A Safe Bet

**MAX**

As the cold water surrounds me, I realize something. Betrayal or not, Fionna is my chosen mate. She is the one I’ve decided on for a Luna. She is the one I’ve selected to place in power right next to me at the head of my pack.

And she just drugged me.

That much I’m certain of.

Pushing up from the ground, I throw off my soaking wet clothes and wrap myself in a towel.

I have to get a hold of myself. This is unacceptable. All of it. Fionna. Blanca.

I’m not an idiot. I know that wanting to keep Blanca close is selfish. It’s unfair to her and it’s unfair to Fionna.

But every time I play with the thought of rejecting her… Blanca… of having her untethered and allowing her to find someone else - a cold sorrow washes over me and I’m just not ready for it yet.

Stepping out of the bathroom I find Fionna crying softly on the edge of the bed and I frown.

Shit. Now she’s gonna play the pity card.

“What did you give me?” I ask her, my face grim.

She peeks out from between her hands and I can’t help but think that I want to slap her. In truth, her tears do not affect me at all. But I suppose, I will have to pretend that they do.

Just a little.

“Please don’t cry,” I say in an emotionless voice that I know is so genuinely flat that I actually start to think I should end things with her. 

“I’m sorry!” She whines, gazing up at me with boring brown eyes that have not even a hint of the remorse she’s dissembling. “I just wanted us to have a good time! It was just a party drug that I take from time to time to enhance pleasure.”

I chuckle darkly, “Enhance pleasure? Are you fucking kidding me? I didn’t even know who you were! You said you were my mate and I believed you,” I snarl before I even realize what I’ve just divulged.

She flinches. “I *am* your mate though…” she says, puzzled. “Maybe not officially but…” Her eyebrows draw together dubiously. “Unless… do you-do you have a mate?” She gasps, her face twisting angrily. “That girl! The one you had in your room - is she-”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” I snap, feeling like a complete dick. “I just feel sorry for the girl because of everything she’s had to go through since my brother’s death.

Fionna’s face pickles, her lips twisting into a sneer. “She *murdered* your brother, Max. Why in the fuck would she deserve your pity?”

“She was just a child,” I hiss, trying for patience. *What the fuck is wrong with everyone? Surely they realize a child her age deserved someone to speak up for her.* “She was confused when she killed him. She thought he was attacking her sister. It’s not as if she was born evil. She should’ve been given a proper chance to reform.”

Fionna nods slowly, her lips pursing. “Uh-huh. We can just agree to disagree on that one. She killed the *Alpha’s* heir. She should have been *executed* as was promised.”

A fire of anger heats my blood right then and I have to stop myself from grabbing Fionna by her skinny little neck and snapping it in two. 

*How are you going to choose Fionna for your mate if she’s this coldhearted? You can’t even fuck her properly!*

“Lets just go to bed,” I say, suddenly so tired that I can’t even see straight. “How long do the effects of your *party drug* usually last?”

She pinkens, sliding her tongue along her bottom lip in a way I’m sure she believes is enticing, however only serves to further irritate me. “A couple of hours. Why? You want to-”

“No!” I growl. “I’m not into chemical enhancements. You’ll be lucky if i don’t tell your brother what you just tried to do.”

Finally she has the sense to look apologetic. “N-no! P-please don’t tell Jerico! He’ll be pissed. I-I’m sorry, Max! I swear I’ll never do anything like that again. Please!” She leaps from the bed to pull down the covers. “Let’s just get some sleep okay! Just rest. You and me, please?”

*No, bitch. I don’t want to.*

But what I say is, “Fine. Yes. Good idea.”

The smile she gives me was probably cute once upon a time, but looking at her now… suddenly all I can see is Blanca. *Her* smile and *her* joy. The way she danced around the room when I told her she should stay in and read a book. The truth in it - it warmed me. It made happy to make *her* happy.

This girl… Fionna. She’s a safe bet. Because I do not feel a motherfucking thing when I look at her.

No.

That’s not true.

I do feel something.

Guilt.

Pulling on a dry pair of boxers and a t-shirt, I climb into bed next to Fionna, ignoring the soured look on her face when she sees that I am dressed. Before I can turn around to face the wall the way I planned to, she slides over and lodges herself against my side, stretching one arm over my waist and keeping me in place.

My body tenses, and I place a hand to my head, acting like the pain is there and not in my heart. “Sleep, Fionna. Sleep,” I murmur and she feigns a yawn, but I can see devious twinkle in her eye as she scoots even closer, throwing a leg over my hip. *Fucking hell.*

The moment I close my eyes the phone rings on the nightstand next to me and I push Fionna away gently, despite that I want to fucking throw her.

Jared’s name flashes across my screen and I immediately heave myself out of bed to take the call a few paces away.

“Jared? What is it?”

He sounds breathless with worry and an instant chill rides over my heart. “It’s Blanca. Something happened while we were eating dinner. Something-”

“What?” I hiss, immediately going for my extra clothes in my overnight bag. “What happened?”

“I don’t know, Max, but she was in a lot of pain. She couldn’t tell me what was wrong and she wouldn’t let me touch her, but I called Doc Maize and she’s on her way. Just thought you should know.”

*I need to be there. I have to be there.”

“I’m coming home.”

“It’s not necessary. She’s settled down now. There’s no need-”

“I will decide what is *needed* Beta, thank you very much. I’ll be there in twenty.” Then I hang up before he can piss me off any worse and throw on my clothes, only mildly aware that Fionna has started getting dressed as well. “What the fuck are you dong?” I ask her, already putting on my shoes. 

“What does it look like?” She pauses, probably thinking that I’m about to order her to stay.

And she would be right. “I don’t fucking think so,” I snarl. “After what you pulled tonight? No. You’ll stay here.”

“But Max-”

“I said NO!” Then, softening my tone when I see suspicion clouding her eyes like the kindling of a flame. “I’ve already paid for the suite. You'll remain here until your brother arrives. I will have him collect you when he does.”

Her teeth clench and fire spews from her lips, “It’s that girl again, isn’t it? That Shiftless fucking freak!”

A slow smile spreads across my lips that is anything but friendly. “Watch yourself, Fionna. We're not mated yet and I’m beginning to wonder if we ever should be.”

Then, I leave.

Ignoring the warning in her venomous glare like a fool.