today?"

"Yeah, I spoke to Al," he informs me, immediately piquing my interest.

"And?"

"He wouldn't tell me much," he admits, causing my hope to deflate slightly. "But he did tell me a name."

"Whose?"

"Well, considering that they don't have rankings, I guess you could say the unofficial rogue leader."

I instantly sit up straight and stare at him in disbelief.

How the hell could he not have told me sooner? Unless...

"You're kidding me..." I accuse, my voice unsure.

"Nope."

Slowly, a grin spreads across my face, causing him to grin back.

"Well, what is it?" I ask, practically bouncing in my seat. This is by far the biggest lead we've had so far.

"Kailen."

"Kailen?" I ask, frowning at the unusual name.

"Yep, apparently rogue wolves are named for the meanings, not the name itself. If you turn rogue then, obviously, you can change your name to whatever you like."

"So... what does Kailen mean?" I ask.

He grimaces. "Well, in Irish, I think it means 'mighty warrior'."

Mighty Warrior? That does not help to put my mind at ease. At all.

We spend the next half an hour talking about what else he'd managed to find out, which was very little and not at all any use. Eventually, I decide it's time to go home.

"You're going to visit again soon, right?" he asks as I stand up.

"Of course," I reply teasingly. "We'll probably need your help again anyway."

"Let's make a deal," he says, leaning forward slightly and resting his arms on his knees as he looks up at me.

"What?" I ask, not at all sure where he's going with this.

"If you promise to visit more often then I'll help you with the rest of this rogue problem whenever you need it."

Now that is a deal I can accept.

"Okay," I say with a grin, sticking my hand out for him to shake. "Deal."

"Great," he replies, shaking my hand before leaning back against the sofa with his signature smirk.

Just as I'm about to leave, a question hits me, causing me to turn back around and look at him.

"Hey, Beck?"

"Yeah?" he replies, already picking his book back up and opening it to the right page.

"What does your name mean?"

He looks up at me with a smirk. "Stream."

I laugh slightly at that.

Of, course...

Then another question hits me.

"Is it your real name?"

I take note of the surprise that flickers in his eyes at the question, waiting for him to reply.

"No," he eventually admits, and this time it's my turn to be surprised... and extremely curious.

"So... what exactly is your name?"

And, of course, Beck being Beck, gives me the extremely vague answer of, "That's for me to know..." before turning his attention back to his book and effectively ending the conversation.

(Hey guys! So 'OMEGA' has officially now hit 2,000 reads and 100 votes! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! i am so rediculously happy about this you have no idea :D

Anyways, i hope you liked the chapter! I've literally just finished writing it so i could get it updated on the actual update day instead of the day after like the last chapter was. Also, thanks for the comments i've recieved so far, they've all made me smile (especially the ones on the last chapter) ;) Go ahead and leave a comment/Vote on this chapter too, i love hearing all your thoughts on all that's happened so far! So, yeah, that's all i really have to say for now [except for next update will hopefully be on Monday] so byee!

P.S. I googled the name meanings so sorry if they're a little wrong. #Itried :') )