Jughead watched as Quin and Kevin familiarized themselves with one another with a smile resting on his lips. He wondered if Kevin had ever been in a relationship; his natural response was, no, he hadn't. Not judging the way he had literal stars in his eyes when looking at Quin.
"Kevin hasn't settled down with anyone," came a soft voice and Jughead looked to the left of him to spot Betty taking a seat next to him at the bar. "I mean, he's had too many hookups to count and dates, of course. Just nothing ever kept him tied down. I think it'll be a bit different this time." She smiled at her friend.
"And you?" Jughead asked curiously, eyes watching her. "Any relationships that tied you down?"
Betty laughed and the sound made Jughead's stiff muscles loosen and unlock from their rigidness. She shook her head.
"God, no. I haven't dated anyone. I mean, Reggie Mantle tried to ask me out, but I shot him down," she replied, smirking mischievously. Jughead found he wanted to be in on whatever inside joke she had.
"Oh yeah? And why is that?" Jughead asked, smirk pulling at his own lips in response.
"I don't date players and I sure as hell don't date guys who only want to mark their territory. Reggie is the kind of Alpha who likes to flaunt what he has, not love," she shrugged "I'm in no mood to be anyone's accessory, least of all a supposed mate."
The way she said mate in regard to someone other than him had Jughead growling underneath his breath. She looked up in amusement.
"Something wrong, Jug?" Betty asked, playful undertone highlighting the question.
He swallowed a sip of his water. "Uh, no. Just don't like those types of Alphas."
That sounded believable enough, right? Right.
"Right," she whispered, eyes filled with mirth. He shook his head fondly. "What about you, Jug? You looking for a mate?"
Don't play this game with me, Omega. You won't win.
"Think I've already found her," he said, pausing to take another sip of water before locking eyes with her. "And I think you know that." Standing up, he shot her a smirk before going over to Kevin and Quin, feeling her eyes trail after him. "Quin." He nodded at his friend before turning to Kevin. "Kevin, what's Cheryl Blossom like?"
Kevin blinked, looking startled at the question but shrugged and answered, nonetheless.
"Classic wolf. Protective of those she cares about. Betty, and me, by extension, fall into that category," he replied, looking at Jughead curiously. "Why?"
Jughead looked towards Betty, who was watching the three of them with interest, and she nodded. He went forward with the conversation. "Penelope Blossom was a part of the hunters who killed Betty's entire family."
His voice was grave, and he watched in mild alarm as Kevin's face paled.
"Shit," Kevin breathed. "Oh, fuck. Penelope would do that to her own nieces?"
"A hunter, one who works for Hiram Lodge in particular, does not give a shit about who they kill," Jughead said somberly.
Kevin, who was watching his best friend, snapped his head back to face Jughead, a look of pure horror etched across his features.
"Hiram ordered the kill. Ronnie's dad? That doesn't make any sense. Ronnie is an omega herself," Kevin whispered, rubbing a hand across his temple.
Joaquin spoke up. "Do you think Lodge would want his own daughter dead?"
"I would like to say no but finding out he hired the kill on Betty's family, who is, was, like a daughter to him, I can't say that with certainty. Not anymore," Kevin muttered, eyes back on Betty. "How has she been?"
Jughead sighed. "As good as to be expected."
"Have you been watching her palms?" Kevin asked.
Jughead blinked. "No…"
"Okay, buddy, I get she's your mate, so I'll give you a heads-up: always, always keep an eye on her palms. She has an unbelievably bad tendency to harm herself when she feels too many overwhelming emotions," Kevin explained, voice a serious murmur.
Blinking yet again, Jughead decided to look past the fact that Kevin could tell she was his mate and looked at Betty. "Shit, how long has she been self-harming?"
His heart turned to stone at the thought of her being another person capable of harming herself.
"Uh, for several years, that I know of. Archie, Ronnie's mate, doesn't know, but that's simply because the boy is blinded by anything Ronnie related and can't see straight when not around her. And, he hasn't even marked her yet. Idiot," he rolled his eyes.
Joaquin snorted. "Sounds like you're a fan of him, then."
Kevin shrugged. "It's not that I'm not a fan. It's that no matter how many times Betty has helped Archie out of a sticky situation, he can't or won't return the favor unless Veronica is involved. I get it – Alpha love and loyalty – but shit, like, how hard is it to still be a good friend?"
Jughead nodded. "It's not." He hadn't moved his eyes from Betty, who had now started a conversation with Sweet Pea. Pea take a look at her palms if you can and tell me what you see. Be as discreet as you can.
Sweet Pea didn't respond mentally but Jughead knew he heard him when the taller had handed Betty a glass of soda and placed it personally in her palm.
Shit, where are these scars from?
Herself. What do they look like?
Crescents of some sort. And she did this to herself? Fuck, Jug, that's bad.
Yeah, thanks for that clarification.
Looking at Kevin, he addressed him once more. "Crescents? From her fingernails, I'm presuming?"
Kevin nodded. "Yeah, she digs them in countless times throughout the day. I can't get her to break the habit and God knows I've tried. So, I just make sure to keep a balm on me at all times. And antiseptic so they don't get infected if she ever digs too deep."
Sighing, Jughead hummed. He hated the fact that Betty felt so overwhelmed by her emotions to resort to that. Hated the fact that she didn't feel like she had anyone to talk to.
"Get her to talk to you," Kevin said calmly and Jughead looked at him in confusion. "Not a mind reader. Your thoughts are just written across your face. Might want to be aware of that when it comes to my favorite girl."
Quin snickered and Jughead barked out a laugh.
"I like you, Keller," he said.
"Feeling's mutual, sunshine," he replied with a smirk.
Author's note: So, I know it wasn't a lot of Betty/Jughead conversation in this one, but I wanted to set up Kevin and Jugheads' friendship as well address her self-harm. I hope you guys enjoy! Xxx