Chapter 10 Enjoy My Leftovers

Kelsey

Deep breath, count to three. Simple, I can do this.

Pushing my anxiety down, I pulled on the oversized black handle and stepped into the pack house. It was like time had stayed still, nothing had changed since I had been home. Not that I was upset however, the pack house was always one of my favorite places to go. Alpha Max ensured that the pack house was open to all shifters, at all times. The dining hall was always filled with people, some came to eat, others to socialize. It was the heart of Crimson Pack, keeping us all closely tied like one big family.

The smell of pancakes and cinnamon toast sifted through the air, making my stomach growl from the delicious scent. I was eager for the meeting with Alpha Max to be finished so I could finally enjoy the legendary food that I forgot how much I actually missed. Blake and I used to have breakfast in the pack house every morning, he would tell me that he would always feel empty if he didn't start the day with me first. Another famous Blake lie he told to get into my pants.

I noticed a few friendly faces as I passed through the main floor and into the boardroom. I was surprised when my eyes locked with Asher's, who was having his morning coffee with a patrol guard that I vaguely remembered absolutely trashed and dancing on the bar the night before.

"Am I lost?", I asked. Laughing and tossing my blonde hair over my shoulder playfully.

Asher's eyes lit up the moment he saw me, no doubt he was plotting his exit without being rude. "It seems like it", he taunted, pointing his index finger to the ceiling. "Alpha Max prefers having his meetings in his old Alpha office, here I'll walk you up", he said as he nodded goodbye to the patrol guard and pushed me gently out of the room by my waist.

"Your welcome", I teased and rolled my eyes.

Asher pushed his coffee cup up to his lips and laughed, "that guy can talk anyone's ear off I swear, it only took twenty minutes and now I know his entire life story".

We turned the corner and climbed up the stairs to the third level. The third level was where the Alpha quarters was, along with the Beta's quarters. The floor of the elite, if you will. The moment we hit the top of the stairs, it hit me. The smell of butterscotch and sandalwood sending a shiver down my spine.

On the other end of the hallway, the Alpha's office was already open. I could see old man Logan already sitting down in a suit in the reception foyer, waiting for his appointment. A sigh of relief flooded over me when it registered that I wasn't late. My eyes darted to the other side of the hall when the door creaked open.

A blonde covered in a bed sheet slowly sneaking out with her hair tousled like she had a rough night. I recognized the blonde from last night from my window, when she was hand in hand with Blake walking into the pack house in the middle of the night.

"I didn't realize we stopped selling clothes in Blackclaw since I've left", I muttered under my breath only loud enough for Asher to hear. I could see him smile from the corner of my eye. My eyes widened when the words so casually slipped out of my mouth. I really needed to work on controlling my thoughts from rolling out of my mouth. My wolf growled at the sight of the blonde, sure she was pretty but I wasn't stupid not to realize what she was doing in Blake's room all night long that caused her to look like she had just walked out from 'the night of the living dead'.

She grinned when she caught sight of Asher and I standing at the top of the stairs. I could feel his discomfort, like he had just been caught cheating. "Oh hey Asher!", she shrieked, running over and draping her arms around his neck.

Asher tensed at her touch but judging by how excited she was to see him, I wondered how friendly they really were. "Hey Ash, didn't realize you were here", he replied while he clenched his sharp jaw tightly. I was starting to get annoyed watching the two of them, I guess being the Alpha's Beta involved chatting up his pack house skanks too.

She giggled like she had just heard the funniest joke ever, slapping his arm playfully. "Alpha Blake has trouble sleeping without me, you know that", she exclaimed proudly like she had just won a trophy. She could keep her goddamn trophy for all I cared. She turned to me, her grey eyes washing over me painfully slow. "Hmm, I've never seen you here", she finally said.

"Not much to worry about Ash, I'll be gone before you know it", I shot back. My jealousy was oozing out of me, I could feel my hands turning into fists. My wolf wanted to rip her face off, remembering hearing her high pitched voice the night Blake called me when I first left Blackclaw.

Asher immediately stepped in between us, sensing a cat fight was approaching if he didn't deescalate things quickly. "Ashley, this is my best friend Kelsey. She now lives in Arizona. Kels, this is Ashley. She's friends with Alpha Blake", he muttered.

I forced a smile on my face, it was no use being angry. Blake had rejected me already, left me behind like I wasn't good enough to be his mate. I guess this was what he was looking for, someone like Malibu Barbie. "It's nice to meet you Ashley", I said and stuck my hand out to her. Her hand shot out and met mine, I was disappointed by her sloppy handshake. My father had always taught me that you could judge a person by their handshake, I was pretty sure that the handshake trick is how I landed teaching at the local high school straight out of university.

"Oh please, the pleasure is all mine. Any friend of Asher's is a friend of mine", she said. I tried to mask my irritation from the bimbo standing in front of me. First, she had screwed my mate. Now, she's somehow besties with my best friend.

Blake quickly appeared in the doorway, adjusting the waist band on his black shorts emphasizing his Adonis belt and ripped abs. He looked like a Greek God with the sunlight shining behind him but I could instantly recognize that he had just woken up, by the groggy look on his face. I couldn't help but gawk at how good he looked.

Blake's entire body stiffened, his eyes darting from Ashley to me with unease. I would be lying if I wasn't amused, seeing me so close to his girlfriend was rattling him and I didn't mind one bit. "Good morning Alpha", I finally said, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Kelsey", he nodded and stalked over to Ashley's side urgently. Asher wrapped his arm around my waist, squeezing it slightly like he was warning me to stay cool.

"Babe! This is Kelsey, she's Asher's friend", she said, rolling out the word friend like we were more than that. Her high pitched shriek vibrated my whole damn brain.

Asher chuckled at her introduction, it was clear as day he was holding back to tell her that Alpha Blake and I were quite acquainted already.

Blake stared at me for what felt like a lifetime, his striking blue eyes making me feel lost in the moment. His gaze was firmly set in my eyes, spooling with regret. "Yes, I know Kelsey. What are you doing out here in a bed sheet? If my dad sees you, he's going to lose his mind", he finally said.

Ashley crossed her arms over her chest, standing there huffing and puffing like a child who didn't get her way. "When are you going to tell him about us already?! Babe, it's almost been five years of this sneaking around bullshit", she pouted.

My mouth went dry, there was no doubt Blake was dating Ashley. I could see that this was a recurring conversation between the two of them. I swear the room began to spin, I was so angry that all I wanted to do was sucker punch Blake square in his perfectly sculpted face.

Asher let out an uncomfortable cough, his stare never leaving Blake like they were communicating over the mind link. "I'd love to stay and continue the pleasantries but I have a meeting with Alpha Max, it was nice meeting you Ashley".

Ashley's eyes lit up like the Fourth of July, "you shouldn't worry about Alpha Max, Alpha Blake is the one who calls the shots these days. He's just helping around there. We should grab lunch soon Kelsey, if I'm to become Luna one day, I should know all the shifters belonging to Crimson Pack".

Asher nearly spit his coffee out of his mouth at her words, it's like this girl thought we'd become best friends and braid each other's hair at sleepovers or something.

"I'm not here for long but I'll try to move some stuff around", I finally responded, knowing very well the last thing I wanted to spend my time doing is having lunch with Blake's girlfriend and hearing how wonderful their relationship was.

Blake reached out his hand, gripping my wrist tightly, "wait Kelsey". Electric bolts ran through my body at his touch, a wild sensation that nearly sent me to my knees.

A low husky voice came from the door frame of the Alpha's office, "Kelsey, I thought I heard you", Alpha Max said, his voice filled with his Alpha aura. My head followed the direction of his voice and I gave him my most confident smile, "I was just on my way inside Alpha Max, I'm sorry if I kept you waiting".

Alpha Max's eyes hardened between Malibu Barbie and his son with a furious look dancing on his face. "Blake - please have your friend cover up. I have meetings running all day", he said through gritted teeth.

I pulled my wrist out of Blake's hand and walked into the Alpha office, I couldn't even make eye contact with Blake as I turned on my heels and disappeared out of his view.