Chapter Eight: 2/2

Noah:

Monday already?

Was it just me, or did the weekend fly by?

I felt myself frown as I stood outside of my room, deciding what it was exactly that I wanted to do.

Do I eat here? Or do I get out of here and eat something?

Baird had promised that I would be free of the program until Thursday. So, I feel I should take full advantage of that.

I was stopped short on my way out of the building.

Baird stood in front of me, and I could see in his face that he had something serious to say to me.

Don’t be what I think it is.

“I’m afraid your request out of the program was denied,” Baird stated.

I knew that it would be. I just hoped that it would take a little longer to decide.

My gaze dropped to my feet, before looking back up to meet his eyes.

“Is that all?” I asked.

His lips tightened into a thin line.

“Baird,” I said low “Tell me you aren’t serious.”

“I tried to put it off,” he said, “But I am afraid Mr. Olsen has argued that you are of age, and should be mated by now.”

I knew that I was of age, I just didn’t care.

“And with that scare not too long ago,” Baird said, “He will not let you out of the program without finding your mate, or you joining the breeding program.”

“I wonder how Mr. Olsen would feel if he was told who to fuck and when,” I said simply.

Baird only sighed; he was growing accustomed to my short temper as of late. I only wished that I wouldn’t feel as angry as I have been. This program just rubbed me the wrong way.

“There is still hope for you, Noah,” Baird said, “You never know what might happen.”

I didn’t want to look at him, I just wanted to leave.

“You’ll never guess who had a reaction to one of our volunteers,” he said low.

Wait… so somebody actually had a reaction?

“What kind of reaction?” I asked.

“The kind only a mate can induce.”

“Who was it?” I asked.

“The human or the Devil?” Baird asked with a smile forming.

“You already know I probably don’t know the human,” I said “Who was it? Was it Caleb?”

He shook his head slowly before leaning in just a little “Delaney.”

I made an unmistakable face “I wasn’t aware that he was in the program at all.”

“It seems that Mr. Olsen is not only looking at you,” Baird stated, “Devon, however, still seems to be a rare exception.”

I didn’t have to say it, we both knew why.

Delaney’s sister Devon was one of the few of us that didn’t have any sexual desire at all. It was strange. She didn’t find anyone attractive, and the idea of sex with anyone repulsed her.

Sometimes I wished that I was repulsed at the idea, but I still held out some hope that I would find my mate. On my own time.

“Is his mate a man or a woman?” I asked.

Baird looked at me, and I could tell that he thought it was personal that I even asked.

“His mate is a woman,” he said after a minute, “And if you were here on Friday, you would have seen her.”

“Is she the reason you tried to call me back?” I asked.

“One of them,” he said simply.

So then there was more than one woman he thought was attractive? I thought he was like Devon, where sex was of no interest to him.

“She is unusual,” Baird admitted, “But I feel like she just might be perfect for Delaney.”

I suppose most mates were, weren’t they?

I only nodded.

“I have a feeling your mate will be perfect for you too.”

He didn’t need to add that part.

Again, all I could do was nod.

“Olsen wants you back here tomorrow,” Baird said, interrupting our awkward silence “I am sorry I could not give you until Thursday.”

I just shook my head. I only hoped I could actually get that far without having to come back, but I had a feeling that it was just that, a hope.

“I hope that you enjoy the rest of your day,” Baird said before turning and heading toward the gate where the volunteers gather.

Sure, I would enjoy the rest of my day… knowing that I had to come back and start the program again tomorrow.

I frowned; I could use a drink.

Shay:

“Hold on,” I said to Jody, who was staring at me like a crazy person “What do you mean you have a match?”

We just went there on Friday, and she already has a match? It’s barely Monday.

She showed me the message on her phone.

From: Ginger Baird Man – ‘Good afternoon Jody, I am messaging you to ask if you could come in tomorrow afternoon? I believe I have found a match for you.’

I read over the message, before glancing at the name she had for him in her phone.

“Seriously?” I asked, “Ginger Baird Man?”

She just grinned, “You’re only jealous that you didn’t come up with it first.”

Honestly, I didn’t even think about having him in my phone as anything but Baird.

“I am going,” she said.

“I didn’t think you wouldn’t,” I said back.

“Will you go with me?” she asked.

I was about to say no, but then I figured I could see more into the program if I went.

“Okay,” I said, “But you will not talk me into wearing anything slutty.”

She gasped before placing her hand over her chest, “Me? Make you wear anything slutty? Never.”

I just glared at her.

“Seriously, though,” she said, “I was thinking crotchless panties.”

I just shook my head as I laughed.

“I was planning on something simple,” she said, “Shorts and a tank top.”

I was surprised actually, “Sounds good to me, but not a tank top.”

She looked at me seriously, “As long as I can see your nipples, I really don’t give a shit what you wear.”

“You and the nipples,” I said, laughing.

She was slapping her leg as she laughed “What can I say? I’m your nipple godmother.”

I laughed harder, trying not to fall over.

This bitch.

After a few minutes, the laughter died down, and we were left sitting there in silence. No awkwardness between us, just pure happiness. Until I broke the silence.

“Are you nervous?” I asked.

“Maybe a little bit,” she admitted, “I heard matches are a big deal.”

I could only imagine.

“But the Alpha human part,” she said, looking at me. “That makes me worry.”

I placed my hand on her knee, and I smiled wide at her, “You don’t need to worry.”

She met my eyes, but only smiled a little bit, “How do you know?”

I looked at her dead serious, “Because I don’t care what abilities he has, I’ll fucking kill him if he hurts you.”

She grinned at me this time, “Same goes for you when you get matched.”

“If,” I stated, “If I get matched.”

“You’re joking, right?” she asked “It’s already set in stone, there is a plan for you Shay. You probably already have a match; Baird is probably just having us come in one at a time.”

I didn’t have the same optimism she did about a match for me, but it didn’t matter all that much.

“I’ll know soon enough then,” I said to her, “If he has a match for me, I’m sure he’ll let me know when I just show up.”

She nodded, “And if he doesn’t have a match for you, maybe you should just ask him out.”

I made a face at her.

“Don’t you give me that,” she pointed at me, “You think he is hot, don’t deny it.”

I couldn’t deny it, but I certainly wasn’t going to admit it yet.

Jody made a loud sound before standing up, “I’m hungry.”

I narrowed my eyes at her.

“Help me make something,” she said, “Please?”

I made an annoying sound as I stood up, “Fine.”

She only grinned before walking out of my room.

Noah:

I felt sick.

My stomach was angry at me. This is what I deserve, I guess, for drinking and not eating anything.

I made my way to the cafeteria, and I went right to the refrigerator in the back.

Once I laid eyes on the small bottles of orange juice, I was thankful.

I opened the bottle and took a small drink.

“Rough night?”

I turned my head to see Griff standing in the doorway.

“Rough morning,” I said.

He came in and went right for the strawberry milk.

“Are you going down to the trial center today?” Griff asked.

I took another drink of my juice before I answered, “I don’t really have much of a choice.”

He only nodded.

The only sound in the room now was the hum of the freezer.

“Did you hear who got a match?” he asked after a few minutes of quiet.

“Delaney?” I asked.

“It’s still hard to believe,” Griff nodded “He went out of his way to avoid the program.”

That was one of the things I respected about Delaney. He went really out of his way to avoid the program. He was even confined here for a while because he flat out refused to participate at all.

It bothered me a little that he got a match before I did.

I suppose that was unavoidable, though, considering.

My phone buzzed, and I already knew who it was.

Baird trying to nag me. I already knew I was late.

I’m busy trying to drink away this hangover.

“It’s never a good idea to make him wait,” Griff said.

He must have heard the buzzing of my phone as well.

“He’s going to want me more sober than not,” I stated, “So I think me being a few more minutes won't hurt.”

“Sometimes, I wonder how well you actually know the man,” Griff said with a small laugh.

I know I don’t know Baird as well as I would like to think I do, but he was still like family.

“You should probably go.”

I nodded. He was right.

“Yeah, I’ll talk to you later.”

He didn’t say anything when I walked away.

This strange feeling sat heavy in my stomach, and I didn’t know what to make of it.

All I know for sure is that it sucked.

I headed to my room to change my clothes. That much I could control.