Alpha Assignment (GL) Chapter 10 (Early Access) (Patreon)

Their mugs of steaming dark coffee followed them as Quinn and Remi pottered about the house. Quinn usually listed her required chores in her planner on Friday nights. Last night she had completely forgotten with a guest to accompany until bedtime. Remi was expectedly eager to help, but silently baffled by the pace. They drifted from room to room, warming their hands around their cups of coffee, noting anything that needed tidying, replacing, washing. Even armed with her hefty planner, Quinn never felt the need to rush errands. There was a soothing aspect to productivity when taken at an even pace. A ritual to the resetting of her home.

It took a few reminders to keep Remi from trying to do everything herself. When Quinn suggested the window sills could do with wiping, she had to snatch Remi up by the waist to keep her from throwing herself at the task. When she hummed at the near-empty jars of sundries neatly lined at the back of her counters, she had to race Remi to the cupboards for the giant sacks to refill from. Omega enthusiasm very nearly topped natural alpha ability. When they finished, satisfied with the state of all rooms, it felt like a very low-stakes competition had ended.

The washing machine rumbled, the tangy scent of citrus cleaning sprays coated the surfaces, and crisp air breezed in through the open windows.

"Blowing the cobwebs away," Remi had announced as they threw them wide. Quinn felt the same. Something about fresh air was cleansing and purifying. A prickle of oncoming cringe ran up the back of her neck. That was probably some animal instinct she should be pretending she didn't have.

Quinn drained the last of the black coffee from her cup. The matching mug remained three-quarters full and tucked beneath Remi's chin. Post-refill, Quinn peeled open the sliding doors to the back garden and inspected her single metal lawn chair. The lawn itself was as overgrown as ever. She didn't let it get above a foot tall, hacking at it with hedge trimmers every now and again. For the first time she wondered if it might be nice to sit out here in her free time.

When did she ever have free time? She shook her head.

"There's a chair out here if you want some more air," she called over her shoulder to Remi.

Petite bare feet swung under the lawn chair as Remi took the tiniest sips in existence of her coffee. Quinn stole the peaceful opportunity to pull out her neglected planner. The holy book of her life. At the dining table she could lay out the enormous book in front of her while keeping an eye on Remi in the garden through the open glass doors.

Boxes filled with dates and check list templates stared back at her. What would usually spark inspiration and excitement, tickling her brain into action, now sat blank. Instead of the urge to plan and meticulously prepare for everything ahead of her, a smaller, deeper pull brought her attention outside… over and over.

Remi glanced back, hiding her own looks hurriedly any time their eyes accidentally met. It was sweet, and Quinn began deliberately trying to predict when she would look to catch those dark eyes in hers. The flash of surprise, then fear, then uncertainty, then Remi would break the look in favour of the overgrown lawn again. Quinn wasn't fast enough most times to offer a smile.

Evening arrived, and they cooked side-by-side. While the oven was finishing their casserole, they separated to close the windows and doors against the chill of the setting sun.

At the table, as they ate, Quinn revealed the painting class was booked for Tuesday. Pouched cheeks filled with food lifted with Remi's smile. It itched the corners of Quinn's mouth to return it, like when a baby smiles at you from across a restaurant. After swallowing, Remi's chatterbox function was switched ON.

“Thank you so much, Alpha! I haven’t drawn or painted in such a long time. In my old pack we shared all the craft supplies in-

Quinn methodically cleared her plate and showed she was listening with nods and full-mouthed smiles.

"-but the paints were always dry because people never put them away properly and-"

Quinn wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin.

"-if that was true, because lots of things never happened. Mr Mike from the patrol guards always said that Alpha was a promising postman with no deliveries made. I never told anyone he said that, though, because-"

Quinn placed her knife and fork in the centre of her plate carefully so as not to make a noise that would disrupt Remi's tangent.

"-don't know what that means but I said I did at the time because Alpha's voice gets louder when you don't understand him the first-" Remi froze. The utensils that been hovering above her plate until now clattered down. Round, pink, wobbling bottom lip. Shining black irises against watery whites. Thin fingers curled and uncurled. Guilt had her tight within its grip.

Like the smell of approaching rain, Quinn could sense waterworks on the way.

"The first time?" she coaxed Remi to finish the broken sentence.

"Y-yes, Alpha."

"And then what happened?"

"Um." Remi stuffed a heaped fork of casserole into her mouth and shrugged.

"I don't like when people shout either,” Quinn said with her own shrug, “It's not necessary unless there's something you're trying to be heard over.”

Another forkful and a nod from Remi.

"Even then," Quinn thought aloud, "we have phones to message now. Why does anyone yell?"

Remi laid her knife and fork down to mirror Quinn's, although her plate still had at least three more Remi-sized bites left.

"Full?" Quinn asked.

"Yes. Thank you, Alpha."

"Dessert?"

"Will you have dessert, Alpha?"

This battle again, Quinn thought. She replied a confident, "I will if you will."

Remi thought for a moment, then tried again to get the answer Quinn would not give. "You want to have dessert with me, Alpha?"

"I only want dessert if you want it. If you don't want dessert, then I don't." Quinn fought a grin, she had beat the system.

"You want me to want dessert so that you can want dessert?"

Quinn blanched. Her brain hurt. "No. If you want dessert... it will, um, make me also want dessert."

"But right now you don't want it, Alpha?"

"How about I stick the fruit and sorbet in two bowls and leave them on the table and whatever happens, happens?"

"Yes, Alpha."

It didn't feel like a win anymore. Quinn would take a retreat for now.

Both bowls were eventually cleared, and Quinn's eyes drooped as they watched an animated movie about talking animals for their evening activity. By the halfway point, all of Quinn's concentration was battling against sleep. She never fell asleep outside of her bed, but she didn't want Remi to miss the rest of the movie, and if she retired for the night then Remi would immediately follow suit. A rainbow of colours blurred on the screen and comical voice-overs gasped and groaned and argued. The clutch of a small, warm hand in the crook of her elbow stole the last of her focus and sleep took her.

"Alpha?" A whisper. "Alpha, are you sure you want to sleep here?" A slightly louder whisper. "Alpha?" A whisper that blew hot air against Quinn's ear.

Quinn cranked her eyes open, pushing against the sore sting. The screen had gone dark.

"Remi?' she croaked.

"Yes, Alpha?"

"Did you like the movie?"

"Yes, Alpha. The cat was funny."

"Shall we go to bed?"

"Yes please, Alpha."

Unfortunately, without pause for thought, Quinn's sleepy body rose and swooped her arm under the form that had been crouched beside her. With her free hand she flicked off the lights, eyes barely open. Halfway up the stairs, the dangle of Remi bent in half over her forearm stopped her mid-step.

"Remi," she said to the stairs ahead.

"Yes, Alpha?" came the response from somewhere near her hip.

Quinn pulled her up to her chest like a child cradled a teddy bear. “I didn’t mean to- I’m sorry for manhandling you without your permission. I wasn’t- I didn’t think.”

Remi tilted her head back, soft hair mussing against Quinn's t-shirt. Her mildly drowsy gaze settled on Quinn's face.“That’s okay, Alpha. It doesn’t hurt.”

Quinn hurried to the top of the stairs and placed Remi back on her feet. “Remi, if I hurt you I’d want to know immediately!” she said, breathless. Missing her workouts for a week was taking more of a toll than she could have realised.

“Yes, Alpha," Remi answered obediently. Quinn didn't like how close that exchange had sounded to an order being received and confirmed, but she didn't have the energy for any more debate. She was always tired lately. She braced her hands on her knees and sighed wearily.

“Goodnight, Remi,” she said to the carpet.

As she straightened and dragged herself to her bedroom, a soft voice called, “goodnight, Alpha,” behind her.