She Cried

**MAX**

Sitting at dinner with Fionna seated across from me feels like betrayal. We’re in a fancy hotel restaurant just outside pack territory on our first ‘romantic’ getaway. Unfortunately the word getaway means something altogether different for me. For the longer I am in this woman’s company, that is all I want to do. Get away.

I keep on waiting for my heart to lighten, or for my mind to focus on the female in front of me and not the one I left on my couch, but it simply will not cooperate.

There’s one solution for this. I must get unforgivably drunk. Especially because I have rented a penthouse suite for Fionna in an attempt to place her *here* instead of at the packhouse and she’s expecting me to sleep the night with her in it.

*Fuck me. I’m so screwed.*

“Waiter!” I call out, drawing our server’s attention easily. The man is an Omega from our pack, working outside my jurisdiction in the human territory, to keep tabs on things so to speak. An honor bestowed upon very few. My father placed him here years ago so that he might keep our borders peaceful. So when I call for him, he’s quick to oblige.

“Yes, Alpha Max. Sir.”

“I need another whiskey please. Make it a triple if there is such a thing,” I request and he nods.

“Drinking quite a bit tonight, are you baby?” Fionna simpers from across the too small table. Her fucking feet keep trying to glide up my calves and I half the mind to kick her for it. “You should know too much alcohol can lead to things…” she says, letting the implication hang as I grant her the phoniest smile in my repertoire.

*Yes it fucking can. Things like sleep.*

“Excuse me for a moment, will you Fionna? I’m going to use the facilities!” I leap up, heading straight for the restrooms after practically shaking her ankle out of my pants, and the moment I am inside I whip out my phone to call Diana.

She answers on the first ring. I hear the kitchens in the background which tells me what I already feared to be true, is. “Alpha Max! What can I do for you?”

I sigh, clearing my throat so that I might sound as nonchalant as possible. “Hello Diana, how are you liking your new job?”

“It’s wonderful Alpha Max. However, some seem to be having a hard time with the shift in power and have neglected to show for their posts, so dinner is running late this evening.”

Fucking divas. I might have known. “I see, perhaps I should head back then and make the change a little more clear.”

“Oh no! It’s fine Alpha Max! I saw Beta Jared about an hour ago when he came to retrieve Blanca from your rooms. He promised to handle it in your stead. Don’t allow us to intrude on your evening.”

My chest burns at the news, Diana having answered my question without my even having to ask it. “I see. That’s… that’s great, then. I should probably give him a call.” Several of them in fact. Maybe even make him set up a camera of his hallway so that I know beyond any doubt that Blanca will sleep alone tonight.

“Yes, I suppose you should. Is that all, Alpha Max? I really should get back to it.”

I squeeze my phone tightly in my hands, glancing around the opulent restroom and listening intently to be sure that I am still the only patron inside the facility. “One more thing… Blanca… how was she doing? Was she… in pain when she woke? Or… was she…” I trail off stupidly not knowing how to ask if my leaving upset her without putting a big fucking sign on my head with my mate’s name on it.

*She’s not your mate, fool, you haven’t accepted anyone!*

*She’s mateless. As are you.*

*Fuck.*

“Miss Blanca did seem to be in a little pain,” Diana says quietly and I listen as she steps away from the commotion of the kitchens, hearing her footsteps through the phone as she finds a private corner, probably near the stores in the back. “She didn’t complain of any pain, not to me, but…”

“But?” I can’t help it, I *need* to know.

Diana sighs, “She cried for a while after learning you had left and that is all that I have to say about that.”

Pain roots itself inside of my chest and I swallow thickly, completely ignoring the inference of Diana’s words. “I see. I’m sure it had very little to do with the fact that I was gone and more to do with her injury,” I lie through my teeth, feeling a blaze of the oddest kind of fire rile through my gut when I do.

Apparently Miss Diana is having none of that. “No. It was your absence that did it. She was quick to elicit how little you care for her though, so no worries.”

I detected the slightest hint of disapproval in the Omega’s tone when she spoke, and I should have been angry, but… I wasn’t.

*What’s this? Is Diana sticking up for my little Shiftless Queen already?*

*She’s not your queen idiot. You chose another, remember? So go back to your table and enjoy a fresh game of footsie before you give yourself away completely.*

I chuckle to myself, despite that Diana is being inadvertently obtuse, if there is such a thing. Diana suspects something about me. She must. And oddly enough, it doesn’t bother me the way that I thought it would.

“So she’s gone to Beta’s Jared’s apartment for the night, then.” It’s a statement that sounds so damned pathetic, I almost wish I could wind the words back.

“Yes. She said to let you know that she borrowed the book she had been reading. You know the one, *My Secret Mate*.”

“That’s fine,” I say. “Thank you for your help today, Diana. I appreciate it.”

“Of course Alpha Max, but may I say something?”

“I think you’ve said quite enough, Diana and I-”

“She seems like such a sweet girl. I like her very much. After all that she’s been through, you should know, she’s rather inspiring for someone such as me. I just wanted to say so. Goodnight Alpha Max, enjoy your evening.”

The line goes dead in a blatant sign of disrespect, yet I can’t find it within myself to care.

*Blanca cried when she woke up and I wasn’t there for her.*

Just the image pulls at things inside of me that I know I should ignore, but can’t seem to.

*I should go back. I need to go back. I'll figure out something… come up with something. I have to.*

Exiting the restroom, I return to my table and my chosen date to find two tumblers of whiskey on the table. One empty and one full. 

*Bitch. Did she drink my fucking liquor?*

“There you are, baby. You took forever. I couldn’t find the waiter so I had one of yours. I hope you don’t mind,” Fionna says, mischief sparkling in her gaze.

I ignore it, picking up the tumbler, I down the contents in one pull and say, “Let’s get upstairs. I’m ready for bed.”

She smiles. “That you are.”

It isn’t until we step through the penthouse doors that it hits me and I’m suddenly frighteningly drunk.

*Damn it.*