His Unidentified & Untouchable Mate

Getting Between Them (1)

Zahraa POV

The next day I pulled myself out of the pile of slumbering girls, opened a Door back to my apartment, showered and got dressed for the day. I was supposed to report straight to Jacob, but I went to the northern pack house first, knowing that my convenient transportations would allow me to remain somewhat on schedule.

“Zahraa,” Charles, Rowan’s beta, looked surprised to see me. “Did you have some business with Alpha Rowan?”

“Yes, beta,” I replied, folding my hands over my pencil skirt. “If he’s too busy, I could come back.”

“No, no, he’s never too busy for…” he trailed off and didn’t seem like he was going to finish that thought. Instead, he escorted me upstairs to Rowan’s office, where he knocked for me. When Rowan called for him to come in, he pushed me forward through the opened door, and left me there like a sacrifice.

Rowan straightened up the second he saw me. “Zahraa. I wasn’t expecting you.”

“I know, and I’m sorry, alpha,” I replied, attempting to hide behind formality. “I was hoping you had a moment to talk about the challenge.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Did you want me to call it off? After he cheated on you?” He stood, prowling towards me. I didn't miss the click of the door behind me, shutting me in with him.

All the hairs on my body were standing at attention, but not in a good way.

He moved behind me, putting his hands on my hips. “I’m sorry, Zahraa,” he said, his breath hot on my neck. “I don’t want you to feel bad about this. Trust me when I say that I wish it didn’t need to be this way,” he pulled me flush against him, his warmth against the clothes on my back. Again, my body betrayed me, reacting to his touch in ways I’d prefer it not to. “Your mate is way out of line. With you, and with me. I’m sorry to say that he might not survive this challenge.”

I pulled free, the threat of Jacob’s death making my heart stutter in ways I didn’t expect it to – especially not after yesterday. “Rowan, first – I’m really not comfortable with all of…” I motioned vaguely, hoping he would get the words that I couldn’t formulate. “…I mean, I just… it’s just…”

“I’ll wait,” he replied, taking a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. He turned it, so it was facing the other, then motioned for me to sit. “I think it’s obvious now that I have feelings for you, Zahraa. I have for some time. I want to keep you safe. I want to help you live a happier life – if that means finding your family and breaking whatever curse you have, I’ll do it. I’ll find a way.” He paused. “I just hope you choose me in the end.”

My heart wavered. If he’d said that to me a month ago, I would choose him in a heartbeat, with no consideration for the opposition.

But I felt an undeniable, powerful need to be with Jacob.

And I couldn’t ignore that he’d just idly mentioned he might kill him tonight.

I perched on the seat in front of him like a bird ready to take flight at the first provocation. “I know he did a shitty thing, and it’s going to take time to get over that,” I breathed, “but I don’t want to count Jacob out. And I don’t want to see him hurt.”

“You’re too nice, Zahraa,” Rowan sighed. “In truth, he came to talk to me yesterday, after you left. He said you were upset, and that I had to right to be anywhere near you, really.” He sighed, “He put a hole through my wall and threatened to kill me, to take my pack and everything I hold dear.” Again, those beautiful brown doe eyes were pointed my way. “I hope you can see that includes you.”

My mouth was dry. “Jacob wouldn’t – he wouldn’t-” but the bruise on my arm told me he would. I swallowed the lump in my throat and squared my shoulders, trying to renew my confidence and come at this from a different angle. “I don’t want to see Jacob hurt,” I started. “If you two feel the need to fight, I won’t get in between you. But I also-” my breath grew shaky as I continued, “-I also don’t want things to get awkward between us. So please… stop trying to drive a wedge between us.”

Rowan remained perfectly still, holding a neutral expression. “I see,” he breathed. “Well. This is a little awkward,” he laughed. “I’m sorry. I thought you felt the same. If you don’t, that’s perfectly fine. I hate to see you choose someone who holds you in such little regard, but this is your life… You are free to do as you please.”

Jacob’s words echoed in my mind: you are not free, Zahraa Snow.

“That said, I’m glad you’re here today,” he stood, walking to the other side of his desk and reaching down for some paperwork. “There’s a lead I’ve been sitting on for quite some time. I wanted you to be of age to make the decision on your own, because it could be…” he hesitated until he found the words. “…distressing.”

A spark of anticipation excited my poor, tired heart, but I extinguished it. Hope was crushing when nothing came of it.

“I’ll do it,” I said without hesitation. “Whatever it is, if it helps…”

Rowan smiled, and there was still something so predatory about it. “Excellent. I’ll set everything up – I’ll have to do it after the challenge, of course.”

A knot formed in my stomach.

So, basically, Rowan might kill Jacob tonight – but if Jacob managed to hurt Rowan too badly, I may lose that lead.

“What is it?” I asked, though at this point I felt pretty numb. I was trapped in a web between two warring spiders, with no hope of escaping anytime soon. “Maybe I could set it up myself. I’d love to help.”

He shook his head, “I’ll set up everything with my contact. I will need your therapist to sign this, though.” He ruffled through files, switching them around, then pulling out one that had been on top in the first place – what, was that a bid to make me think it wasn’t in the forefront of his mind? – and handing it off to me.

I accepted it and skimmed it.

A release of records, and permission to treat a new patient.

I frowned, but didn’t think much of it. I’d had several of these filled out by several different physicians in my time. “I’ll run it to her,” I replied, standing. “Thank you for helping me.”

Rowan smiled. “But of course, Zahraa. I only want what’s best for you – what will make you happy.”

His words were sweet and sticky – a fly trap, meant to entice and ensnare. Still, they stirred butterflies in my stomach. I forced a smile, the contradictions in my mind exhausting me. “Have a nice day, alpha,” I said, opening the door, but linking it to a broom closet in the central pack house.

“If you come tonight, cheer for me.”

I left, heart racing as if I’d just made it out of a lion’s den. Cheer for me.

How could I?