C24 FRIEND AND FOES II

Maliya POV

Cameron was trying to get me to come outside, but I refused as I cleaned up the house. While I adventured around the house, I found gym equipment in the basement and a dirty attic. I was elbow-deep in dust as I wiped down the hardwood floors of the attic, pushing furniture around.

Cameron was leaning against the pull-out stairs, annoyed with my cleaning. "Fresh air might be good for you. You haven't been out of the house since you probably walked into it." He said as he adjusted his foot, "And this attic is making you disgusting." He added as he looked at me. I only sighed and turned towards him.

"If you want to go outside, you can." I snapped and started to scrub the floor again.

Saying I was anxious was an understatement.

Liya was on edge as well. We tried to occupy my thoughts away from Aeron. But the fear was still there. Ontas whimpered as I scrubbed the floor even harder than before. We had rushed around the house making everything spotless all morning. From the basement entrance to that small room, I knew one thing. If we were going to die, I wanted to die in a clean place.

Cameron walked up the stairs and looked around the attic I had cleaned.

He then sat at the opening and watched me scrubbing the last bit of scruff off the floor by the opening. He let his legs hang in the air as he looked down at his hands, "Are you afraid?" He asked, I placed a sponge in a bucket and turned towards him, "I can smell the fear on you. But, what are you afraid of?" He asked.

"I-I-I-" My thoughts rushed as I thought of what to say. But Cameron didn't say anything as he leaned over to me. He placed a hand on my head, and slowly he patted my head, then wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pulling me into his chest.

"I'll protect you from anyone. Even the Alpha if I have to." He said in a promising voice, "You changed my life." I closed my eyes for a moment and let out a relaxing sigh as I hugged Cameron.

"Thank you," I said and pulled him as close as I could. Cameron chuckled and patted my back.

After our hug, I gave up on cleaning, and we went down the stairs. I took a quick break and cuddled myself on the couch. Cameron's body leaned towards mine, and he was flipping through the channels, but his eyes were on the forest. I followed his gaze, looking at the sun slowly setting, and a pair of black eyes watching the two of us.

Cameron's wolf took charge as he lifted his lip and let out a warning growl. The wolf turned away quickly and raced away from the house. I looked towards Cameron and raised an eyebrow, "Just because they are from another pack, doesn't mean they have a right to look into people's windows." Cameron said and rolled his eyes. He stood up and closed the blinds.

Another pack? Did that mean Alpha Kevin was already here? If he were, then that wolf could go back to him and show him that I was in Alpha Aeron's house. He would tell Aeron. Worry settled in my heart as I looked out at the dark gray blinds. The orange glow of the sunset tried to escape the heavy blinds that covered the window. And with that sight, a pang of sadness filled my heart.

'Where is mate?' Liya whimpered. Had that wolf already gotten back to Alpha Kevin? He promised me that he would be back around now. As the light from the window started to die, I looked over at Cameron. I tensed my body and sat up. Cameron looked slightly annoyed as he watched the TV, his focus away from me as he looked at the remote.

"You're my beta," I said in a small voice.

Cameron looked at me and smiled as he nodded his head, "Who do you take orders from?" I asked and raised an eyebrow.

"You and the Alpha. But, your order will be more powerful than the Alpha's." Cameron said.

I nodded for a moment as I let that information sink in.

"Do you like being my beta?" I asked him.

Cameron softly sighed as he leaned his head against the couch.

"I do, but I miss running. My wolf does miss his patrols; it was our only time to shift and run." He said and looked at me, "Some nights I will go on runs, but not as often as before." He admitted in a small voice.

"Do you want to be an omega again?"

"Well." Cameron said and sighed, "In a way, I do. I miss the brothers I saw all the time. And I never had such a great responsibility before.

But then there's you. And, after what happened, I couldn't live with myself if I failed to protect you." He said and smiled, "I wish I could be your beta part-time.

"What would happen to you if I left?" I asked and raised an eyebrow.

"If you left?" Cameron said, confused.

"If I died, or ran away?" I asked.

"Well, I would grieve for you if you lost your life. I'd hoped I wasn't the cause. I would probably be demoted back to an omega or cast out when Alpha takes another. If you ran away, I would try to find you so I could protect you. Or I would accompany you." Cameron said.

"Would he take another?" I asked Cameron.

"Well, it's not like he hasn't had other women." Cameron said and chuckled, "Truthfully, when he arrived back from the Black Moon's pack, he was supposed to impregnate one of the females or step down from Alpha. He had chosen a few who agreed, but if I'm not mistaken, he only fuc-

" Cameron stopped talking as he looked at me. I thought of my mate with other females, so that is what he was doing when I was in the hospital.

"Please don't tell him I said that."

"I could smell the females on him when he got to the hospital anyway," I said and yawned, stretching my arms out.

"He tries his hardest," Cameron said. I looked down at my hands as I allowed Liya’s emotions to fill my body. I could feel an aching in my heart as I closed my eyes.

"He doesn't try his hardest for me," I said.

Cameron and I sat in silence until the sky was completely black. I walked to the window and looked up at the dark sky; the only light was the glowing moon. Resting in the sky. Looking at the clock, I sighed and shook my head. Cameron gave me a small smile as I stood up and grabbed hold of the blanket I was using. I folded it and then looked at him, "Goodnight." I said, my voice breaking as tears started to fill my eyes.

Cameron quickly bowed his head as he looked at me with sad eyes.

"Goodnight, Luna." He whispered.

As I turned around, I could sense Cameron's anger as I slowly walked up the stairs. Turning towards the guest room, I closed the door and allowed the tears to fall freely down my face. I lay on the bed and tried to silence my sobs with a pillow. Liya howled as we felt a breaking in our hearts. 'Mate lied to us.' Closing my eyes, I nodded as I wiped the tears away, 'He doesn't need us.' Liya said. I nodded again, agreeing to her words as we thought of what he said before he left this morning.

Then again, he was going to use another female for a child. What if that is what he is doing at night? I said and closed my eyes as I brought the blanket to my cheek, If we tell him the truth. He will hurt us. He does not need us, Liya. I thought. It was hard to deny the truth in my words. Liya agreed with me as I curled into a ball and softly sobbed.