The Unmated Love

CHAPTER 3

[Jonathan’s POV]

I could feel her gaze upon me, as I undressed. I pretended not to notice, though I would be lying, if I said, it didn’t affect me. In fact, it made me feel very self-conscious. The whole situation affected me more, than I thought it would.

She-wolves were rarely strong or any good at fighting. It might’ve been due to females being denied access to training in most of the packs, but even in the packs where females were allowed to participate, they were no way near the strength of the majority of the male wolves.

Leyla, however, was a magnificent fighter. She was a well-known she-wolf due to her abilities, her strength and her current rank, which made her famous in the entire country. Everyone knew, who she was, and she was a huge role model to the young females in our pack.

It almost felt disrespectful to share a bed with her. Even if we were just going to sleep. I was 29, and Leyla just turned 25, meaning she just reached her mating-age. She hadn’t found her mate yet though, so at least he wasn’t a part of our pack or a ranked member of one of the other packs.

Leyla must’ve noticed me overthinking the situation.

“Don’t think so much about it. It’s not like we’re going to have s*x or anything.”

My eyes refocused and my gaze snapped to Leyla, who was wearing one of her arrogant smirks. I did, however, notice the blush on her face. I raised an eyebrow at her statement. It was a bit hypocritical of her, considering she was the one, who was staring at me undressing a few seconds before.

She took off her pants and removed her bra without taking off her shirt, leaving just her panties and her shirt on. I couldn’t help but stare at her smooth legs, her tight ass and her breasts, which were bouncing a little extra, as they were finally freed from their daily prison.

I could feel a tug in my chest and an increasing heat in my groin, and I had to hold back a growl of arousal. However, as my gaze shifted to her face, we suddenly made eye contact, and I felt utterly embarrassed. What an alpha, I was…  Creeping on my beta…

She broke the eye contact, as she jumped into bed. She pulled up the duvet and placed her head on the pillow. “Goodnight”, she mumbled, closing her eyes. I followed her lead and lay down on the opposite side of the bed, turning my back to Leyla.

All my senses were stretched out, focusing on Leyla’s presence behind me. I listened to her breathing slow down, as she fell asleep. I turned around, facing her, so I could see her. She was lying on her back, wearing a peaceful look in her sleep. The bruises on her neck reminded me of alpha Kane and a surge of rage made me see red, but I quickly pushed the feeling away. I would never forgive Kane for hurting her, but I couldn’t act on it, unless I wanted to start a pack war. I couldn’t do that to my pack, even if I wanted to punch the asshat in the face. I closed my eyes and focused on Leyla. The slow rhythm of her peaceful breathing and the knowledge that she was safe beside me, under my protection, made me fall asleep much faster, than I usually would.  

 _-..-_

I woke up by the first rays of sunlight. I could feel the warmth of Leyla by my side. I turned towards her, resting my head on my right hand. She was closer to me this morning, than she was the night before. She was slightly snoring, which was pretty cute. She was usually the type to wake up inhumanely early, but she must’ve been exhausted after last night’s events.

I looked at her face, studying every little detail. Her plumb lips, her cute nose and her long lashes. I sighed deeply, before I turned around and rose from the bed.

The meetings would be starting soon, and I had to be there. I also had to wake up Ben. He was probably the only werewolf, who drank enough to still have a hangover in the morning, and knowing Ben, he would sleep until evening, if he wasn’t kicked out of his bed.

I took a quick shower and dressed myself in a pair of black pants and a light-grey shirt. I glanced at Leyla one last time, before I left the room.

When I entered Ben’s room, it felt like I walked into a wall of alcohol. I had to grimace. The smell was horrible. Ben was lying in his bed with his arms and legs spread out, snoring even louder than the night before, which should’ve been impossible.

I already knew that I had to be rough, if I wanted to wake him up. So, I went straight to his bed and threw him off of it.

“What the f**k man?!” Ben woke up with a loud groan, his face planted in the floor. He turned around, so he lay on his back instead of his face. He looked up to see the amused smirk on my face, which made Ben huff with an unsatisfied scrunch of his face.

“Time to get up, Ben. There’s a meeting soon, and you have to take a thorough bath, before we attend. You stink.”

Ben groaned loudly. “Ugh… I had forgotten all about those boring meetings.” He came back to his feet, looking as if it took a massive toll on him, and walked towards the bathroom. He pushed the palm of his hand against his forehead. He clearly had one hell of a headache.

I shook my head with a smile on my face. Good old Ben.

When Ben was finally ready for departure, he and I walked towards the meeting hall. Ben’s slow hangover brain took a while to realize that Leyla wasn’t present.

“Where the f**k is Leyla? If she gets a free pass, I want one too!”

I visibly tensed, which just fired Ben’s curiosity. He bobbed his eyebrows with an arrogant amused smirk on his face. “Did you to do something last night, while I was out? Finally released the tension?”

I gave him a warning look, but he didn’t seem to mind at all.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but no – we did not sleep together. She is sleeping sound in my chamber though.” I said quietly, and the thought of last night’s event made my eyes flash red with anger. Ben noticed, and he was instantly alert, since I rarely got angry.

“What happened?” he asked in a low voice.

I wasn’t sure, whether I should tell Ben, what happened the night before. Leyla would be pissed, if I did, but on the other hand, Ben had to know. If something was to happen again, I needed him alert and ready. It would help protect Leyla, if Alpha Kane or any other alpha decided to move on her. Having a female beta in a gathering of arrogant horny male wolves proved a bigger hassle, than I thought it would be. f*****g male wolves and their lack of self-restraint…

 “Alpha Kane overstepped last night. If I hadn’t shown up...” I kept my face stern, trying not to show any emotion.

Ben was shocked. Horrified by the news. “WHAT?!” He growled loudly, clenching his fists, pretty much ready to rip Alpha Kane’s head off, if he had been here. “I will beat that motherfucker to a pulp.” 

I raised an eyebrow at Ben’s exclamation. Though I understood his feelings and wanted nothing more than to do just that, I couldn’t risk a war between our packs. Alpha Kane was a strong alpha with a strong pack. A war would result in great losses on both sides. Leyla wouldn’t want that either.

I put a hand on Ben’s shoulder and looked him straight in the eye.

“You will not. I understand your feelings, but we cannot risk a war with them. Not to mention that you would be the one, who got his ass kicked, seeming as Leyla didn’t manage to fight him off. Just promise me that you will keep an eye on the alphas. If they so much as look at Leyla in the wrong way, you link me immediately. I will take care of it.”

I had to use my alpha voice. Ben was known to act drastically without thinking. He acted on emotions, and if I didn’t make it clear right now that he was not to act, I might find him punching Alpha Kane in the face, the moment we lay our eyes on him.

Ben took a deep breath, visibly trying to relax, though he failed miserably. “I understand,” he said, though he avoided my eyes. He clearly wasn’t happy about the situation, but he understood the risk. He got control of his rage, and the look in his eyes changed to concern. “Is she ok?”

I sighed, pushing my hand through my messy hair. “She seemed shaken last night, but she’s strong. Hopefully, she’s better today.”

Ben’s face lit up in a smirk. “She’s a f*****g badass, our Leyla. Shame he was an alpha. She would’ve thoroughly kicked his ass otherwise.”

I returned his smile, knowing he was right. “It would’ve been a magnificent sight.”

Ben and I were some of the first to arrive at the meeting.

Alpha Caspar of the Green Meadow Pack and Alpha Zack of the Black Moon Pack were the only alphas present at their arrival. They were both flanked by their betas and gammas, seated to their right and left respectively.

It didn’t take long for the rest of the alphas to arrive. They were ten alphas in total. All flanked by their betas and gammas. Except for Jon, since Leyla was still sleeping.

A n unpleasant and smug voice rose up in the room.

“Did you change your mind about a female beta, Alpha Jonathan?”

I tensed up, clenched my jaw and fists, as I slowly turned my gaze towards Alpha Kane. How the f**k dared he? I kept my appearance cool, but I was fuming beneath the surface.

 “Not at all, alpha Kane. She’s not feeling well today,” I said with gritted teeth.

The other alphas looked between Alpha Kane and I with curious or confused looks. A few of the younger alphas, who noticed the not so friendly tone of the remark, looked at Alpha Kane disapprovingly.

The corner of Alpha Kane’s mouth curled upwards at my explanation. I felt the need to punch him straight in the face, but of course, I kept my cool.

“Send her my wishes for a fast recovery.”

Before I had time to act, a deep and threatening growl erupted to my left, coming from my gamma, Ben. Every wolf in the room snapped their attention to him. The beta and gamma of Alpha Kane rose to their feet immediately, but they were ordered to sit down.

Don’t.

Ben looked at me, as he received my mind-link, and I gave him a warning look. He immediately looked down, though his body was still tense, and his fists were opening and closing, as he tried to calm himself down.

I was secretly pleased that Ben had growled at Alpha Kane. As an alpha, I couldn’t act like that, but a gamma growling wasn’t the same level of threat.

Alpha Caspar, a young but very wise alpha, cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, should we begin the meeting?”

I nodded, grateful for the intervention. “Yes please.”