Hope Is Dangerous

Virgo POV

I think Vegas is wrong about her, she calmed Havoc. He hasn’t been calm or settled since the day I got him. Not even Thea was able to calm him. She’s different, even the way she looks at us and challenges Vegas is different. Thea was soft and quiet, she’s a warrior and she doesn’t back down to Vegas. Watching her challenge him is amusing. Nobody talks back to him, nobody tells him no. He’s already losing it and she hasn’t even gotten to the pack yet.

The crazy part is I don’t even think he realizes it. Vegas thinks control means nobody pushes back. She pushed back in the first five minutes and he didn’t shut her down. He argued with her. Explained himself. Asked questions. That isn’t normal for him. Most people obey or leave. She did neither.

In her pack she’s loved and treated with respect. How is the pack going to react to her.

“She’s stronger than the first one” Havoc says and I freeze.

He rarely speaks to me and it’s been like that since I got him.

Not because he can’t. Because he doesn’t want to. Havoc doesn’t talk unless something matters to him. Sometimes weeks go by and all I get is growls and instincts.

Watching her sitting across from me notebook in her lap she looks so focused and calm.

She pulls a textbook out of her bag.

A medical textbook.

I want to ask her about it but I’m not sure if she will tell me.

For a second I just stare at it.

She's planning for a future.

Classes, exams, patients.

A life that has absolutely nothing to do with me or Vegas.

Something about that bothers me more than it should.

Medicine. That doesn’t fit what I expected. Warriors usually study combat strategy or leadership. She’s reading about healing. Weird. Her whole life seems backwards. She trains warriors and studies medicine. She talks to Alphas like equals. She hasn’t shifted but somehow everyone listens to her anyway.

Nobody listened to Vegas and I because they wanted to.

They listened because they were afraid of what happened if they didn't.

The warriors at Dark Falls looked at Kalani differently.

Like they trusted her.

I don't think I've ever had that.

Everything in me wants to learn her but the reality of this is, the moment I get too close that’s when control starts to falter.

She’s beautiful, more than I could have imagined.

Her eyes are unlike anything I have ever seen on someone with her complexion and it’s breathtaking.

The pale blue against her skin shouldn’t work and somehow it does. She doesn’t look delicate though. She looks dangerous. Like she was built to survive things she shouldn’t have had to survive.

I hope Vegas allows her and her friend to stay in our house because I need to see her everyday.

I tell myself it’s because Havoc is calmer. Because calmer means safer. Because safer means she lives. But the thought sits wrong in my chest because if that was all it was I wouldn’t care if she stayed in the pack house instead.

She looks up from her book and catches me looking at her.

She takes one ear buds out.

“Is there something you need?, I can feel you staring and it’s honestly kind of weird” she says.

I smile.

“No I just think you’re beautiful” I say low and her entire body freezes.

Her friend giggles next to her and she gives her a death glare.

For half a second she forgets to breathe and something in my chest pulls tight at the fact that I caused it. Havoc settles even more in my head almost satisfied.

Vegas looks over at me.

“What are you doing?” he links.

“I just answered her question. I know, I know stay away from her, don’t get attached. I know the rules” I link back before closing it.

When I focus back on her she looks between the two of us.

“Thanks, and do you two always have private conversations about people in front of them?” She asks.

“Are you always this spicy and combative?” Vegas asks.

She laughs.

“Oh you have no idea mate” she says and puts her ear bud back in her ear.

Vegas is fuming when I glance at him.

The funny part?

He doesn't even realize he's fuming.

Ask him and he'll swear he's perfectly in control.

He was not prepared for her to be so defiant.

Defiance and lack of control gets people killed especially her if we aren’t careful.

But watching her sit there completely unafraid while knowing exactly who we are makes something ugly and warm twist in my chest. Not possessiveness. Not yet. Something worse. Hope.

And hope has killed every man in my family long before the curse ever did.