Avoiding Alpha

Chapter Eight

He walked off again, left her standing there feeling strangely guilty. What had she said to cause such an expression? Shock and, despair crossed his face but that wasn’t all that got to her. His eyes had sparkled as though he was going to cry but he didn’t; instead the look made guilt eat at her. She felt slightly sick.

                Yes she was telling him over and over again she didn’t wait him and yes the minute she found out what the words were she would formally reject him but really, she had lived in a cage for most of her life – she didn’t want a second jailer.

                It was beautiful outside, picturesque. If she had a camera she would have been clicking away but when he left her that vivid green suddenly wasn’t so green any more. It dulled. The bubbling and trickling sound of the flowing water wasn’t so loud and tranquil, it was simply a noise she was hearing and she felt sort of disappointed in herself. She had hurt him with her words, and Ray, he had yet to hurt her.

                The thought struck her; he had not raised a hand to her, not even his voice. He had exercised complete patience and had even tried to make her bruises feel better – and they really didn’t seem to hurt as usual. And he had fed her. Ray had only shown her kindness and she had hurt him.

“Tendra!”

                The familiar childish voice of Tim burst through her reverie and she quickly put her thoughts  to the back of her mind - to pull pout at a later date -  and plastered a smile on her face.

“Tim! Are you alright?” She demanded as he ran outside and flung his little arms around her legs.

“I’m okay, Ashton made me lunch – he gave me loads!”

“Haha, did you eat it all?”

“Of course!”

                His grin was contagious. He did look rather happy though with his rosy cheeks as if he had just been playing boisterously or running. Even his hair was ruffled.

“Ashton chased me! His wife Nancy was making a cake when we left and she said I could have some after dinner. She’s real nice Tendra, you’d like her.”

“Has Ashton come here with you?”

“Yes, so he can take me back.”

“I want you to stay with me Tim.”

“Why Tendra? Ashton’s nice, he doesn’t shout or hit or anything and Ashton and Alpha say you need to get better so you have to stay with Alpha. He promised me he would care for you.”

“I want you here because I want to make sure you’re alright.”

“You do not trust easily do you Tendra?”

                That deep throaty voice announced Ray’s returns and she looked back to see both Ray and Ashton in the doorway.