Chapter 143 - Third Wheel

"You want me to… What? Third wheel you and Xavier?" Briar questioned. 

"I never said that," Madeline insisted, her eyes narrowed. 

She seemed confused by what Briar meant. 

"Bri, it's a walk in the woods, not a date. You're not going to be third wheeling anyone."

Briar asked, "Does Xavier even know you want me to come with you? He's probably not alright with it." 

Madeline blinked, Xavier had agreed with Briar coming along already. 

"He does, he's alright with it," she said. 

"Seriously? Xavier's alright with me coming? Are you sure about that? You didn't make him agree with me coming, did you?" Briar asked. 

"Why would I do that?" Madeline asked, seemingly offended by Briar's accusation. She insisted, "I would never." 

"Sure," Briar said, sceptical. 

Then, she thought of an idea. 

"Hold on."

"Hmm?" 

"Could Adrian tag along?" Briar asked. 

Madeline turned around to face Briar. 

"Sure," she answered. 

Madeline blinked. She remembered something. If Briar were to bring Adrian along, who would take care of Eudora? 

Sure, Eudora didn't need babysitting or anything of the sort. However, Xavier insisted that someone stay to watch Eudora. And obviously, the person he'd assign to watch over Eudora was Adrian. 

If anything happened to Xavier, Adrian would be in charge. He was second-in-command. 

Adrian insisted he wasn't fit to be Eudora's alpha, also insisting that he was perfectly alright being second-in-command. 

Briar had thought of the same thing and told Madeline, "No, that won't do. Xavier probably wants him to stay back and watch over Eudora."

Madeline suggested, "So, if not Adrian, what about Indiana?" 

Shifting, she mumbled, "Unless she has plans with that mysterious Jonathan fellow."

"Mysterious Jonathan fellow?" Briar asked, tilting her head to the side.

Frowning, she said, "I never heard of a mysterious Jonathan fellow. Who's this mysterious Jonathan fellow?" 

"I think that's for Indiana to tell you," Madeline said, blinking. 

She was unaware Briar didn't know about Jonathan. 

'I suppose Indiana planned on telling Briar about Jonathan later on in the day or something,' Madeline reasoned. 

Briar pouted. 

Madeline began, "But… You're going to know eventually, so…"

Briar's eyes lit up. 

"So you're going to tell me?" She asked, an excited grin now plastered across her face. 

"Fine," Madeline gave in.

"But, before I tell you anything. Can't you just come along with me and Xavier? Come on, it's like a bonding session with..." 

Madeline racked her brain for something to say.

"A bonding session with my pack's alpha?" Briar offered. 

"Yeah," Madeline said awkwardly. 

"Fine," Briar gave in. 

Madeline squealed, "Yay!" 

"But no being all lovey-dovey around me, Madeline," Briar warned, narrowing her eyes at Madeline. 

Her quarters were quiet for a couple of seconds before Madeline told Briar, "You don't have to worry about that." 

Briar had this gut feeling all of a sudden. 

Staring at Madeline, she wondered what her friend was up to. And what she was trying to hide from her. 

Trying not to make things any more awkward, Madeline began, "So, about that mysterious Jonathan fellow…" 

She pursed her lips, "Indiana invited him out to dinner. They even have something in common." 

Briar's eyes widened, and she gasped, asking Madeline, "Something in common? And you said Indiana was the one who asked him out?"

A plan formed in Briar's mind.

"I never heard of Jonathan here before," Briar admitted, trying to rack her brain if she had heard anyone called Jonathan there at Eudora. 

"He's a delta here," Madeline offered. 

"Woah," Briar said, even more shocked than before. 

A knock came at Madeline's door. 

"Just in time, Indiana's here," Madeline said, smiling. 

"Wow, that's some impeccable timing on Indiana's part," Briar commented. 

She went over and opened the door before Madeline could. 

"Ehe, you forgot I have superspeed," Briar said to her. 

Madeline said bitterly, "Tsk, you win." 

The minute Briar opened the door, she looked straight at Indiana, "So, I heard there's this guy you asked out to dinner."

Indiana looked at Madeline, "You told her already?" 

Madeline shrugged, a nervous look on her face. 

"It's difficult for me to hide anything from her!" She exclaimed. 

When Indiana had told her not to tell anyone… Indiana had forgotten one thing. And that was how Briar was excluded from everyone. 

Indiana frowned, she had been trying to find the right moment to tell Briar. 

'Oh well, there's no point hiding it now.' 

Indiana walked in Madeline's quarters, closing the door behind her.

"Yeah, I asked someone out. His name is Jonathan, as Madeline probably already told you. He's a sweet guy, a delta here - not that I've ever heard of him before until the other day." 

Briar agreed, "Right? I wasn't even aware there was a delta named Jonathan in Eudora until Madeline told me about it." 

Indiana nodded. Jonathan had explained during dinner that he chose to remain lowkey. And that was likely why not many knew about his existence. 

Madeline found herself sceptical about this Jonathan fellow. She wondered if she'd get the chance to meet him. 

And if Madeline were to ever get that opportunity, she wanted to see for herself what type of person he was. 

Indiana was telling Briar regarding what happened the previous day during dinner with Jonathan. How they both liked baking, how Jonathan was introverted, etc.

"Wow, from the sound of it, he's like a duplicate of you," Briar commented once Indiana had finished talking. 

Indiana chuckled nervously, "You think?"

Briar nodded. 

"Yeah." 

"Can't wait to meet him," Briar said, adding, "If I ever get to, of course." 

She nudged Indiana lightly, "So, you into him?"

"Into him? I've known him for a day, it's hard to tell if he's someone that I'm into," she answered, lowering her head a bit.

Briar frowned, knowing Indiana had a point. 

At this rate, she needed someone to ship. An adorable couple. 

That was when what Madeline had told her surfaced in her mind. 

"Indiana," Briar called. 

"Yes?" 

"Would you like to join me, Madeline and Xavier for a walk in the woods?" Briar inquired. 

Indiana squeaked at the mention of Xavier. She covered her mouth with her hands before she cleared her throat. 

Madeline faced Briar and Indiana, wondering what Briar was on about. 

"You don't have to come if you already have plans or don't want to, of course," Madeline said, hoping Indiana didn't feel obliged to come along with her, Briar and Xavier. 

Especially because of her feelings for Xavier.

However, Madeline thought it was better she asked Indiana instead of not asking her. That would only make Indiana think she was being excluded from everyone else. And also, she was unaware Madeline knew she had feelings for Xavier. 

If she did… Who knew how she'd react? 

Indiana wished to tell Madeline the truth. Maybe then she'd get some peace of mind then. 

All it took was Indiana going, 'I have feelings for Xavier.' 

That was all she had to tell Madeline. 

Would Briar be upset at her? 

Would Madeline be upset at her? 

No actually. Briar would not be upset at her. Neither would Madeline. They never would have been. 

Briar knew that Indiana had feelings for Xavier, thanks to a slip up on Madeline's part, even though Madeline had never intended on telling Briar that. Heck, she assumed Briar knew already, since Briar was always better at reading people than her. 

Then again, there wasn't anything for Briar to read in the first place. The times Xavier was brought up during conversations, Indiana would act calm. 

Or did she?

Madeline recalled the first time she had brought up Xavier to Briar. Indiana had overheard and immediately hid her face from view. There was no way for Madeline to see how Indiana had reacted. 

Of course, this was just a theory. Madeline was unsure if Indiana really did have feelings for Xavier, but either way… If Indiana ever thought of hiding her feelings for Xavier from her friends because she thought they'd be upset with her, or they'd see her differently. 

Madeline begged to differ. 

Indiana looked at both Madeline and Briar, guilt creeping over her once more. 

She had tried telling them, but she had always choked up before she managed to. 

'Do I tell them?' She asked herself. 

'And do I join them tomorrow?' Indiana asked herself next.

Xavier would be there. Indiana was certain she'd slip up, or say something embarrassing. Not to mention, she knew that it'd end with her having to admit her feelings. 

Determination filled her eyes, and she told herself that one way or another, she'd tell the two of her friends about her feelings for Xavier. She had to get it off her chest, and they were her friends.

Maybe, just maybe, they already knew about her feelings. If that was the case… Then it would only worsen things. 

The entire time, they knew. They still treated her the same. 

Indiana truly hoped that wasn't the case. 

But, she was determined to tell them the truth. 

Regardless of what happened, she would tell her friends the truth.