---- As | step out of the building, | grin at the name on the phone display. "Dorian," | answer the call with a smug smile on my lips. "No shit, Sherlock, | know who I'm calling." Brian grumbles. Is he annoyed, or is it the mystical gnome that crawls up his ass every morning and dies there? A weak smile curls my lips as | think about the never-ending joke, just to be jerked out of my thoughts my Brian's voice. "Where the fuck are you? The meeting starts in five minutes! Did you forget? Shit, you forgot! Again. Holy hell, how many times do | have to explain the importance of those meetings to you? | swear, sometimes you're such a dickhead!" My Beta sounds a bit frantic, and if it weren't him who calls me, | might be worried, but this is his usual self. "| suppose this rant means you didn't bother to check my schedule, did you? | had to cancel the meetings. Something unexpected came up. I'm not in the territory right now." | lean against the ---- wall and scan my surroundings, just in case someone tries to listen in. I've always hated it when someone eavesdrops and meddles in other people's business, but since it's me, | have to be ten times more alert and careful. You never know when someone might try to blackmail you. Brian and | had to face the Council of Elders when we were barely twenty because of a stupid inside joke we discussed over the phone. Some woman passed by and heard a couple of words. In short, that snitch went to the Elders, and we faced disciplinary actions for a damn joke. To say the least - | learned my lesson after that time. "Why? Has something happened?" Brian pulls me back to reality again. Perhaps I'm losing my ability to focus on more important things? Lately, I've been overthinking every move | take, every decision | make, and ---- every conversation | have. Even with the closest ones. I'm too distracted for my own good. If | can't get my head back in the game, | will end up in someone's trap. Who knows, the girl's father might have, no, he most likely has ulterior motives. Might as well use my time wisely and snoop around a little after the call. "Well, duh," the answer leaves me without thinking. | chuckle as the immature response leaves me before | can think of something more appropriate. Again, I'm acting in the moment - a very bad idea, especially in the enemy's territory. "Dorian, I'm not having the best day, so why don't you drop the asshole attitude and tell me what's going on? I'm your Beta, remember? | should know where you are. And besides, I'm your friend; you can trust me. Is there anything | can do to help?" Brian sounds like he's out of breath. Does he really think I'll tell him where | am and allow him to come here? Brian is a good Beta, ---- but damn, the boy knows no boundaries, respect, and has zero ability to lead diplomatic meetings. | pinch the bridge of my nose and exhale in frustration. | should've thought about Brian's nature before | asked him to be my Beta. He's a nice guy, a great friend, but hell is he curious about everything that doesn't concern him. While | have every right to keep this to myself, | know Brian won't give up until he gets what he wants. And right now, he wants information. "I'm at the Midnight Mist. Something came up." Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!