The Packless Wolf

Chapter 8

After all the packs left, Reika was sent to get the rogues. She was instructed to bring them back to the pack house and her dad wanted to talk to them. Reika held her hand up to knock but her hand did not hit wood. “Ow,” someone exclaimed. “You really do have a strong arm.”

Reika looked up to see one of the rogues with emerald green hair and ocean blue eyes rubbing his forehead, Tobias maybe? “I’m so sorry,” Reika said, reaching out to him. Tobias pulled away from her.

“Ambrose, I told you to just let her knock,” Jasper laughed, the sound ringing in Reika’s ear like a melody. Conri was happily hopping around, chanting mate. So, it was not Tobias.

Reika looked at her mate. He stood up, his eyes piercing into Reika’s. Nervously, she looked down. That was a mistake. She trailed along his abs to the V where grey sweatpants loosely settled. Her eyes rested there. She did not realize how close he had gotten. A hand tilted her chin up, causing a tingling. Reika released her breath but was caught again when her eyes met his. 

Jasper leaned down just a hair away from Reika’s face.  A strand of his brown waves brushed against her check. “What do I owe this pleasurable visit, my Cherry Blossom,” Jasper allured.      

Reika’s face heated, goosebumps spread across her body as she felt the movements of his lips. She got lost in the sea of his blue eyes.  A chuckle sounded to the side. Reika snapped back and now her face was red from embarrassment. She strengthened up. When did she lean forward? 

Reika cleared her throat. “Rachel, Nora and Devon are cleaning out the guest rooms you will be staying at, so I was sent to take you to the pack house. Dad would also like to talk with you all before dinner,” Reika responded. She then turned to Jasper with a scolding look. “I need to have a word with you.”

Reika heard a scuff escape from Ambrose. She looked over to where he was sitting on the couch. She raised an eyebrow. “Do you have a problem?”

“Don’t mind him,” the blonde rogue started (Reika wasn’t even going to guess his name since she got it wrong the last time). “He was just hoping to find his mate,” the rogue teased him.  

“Bruce, don’t lie.” Ambrose retorted, standing up and walking towards Reika. “Your pack is apparently the most accepting of all of them, at least that’s what the rumors from other rogues are, and you have omega’s cleaning our room? And, you just marked Jasper but you won’t even admit to anyone he’s your mate.”

Reika starred into his blue eyes. They were similar to Jaspers' and swirled with so many emotions; pain, anger, disgust. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Ambrose had similar tattoos to Jasper's. Maybe it’s a rogue thing? She didn’t know what to say.  Obviously the first part wasn’t true. But the last part was, Conri marked him and now, there were so many uncertainties. In a way, due to her lack of control, she marked him too. Fear held her tongue as she looked for a reason, one maybe they would understand. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she noticed a faint glow coming from one of his tattoos, bringing her back from the island she felt like she was on. 

Her eyes started to move, to investigate the faint glow, when Jasper spoke. Reika wondered if she had seen anything at all.

“Ambrose, that’s enough,” he commanded with authority. “We’ve all talked about this. Now, let’s hurry and pack. Then maybe you could clean your own room.” Jasper ended with a huh. 

Jasper looked at Reika and grabbed her hand, causing her hand to tingle. She wondered if the mate bond was strong enough for him to feel the tingle. If it made him crave her touch like it made Reika crave his. He hadn't marked her yet, so she was unsure.  Jasper led her through the living room and up the stairs to the room he was staying in. Jasper closed the door behind them. He made his way to a large duffle bag. He pulled out a pair of black pants and a black shirt. He started to pull his sweatpants down. Reika’s face heated up and she turned to face the door. Hearing the movement, Jasper peaked over his shoulder and chuckled at the women behind him. Her head turned side to side and she held her arms behind her as she waited. His mate. She was so strong and so beautiful, yet she only allowed a fraction of who she was to the surface. Now that they were close he could feel all her doubts and fears through the mate bond. He could only guess what they were, but they laid heavy on her heart. He pulled his pants on. 

“You can turn around now.” 

“I’m-“Reika started as she turned. 

“You don’t have to apologize,” Jasper interrupted. He walked closer to Reika. “I came here to win your heart and allow you the choice. Conri took that away from you.” his hand reached up, itching to give her a reassuring touch.  Last night Cyfrin had told Conri of his disappointment. Yes, it had hurt when she started to say those words. Yes, he didn't give Conri the safe word. Cyfrin had wanted to, but Jasper was selfish, and didn't want to lose her. He had been waiting for her since he shifted for the first time.

Reika was stunned. From her understanding when the mate bound would form all the wolf thought about was completing it. Coming together as one as it was meant to be. The urge was stronger for males. Even for her, with Conri being her wolf, she felt the tug and desire. Her eyes landed on the mark left on his neck. Feeling ashamed, she turned her head, looking out the window. She tried to think of something to change the subject. We need him, Conri pleaded to her, I need him.

“Do those tattoos mean anything,” Reika blurted out? “I know humans will get tattoos with meaning and I noticed you and Ambrose have similar tattoos.”

“Yes, they do have a purpose,” Jasper replied.

He went and grabbed his shirt, putting it on. He started to button it from the bottom. Reika studied him, disappointed that he was covering up that perfect body. He buttoned it up all the way to the collar, hiding the mark. Reika felt her heart pain. She knew why he did it. It’d be hard to explain why he was marked without a mate with a mark that looked so fresh.   His sleeves were long, covering up the tattoos. Hm, he wore something similar yesterday.  

“I’m not going to apologize for my cousin's behavior, that’s his job."

Oh...that's why they looked so similar. The same ocean colored eyes, the same facial structure, she wondered if their hair color was the same under the emerald green dye. Though, in her biased opinion, Reika thought Jasper was far more sexy, he was also taller, and Ambrose had a lighter skin tone.

"But, the subject of omega’s is a sensitive one. He doesn’t have a wolf.”  Jasper was now sitting on the bed putting his boots on. 

Oh, Reika had thought to herself. She inwardly smiled. She now had a plan. Jasper stood up and started to put the rest of his clothes back in his duffel bag.  An image of Reika pouncing on Jasper and ripping his clothes off flashed through her mind. She quickly shook the thought away.

“Hey you two lovebirds. No funny business up there,” one of the rogues called up from downstairs. “We’re all ready.”

Reika’s face heated up again. Oh goddess, she was going to die from embarrassment.