Chapter 30 – She’s trying to be strong.

Lucy POV

“Guys, it’s time to get up!” Amy sings as she walks into my room the next morning.

“Argh! I’m not going to school today,” I groan, rolling over to face the wall and refusing to open my eyes.

“I know, that’s why I let you sleep in,” Amy replies in her usual chirpy morning voice as she comes to sit on the end of the bed.

“Get off,” I grumble as she sits on my feet. “God, you’re so fat.”

“And you’re a lazy ass but you don’t see me complaining,” she replies, not letting my grouchy mood put a dampener on her own as per usual. 

“Ugh, your friend is annoying,” Beck mumbles from my bedroom floor, and I turn over in just enough time to see him cram a pillow over his head to try and block Amy out.

When we got back from the meeting last night, I offered to get out the air mattress from the cupboard but he told me he was fine with just a few blankets and pillows. He’s not too bothered about luxury and as my bedroom is the spare bedroom in the house, it was either my floor or the sofa downstairs. My floor sounded like the better option to him as I explained about Amy’s tendency to get up uncharacteristically early and watch TV.

“I know,” I sigh, closing my eyes again and turning back to face the wall.

“Get up! Jeez! Is this all you guys do when you’re at the cave?” Amy says, grabbing the pillow from Beck and hitting me over the head with it. The sound of protest that escapes my mouth is somewhere between a whine and a groan.

“I will kick you,” Beck mutters, and I can’t help but laugh at such a ‘Beck’ comment like that.

“Get up!” Amy says again, deliberately ignoring his statement. “It’s ten in the morning!”

A sigh sounds from Beck before I hear the sound of rustling blankets, a clear indication that he’s giving in to Amy and getting his butt out of bed. Or, well, I guess technically floor but whatever.

I groan and roll over to face the room again before opening my eyes. I look over at Amy sat on the end of the bed and find her still clothed in her blue and purple Eeyore pyjamas.

What did she say the time was… ten o’clock?

“Are you not going in today?” I ask in confusion. Amy rarely takes days off.

“No,” she replies. “Mum and dad decided that we’ve gone through enough in the past few days that we deserve a day off if we want. Besides, Jess isn’t really doing too good.”

I’m immediately reminded that her predestined mate and my kind-of friend is currently awaiting a possible execution sentence.

Shit.

“How bad is it?” I ask quietly, not wanting Jess to overhear if she’s close by. Amy sighs.

“She’s trying to act like she’s not worried and doesn’t care, but it’s obvious she’s only putting on a brave face. It’s pretty bad,” she explains.

Ah, poor Jess…

“Where is she?” I ask.

“In the shower,” she replies. “We’re going to head down and watch some TV if you guys want to join?”

Before I can reply she continues on.

“And the question was aimed at Beck, Luce, because I’m being polite and offering,” I snort and roll my eyes. “You don’t get the choice; get your lazy ass up!”

“Ugh,” I groan, closing my eyes and pulling the covers over my head to block her out. “Screw being a wolf, I want to be an owl; I feel my life would be better suited for that sort of life.”

“Well, too bad,” Amy replies. “You’ll have to wait to be reincarnated before that can happen, until then…”

“But it’s so warm,” I argue, burrowing further into my duvet. Great, now I’m becoming a rabbit.

“Beck, help me out here?” Amy sighs, and my eyes immediately snap open.

I know exactly what he’s going to do.

“No, don’t!” I protest quickly but it’s too late.

The covers get ripped off me lightning fast, the cold instantly setting in against my bare legs, arms and stomach as I only went to sleep in some cotton shorts and a sports bra last night. Before I can even react to the sudden chill, though, I feel hands grab at my ankles before I’m being dragged off the bed and onto the floor. I fall onto my carpet in a heap and give out a little yelp of surprise.

And back to being a wolf again.

“Beck!” I yell in annoyance, glaring up at him as he smirks down at me.

I’m not going to deny it, he looks good this morning. He slept in just his jeans as he obviously didn’t pack an overnight bag and only has one outfit, therefore leaving him shirtless. He’ll most likely go and steal another one from somewhere today when no one’s looking.

As my eyes glance down to his chest, they’re immediately drawn to the light pink scar that runs from his left shoulder down to where his ribs start. Sure, Beck’s been in plenty of scuffs with people before (some of which I’ve even witnessed) and is kind of dotted all over with various scars, but this is definitely the worst one.

Obviously, I’ve seen it before and I even asked him about it once. He told me he got into a fight a few years back before he moved here to the cave. He apparently pissed some people off (which isn’t too surprising considering it’s Beck) and it all kicked off. I guess I can’t say I was too surprised when he told me, after all, living the life of a lone wolf can’t come without at least a few problems and complications.

The sound of Amy’s laughing brings me back to focus on the situation.

“You are so dead!” I announce, standing up and lunging for him. I’m beginning to get used to the cool air now and I don’t really care about my lack of appropriate clothing as I attack him, I’ve slept in my underwear before at the cave whenever I didn’t bring an overnight bag and Beck offered for me to stay over, so he’s seen me in even less than this.

“Bring it on, Shorty,” Beck replies, countering my attack.

“Hey, when you guys are done Jess and I will be downstairs,” Amy announces, amusement clear in her voice before she leaves the room.

The fight doesn’t last long and, as usual, it ends in my defeat. Defeat in the form of Beck pinning me to the ground with the familiar triumphant glint in his eyes.

“I hate you,” I grumble, trying to wiggle out of his grasp but failing miserably.

“You love me,” he argues with a grin.

“In your dreams, moron,” I reply, rolling my eyes and trying to brush off the increasing intensity of his gaze.

“Oh, if only you knew,” he replies, his words causing me to stop struggling and just look at him.

I can’t read his expression so I can’t tell if he’s being serious or not. Goddamn him for being able to hide behind his mask of indifference so easily!

A tense sort of silence falls over us, the only sound other than our breathing being the faint noise of the TV coming from downstairs.

I clear my throat awkwardly. “We should – er – probably head downstairs,” I murmur.

“Yeah…” he agrees, but he doesn’t let me go and it doesn’t look as if he’s going to either.

“Um, Beck?” I say, glancing down at his hands as they continue to pin me to the floor.

“Right,” he says quickly, seemingly snapping back to reality. “Sorry.”

He hurriedly lets me go and climbs to his feet, helping me up after.

What the hell just happened?

The air around us is quickly becoming extremely awkward, and I don’t like it one bit.

Things are never awkward between Beck and I, it’s always just so easy with him.

“Um… I’m going to go raid the kitchen for something to eat, you want anything?” he asks, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly and not quite looking me in the eyes.

“Yeah… yeah, um, there should be some Pop tarts in the cupboard above the microwave. Can you grab me a pack? I’ll be downstairs in a minute.”

“Sure thing,” he replies quickly before exiting the room.

The second he leaves the room I let out a big sigh and go and sit on my bed.

Did… did Beck and I just have a moment?

Oh, god…

Why the hell does everything in my life have to become complicated?

After pondering what just happened for a little while longer, I decide that I should probably head downstairs.

When I reach the living room, I find Amy and Jess both occupying one of the sofas whilst Beck’s taken refuge of the armchair.

Okay, just act normal… you’re probably just overreacting.

“Hey,” I say as I sit down on the remaining sofa.

Beck nods at me when he notices my arrival and throws a packet of Pop tart my way.

“Thanks,” I say as I catch them.

“No problem,” he replies.

“So…” I say, deciding to change subject. “What’s the plan for today?”

“The meeting’s at five,” Amy replies with a shrug, bringing her attention away from the TV. “I personally don’t plan on moving from this spot until at least three.”

“Oh, yeah? Now who’s being lazy?” I say, rolling my eyes with a laugh.

“I’m allowed to be,” is all she replies with before focussing back in on the TV.

“What about you, Jess?” I ask carefully, taking note of how she’s watching the screen but doesn’t seem to be taking any of it in.

“Huh?” she asks, looking over at me.

“Any plans for the day?”

“Oh, erm… no, no I don’t think so,” she replies. “Apart from, you know… the meeting.”

A frown creases her forehead as she says that.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” I try to assure her. However, when I glance over at Beck he doesn’t seem to look too convinced, although he keeps any comments to himself which I’m extremely grateful for.

“Oh, yeah, I’m not – I’m not worried or anything,” she replies. Lies. “I mean, I hardly know the guy.”

“Yeah but that doesn’t change the fact that you have a bond, babe,” Amy chips in. “It’s okay to be freaking out right now, we’re not going to judge. I would be if I were in your shoes.”

“I’m fine,” Jess replies, shaking her head. “Honestly, don’t worry about me.”

As I watch her, I can’t help but think back to yesterday where I had to put on a brave face for the meeting. She’s hurting, I can tell she is, but she’s not going to let anyone see it.

She’s trying to be strong.

“So the meeting starts at five, yeah?” I ask, deciding to try and take some of the attention off of her.

“Yeah,” Amy replies. “Are you going to help set up for it?”

“Yeah, I might do,” I admit. Maybe I can talk to David about this Devlin situation and see what he’s planning on doing.

“What about you, Beck?” Amy asks.

“Nah, I think I’ll just head into town for a few hours,” he replies.

“You’re coming to the meeting, though, right?” I ask hopefully.

Something tells me that tonight is going to be stressful, and there’s no one better than Beck to help me survive through stressful situations. He kind of has a gift for it.

“Yeah, of course,” he assures me with a smile. “I’ll only be gone for an hour or two.”

“Okay, good. And don’t forget you’re still under Pack border arrest,” I remind him, not wanting him to go running off. I know what he’s like.

“You worry too much,” he tells me, rolling his eyes.

“No, you just don’t worry enough,” I argue.

“Okay, okay, I’ll stay within your territory,” he agrees.

“Good,” I say again.

Well, at least things seem to be going back to somewhat normal between us, I guess.

We spend the next four hours just sat in the living room watching films and talking. Richard and Louisa had both left for work before we’d gotten up so it’s just the four of us in the house.

As the time closes in on two, however, I decide that I should probably go and get dressed. They’ll be setting up for the meeting soon.

I quickly tell the others I’m going to get ready before heading upstairs.

I quickly take a shower and brush my teeth and hair before changing into some ripped skinny jeans and a dark purple long-sleeved T-shirt. After applying minimal makeup I pull on my shoes and head back downstairs.

It’s just gone three o’clock and I decide that it’s a reasonable time to leave the house.

“Right, guys, I’m off,” I announce as I re-enter the living room.

“Are you staying there until the beginning of the meeting?” Amy asks, looking over at me.

“Yeah, I think so,” I reply, not seeing the point in walking back here just to go back again.

“Okay, guess we’ll see you at five then,” she says with a small smile.

“Yeah, yeah, don’t be late,” I tell them, aiming the last bit more at Beck than the other two.

“I won’t be,” he assures me and, with that, I leave for Justin’s house.

When I get to the house and ring the doorbell, it’s not Justin that answers the door.

“Ah, Lucy, come in,” David greets with a smile, opening the door wider for me to enter.

“Hey, I’m here to lend an extra pair of hands for setting up,” I say with a smile. “Is Justin in?”

“No, he’s not actually,” David sighs. “He left a few hours ago.”

“Where’s he gone?” I ask, worry beginning to seep in.

He hasn’t had a run-in with any rogues has he? What if they take him like they did with me?

“I don’t know,” David admits with a frown, not looking too happy. “He wasn’t in a great mood and said he was going for a walk.”

A walk?

Oh.

“I think I might know where he’s gone,” I say, trying not to let my worry show.

Why the hell would that idiot go running off on his own with the rogues still about? They could target him! What the hell is he thinking?

“Really?” David asks.

“Yeah, do you want me to go get him?”

“If you would, that’d be great. If he’s not back in time for the meeting then I’m sure it’ll just cause an uproar from everyone. He’s the future Alpha, he should know better than this.”

I’m not really sure what to say to that so I just smile and nod.

Yes, he should know better, but not just because he’s the future Alpha. He could be in danger. Did that idiot learn nothing from the past few days?

(Hey guys!!! So… two chapters in two days, are you proud of me? Haha :) So this is chapter 30, it’s not what I was originally planning on writing to be honest. I planned on putting more drama and stuff into it but decided it’d be too long so I’ve decided to save that for chapter 31 instead. I basically just decided to split my original chapter plan into two chapters because I wasn’t planning on the Beck and Lucy scene to be so long.

Anyways, I don’t know how I feel about this chapter. Some of it seemed a bit clunky when I was writing so I hope it reads a bit smoother. So, yeah, what do you make of it?

Don’t worry, the next chapter WILL contain the meeting so you can find out what’s going to happen to Devlin soon, I know that character has grown on quite a lot of you :)

Next chapter will be a Lucy POV and I don’t know when it’ll be posted because as I said in the last chapter, I’ve got revision and coursework to be getting on with. Thanks for reading this chapter and if you liked it then don’t forget to Vote/Comment! :D

Sorry for any mistakes within this chapter, I haven’t had time to proofread it properly because I’m currently meant to be doing an essay but got bored haha ;) So… yeah, I think that’s all I have to say for now. Until next time, byee!)