Chapter 7

Off center

Talia's POV

I was eating dinner. Kai sat next to me on the couch. Adri was back at her apartment. She would normally spend Fridays with us, but she had a gallery this weekend.

Adri texted me. Don't forget to wash Kai's nest. It stinky like him.

Ugh, Why can't he do it? I texted her back.

He'll just wanna keep it up and mark everything. She replied.

Dumb Alphas. :P I sent a pfft emoticon.

Be nice to our stinky boy! She typed quickly.

Kai's a stinky boy, a dumb Alpha babyy~I smiled.

NOO! She yelled at me.

When I find his toy, he plays with it maybee~. He marks from day to dusk, with his stinky fox musk~! I finished my song.

Ok, that wasn't so bad. She added after a bit. Don't play with Kai too late. I love you.

Luv you too. Good night. Then I went to the home screen.

My phone said it was the 29th of April, was that right? I looked at the calendar. It was. I turned to Kai. He sipped his juice. I waited for him to finish.

"Kai, behave on your date tonight." I told him.

"I don't wanna go." He pouted.

"Kai, we've been over this." I waited.

"Don't wanna." His ears flattened.

It had been a little over two weeks since Kai gotten in a fight with the dog. Dad started taking Kai out to find a mate. Kai wouldn't mingle with the other Pets if we were there. He would want to mark and play with us. I had to threaten to take away cuddles so he would behave.

There was a knock at the door. It was Dad. I let him in. Kai ran to my room. "No outside!"

"Kai!" I yelled at him.

He had tangled himself in my blankets. Owen had to pry him off my bed. Kai whined, trying to convince me to let him stay. I told him to stop being so dramatic. He marked me heavily. I rubbed his ears and waved good bye to them.

Talia's POV End

Kai's POV

"Alright, everyone, I see some new faces so let's go over the rules. When you came through the door, you were given a name tag and a choice of buttons. Your name tags have your name and genders. The buttons you are wearing are for finding someone you are interested in.

"They have alpha, beta, or omega symbols on them. They are pink, blue, striped, or gray. Pink is for females, blue is for males, striped is for females and males, and gray means no preference. There are tables on the either side of the room if you have grabbed the wrong button.

"It is strongly encouraged you interact with other Pets. However, you may not leave with another Pet unless your owners agree to it. There will be no inappropriate touching or fighting. Alphas, this means you will not mark anyone. If it is discovered you are the instigator, you will be asked to leave. Chaperones are stationed throughout the area.

"Remember, this is an informal mixer. There are snacks and drinks in the back. Have fun everyone." The lady got off the stage.

I looked at Owen. He stared impassively. I flattened my ears. He frowned a bit. Owen wouldn't take me home yet. I looked at the other Pets. They were talking and trying to impress each other. A Border Collie tried to flirt with me, but she wouldn't let me talk. There was a tabby that was nice. We didn't really click though. Lucy, a Golden Lab, talked to me. She was ok. I turned to go to the snack table.

"Watch it!" A little dog growled. She was short with brown eyes and white-ish blond hair. She didn't have a button. Owen made me put one on. I chose the female Omega and Beta one. There were too many Alphas here for me to consider males.

"That was my bad. I didn't see you." I said soothingly.

"What kind of dog are you?" She asked.

"I'm a fox." I told her.

"Really?" Her tail wagged with interest.

"Yes." I nodded, going to the snack table.

"That's so cool. I'm a poodle." She followed me.

"What's your name?" I took a few scoops of barbecue weenies.

"Libby." She grabbed a plate too.

"I'm Kai." I helped Libby get some weenies. Her ears perked up a bit.

"Is your owner here?" She asked.

"Mistress is at home. Owen brought me. He's in a suit." I pointed him out.

"My owner is the one the helpers. She brings me sometimes. We're been together for 6 years." Libby said.

"That's good." I hummed.

"What'd you like to do?" She asked.

"I like playing fetch and cuddling Mistress and Adri. And I like pets." I said.

"How long have you been with your owner?" Libby tilted her head in confusion.

"Mistress's father got me from the breeder on the 19th and Owen taught me stuff. Then Mistress came and brought me home." I thought.

"Why do you remember that?" She frowned.

"Mistress's parents said it was a week from Spring Break. Then Alex got to stay home all week. He is Mistress's brother. He is good boy. I love him." I told her.

"You haven't been to the park yet?" She wondered.

"The last time we went to a park, a dog tried to mark Mistress." My ears flattened.

"Oh." She said. "Maybe your Mistress could take you when there's not so many Pets around?"

"Like when?" I asked.

"Evening?" She guessed.

I nodded. "Maybe..."

Libby and I also got a half a pretzel sandwich, cheese crackers, and chicken dip. We ate and went for seconds. I got a slice of pizza and meatballs. Owen was talking to some lady when I went to the bathroom. Then Owen said we could go now. My tail wagged. We walked out of the building. I breathed in deeply. It wasn't so noisy anymore. I stuck my tongue out at the Pet speed dating sign. Owen unlocked the car and we got in.

"Did you have fun with the poodle?" Owen asked.

"Libby." I corrected.

"Do you like Libby?" He pushed.

"I don't wanna date Libby." I crossed my arms.

"Kai, it's good you made friends, but Talia wants you put an effort into this. She wants you to have a mate." He told me.

I slammed my paws into the floor. Electric sparks crackled. "NO! I don't wanna date; I wanna stay home with Mistress!"

He exhaled, sweeping his hands through his hair. "We're going home, Kai."

Kai's POV End

Talia's POV

I was writing when the outside door opened. I saved my work and got up. Kai jumped on me as soon as I opened the door. Dad was behind him. Kai nuzzled me, kissing my face.

"Did he behave?" I asked.

"He made friends with a Teacup poodle. He talked a little with some other Pets, but nothing else. And he had a tantrum in the car." Owen reported.

"Tantrum?" I frowned.

"He kicked the floor and demanded to come home. He also said he didn't want to date." Puck clarified.

"Kai…" I sighed.

"Talia, perhaps we should allow him to take a break from dating." Owen suggested.

"You think so?" I asked him.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Ok, next week then." I pushed Kai off of me and got a ball. "Go get it, Kai."

Kai chased after the ball, but got distracted by his rope toy. Owen left to go prepare for my lesson. Kai tossed the rope around. As he passed by his nest, he discovered it was washed. He scented it then demanded to have some of my clothes. I gave my chocolate stained night shirt and some toys. I didn't have any of Adri's clothes. But he was happy with what he got.

I decided to have dessert before my lesson. I chose mint chocolate chip ice cream and Kai ate some peanut butter pie. We turned on the TV to a movie and settled in. I had barely started with my ice cream when I started feeling nauseous. I spat it out and moved onto my milk. It didn't help. Then my side hurt. I went to my room, curling up on my bed.

Kai came in quietly. "Mistress?"

"Go eat, Kai." I told him.

"Mistress din din?" He asked.

"All done. Go eat, Kai." I waved him off.

He left. The TV was turned off. His fork scraped against the plate. It sounded so loud. Kai dumped out my bowl. Then he washed the dishes. My bedroom door opened again. Kai crawled in my bad and cuddled me. My stomach cramped. I whined. I heard Puck teleport in. Kai ran out of my room and barked at him.

"Kai, no…" I said.

He heard me and stopped. Puck looked in my room.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" He asked.

"My tummy hurts." I told him.

He went into my bathroom. Kai followed him. They returned with a thermometer. Puck stuck it in my mouth. It beeped. He looked at it.

"No fever, a bit warm though. We'll skip today's lesson and see how you feel. You need anything, Sweetheart?" He asked.

"Advil." I moaned.

Dad gave me some and a heated up ice pack. It was the microwavable kind. Then he tucked me into bed. Kai tried to mark me, but his scent was overwhelming. I pushed him away. He whined as he was led out. I had a fitful sleep.

Talia's POV End