The Alpha's Forgotten Mate

13. I Have A Question

______________________________

.

.

.

~ JAMIE ~

.

"What's wrong?" Felix asked as soon as he walked in the door. I would not be surprised if he had sniffed out the tension from all the way down the hallway. Maria was basically having the most composed panic attack ever, and Ody and I were simply watching her pace around the room talking rubbish over and over again, waiting for the moment she would collapse. Not very thoughtful of us, I agree.

"Maria didn't like the way Natasha looked at me today." I nodded at the open bottle of whiskey on the coffee table. We all had a served glass with us. He might as well join in on the not-so-fun situation.

"And she also used the term 'pack'." Ody added, taking a sip of his alcohol. He did not seem like the kind of person who could take alcohol. But yes, he could take a much larger quantity than human standard, I am sure. And that is why I needed to either stop at glass number one, or start acting tipsy before he did because otherwise Maria would be personally going to the war front to get Rowan to deal with the situation.

Which reminded me... Was the war ever going to happen? Or were they going to sit there and negotiate for the rest of eternity?

I did not miss him.

Please. This was the most fun I had in years.

Why would I miss him when I could do whatever I wanted to do in his absence?

It's just that I was used to seeing his snobby, angry face once in a while. And my heat was also around the corner.

SHIT!

What the hell was I supposed to do about my heat? Maria would know in a heartbeat!

I am dead!

I am so dead!

"Jamie, are you even listening?" Felix snapped his fingers in front of my face and I almost grabbed and broke it.

"What?" I looked up at him.

"Should we neutralize her?" He asked.

"Who? Maria? Go ahead. You have my support!" I clapped in excitement.

Felix just snorted while Maria and Ody gave me the look. Jeez, don't tell me she was making him her disciple now.

I can't deal with one Maria. How the hell am I supposed to deal with two of them?

"Just stay down." I shrugged. "She is human. It's not like she can do anything to me even if she wanted to."

"What if she is a wolf hunter?"

Everyone paused.

This Ody seems to be pretty smart. He really is the definition of more than meets the eye. Should I be concerned?

Well, I know I need to be concerned about every single soul around me because, duh, everyone could be nurturing a hidden agenda, which is most probably to finish me off, but I should be extra careful about those who are exceptional.

"You don't have a wolf." Maria said. She could not say that I was not a wolf. Scent-wise, it was the same whether you were human or your wolf was missing, but we always had all other functions going because, well, it was in our DNA, only the wolf part of the soul would be missing.

Wait a minute, doesn't that mean my heat would still arrive because I am a wolf?

No.

They used magic to make me human!

There's no logic where magic is involved. I am f****d for sure.

"Why are you zoning out like this?" Maria asked. "Is something bothering you?"

"No." I said finally, finishing my glass in one swig. "I think you are overreacting because I think Natasha is overreacting because of the crush she has on Noah and because he was hitting on me yesterday. And the obsession with werewolf novels must have made her use the term 'pack'."

"But-"

"Besides are you all really scared of humans? Mere humans?" I raised a brow at them. Despite the fact that the entire paranormal community feared ever being found out by the humans because of all that happened to our ancestors, werewolves had some huge egos about how we were better than stupid humans.

If you ask me, werewolves really thought that they were better than any other supernatural species. Well, in their defense, I am pretty sure every species thought that.

But anyway, I needed to use their ego against them to make sure that they did not go sniffing, because if this woman was really involved with people who wielded the wolf ruby, then these idiots would not come back alive.

I needed to send someone who could live through that to find out what was going on.

The trio did not say anything in return but the look on Maria's face told me that she had a lot left to talk about.

I know I know.

"Felix and Ody may leave because I have girl things to talk about with Maria." I picked up the bottle of whiskey and got up from my seat, passing the liquor to Felix. "Go and enjoy yourself."

He nodded and left. Just like that. Meanwhile, Ody looked over at Maria for permission and only left after she nodded.

I thought I would like timid and cute Odysseus more, but I supposed I can't have my way with everything. It was evident that he was going to be Maria's lackey. I guess it was fine - this poor woman suffered because of me for so long that it is high time that she got herself an assistant to deal with me.

"Jamie, you are a human now." Maria started as soon as she was sure that they won't be able to hear her. "So wolf hunter, a human with an agenda, or anything else - it could be dangerous for you."

"I know." I shrugged, and I granted her one of my rare, exclusive, and dazzling smiles to steady her nerves. No seriously, one of the perks of being a psychopath is that you can actually make people feel better or secure with just a smile. It is one of my many hidden talents. "But I have you three to make sure nothing like that happens, right?"

Showing trust is one form of emotional manipulation. But pretending to trust someone with your life? That f***s with them more than anything else. I am pure evil, aren't I?

"Of course." She stuttered, her heartbeat picking up. "I will never let anything happen to you. Death will have to walk over my corpse before it can touch you. There is no way in hell or heaven that I will let anything happen to you-"

"I KNOW!" I cut her off by shrieking. She shut up and looked at me stupidly. "Only you can make me wish I did not open my heart out to you." I rolled my eyes.

Maria let out a giggle and came forward.

Oh no!

I know what that means!

"Stay away from me, Satan!" I waved my hands at her.

"Oh shut up and come here, you big baby!" She wrapped her arms around me and made me rest my head on her shoulder, and I pretended to melt into her hug because that would strengthen my agenda. Hehe.

But... honestly, it didn't feel that bad.

I like it. Only because I only get it once or twice a year. Not because it was comfortable or because I was affection-starved or anything.

"I have a question." I said as I pulled away from her.

"Hmm?" She looked blissful as she tucked one of my loose strands of hair behind my ear. She looked at me like how my mother used to look at me.

"What about my heat?"

Her eyes widened. "You feel it coming?"

"No." I rolled my eyes. "I am human, remember? I can't have it."

"Oh yeah." She giggled sheepishly, and I am sure my face must have visibly contorted in annoyance at how giddy she was. It was a side-effect of getting a smile AND a hug from me.

Maybe I am not the one who is affection-starved after all. Should I pretend to be nice and affectionate towards her to get my way with everything?

Hmm...

Nah. Too much work. It will exhaust me and make me miserable. I would much rather she ate off my ears the whole day.

"Yeah, but these people don't know I am human right? How the hell do we hide this?"

Maria's eyes widened once again.

Yep.

"Your problem actually." I shrugged and sat down on the couch. "You deal with it."

.

.

.

~ ROWAN ~

.

Peter had to bite down on his lips to stop himself from laughing when he saw how quickly Rowan grabbed his phone from the desk, and Peter had had the chance to see the caller ID.

"What is it?" Rowan cleared his throat before picking up the call, all the while throwing a glare at Peter because he knew exactly what was amusing the Beta.

"Sir, I called you to ask about something concerning the Luna." The submission was evident in her voice. Rowan didn't think he would be surprised if Maria was bowing down with his neck bared on the other side.

"Why else would you contact me? What did she do now?" Rowan was getting impatient.

"She... She didn't do anything, Sir." Maria was having jitters about the truth she was withholding from her Alpha. She was ready to accept any punishment he would give her when he found out but after the brief moment with Jamie, she was willing to risk it for her munchkin's short-lived happiness. "She was wondering how we were to cover up her heat."

"Heat?" Rowan's d**k came to life immediately at the mention of the word, as if summoned by it. It had been almost a week. And her heat was also soon to arrive. "What is there to cover up? You think Lancaster and Gold would have the audacity to approach my Luna just because I am away?"

Peter raised a brow at the possessiveness. My Luna? That was a new one, especially from the wolf who would not even mention his mate's name.

Maria was also too stunned to speak for a moment. Maria was used to Rowan addressing Jamie as a lot of things but never by her name or as his mate or his Luna, unless he was doing it sarcastically. But the mere authority and possessiveness with which he said would make anyone wonder if he really hated her like he claimed he did. Because this was the sort of reaction a true mate would have for his woman being around other men.

"That is not the case, Sir. She was wondering about-"

"Oh, Maria!" Rowan's hormones went into complete overdrive as soon as he heard that voice, and Peter could smell him from across the desk. He got up from his seat, ready to leave because as much as he wanted to tease his son-like Alpha about it, he did not want to increase his suffering so he silently left the place.

"Hand over the phone to her." He said, his voice scratchy and strained. It was so painful to hear that Maria blushed, just guessing what thoughts went through the Alpha's mind as soon as he heard his mate's voice.

"Yes, Sir. Give me a moment."

.

.

.

_____________________________