The Alpha’s not-so Human Mate

22. It is time

JACE’S POV

How could I not tell her the whole truth when she was looking at me with those big brown eyes, staring into my soul? She listened patiently as I told her everything—from the time I saw her reflection, to the time I went to Medina in search of some remedy. How Kaiah used Medina to get us to switch places. I left nothing out, although I felt she was withholding something.

“I am not heartless Es, I know that with the way I have been behaving lately, you have grown to hate me—but I did all that to protect you. Kaiah is volatile at the moment and until I get back my body, I cannot trust him to not do something irrational with it.”

She placed her hand under my chin and looked deep into my eyes. Only she could disarm me with this singular move. Her voice flowed like smooth silk. “Don’t apologize, you did nothing wrong. Knowing you are still here is more than enough for me.”

She pulled my face toward hers and pressed her soft lips against mine. I closed my eyes as the flavor of our kiss reawakened my month-long need for her.

Without missing a beat, I deepened the kiss, my hunger for her was raving. I was going mad with desire for her—she was the sweetest, most innocent girl I have ever seen, yet somehow, she revved up some not-so-innocent emotions in me.

Something I hadn’t shared with her was the one thing I noticed when I returned to the pack after the body exchange. Kaiah’s body reacted to the sight of her. It is hard to explain but I sensed how this body stiffened when it saw her. It made me burn with anger that he too was attracted to her. I would not be surprised if he spent nights thinking of her, even jerking off to the imagination of her naked body.

Tai’s desire burned out of control. ‘We have waited long enough, it is time to claim our mate and place our mark on her body,’ he rumbled. I broke the kiss abruptly and took off her top, leaving her in a black bra. I entrapped her lips all over again while massaging her breasts underneath the fabric of her bra.

She pulled away from the kiss, confusing me. “No, Jace. We can’t do this, not in Alpha Kaiah’s body. We must get back your body first.”

Tai was begging for her, but she was right. Any action I take in this body might come back with repercussions. I close my eyes to force back my urge...when I had at least achieved the bare minimum, I opened them and focused on her. “I will be going to Medina’s cottage in a few days. I need to be sure that you are safe.”

“I’ll go with y—”

“Okay, but first, I need you to go back to the pack and stay there.”

“But what about Reina?”

“She is a coward, she will not try anything as long as you’re there. Plus, I’ll be close by to protect you.” I held her hand in a reassuring manner.

She did as I asked and returned home. I made sure to follow her just in case Reina tried to do anything stupid again.

Pretending to be Kaiah for the past few weeks has opened my eyes to a whole new reality. For the longest time, I had suspected that we had a traitor in our midst; who was busy feeding Kaiah information about our pack. It started about a year before I sent Reina on the mission to infiltrate his pack.

Looking back in hindsight, the speed at which she gained his trust was suspicious from the start. I didn’t think much of it and only assumed that she was a really good actress. But she conveniently left out information until the last minute, or she would disappear for a long time, only to resurface whenever she felt like it.

Since he and I exchanged bodies, I could sense that she knew what was going on. Reina and I have been close since we were children, she used to be the first one to sense if something was off with me. She was always someone who paid attention to every minor detail; she definitely knew the guy in that house wasn’t me. Knowing her, she would never say anything about the exchange to anyone, as long as it benefited her; having an alpha that desires her allows her the chance to become Luna, whether it be to me or Kaiah. That is why she can’t stand Esnie being in the picture. Esnie’s death would affect me more than it would Kaiah because she is mated to my soul, my spirit, and Tai. Tai would go insane if I lost her, and despite Kaiah inhabiting my body, he would only feel pain that was flesh-deep. He would get over her in no time and be free to choose another.

Now that Reina’s hunger for power has put Esnie in danger, things have gone too far.

I got my things ready as I prepared to return to Medina’s cottage to reverse the process.

I’m sorry I lied to you by saying I’ll be going in a few days, Es, but this is my burden to bear.

***

It was evening when I got my gun and everything I needed. The journey to Silva Obscura was not one to take lightly.

I swung my bag over my shoulder and walked out of the woods, onto the dirt road.

I heard a honk behind me which startled me. I turned and saw a black truck on the road; sitting behind the wheel was Ross. And in the back seat was Esnie.

Ross yelled from the car’s window. “Don’t tell me you‘re leaving without us. Hop in!”

I shook my head in amusement and walked on over to the passenger’s seat. When I sat down, looked back and caught Esnie with a smirk on her face.

“I knew you were gonna try to go without me, so I asked Ross for help.” She smirked.

I chuckled. “Thank you baby.”

Ross let out a shaky breath. “Just like old times, hey buddy?”

“You can say that again.” I concurred.

He rolled out onto the dirt road and continued driving. “Remember the time you and I played Detectives and fooled Dr Cedric? You snapped the neck of that ugly bastard, Meyers or whatever his f*****g name was.” He laughed heartily, but little did he understand the weight of what he just said.

I looked back at Esnie and noticed a change in her demeanor.

“Be quiet” I whispered to Ross.

“Oh, sorry.” He cringed and turned silent, which was much better for everyone.

I turned to her. “Baby, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She replied curtly. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

I glared at the side of Ross’s face and he mouthed “Sorry”

I returned my attention to the road as he drove. The ride was a quiet one, with each of us lost in our thoughts.

That day at the hospital, Ross and I were simply passing by the human town when I got a scent; an irresistible fragrance that drew me to a woman lying helplessly on a hospital bed. Her luscious brown hair, her beautiful face even though she was unconscious — called out to me. The man, Mr Meyers introduced himself to us as her husband— he was under the assumption that we were with the authorities and proceeded to divulge his lies to us. I knew he was lying because I heard the irregular beat of his heart. Anyone could smell his lies from a mile away.

I begged Ross to help me get her out of his clutch. He doesn’t deserve her. He doesn’t deserve a wife as sweet and delicate. Tai leaped for joy inside of me, and begged me to claim her; to mark her immediately, but I sensed hesitation on her part. I wasn’t going to force her to love me, I wanted her to fall in love with me, with time.

I couldn’t bear it when Meyers made her cry. I couldn’t endure it, so I broke his neck. I watched his body go limp as it fell to the floor.

“We’re almost there” Ross’s voice broke through my train of thought, cutting it short.

He was right, Medina’s cottage was only a few miles away.

It is time to get back my body.