Mythical Mate for an Alpha

Chapter 13

I made my way into the house and started toward the kitchen. I could smell something roasting in the kitchen, and it mixed with the scent of what I hoped were cupcakes. The closer I came to the smells, the more I realized how hungry I was. The flight home from Germany had in fact been quite long, and airline food is lacking, at best. 

I was about to turn the corner, but stopped short. I could hear laughter within. I recognized that of both of my sisters. The third was unknown to me, and could only mean it was that girl, Kitty. 

Thinking back to a few minutes ago, I became instantly angry with myself. Why had I behaved so weird? It was as though everything in me froze and all I could do was breath and stare. She is just a human girl, like Andre said. Another all too painfully obvious reason why I am not meant to be an Alpha. One new face and I lose all composure.

I stayed where I was and instead peered into the kitchen from the hall. Trish sat at the long table with a steaming mug between both hands. Ella was perched on the counter, hands on the edges, while her feet swung in front of her. On the opposite side of the kitchen was Kitty. She stood at the stove, and was stirring something in a large steel pot. It was then that I realized how small she was.

The pot on the stove wasn’t merely a pot. It was a giant silver behemoth. As wolves tend to eat massive portions, our cookware had to match the volume. I looked down to see that Kitty was on tip toes on a small stool. The height of such a large pot and the stove were too high for her small stature. I was amused and bewildered all at the same time. 

My sisters didn’t seem to think anything of it, and I found that even more concerning. Never in our 18 years has Trish ever wanted to befriend a human. She never went out of her way to hurt or belittle them, like some of the others in our pack, but she certainly never exchanged numbers, let alone brought one home. 

Ella was the same. She chatted with Kitty wildly, using her hands in exaggerated motions as she talked. Ella was more the sort to make a friend, even of the human variety. However, this type of enthusiasm she usually reserved for her closest friends, or us, her family. What was it about this girl that had everyone so entranced?

Andre’s words played over in my mind , ‘Wait until you meet Kitty. You will understand. It is almost impossible not to like her.’ Well, I had met her, and that wasn’t exactly my first impression. It was as though I was stuck in mud with no way to move and not a sound to utter. Nash was still quiet in my head, trying to figure it out too.

The back door opened and all three girls turned to see who was coming in. It was my brother Eli, with no shirt. He was similar to Trish and I, but a bit more stoic and reserved. He wasn’t much into conversation, gave nothing away in expression, and was generally hard to read. All of a sudden I felt an overwhelming annoyance that he had on no shirt. 

I know he had just come in from a run, as that was his usual attire. After his shift, he never returned fully clothed, as his first stop was always to the shower. No sense in being fully dressed, to underdress again, he reasoned. I never gave it too much thought as it was only the Alpha family here at the house. Right now, with Kitty in the room, it seemed a bit out of place. 

Kitty flashed a bright smile and hopped down from her step stool. She bounced over to the fridge and took out a bottle of water. She snapped the cap and handed it to Eli. He took the bottle from her, swigging deep. When the bottle was drained, he tossed to the garbage and turned back to Kitty. He reached out and mussed up the hair on the top of her head and gave her a smile. She laughed and went back to the stove, the three girls returning to their conversation as Eli headed up the back staircase to the second floor. 

I was dumbstruck. Eli was the most expressionless of the lot of us, and here he was, practically affectionate, with Kitty! Has everyone gone mad since my time in Germany?

I was convinced then and there that Kitty can be nothing other than a witch. Nash, still silent and contemplating, let out nothing more than a grunt. He was not convinced, but I was. Witch, or something else more powerful, there is no other reason for my family being so taken with her. No, this girl was no human. She was something far more sinister and I was going to find a way to prove it.

I turned back toward the main entrance and toward the second floor. As I hoped, Andre was in my room unloading the rest of the luggage. Since my Father and Owen had mates, Andre made quick work of dropping their bags first. It was anyone’s guess when they would all surface again, so I figured he would have saved my things for last. 

“Hey man,” Andre said, coming out of my closet. “Just about finished here. One of the pack members came over to take the dirty laundry while I put up the suitcases. They wanted to do something nice for the Luna since the Alpha and her haven’t had much time together recently.”

Andre was standing there, hands on his hips, smiling at me. All I could do was watch how he moved. I eyed him from top to bottom, and decided to get closer. My hard expression intensified. I could feel Andre’s aura grow tense. 

“Alpha, is there something wrong?” Andre asked with an edge to his voice. HIs face now showed concern as I circled him. 

I moved my hands to his shoulders, his hair, and ordered him to remove his shirt. 

“Uh, Alpha,” he stumbled over the words. “I, uh. I’m not really interested in you like that”

I stopped my investigation and looked at him squarely. “Well that’s a relief because you would make a terrible Luna. Second, I am not your Alpha. Third, you don’t seem to be doing too hot as my Gamma right now either.”

Andre relaxed some, but I could feel his annoyance coming off in waves. “What’s up with you Syrus? Why are you acting like this? And what do you mean I am not doing my job? I have done rounds, watched this pack, dealt with - “

I abruptly cut him off with a wave of my hand and went to the bed. I fell back against it and ran my fingers through my hair. I blew out a breath, but it did nothing to ease the tightness in my chest. 

“Syrus,” Andre started apprehensively, “maybe I should ask Kitty to make some of her herbal tea for you. It might make you feel better.”

“Aha!” I shouted, shooting up from my position on the bed. “It must be the tea! I knew she was doing something to all of you. When was the last time you had some? It will give me an idea of how long it takes to wear off.”

Andre stared at me as if I had six heads. “Syrus, what are you talking about? I have never seen you like this. You are starting to worry me, man.”

“When was the last time you had Kitty’s tea Andre?” I asked forcefully. My Alpha aura was starting to come out now. I would not have that girl in my house and around my family.

“I have never had any of Kitty’s tea. I don’t drink tea. Smells flipping fabulous though,” he said with a shrug of his shoulder.

I ran my hands through my hair again, frustrated, as I paced the room. I shot back to him, “Then when was the last time you had her cooking?”

“Um, only once, when she made the souffle. Oh, and she made me a sandwich the day after. That must have been about two weeks ago. Luna still treats her like a guest and doesn’t let her cook much.”

With that, Andre came to my side and put a hand on my shoulder. “Syrus, why do you think Kitty is drugging us?”

I made my way to the window seat and sat down. I hung my head as forearms rested on my thighs. Slowly, I lifted my eyes to Andre. “Something feels so off with her. My siblings like her. That, in and of itself, is weird. You and I both know that Trish is not one to take to human girls.

Then, a little bit ago, I saw Eli come in from a run. He actually seemed pleased to see her. He tousled her hair for crying out loud!”

Andre burst into laughter, only making my scowl deeper. “I don’t see what’s so funny Andre” I spit out.

“Syrus, I think that flight was a bit too much for you. Kitty is not drugging us, and yes, the rest of your family really likes her. The Luna especially has taken to her. 

We can all sense that there is something about her that is, well, different. We just can’t put our finger on it. Even so, my wolf can tell that she doesn’t want to hurt us. What does Nash say?” Andre finished and sat beside me.

“That’s just it” I started. “He doesn’t know. He hasn’t said a word to me since he saw her. All he wants to do is watch her, but he doesn’t say anything. When we look at her it’s like we can’t think, can’t speak. What else could it be?”

Andre was thoughtful for a while, but ultimately came up with the same. He didn’t know. There was something about Kitty that was getting to us, but we could not, for the life of us, pinpoint what it was. 

At that, Andre slapped me on the back and stood up. “Come on Syrus. Let’s have dinner. Everyone will be here, including Owen. We can meet after and see what he thinks of it. If you want, we can even ask Alpha Felix to join and give us his thoughts.”

I stood up with him, following him toward the door. “Might not be a bad idea. My father wasn’t ever one to take too kindly to strange creatures, especially around his family. I’m sure that once we are all in a room together, we will see his Alpha dominance come out in full force. I doubt Kitty will be here long after that.”