It had only been a few minutes and after Indianna had recovered from reading the text, she made her way down her stairs as silently as possible.
She could hear her mother's and Greyson's voices and struggled to hear what they were saying.
"You can't tell her about him," Greyson said.
"I haven't and I won't. She doesn't need to be burdened with the knowledge of that monster."
Greyson nodded. "She'll have questions."
"I know."
"Ignore them. Lie. I don't care what you do, just don't answer them."
"She'll get annoyed at me."
"She'll get over it," Greyson shrugged and there was a long pause. "Won't you, sugar?"
Indianna froze and Greyson walked out of the kitchen, stopping in front of her. "I wasn't listening."
"Liar."
"Fine, I was. Tell me what you were talking about."
"I'm not telling you anything."
"Mum-"
"She won't go against an Alpha," Greyson said and Indianna looked at Iris who shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Indianna."
"Whatever. It's not the first time I've been disappointed by you," Indianna muttered and looked at Greyson. "You can go now."
"I can. But I'm not."
"Greyson-" Indianna stopped talking and Greyson frowned.
"Indie, what's wrong? You don't look too good."
"I..." Indianna squeezed her eyes shut and reopened them. Her vision had started to blur and her head was aching. "I-I'm fine."
"Indianna," Greyson said sternly and was in front of her immediately, steadying her as she took a step forward. Indianna felt the sparks before she saw Greyson holding onto her. It took time for her blurry vision to focus on Greyson, but when she did she looked into his dark eyes and he frowned. "You're burning up."
"I'm fin-" Indianna stopped mid sentence and sighed. "I'm not fine."
"Lets get you upstairs," Greyson said and wrapped his arm round Indianna's waist, guiding her to the stairs. Her legs wobbled as she stumbled beside Greyson and she groaned.
"I feel sick."
Greyson looked down at Indianna and furrowed his eyebrows. "If you are sick on me," he muttered and picked her up in his arms, "I will not be fucking happy."
Indianna looked up at Greyson and forced a grin. "Good."
A few moments later Indianna was placed onto her soft mattress and she sighed, sinking back into her pillows. Greyson sat beside her and felt her forehead, pursing his lips as he did. "Looks like the beginning stage has started up again."
"Great."
"Do you still feel sick?"
Indianna nodded. "I don't think I will be, though."
Greyson nodded and took Indianna's hand, rubbing soothing circles into her palm. "I know this sucks, the process, but you'll come out of it stronger. You'll feel like you'll want to die during it, but after its worth it."
"Was it bad for you?"
Greyson nodded. "It's always worse for an Alpha."
"I'm not an Alpha."
"You have Alpha blood and you're an Alpha's mate," Greyson shrugged.
Indianna sucked in a sharp breath as a spasm ran through her body and she hissed in pain as her skin started to sting; it was as if she was being pierced by thousands and thousands of needles.
"Oh gosh." Greyson looked at Iris who stood shocked in the doorway. "What's happening to her?"
"The process. It's the beginning of the transformation into a werewolf," Greyson explained. "She's about to have a fit."
It was then when Indianna's body jolted upwards and Greyson growled, jumping up and pinning Indianna's arms to her sides.
"Come on, sugar, get through this," he said under his breath. "You're fucking tough, Indie."
Indianna wanted to reply. She couldn't. Her body wasn't responsive and she was forced to watch herself be helpless. She had to trust Greyson. He could look after her, he would look after her? Wouldn't he?
"Shit," Greyson cursed and wiped a tear that had slipped down Indianna's cheek. "I'm here, sugar. I ain't fucking moving until you're fine."
Yes.
Yes, Greyson would look after her.
"You look like shit," Greyson announced, walking into Indianna's room the next evening.
"Thanks."
"How are you feeling?"
"Like shit."
"Wonderful," he said. "Did you know a teacher turned up at school today. I was starting to wonder if they were a myth."
"How interesting," Indianna yawned and brushed her hair away from her sweaty forehead. Greyson closed the door to Indianna's room with his foot and chucked his bag on the floor. In a few strides he was at the window and he opened it wide. "Thanks," Indianna said. "I was getting hot."
"I know. I'm in your head," Greyson shrugged. "Have you eaten today?"
Indianna attempted to sit up right in her bed, but her weak attempts were useless and Greyson was by her side in an instant; putting pillows behind her and lifting her up. "Yeah. I threw it up."
Greyson sighed and shook his head. "Have you managed to keep any food down since you started being sick?"
"No."
"Fuck," Greyson muttered. "Try and eat something later?"
"If I'm just going to throw it up again then what's the point?"
"You need food. Your body is changing and you need the energy to be able to change without draining yourself."
"If you want to go and buy me pizza then I might consider it."
"Fuck off. I'm not a delivery boy," Greyson scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Then I'm not really that hungry."
Greyson pursed his lips and Indianna smirked. "Later," he muttered and Indianna grinned.
"Greyson, how are Harry and Brooke?" Indianna wondered.
"Still on edge. She was with her friends today. Although I did catch them doing something naughty in janitors closest at lunch."
"They were having sex?"
Greyson laughed and Indianna's surprised expression. "They were doing a lot more than just sex." Indianna looked at her hands and Greyson chuckled. "You're so innocent, sugar."
"I am not," she snapped.
"It's not a bad thing," Greyson shrugged. "It's rather cute actually-" Greyson stopped when he noticed Indianna's expression and he sighed. "How long has it been since the last one?"
Indianna glanced at her clock and groaned. "Only half an hour."
"How long did it last?"
"About-" Indianna didn't finish her sentence. Her body went rigid and she started to fit violently.
Greyson pulled up a chair and sat beside Indianna's bed. All he could do was watch his mate be in pain. He couldn't help.
He hated it.
He had held Indianna down when she first fitted, but he soon realised that it wasn't necessary. The fits weren't as physically violent like before, but they came more frequently and lasted longer.
Indianna's face scrunched up in pain and Greyson looked away when a strangled scream escaped her lips. He swore under his breath and shook his head.
He hated being helpless.
It lasted 15 minutes. When it was over Indianna laid silently and kept her eyes shut. Sweat was dripping down her face and she was taking long shaky breaths.
"Can you get me a towel please?"
Greyson stood up and walked into Indianna's bathroom. He grabbed and towel and went back into the bedroom, throwing it at Indianna.
It landed on her face.
"Thanks," Indianna said sarcastically and slowly wiped her face with the towel.
"My bad," Greyson said.
"Greyson?"
"Yeah?"
"I could really do with that pizza right now."
*
"This was fucking expensive, please don't throw it up," Greyson said, placing the steaming hot pizza box in front of Indianna.
"I'll try not to," she said and opened the lid revealing the hot cheesy pizza.
"Your mother is downstairs," Greyson said as Indianna chewed on the cheesy goodness. "She's worried about you."
"I know."
"She's worried and you're ignoring her."
"She's keeping secrets. Neither of you will tell me about Rogue."
"There's nothing to tell," Greyson shrugged.
"Exactly my point," Indianna grumbled and flinched when a wave of pain flooded her body.
Greyson didn't say anything. He grabbed a slice of pizza and ate half in one mouthful. "Good pizza."
"Please tell me."
"I might buy this pizza again."
"Greyson," Indianna groaned.
"What? You don't like the pizza?"
"Greyson!" Indianna snapped. "Stop avoiding the subject! I deserve to know who Rogue is. After all that's happened. You owe me answers!"
"I gave you answers."
"I didn't have these questions then!" Indianna exclaimed. She instantly regretted it and squeezed her eyes shut when her voice rang loudly in her ears and her head span. "Greyson, since those answers you have marked me. By force," Indianna added and glared at Greyson. "I've started the process and found out about my dad being a werewolf and an Alpha! Now there's a mysterious Rogue person that you refuse to tell me about. It's not fair, Greyson. You say that you care about me, then give me answers."
"Sugar, I do care," Greyson said. "It's why I'm not telling you what you want to know."
"You're so irritating," Indianna muttered.
"I'm going to the toilet," Greyson announced and walked out of the room.
Indianna sighed and reached for her phone, gasping in realisation as she did. With wide eyes she hurried to unlock her phone and go to her texts. She clicked on the messages between her and R and chewed her lip nervously.
What does R stand for?
Why don't you take a guess.
-R
I'm not in the mood for games. Just tell me.
Where's the fun in that?
-R
What does R stand for?
I have a feeling you know, Indianna.
-R
Indianna took a deep breath and typed the 5 letters.
Rogue.
Greyson hides me from you, now you're going to hide me from him.
-R
It is you. You're Rogue?
Yes, Indianna. And you aren't going to tell your stupid mate otherwise I'll make sure you never hear the word 'sugar' ever again.
-R