Chapter 242: Elijah?
I immediately pursed my lips and shuffled my feet where I stood, shifting my weight from one side to another.
"I don’t like that face," Darach said with a frown when he noted my hesitance. "Don’t tell me you’re going to say no."
"I might have to," I replied, to which Darach instantly groaned in defeat.
He threw his hands up in the air and sighed, frowning.
"May I at least know why?" Darach asked. "I thought you were going to think it through at least."
"I did," I said. "And that’s why I can’t accept the proposal, Darach."
Perhaps I had said the word ’proposal’ a little too loud. Some of the patients in the infirmary turned their heads our way, their eyes practically bulging out of their skulls. Some wore frowns, others had incredulous looks hanging on their faces. Either way, it was a show to watch once they heard that their beta’s mate had just been proposed to by a stranger from a different pack.
I wasn’t blind to the looks they cast our way.
Sighing, I clarified, "I’m a member of Fangborne. And despite the ridiculous suggestions they gave during the meeting, you need to find a beta who belongs to Thunderstrike, where you’ll be a majority of the time. It can’t be me. Thunderstrike and Fangborne aren’t exactly next-door neighbors, you know?"
"Technology is a thing," Darach quickly replied. "There’s nothing that can’t be fixed with a call or a text."
"It’s not that simple and you know it," I said.
Turning back, I grabbed the nearest stool and pulled it over so that I could sit on it instead of awkwardly hovering around Darach’s bedside. Also, sitting down would mean that I didn’t need to speak up as loudly. I wasn’t hoping our conversation could be entirely private, but hopefully, those situated a little further away wouldn’t hear everything as though it was on broadcast.
"I have seen what a beta’s responsibilities consist of," I continued, my voice much softer this time than before. "The position isn’t just a mere secretary. If the alpha is unavailable, that makes the beta the main leader of a pack. I have no wolf. Leaving the pack in my hands is... suicide. You’ll be dooming Thunderstrike like this."
Darach’s expression turned dark, his gaze downcast as he stared at the blankets. He fiddled his thumbs, swiping the pad of his fingers over his nails in a repeated action as he remained wordless.
"But," he finally said with a croak, "I have no wolf as well. If I can be made the alpha of Thunderstrike, you could be just as capable a leader as I could theoretically be."
"That is exactly why I can’t be your beta," I stated. "If you had a..." I hesitated, "wolf still, then I could be relegated to simple paperwork to help get things in order. But since you don’t, you need a beta who can also be a capable fighter. And once you have found your second-in-command, you ought to look for the other higher-ranked members of your inner circle as well to watch over Thunderstrike."
I slowly exhaled. Even without looking, I could feel the burning looks of curiosity searing right into the back of my neck. Those who were listening to our conversation still were unrelenting.
"I can’t leave Fangborne," I murmured, my voice barely even above a whisper.
However, I knew that Darach could still hear me perfectly well. I wasn’t sure if he still had his enhanced senses, now that his wolf was gone, but this didn’t require anything more than ordinary human ears.
"My place is here. With Blaise."
"And the charlie."
I nearly choked on my saliva when the words left Darach’s lips. Instantly, my eyes widened as I looked around us. I caught the confused glances of those around and with all due right.
Darach and those outside of Fangborne might not know, but the members of Fangborne were mostly present when Damon had very publically marked me as his through that ridiculous ceremony.
The mention of a charlie — Elijah, in this case — was definitely bound to create unnecessary misunderstandings.
"Right... about that..."
"What was his name again?" Darach asked himself, trailing off as he tapped his chin, deep in thought. "Oh, right. Elijah, wasn’t it? He was around the packhouse just now during the attack. He’s definitely a very capable man, worthy of being your fated mate. Perhaps you should’ve chosen him instead of a Valentine brother―"
I should’ve acted a little faster, but by the time I had my palms slapped over Darach’s lips, it was too late. He had already said more than what he needed to, and unfortunately, louder than he needed to.
By now, everyone present at the infirmary had their heads turned over, their eyes wider than discs. Some even had their jaws hanging agape, full-on gawking at what they had just overheard. Even Nicole had turned over, her head pressed back and her double chin on full display as she stared at me in shock.
"Good fucking Goddess," I muttered under my breath. "Help me."
"Did I say something I shouldn’t have?" Darach asked, his voice considerably softer this time. "I mean, if I were you, I wouldn’t be too ashamed of having Elijah as a mate. He seemed like a pretty decent fellow. Easy on the eyes too. It’s not a bad match like my sister and Milo, at least."
"Elijah and I... We’re not... We’re just―"
"Excuse me."
We turned our heads, looking at the man who had walked over and interrupted our conversation. I didn’t recognize him, but he looked vaguely familiar. There were bandages all over his hands and legs, and a gauze was wrapped around his head, covering one eye. Out of all the patients, he seemed to be one of the more badly injured ones, and yet he still managed to somehow pull himself to his feet.
"What’s this about Miss Harper being Charlie Elijah’s mate?"
