Finally Her Turn

Chapter 9: John

I’ve been torn between listening to the conversation going on in front of me, which is fascinating in its own way, and trying to pay attention to my mate and get a better sense of how she’s responding to me. She’s been incredibly hard to read and won’t even so much as look at me. I can tell that’s deliberate on her part, though, so I know it isn’t because she hasn’t recognized what I am to her.

I’m trying not to read too much into her behavior considering that we’re both on-duty, and she’s from New Horizon. I’m guessing that letting herself get distracted over her mate violates some protocol of theirs or something. At least I hope that’s what’s going on. I worried that she just wasn’t interested at first, but there have been some brief seconds where I’ve noticed little things that she’s tried to hide.

Her wolf has talked to her a couple times, I know because I watched those crisp green eyes of hers shift to a more hazelish color, though without the fog that means it’s a mind-link from someone else. And in my mind, that means she’s struggling to keep composure while all her wolf wants to do is come see me. Raj has been pretty much the same, though I convinced him to settle down until we get some sort of a break where I can talk to her more freely.

This whole thing with the prospective Alpha from New Horizon is interesting, so it makes a great distraction. I’ve heard about this woman before not just from Uncle Ben but also from my cousin William, who I guess considered her as a potential mate at one point. It was years ago, though, and now that she’s sitting in front of me, I can see how terrible that would have ended. She’d have put him in the hospital within a week.

Then there’s the part where she not only has two mates, but they’re twin brothers, and both were humans until recently. The whole thing sounds intense, and I’m glad not to be in her shoes, but also grateful to be in my own currently. I didn’t even know there was a such thing as a twin mate bond, and today I’m learning all about it while I enjoy the pleasure of standing here smelling the delicious scent of my mate and catching glimpses of her as often as I can manage.

Hers has quickly become my favorite face to look at. I hope I’ve been as discreet as I’m trying to be, but I know she’s caught me at least a couple times. And every time, she blushes in a way that only makes me want to get caught again. I’ve never seen a werewolf with freckles like hers. That’s not to say they don’t exist, but she’s the first I’ve met. Those freckles are everywhere I can see, including her arms and the backs of her hands, and I can’t help imagining where else I’m going to find them once I finally get to touch her.

I wonder if I can convince George to switch places with me once we take a break, or if that’s a terrible idea. I might end up getting myself released from this job if I don’t find a way to focus on what I’m supposed to be doing. But I mean, Uncle Ben can handle himself. He can obviously handle all these Elders too.

I’ve never had the honor of seeing him meet with them like this, though they all visit Crescent’s Boon from time to time when it’s our turn to host them. But now that I’m seeing it, I realize that he gives everyone a hard time, Elder or not. If he disagrees, they all get to hear about it, and he’s as relentless with them as he is with me. Good for him, though. I can tell they need someone like him to straighten them out.

I’ve been zoning out for a bit when I hear Elder Stirling say, “I was thinking this might be a good place to pause and take a lunch break if you think it might be too much longer.”

Yes, I agree. Definitely, yes. Please say yes. I haven’t even been thinking about food at all, but I want a chance to talk to my mate. Now, now, now, please say now.

I’m trying to listen to the exchange between him and Miss Bentley, the prospective Alpha, but Raj and I are both too excited.

“We Elders will remain here to take our lunches, and I’m going to require that each of us retain one guard from our home pack to stay with us, but the rest of you can dine elsewhere,” Elder Stirling announces to the room, which tells me he must have settled on it being lunchtime.

Please don’t make it be me. My mate is from New Horizon and I’m dying to have a chance to talk to her, I mind-link to Uncle Ben.

I know it’s a risk because he’s as likely to make me stay just because he can as he is to let me go because he knows how important a mate is, but I’m hoping that the revelation that she’s from New Horizon will sway him.

He doesn’t respond yet, though. I’m sure my scent just turned sour from the anxiety of anticipation, but it can’t be helped.

“We’ll meet back in this room at two o'clock to continue,” Elder Stirling declares, which seems to be the dismissal everyone is waiting for.

The Elders all turn to their teams of guards and start making arrangements for who is going where, and Uncle Ben fixes his amused gaze on me. Uh oh. I should have just left it to chance.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” he asks me, nodding to where Miss Bentley’s team of guards are grouping up with her.

“You’re my favorite uncle,” I grovel in a hurry, already hustling over to catch up with the group in navy-blue that’s now headed down the hallway. I heard the team leader say that they’re eating downstairs in the same restaurant where I went for breakfast, but that’s fine with me.

“Stevie, you’re with me,” I hear Uncle Ben say from behind me.

I have no idea of George’s plans, and hopefully he won’t feel too slighted that I’ve ditched him, but I’ll worry about that later.

I try to catch up with my mate, but as soon as I get close, she dodges out of the way and joins up with a couple others toward the front of the group. Maybe that was an accident, or maybe she’s determined to avoid me until this whole thing is over. I don’t say anything, though, just making sure to stick with the group that she’s in as her team leader is directing them to split into two and take the elevators down separately.

Her group joins the prospective Alpha and one of her mates, and I crowd in toward the back, keeping quiet though I can’t help glancing over at my mate who is being careful to stay as far away from me as possible. Still not even one single look from her in my direction, but Miss Bentley seems to notice me.

“Who are you?” she asks more curiously than suspiciously, despite me being the only one with her not from her pack.

“John Blaine, great-nephew and personal guard of Elder Benjamin,” I introduce myself politely, not sure if a handshake is appropriate in this situation or not, so I opt for not. “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, but I didn’t feel like leaving the hotel with the rest of my group. I’d rather stay here with you guys, if that’s alright.”

Not knowing how my mate feels about me, I figure it’s best to make it seem like it’s not her I’m interested in tagging along with. I mean, I’m sure she’s not fooled, but I suspect she’ll also appreciate not having attention drawn to her if this is something she’s worried about people finding out while she’s on-duty. I’m still clinging to my hope that that’s why she’s avoiding me.

The elevator dings and the doors open into the lobby, so we all step out and group up again. It looks like the rest of their group is still on the other elevator, and we're going to wait here for them.

“I’m fine with it, as long as Elder Benjamin and whoever is in charge of your group is okay with it too,” Miss Bentley tells me in response to our previous exchange.

I give what I hope is a subtle exhale of relief, glad that she’s going to let me hang around with them even if my mate is being stand-offish. I’ll settle for being near her and learning more about her pack, if I can, because that looks like my only option for now.

“Much appreciated, Miss Bentley. I must admit, it’s quite an honor to finally have a chance to speak with you. I’ve heard a lot about you over the years,” I tell her graciously, playing it up to make it seem like it’s her I’ve attached myself to. I mean, it is an honor, but one I could live without if it weren’t for the alluring redhead right over there.

But I regret that choice almost immediately when I sense an unsettlingly powerful aura washing over me, and turn to see one of her mates glaring at me.

“Are you one of the guys who’s been breathing down her neck hoping to be her mate?” the guy questions me, the threat in his tone felt in every cell of my body.

I’ve never even felt something like this from my own Alpha before, and I was standing in the room when they were talking about this guy being a turned werewolf, not a natural one, so there’s no way he’s an Alpha. Is there? And oh Goddess, his irises are completely black, and Raj is cowering and whimpering in my mind.

I don’t even have any control over the couple steps I take away from him, or how Raj submits to him, bowing my head in reverence. It’s the craziest thing that has ever happened to me. I don’t know what to do about it other than try to explain myself in a way that will get him to back down.

“No, sir. Even before she already had mates, the thought never would have crossed my mind. I’m just a warrior,” I explain as respectfully as I can manage, the whole time fighting back my fear and trying not to sound as weak as I feel.

I’m also glad that William eventually found his own mate instead of messing around with this guy’s, because I know for a fact now that it wouldn’t have ended well for my cousin.

But to my utter shock and I would even say horror, my mate seems unaffected by Miss Bentley’s mate. She steps forward, jutting a hand out to separate us, and glares at him. She glares at him.

“Hey, back off,” she demands, but she’s not finished yet. “Believe it or not, there are some people who don't want Aly,” she adds, obviously annoyed with him.

I’m kind of worried that she’s using that tone with him, but even more concerned about the fact that though she doesn’t seem at all affected by his threatening aura, she glances at me for a split-second, blushing crimson when I try to smile at her, and then backs away as if I’m the scarier one of the two men before her.

The other New Horizon group has just stepped off the elevator and joined us in the lobby, and she maneuvers her way through the new bodies, quite obviously wanting to get away from me. Based on what just happened, I’m starting to get the sense that she’s not uninterested. She just stuck her neck out for me, but the problem seems to be that she’s shy, at least where her mate is concerned. I can work with that, though, assuming that’s really what’s going on.

And if that whole thing wasn’t strange and confusing enough, the next thing I know, the scary, threatening aura is gone, and Miss Bentley’s mate looks like the friendly, outgoing guy he was in the meeting room. His eyes are a warm brown again, and he’s giving me a sheepish smile.

“Sorry,” he tells me apologetically. “My wolf can randomly be a d**k, and I’m not all that experienced at fighting him back yet.”

Oh man. I can only imagine what it would be like to suddenly have that wolf inside me, and I almost feel bad for the guy.

“Understandable,” I tell him, trying to laugh it off and show him there are no hard feelings, even stepping back his way and giving him a friendly pat. He doesn’t feel like an Alpha unless his wolf is out, so I’m fairly certain it’s okay to be doing that.

“I heard the discussion about you being new to having a wolf, so I get it. You’re doing great, considering,” I add, figuring he should hear that from someone with no apparent reason to comfort him. “And if it’s any consolation for your wolf, I’ve just found my own mate.”

I decide to throw that in there both to convince his wolf to back off because I definitely do not have any interest in his mate, and to see what my own mate’s reaction to it might be. I notice her watching us out of the corner of my eye, but she looks horrified. She’s probably scared that I’m about to expose her. I still don’t know why she wouldn’t want that, but I’ll be good and respect it for now.

“Hey, congratulations,” the guy says, reaching out to shake my hand. “I know that’s a momentous occasion, and I’m genuinely happy for you.”

“Yeah, thanks. Now I just need to convince her to accept me. She seems a bit distant and evasive, and I’m not really sure how she feels about it,” I admit to him, choosing for her benefit not to say anything more and let him think what he wants about who I’m alluding to.

I do wish I had been paying closer attention when everyone was introducing themselves in the meeting room, though. He seems like a cool guy, and at some point, I’m going to have to admit to him that I don’t even know his name.

Miss Bentley surprises me with a warm, sympathetic look and tells me, “If there’s anything we can do to help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

The first thing that comes to mind is that I need to get somebody’s number and make sure I have some means of keeping in contact with at least someone from this pack, since I suspect it’s going to be a challenge to get close enough to my mate to get her number before they leave. That becomes my lunchtime mission, and I make sure to stick with Miss Bentley and her mates to start getting chummy with them.

She assures me that it’s okay to call her Aly, and it doesn’t take me long to learn that her mates are Matt and Tyler. Tyler is the intimidating one, but he’s also the friendliest and most open when his wolf is calm, so it’s him I focus my energy on. Successfully, I might add, because it’s also him who asks to exchange phone numbers before we leave the hotel restaurant. Mission success.

At least now I know that if I never do manage to get close to my mate today, whose name I managed to learn is Marissa, thanks to the energetic young female warrior who seems to be her sidekick, I’ll still have someone I can reach out to. I’ll figure out how to do it without revealing that she’s my mate later, since that seems to be so important to her. I’ll invite myself to visit their pack if that’s what it takes, and make a point of “accidentally” bumping into Marissa while I’m there.

Although the other thing I learn over lunch is that Aly and her mates are attending college around here, and that’s why the Elders are meeting in Maine. The catch is that with the rogue threat looming over their heads, Alpha Kane sent a large team of guards to watch over them while they’re here, and Marissa is one of them. That means she will be on-duty for several weeks to come, and that means that any visit to their pack won’t be happening any time soon.

I can only hope that at some point before they leave today, I can somehow manage to persuade her to talk to me, even just for a minute. Or even just look at me. Touch my hand. I’ll settle for anything at this point, though I suspect it won’t be so easy with her.