Do we stand up and make ourselves seen, or hide away in the shadows pretending that we’re not a threat?
But that second option hasn’t worked for us before, has it?
All we want is to be accepted into society, then we won’t be a threat at all. After all, Alphas are dangerous, the soldiers of the world, yet they are the lauded leaders in society.
If people won’t accept us peacefully, then at least this invention will give us a chance to step into the light, before we are burned to ash.
I clench my jaw. “Rogues have tried to exist in peace for generations. It’s time to rise up and become the rebels. No one else is quietly dying. We’re not the good guys. Why act like we are now?”
Joker’s eyes brighten. “Now you sound like Phantom.”
I turn, leaning against the table. “Was he always…?”
“Hot? Annoyingly tall? A psycho?”
Awkwardly, I glance away. “I meant…”
“I know what you meant.” Joker leans next to me, and I feel the warmth of his hip against mine. “It’s the impact of him avoiding most of his ruts for decades. He’s asexual. He told me that I could share this about him with you. At the start, he didn’t understand why he didn’t feel the same needs as I did, but even though he knew that he would lose his voice, he gained control of himself.”
My stomach twists with sadness that, as Switch did, he found himself unable to talk.
Yet I understand.
Phantom is braver than I am. When he was only a teenager, he was prepared to give up his voice to accept who he was.
I am only just now accepting myself as a Rogue.
“He doesn’t need to speak to have a voice in this pack.” Joker casts me a sideways glance. “He communicates better than I do.”
“Can you teach Bird and me the hand signals? I want to be able to talk to him like you do.”
Joker twists, and suddenly, I am being kissed like Joker’s life depends on it.
I loop my arms around the Beta’s neck, allowing myself to enjoy the softness of his lips, and his experienced kissing.
Finally, I laugh, pushing Joker back. “What was that for?”
“Because you care about my Alpha.”
“Of course I do.”
“It seems that you show love differently, just like Phantom does.”
“Not that I’ll ever reject kissing, but I’m asking to learn hand signals and not giving him a bunch of roses.”
Joker’s smile is soft. “And he courted you with a pair of daggers. You’re well matched, baby. How about I teach Bird and you after lunch each day? You’ll have learned how he communicates by the end of the week. We use army signals.”
“Is the mask something to do with the military?”
Joker’s smile fades. “I wish that he wouldn’t wear it because he’s still as gorgeous as he ever was. But he loves that opera. Skipper is far more educated than me about shit like that because he’s an elite.”
“Phantom of the Opera?”
“He has tattoos from it as well. Phantom was his nickname already in the SEALs like Joker was mine. So, when Skipper got the scars, he bought the mask. He has a pitch-black sense of humor. Also, it worked to create an intimidating myth around him as a contract killer.”
“Scars?”Are they like mine?
I don’t have them on my face. But my body is covered in marks from the violent training and brutal life of both mob bodyguard and assassin.
