My Peculiar Human Mate

4. Me strong?

HEIDI POV

NEXT DAY

Last night, his words played in a loop in my head. More than that, the look of anguish on his face. If I had any lingering doubts about the whole mate thing, they were gone now. There was no way for me to be sure that what he was saying was true. That’s not what convinced me. It was my reaction to his words, to the broken look on his face.

Still, I had very valid concerns. I couldn’t get the image of those bodies out of my head. They looked as though a wild animal had attacked them. The memory of Alex’s wolf flashed through my head. For some reason, I couldn’t imagine that furball doing that. It was in the eyes, they were so gentle. That could be because we are “mates”.

The phone in the room rang, startling me. Who has a landline anymore? I picked it up and was surprised to hear Win’s voice at the other end. “Hi Heidi. I wanted to call and check in on you.” I’m sure you did. “Hey, Win, I’m doing okay.” This family, wolves or not, are very involved in one another’s lives. “I heard what happened.” She sounded upset, though I’m not sure it was because of what I saw, or my reaction to it.

I wasn’t sure what to say but she seemed to catch on and spoke. “I’m going to tell you something that might surprise you.” Oh oh. Surprises around her are not run of the mill. “I didn’t see what you saw but even hearing about it made me sick to my stomach.” She sniffled and I wondered why she thought her reaction would surprise me.

“I would be worried if it didn’t.” As soon as the words left my lips, I understood what she was trying to tell me. “I’m a werewolf. You probably think that what you saw is a common occurrence or that it would have no effect on me or any of us for that matter.” I didn’t want to admit that yes, that thought had crossed my mind. Though not when it came to her for some reason. Maybe because we had been caged together at one point.

I sighed, not wanting to insult her but also not wanting to lie to her. “After everything I’ve seen…” I held back, not wanting to hurt her feelings. “I will admit that you, like my mother, we’re exposed to the more barbaric side of our world straight out the gate but that’s not who we are. I can guarantee you that there are a lot of humans out there that have been exposed to some of the things you have at the hands of other humans. I know for a fact that not all humans are bad.” She pointed out.

“I can accept that, but if they had the chance, they would remove themselves from whatever environment they were in to get away from that.” I countered. “You were chosen to be my brother’s mate for a reason. You're strong and even if you don’t think so, you're made for our world. Some of us don’t have the luxury of leaving tough environments because we are tasked with making things better.” That statement left me stunned silent, something that has been happening a lot lately. Which didn't use to be so easy.

My lack of response gave me time to dissect what she had said. Me strong? Even if she’s right, why would I willingly stay to take that task on. “Win.. I…” Somehow, saying that out loud made me feel like a coward. Like I was evading my responsibilities. Responsibilities I didn’t ask for, mind you. “Just think about it. No matter what you decide, know that you can always count on me.” How does she do that?

Her sweet, unassuming voice managed to put me on blast one minute and comfort me the next. “I understand you more than you think Heidi. I’ve just now accepted my role in life. It only took me almost losing my mate to knock some sense into me." She giggled and sighed. "Hope to see you soon.” She had the nerve to sound a little smug. “Okay, bye.” I hung up the phone feeling even more confused than before I answered it. One thing was glaringly obvious. Alex is right, I can barely take care of myself. How can he expect me to stand at his side and help him lead a pack of wolves?

ALPHA ALEX POV

LATER THAT DAY

It’s time to accept that my family is cursed. Why can’t it ever be as simple as meeting our mate, celebrating, then mating and marking. I hate to blame my grandfather, but it seemed to start with him. His actions complicate things for my parents in a big way. Though, had all of that not occurred, Adam wouldn’t exist.

There is also a possibility that mom wouldn’t have asked for help from her family. Uncle Jerry wouldn’t have met Aunt Celia and there would be no Robbie and Angela. Then again, there is a chance they would have met under other circumstances, but who knows? The point is that there has to be a reason why things are always so difficult for us.

Adam and Angela had Brian and Henry reeking havoc. Win was mated to the wrong wolf and when she was given the right wolf as mate, nearly screwed it up. Now here I am with a perfectly human mate who wants no part of our world. Part of her wants to give in, but because of Holly and that asshole Michael, she’s reluctant to do so.

I needed her to trust me, to come back home with me. This morning, my dad, Elder Jonathan, Uncle Jerry, and Jordan took three hundred warriors to meet three hundred of my own. They were meeting at a halfway point between the four packs that hadn’t complied. Luckily, the other four consented, though they would be next to be searched. They shouldn’t have hesitated.

Each of them is taking a hundred and fifty warriors with them. Those four packs have about a hundred to one hundred and fifty warriors. Though being outnumbered slightly, it doesn’t concern us. We’ve already disengaged their security systems, thanks to Rob and his crew, they even provided a few toys that should give us the advantage. We can use drones too. We just won’t hurt innocent pack members.

With all this going on as we speak, the safest place for my Luna was with me in our pack. Not hiding in her room or off on her own somewhere. She didn’t come out for breakfast or lunch. It’s dinner time and my mother and I are the only ones at the table. When Rob came in, I expected to see her right behind him but she wasn’t. He took a seat next to me and studied me for a moment.

He was making me anxious, the way he opened and closed his mouth. As if unsure what to say. “What’s going on Uncle Rob?” I dropped my fork on my pate with a clattering noise. He looked at my mom, who had a worried expression. “Heidi decided to sign the NDA and leave today. She asked me to set her up in Washington for now.” f**k… she’s leaving me.

His lips were moving but all I could hear was the ringing in my ears and Logan's whining growls. If she left me now that we met, it wouldn’t be long before I went feral without her. Unless she rejected me. “No f*****g way!” Logan roared. I felt Uncle Rob’s hands on me as I got up and pushed him away. I need to see her. “MOVE!” I growled when he kept trying to get in my way. Using my werewolf speed, I rushed to the door of her suite.

My hand was trembling as I raised it to knock on the door, but hesitated. Taking a few deep breaths, I did my best to compose myself. The last thing I wanted to do was confirm her fears. I could hear my mom and Uncle Rob down the hallway but I didn’t turn my head. I simply put up my hand, ordering them to stop where they were. To not come any closer. Then I knocked on the door. She opened and took one look at my face before turning away from me. “You’re leaving me.” I didn’t sound like myself.

She had done this to me. Turned me into a whimpering i***t, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. I would do anything to make her stay with me. “I can’t be what you want me to be.” She was making excuses and didn’t have the decency to look at me. “I didn’t ask you to be anything but you. All I want is you.” Why didn’t she see that?

We locked eyes and for a moment I thought I had gotten through to her. There was so much longing in the way she looked at me. She felt it, felt the bond. “I’m sorry.” She tried to hide the obvious guilt that came from denying her mate as she closed the door. Meanwhile, I tried to contain my despair. I stood there for what felt like an eternity. My mind kept going over what I could have done differently.

My mother's soft hand soothed my back and Uncle Rob cleared his throat. “I’m going to try and convince her to stay in Washougal.” He said in an attempt to pacify me. “You can’t take her.” I knew my eyes were black, and I could feal myself shaking. Logan was no longer speaking but only growling in my head. “Alex, I’m sorry.” He took a step back and my mother put herself in between us.

I looked down at her and noticed the tears in her eyes. “Sweetheart, I promise to do everything I can to help you, but you can’t force her. You also can’t let Logan take over and prove her fears are valid.” Logan whimpered, we both knew my mom was right. “Rob’s just trying to help.” I looked over my mom's head and saw Uncle Rob looking forlorn. It wasn’t his choice, he wasn’t taking her. My mate, my Luna, chose to leave me.