Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 5 Face Full of Fluff

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“I used to know you the best and now I don’t even remember your name.“– Mya Waechtler

Kiya

Well, it’s back to business! Nothing like a mental breakdown to kick my ass back into gear, right? Yet, there’s another dilemma that I need to decipher. And it involved my best guy friend.

Darien has been distant with me. Cold. Cold as the frozen tundra.

Ever since yesterday afternoon, he’s acknowledged my presence. He stares at me emotionlessly, like I’m a stranger. We never talk, and he finds any excuse to avoid me. Last night at dinner, when he greeted everyone. he skipped me and went about his evening. Fear festered in my heart at this drastic change. How did we go from close friends to strangers in twenty–four hours?

Something isn’t right. I’ve been noticing him hanging out with Odessa more than usual, and their PDA is becoming almost excessive. Speaking of Odessa, her surrounding air changed. The way she carries herself changed. It’s almost like she got a power boost out of nowhere. She walks like she owns the world and can crush it with her palms. I’m all for female empowerment and I’m curious about her change, too. And Darien treats her like his queen. She relishes in the attention he gives her because it’s given to her with a simple flick of the finger.

I get it. They’re mates. It’s normal for mates to be affectionate with each other, but that’s not the problem. My problem is one of my best friends is ignoring me and treating me like I’m unworthy of his time when he treats the rest of our group normally.

Did I do something wrong? Am I on the verge of losing my friendship with Darien?

“Gah…” I growled internally, shaking my head from this disastrous all–or–nothing thinking. It only leads to trouble and heightened anxiety. After all, I have bigger things I need to focus on.

Like this obstacle course the pack is building for the pup trainees!

Walking to the back of the pack house, I hear the echoing symphony of the hammer against wood and plastic, chainsaws, and drills. Clouds of sawdust dusted the air and landed on my unfortunate self. After my mental breakdown, the ranked wolves and Garnet Moon warriors convened in Neron’s office to discuss ways to test the pups after two months of training.

Valerian suggested an obstacle course, and we thought it was a good idea. The ideas spurred from human television programs where the contestants compete in front of a crowd battling through different obstacles. As they progress, so does the difficulty in passing through before reaching the end. Time matters too if they

want to advance into the next round.

It’s interesting.

I’m excited! Wolves of all shapes, sizes, colors, and sexes worked swimmingly together to make the obstacle course happen. Neron and Kwame imported supplies needed for construction from wood to rubber tarps and plastic. Spotting Jackie, Sapphire, and Abigail carrying gymnastic mats, I trotted over as the three women dropped them. Dust and dirt picked up in the air, invoking coughing and spitting.

“Hey, Little Bit!” Jackie announced with her award–winning smile. She pulled me into a tight hug. “Finally

Chapter 5–Face Full of Fluff

coming to help us, eh?”

“Yeah, there’s no way I’m going to miss this.” I nodded. “Do you guys need help with anything?”

“Nope. We got it handled.” Abigail replied, stretching her right arm out. During the whole kidnapping madness with that brute Cerberus, she broke it. Now, it’s almost healed. Dr. Jackson said she must wear an arm sling for another week so the fracture can fully heal. “I heard Kwame and the others need help with the climbing wall.”

“Cool! I’ll go check it out.” Bidding my friends farewell, I walked to where the ranked wolves of Zircon Moon are, and immediately, I’m met with shirtless men and women glistening under the blistering sun from sweat. Whoever is in charge of the sun made it a show to glitter their colorful flesh with their primal beauty.

And Goddess, my heart is weak. Being attracted to both sexes is a pain in the ass because I have the communication skills of an over–baked potato.

And it’s made worse when Neron jogs up to me. Goddamnit, would it kill him to put on a shirt?!

with a smile in her voice. “Neron is a

you aren’t helping! We’re supposed to hate

him and admire his beauty at the

“Good grief.”

casting a shade over me. The sun is a dastardly star, for its light cast a halo around the Alpha’s exquisite form. Sometimes, I wish I were taller because 1, unfortunately, have a face full of chiseled chest, glistening with sweat with an aroma powerful enough to make me lightheaded. The fact that I need to tilt my head back just to be face–to–face

I’m not even short by

a

I grumbled. “Can you put

heat? Working on building this course for the pups? Nope.” He chuckled, brushing

“Yes.”

that’s a good thing. You find

to my cheeks. “Don’t

do. Your squeaky voice says otherwise.”

up!” Ending our banter of whether I find him attractive, which I do, but his ego needs to deflate a bit, I walk around him to get a better look at the construction. “What do you need

“We jus

top. Some wolves are taking a break,

|Chapter

climbing holds, I grabbed it and a power drill. Before I could climb the ladder, Neron stopped me with

knitting his eyebrows. “You can slip off and fall. I

two stories, and the paneling has enough space for me to walk. If I can move

pups.

Kiya. But even so, be careful.”

paneling. Drilling in the remaining pieces was easy. Dots marked the placements on the grey plywood. As I was busy drilling, owl sounds echoed near me. I jerked my head to the side to spot Diana watching me work, gold eyes watching with curiosity. Smiling, I waved

stood erect, not just over the wall, but over the construction. A beautiful sight of a combined effort to make something for the next generation of warriors warmed my heart.

wait to see what they’re made of once

been the end, right? Wrong. Because when I turned around, I met with a face full of white feathers and chortling hooting. This fucking bird and her personality! It caught me so off guard that I stumbled backward over the edge with a

to the face and a head to

pain. I expected a fractured skull. I expected something to let me know that I’ve fallen and might not get up, but it didn’t come. Because I didn’t land on the ground. I landed in the brawny arms of

And his

told you to be careful!” Neron reprimanded as I moved Diana off my face, sputtering from feather strands. that

shot back. “It was Diana!”

“Who’s Diana?”

Diana ruffling her white feathers back as she retracted her wings. Her head tilted and twisted as she looked at my disapproving face and Neron’s confused expression. In an attempt of remorse, she hobbled on top of my bosom and nuzzled her small head into the

with this nocturnal chicken.

smoothing the feathers on her back. “Also

near–death.”

muttered softly. “I’ve seen her around, perched on various trees around the

the same when we first met.” Diana hooted again, this time craning her neck to look up at the Alpha.

an owl is nuzzling into the cheek

sounds in happiness and pleasure. This scene

moments where we just pet owls and pretend the world doesn’t exist around us? Unaware that I’m still in Neron’s arms with my body pressed up

interrupting

she suspects something’s going on, Abigail looks like she’s witnessing a monumental moment between couples, Sapphire is rubbing her chin in deep thought, and Galen is probably mapping out the timeline of when Neron and I accept each other and give him nieces and nephews.

disgust impaled me constantly in the heart with each second. Pure, heated hatred from his blue eyes made me want to shrivel in the corner and hide. What

watching my best male friend depart from our group. Disgust permeated with every step

don’t want

“Neron!”