Page 88 of A Broody Mate for the Human

Her eyes grow wider. Those puppy eye attacks are not fair, really. “He is super cute…”

I sigh. “Fine, I’ll do the reports for you.”

She beams, jumping into my arms and giving me a tight hug. “I owe you! I’ll tell you everything about my date tomorrow.”

“Please don’t,” I mutter.

“I love you too.” She giggles and runs off. Ever since I accepted that I’m just not into girls, it got so much easier to interact with them. At the beginning of my punishment, a.k.a. working in the infirmary, I hardly talked to anyone. The nurses here were nice to me, despite knowing I was being punished with working here and that I probably fucked up big time. Occasionally, one of the younger ones flirted with me. One day when they all wanted me to go out with them for drinks, I basically exploded, telling them I’m not allowed to drink because I have a fucking alcohol problem, and I’m fucking gay, and my fucking father fucking hates me for it.

That pretty much did it.

Instead of going out for drinks, they decided to stay in the common room of the infirmary and order pizza for everyone.

I have no idea why they did that, but things have gotten easier ever since.

I finish Tiff’s report, actually happy to spend a bit more time here. It gives me the feeling of being useful. I like the warrior training too. My wolf is strong, and he loves the physical exhaustion, but I just don’t know where I’m heading with my training. I’m not training for a rank anymore or for another goal. I am slowly starting to accept that my future has completely crumbled in front of my eyes.

I have no goal, no real purpose, I have no idea what I’m going to do.

I meet Deacon for dinner as he is the only one I feel really comfortable with at the moment. My old buddies are still partying hard, and I’m not joining them anymore. Not just due to Alpha Jace’s new rule for me but also because I don’t feel like it.

They forgot about me fast.

The only friends I still have are Alpha Jace’s twin sons, and they are currently on their mission.

“I’ve got us something from the kitchen,” Deacon informs me. “They had chicken casserole today.”

I smile. “I bet they were happy to do something for their favorite beta.”

“You bet.” He grins.

We eat in silence, and Deacon never pushes me. It was inevitable that the pack would soon find out what happened—my father was the gamma after all. Whenever I go into the dining hall, I’m met with looks of pity.

I could do with anger or hatred, but they pity me, and it just makes me feel even worse. I don’t think I deserve their sympathy.

“Say… do you think I could attend a first-aid class?” I hear myself ask.

Deacon looks at me surprised. “Is this something you want to do?”

“I… I don’t know,” I stutter. “It just came to my mind, and I said it out loud.”

“I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t be allowed to take such a class,” Deacon says. “It would benefit the warriors too. In the case of a battle, it’s always good to have someone on the field who knows the basics of first-aid.”

My heart makes a carefully hopeful jump. He is right. I could actually help on the battlefield. Maybe knowing some first-aid will open up a new goal for me for my future. “Can you ask Alpha Jace for me?” I ask.

Deacon shows me a lop-sided smile. “Go ask him yourself, warrior. He will think you’re avoiding him.”

“That’s because I am avoiding him,” I emphasize.

“Yes, but he doesn’t need to know.” Deacon grins. “Alphas are a bit slow on picking up others’ emotions sometimes, so when I dished out some half-assed excuses about why you don’t want to join everyone for dinner and breakfast in the pack house and why you basically don’t meet anyone… he bought it. But he is going to catch on fast, especially because the last time Luna Janice was around, and she tossed me her questioning gaze. You just can’t lie to her.”

I smile at his last words. Luna Janice is quiet and regal but also so kind. I never met my own mother, but in my imagination, she is like Luna Janice.

“They are worried about their sons,” Deacon explains to me. “They had an emergency meeting with Alpha Elden and Luna Flora recently. I believe Luna Flora managed to calm them down, but a bit of distraction from you will still do them good.”

“Really? Should I be asking for something when Alpha Jace has other things on his mind?”

Instead of an answer, Deacon’s eyes gloss over.