It's Probably Better

**BLANCA**
I flinch at the roiling anger coming off of him. "W-what? No! Who are you talking about?"
Jared's jaw clenches. "Everyone will see it. Everyone is going to think you're..." he trails off, setting me down carefully. "He's gone too far this time."
My hand goes to my neck wondering what could be so wrong that Jared would-
I gasp as I realize, my eyes going wide. "Oh!"
"Yes," Jared hisses, his anger now tinged with disappointment. "The others will all think less of you than they already do if they believe Max had his way with you just to cast you aside this morning for Fionna."
He speaks the truth, I know it. They already hate me as it is. If they think their Alpha used me to warm his bed, they will hate me even more. "There's nothing to be done," I say resignedly. "I'm already used to their hatred."
"No Blanca," Jared says softly. "Fionna will be the real problem here. You will have to stay away from her at all costs. Come with me."
Again he takes my hand, leading me down the rest of the stairwell. Once we are out in the hall, he tucks my arms into his and steers me toward a door I hadn't seen the first time. Unlocking it swiftly, he steers me inside, then heads for another door in the back. One look around tells me we must be in some sort of supply room. Bottles and flasks line the shelves on one side, three different freezers stand along one wall. There looks to be a lab station in the far corner and glass cabinet containing ingredients I've never seen before.
*What is this place?*
"Come on Blanca! Hurry, follow me," Jared snaps me out of my trance and I nod, following him out into the sun.
There's no one out and about on this side of the house and Jared takes my hand, leading me to an outdoor set of stairs that lead up to a single door.
"This is my suite," he explains, urging me up the stairs ahead of him. "If you ever need anything at all, you can come here."
I nod and still in awe of his kindness, blush. "Thank you Jared. I-"
He cuts me off with a finger to his lips and a shake of his head. "Wait until we're inside," he mouths, then unlocks the door.
I step into the brightly lit space and breathe in the smell of the same cleaning agent they always used in the prison. A shudder of revulsion rides through me and I must make a face because a moment later Jared is concerned.
"What is it, Blanca? What's wrong?" he asks.
"Do you clean your space yourself?"
He shoots me a half grin, throwing a hand back through his neatly clipped black locks. "Sometimes I call in one of the Omegas to do it. Charliza did it this morning. Why? Is there a problem?"
"Not really," I say. "She just uses the same cleanser as they use in the prison, is all."
"Ah, I see. I'll keep that in mind." Whipping out his phone, he appears to check the time then says, "How fast can you shower?"
"Pretty fast. I'm used to only having a couple of minutes."
He frowns, tilting his head at me. "That sucks. I promise next time you're here you can lounge in my tub and take hours if you want to."
Slightly uncomfortable with the invitation, I turn away, pointing toward the hall. "Should I get started now?"
"Yes," Jared says. "Be quick. You're due to report to the kitchens in 15 minutes. When you're done, just leave your dress on the hamper and come out to fetch your uniform. I'll have it waiting."
"Thanks Jared," I say honestly. "I really appreciate you. you don't have to do all this."
Jared's eyes hold me captive for a moment, the pull of them heavier than ever. "But I want to, Blanca. I've never felt the way the rest of the pack does about the Shiftless. For some reason, I've always sought to protect them and now that I've met you...I feel that much stronger about it. Now go, hurry."
I rip away from his gaze and stumble into the restroom. Once inside I undress as quickly as I can and that's when I spy what Jared was so concerned about. Purple love bites adorn the side of my throat where Max had his mouth. *He marked me!* Not in the way I wanted him to, sure, but he still did it.
The fact sends a white hot thrill through me as I realize Max *had* to know that people would see. He *had* to realize what they would think. Maybe he-
*No! Don't you dare fool yourself again, Blanca.*
But then, why would he do this to me? He's not planning to accept me, so why do such a thing? *Knowing* his girlfriend is here! What was he planning to do? Label me as his side piece? His whore? *What a jerk.*
As I take the quickest shower of my life, I realize a couple of things. This morning I doubt that Max *was* thinking at all. He was probably just *feeling.* The dream he’d had, whatever it was, had shaken him up and he lost his control. So, I doubt he meant to cause trouble for me, but I will be complaining to him about it later.
When I step out of the shower, I follow Jared's instructions to leave my dress on the hamper and I wrap myself in the biggest towel he has before exiting the space. When I step into the living room, I'm met with a bit of a shock. An Omega girl is standing in the open doorway handing Jared a bundle of clothes and her mouth falls open in absolute shock when she sees me.
She eyes me up and down, her gaze growing angry when it lands on my mottled neck. "Oh my Goddess! What the-"
"That's all I needed, Jill," Jared says suddenly. "Let Hilda know that Blanca will be there straightaway and that she is to go easy on her for her first day."
"Yes Beta Jared," Jill says, her face turning sour when she looks my way.
Jared slams the door in her face then walks toward me, freezing when he looks up from the bundle of clothes in his arms. His dark eyes go even darker and although he clears his throat, his voice comes out raspy. "Here you go, Blanca. Get changed."
"She saw me," I informed him nervously. "She's angry. I think - that she thinks - that you and I-that we-that-"
"It's okay, Blanca. In fact," he says, reaching out a gentle hand to lift my chin, "it's probably better. If they assume that *I* was the one who left those marks on you, then Fionna will leave you be. She will have no reason to torment you."
I smile sadly as a strange coil of guilt starts to spiral into my chest. *But you didn't do it. Max did it.* However, he's right. It probably is better that this 'Jill' saw me the way she did. Wrapped in a towel and coming out of Jared's hallway like we just finished making out. "But what if they confront you over it?" I ask worriedly.
"Have you seen yourself, Blanca?" Jared smiles, his eyes glazing over as they traipse down my body. They're blazing with fire by the time they rest on my face again, so much that I can practically feel their heat. He says huskily, "I will have absolutely no problem confirming it as the truth."