Betrayed by the Beta, Loved by the Alpha

8. My Friend

Eden’s pov:

I had barely taken a few steps away when Alpha Hunter said that training was over for the day, but insisted on seeing us all tomorrow, same time, same place.

I was so excited to be a part of the pack again, I could almost dance… But then again, I would rather drink acid than show it. They had rejected me like old news before even trying to understand how I could possibly be helpful. Wolfless as I might be, I wasn’t completely useless. I knew this much. I had known this for some time already, but never dared to voice out my thoughts before.

And if I could inspire such a look of awe from Alpha Hunter, I was hoping the pack would be more open to including me in day-to-day activities – as something other than an orphan trying to get odd jobs here and there.

“When did you even learn to throw an arrow like that?” Clarissa’s tone of voice, albeit somewhat curious, betrayed the real nature of her feelings – jealousy.

And I saw right through her.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I retorted cheekily, a small confident smile stretching my lips.

“Why are you keeping such talent a secret?” Clarissa all but sneered. “Or were you waiting for the perfect moment to shine?”

That had me pause for a moment. It was utterly ridiculous! How could she even fail to notice the loopholes in her logic?

Instead of correcting her, much less telling her the truth, I opted for another approach.

“I don’t love the spotlight half as much as you do,” I rolled my eyes at her, already starting to get fed up with her antics, ready to walk away from her.

She titled her head to the side in a demanding manner, even as an eyebrow shot up into her hairline, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Any other time, getting this reaction from her would make me apologize profusely. This time, however, armed with the knowledge of her betrayal, I felt lighter, cheekier too.

I knew I might come to regret it later on… But for the time being, I would love to see yet another priceless reaction.

“Don’t act so shocked with the truth,” I shrugged, a careless smirk attached to my face.

“The truth is you’re wolfless, Eden,” she began, shaking her head in disapproval. “And if what you showed us is all you’re capable of, it won’t ever amount to much…”

It wasn’t the first time Clarissa was putting me down. Her words were often vicious, though she would often apologize afterward.

This time, however, her words bit into me, and hurt deeper than usual…. Not just because she meant to hurt me, but also because I knew she wasn’t totally wrong.

Like a true predator, Hunter approached us so discreetly, so silently, that I wasn’t ready for him when he spoke from behind me.

“What’s your name again?” He asked, his eyes fully focused on Clarissa, even though his hand came to rest on my shoulder soothingly.

“Clarissa, Alpha Hunter.”

The way she purred and stuck her chest out almost made me puke. But then again, she had always had a knack for bewitching guys. Ergo, I wouldn’t be surprised if Hunter fell under her spell too.

A quick look at his face, however, told me everything I needed to know. He wasn’t impressed. Moreso, he was angry. I could almost feel the fury rolling off him in waves… And instead of being scared of him, it comforted me.

How messed up was I?

“You’ve got yourself a warning,” he said dispassionately, his eyes glaring daggers at her.

“What did I do, Alpha Hunter?” She all but purred, glassy eyes, and pouty lips.

I wondered for a brief moment if her classiest move in the book would work on him.

“Would you rather play a head, an apple?” He retorted matter-of-factly, crossing his arms.

When his hand left my shoulder, I felt the desire to follow it, and possibly nestle into his chest.

Wait, what? Where did that come from?

He sees you.

The voice, so familiar and yet so sudden, was soothing, lovely, and all mine. It belonged to the wolf from my dreams. And it had me squealing ever so slightly.

I turned around, looking frantically for the source of the voice, only to find that most of the pack members had left.

I had always wondered who this wolf was. She usually came to me at night, making my dreams colorful and my daydreams sweet. Ever since I was 12 and lost my mom, she never failed to appear when I was most down, often telling me stories.

“Are you okay, Eden?” Hunter then asked.

I blushed under the weight of his gaze for some reason that was beyond me.

Heavens have mercy, I hadn’t blushed when I was in a damn towel… And yet, a simple question turned me into a tomato.

“Peachy,” I nodded at him. Under his unbelieving stare, I went on, “I just thought I heard something.”

“Gotcha,” he nodded in understanding. “Well, fancy playing again… I mean, practicing some more?”

Clarissa paled once more. And I could lowkey swear I saw resentment flashing in her eyes.

She hadn’t expected to be called out in such a manner. Usually, she had a way with guys. And while Hunter was older than us by a solid 7 years, he was still a hot-blooded man.

“Eden’s my friend, Alpha Hunter,” Clarissa let out in a defensive tone of voice.

There it was. The lie. The easy way she manipulated everything to better suit herself.

I couldn’t help but note, with an akin sense of inadequacy, how she called me a friend, whereas I usually only said best friend when it came to her.

Heavens, I have been such a fool, I told myself chidingly, my eyes brimming with tears.

“Could have fooled me,” Hunter let out sarcastically, his scowl ever present.

His words had the knack to make me laugh. Yet, the sound came out shallow, broken, empty even. And I soon felt the tears make a trail down my cheeks.