My Laughable Fate

6. Is this her?

LEIA POV

NEXT DAY

Usually, talking to my twin centers me. He knows exactly what to say or do to get me to spill my tripas (guts) all over the place. Which would usually help, but right now, I don't see how that would help. That's why, as hard as he pried, I wasn’t ready to share. I’ve never felt that way and I know it’s because my wolf is as confused as I am. Usually one of us knows what the hell they are doing, but right now we’re going blind.

Even though Luke and I know each other like we know ourselves, and he clearly sensed something aside from the Onyx asshole was bothering me, he couldn’t read my mind. He also wouldn't pressure me into telling him. I’m sure he’s curious to know what’s managed to share headspace with my quest for vengeance, which should be my priority but has somehow been back shelved.

I’m still so damn confused though. “Alright Sian, we’ve had time to clear our minds. It’s time we sorted this out because you made no sense last night.” We’ve never had a failure to communicate and choosing this precise moment to have one is not acceptable. “Don’t get sassy with me. Your warriors take your crap because they can’t talk back, but I’m not one of them.” She sasses with a harumph.

I gritted my teeth and, although I didn’t want to be rational, being pricky wasn’t going to get me anywhere, so I took a deep breath to calm myself. “Alright mi loba (my shewolf), I’ll tone it down, but you need to start making sense because I’m losing it here.” She knew that since we hardly slept. The racoon eyes staring back at me in the bathroom mirror were proof.

“Like I said last night. I caught our mate’s scent, and it was intertwined with the Delta’s, but it’s not him.” She explained, again. “Does that mean he was wearing my mates’ clothes… or was he with my mate? What if my mate is gay or bisexual and thinks I’m icky?” I regretted my idiotic question the second the last word, icky, echoed in my head. Was I twelve?

“Like O.M.G Leia. I don’t know.” Sian snarked in a very condescending and immature tone. “Let’s pretend I didn’t just lose my mind for a second there and break things down. The Delta had to have had something that belonged to our mate. I need to go talk to him, but I don’t want Herc around while I do it. He kept looking at me funny yesterday.” He is very perceptive.

I’m not sure why he’s under me instead of leading his own team, though I never mentioned it to him. Mainly because he’s amazing and replacing him would be too hard. He’s also the only warrior I get along with on a personal level. He’s funny and the fact that he’s easy on the eyes gives him several brownie points. Were friends… kind of.

The sun hadn’t come up yet and by now we’re usually up and getting ready for our morning PT. After I got off the phone with Luke, I debriefed my men on everything that was said at the meeting. Then I gave everyone the day off. There are several reasons for this, but the reason I gave my warriors was the Alpha, who is MIA. That would be the top reason since I made a big stink about it yesterday.

The truth was I needed a day off. A day where I didn’t need to oversee, order, instruct, correct, or even look at my warriors if I didn’t feel inclined. I needed to take a breath and assess everything, which is a lot. The attack, the death of thirteen wolves, an alliance between Onyx and an anonymous coven. The asshole Alpha missing in action was more of an annoyance than anything, but is on my list.

At the very top, though, is catching my mate’s scent but not actually catching my mate! “Do I really want to catch him? What if he’s a wolf visiting from another pack that left something here? I could just wait for us to find each other later, when I’m not in the middle of a mission.” It was a very logical thought, or so I thought. “If we caught his scent, it’s because we were meant to find him. Go to the Delta.” Sian ordered.

I finished brushing my teeth and hopped in the shower. “I’m going to talk to the Delta because I decided to and not because you barked at me.” Even if I didn’t think I was ready to meet my mate, there was no way I could ignore the fact that I scented my mate. It’s impossible. Even the most regimented wolf can’t ignore the pull of their mate's scent.

Sian scoffed at me, reminding me she was the main reason for my current predicament. She’s the part of me that is hard-coded to find her mate and make a pup and she’s pushing those wants on me. “Whatever. We both know that the second we sensed our mate, a tiny spark ignited something, and we can only go forward.” She warned, confirming my previous thoughts.

By now I was drying myself and my hands froze in place on my midriff. “Hold on there Wolfy Homemaker. When we find our mate, he and I will discuss the going forward part and everything that comes with it.” What I wanted to say is I’m not ready to stop my career to spend time with my mate and have a family, as my mate will surely expect me to. I shudder at the thought.

Then I put my big girl panties on, literally, and got dressed. Our cabins weren’t too far from the pack house. The sun was just coming out and was still covered by the towering trees. I looked around to make sure Herc wasn’t lurking around. There didn’t seem to be anyone out by the cabins. When I got closer to the pack house there were wolves already working, some preparing breakfast.

I made a beeline for the Security Office since that’s where I had found him last time. Barely noticing who was around me or what they were doing. My eyes were trained in one direction, the hallway at the back of the pack house. As soon as the door came into view, I stopped myself from sprinting to it. I didn’t expect Alpha Daniel and three other wolves, one of them being the delta, to come barreling through the door.

“Yes, Alpha Daniel. I….” The tallest of the three wolves stopped speaking when I stood in front of them. In their way, not allowing them to take another step. My bestie, Daniel, rolled his eyes and gestured in my direction. “Ah. There is no need Beta Ryce. It seems she has found us.” The old wolf grumbled, and I hoped that whatever he wanted would be quick. I planned to steal his Delta once I was done with the little in-prov tu face to face were having.

“My son, Alpha Paul, has just arrived. He asked the kitchen to prepare a small breakfast banquet for you and your men. You will meet him, the current Alpha, shortly.” He said smugly. “Nice. I need your Delta.” One last blank stare at the Alpha and then I turned my attention to Oscar. “But he…” The Alpha Spluttered. “Now that your Alpha is here, I want to see the Security Office.” I grinned at the seething wolf.

I gripped the Delta's arm to drag him to the office door, but I noticed something in his other hand. “That’s it! That belongs to our mate.” Sian assured me. “He must have had it in his back pocket yesterday. Thank the Goddess! I was worried that his scent was coming the strongest from back there.” Good, no more haunting images of my mate looking at me in disgust because I have a v****a. “That belongs to our mate. The question is, who is our mate?” Sian said impatiently.

“Master Sargeant Leia!” Alpha Daniel grumbled. I could have ignored him and kept it pushing but one of us needed to act our rank. “Yes.” I gritted through my teeth and turned my head to look at him. I was already facing the door, in my head I was halfway there. Oscar was still facing him, trying to gently get out of my hold. Not happening.

“We, which includes Dela Oscar, are meeting Alpha Paul in his office right now. Your inspection of the Security Office will have to wait until later.” He asserted smugly. “I’m Beta Ryce by the way and that is Gamma Ulysis.” The Beta pointed at the Gamma who was eyeing me almost as bitterly as the old wolf. “Charmed. I’ll send Delta Oscar to catch up with you as soon as I have a word with him.” My turn to make the Alpha wait.

I tugged on the Delta’s arm, ignoring the seething Alpha and Gamma. Though I did catch the faint smile on the Beta’s face. I’m glad someone was enjoying the fruits of my labors. Since the old Alpha didn’t stop us, the Delta stopped digging his feet in and followed obediently as I pulled him away from the others. Before I could open the door, I felt, sensed, and scented something that froze me in my tracks.

“Let’s meet the shewolf, get it over wi…” His voice sounded smooth and deep, but his words transformed then into nails on a chalkboard. The slight whine or annoyance in his tone made me cringe. I turned and saw a younger looking version of Alpha Daniel. Blue eyes and blond hair that was short on the sides and a little longer on top. “It’s our mate!” Sian gasped.

We were staring at our mate, and he was staring right back. It might have taken him longer to realize it, but he knew. His eyes landed on my hand that was wrapped around the Delta’s bicep and he frowned. Before anyone else could notice, he composed himself and cleared his throat. “Is this her?” He asked and I squinted my eyes at him.

Alpha Daniel nodded and side eyed me. “Good. I’m here, at your insistence. Let’s get started.” Alpha Paul said casually and looked straight into my eyes. I was a master at going ice and while he wasn’t, he was doing a damn good job of icing me out. “He’s not acknowledging us as his mate.” I told my wolf, who remained silent. I had no choice but to assume he didn’t want me for some reason.

I could ask him why, but he clearly doesn’t want to acknowledge our bond. In fact, he’s blatantly hiding it. He doesn’t know me, hasn’t even spoken to me. Yet somehow, he knows I’m not the one. Or is he playing some stupid game with me? Does he expect me to chase after him and pine over him? That’s not at all how this is going down. EVER.

I’ll be damned if I’m going to let this Alpha, mate or not, make a fool of me. “You’re here at the instance of the council. You made a commitment to them, just like the one you have with your pack. I understand that you just became an Alpha and there is still a lot for you to learn.” I said coldly and then turned my body to face him, but didn’t let go of the Delta’s arm.

Alpha Paul now looked like his father. Red chili pepper faces with flaring nostrils and wide eyes. “We will get started when I’m ready. Right now, Delta Oscar and I have something to discuss.” This time when I pulled on the Delta, I gave him no opportunity to fight back. The last thing I heard was two almost identical huffs of displeasure. One from the smug old wolf and the other from… my mate.