Mated by Marriage

Chapter 10

As the small crowd filters out of the study, a feel an elbow gently nudge me in the rib. I look to my right, finding Tia smiling brightly at me.

"Look at you, Ms. Alpha. I had no idea you were such a strategist! Now all those books in your room make a lot more sense. I guess I thought it was just a decorative choice."

A giggle escapes me before I can stop it, and Tia's smile somehow widens even further.

"I made you laugh! I did it! Not a fake laugh either, a real one!"

Tia claps her hands excitedly, and I roll my eyes, sticking my tongue out at her. Behind her, I see Chase and Derrick wandering out, the last to leave the study. I wave them over.

"Hey, good timing. Could either of you tell me which of those men in there were the Betas? Without a pack link, it's really hard for me to gauge rank. I'd like to set them up with the right contacts at Ironmoon to get a swift response on the samples."

Chase and Derrick share a brief look before Derrick pipes up.

"Beta David and Beta James are away on a mission at the moment. Can't say when they'll be back, but Tia is taking over their responsibilities for now. Isn't that right, Tia?"

Derrick winks in her direction, and for the first time ever, I actually see a scowl on Tia's face.

"Oh, shut up. You know damn well you should've been given those responsibilities. You were only spared because you're a lazy slacker."

Tia jabs an accusatory finger into his chest, and Derrick pretends to clutch his heart in agony. I watch as the two bicker back and forth, noting the soft twinkle in Derrick’s eyes. I turn to Chase, just about to ask him if those two are lovebirds, but as I turn I find him watching me already. A small smile threatens to turn his lips upward. He presses a finger to his mouth, shushing me.

"They don't know it themselves, just yet."

Chase winks, and though I've thought it before, this time might actually be the first time I've seen such a carefree, playful look on his face. He c***s his head to the side, stretching lightly.

"Let's take a walk, Meli."

My heart stutters a beat at the sound of him saying my name like that, but I recover quickly, jumping at the opportunity to clear the air between us. He leads me out a side door, striding lazily towards the garden. I match his pace, whipping my head around to take in the beauty of all the flowers.

"Wow, this is gorgeous."

Chase shrugs casually.

"My mom used to take care of it when she was alive. Now, Derrick's mom tends to it. I don't know the first thing about flowers, but I know I always feel calmer here."

I don't say anything in response. I can't. I know he's trying to open up, trying to bridge the gap between us, and I refuse to ruin the moment by saying the wrong thing. I let the heavy silence do the talking for me. Chase leads me to the center of the garden. Nestled in the center of a sea of roses, sits an extraordinary iron water fountain. The clink of the water against the iron is soothing and rhythmic. I take a deep breath, releasing the anxiety in my chest.

"Peaceful, right? This fountain always clears my head."

I nod.

"Yeah, it really is. I feel calmer than I have in months."

Chase shuffles his feet, kicking at the gravel path.

"So, about the other night...I apologize. I didn't mean to frighten you. My wolf is, well, ill-mannered. Just like me, I guess. And the kiss...I-"

"No, don't. It's fine."

I find myself interrupting him, before I can stop myself.

"You don't scare me. I mean you didn't scare me. I was just startled that I could sense your wolf so clearly. That’s all. I'm sorry for worrying you. There’s nothing to talk about."

Stupid, I think to myself. I'm so incredibly tactless. I know he wasn't just trying to apologize; he wanted to talk about what happened between us. We've known each other for less than a week, and it's already been trouble for everyone involved. Plus, he's the one who kissed me and then ran away. Whatever this is, I can’t entertain it. We're about to become legal siblings, for Goddess’s sake. It doesn't even matter; he can’t possibly be my mate, surely even my defective wolf would recognize that with certainty. I can't risk ruining this for Mom or for Ironmoon. They deserve a strong alpha, someone like Chase actually.

"I don't accept that. There's plenty to talk about, actually. You're hiding something; why? What did the doctor actually tell you about your wolf, the day you passed out?"

Chase's demeanor is suddenly serious again. His presence is like a dark cloud hanging over me.

"It's none of your business."

I turn abruptly, attempting to escape the garden as fast as I possibly can. Except, Chase is on me in an instant. He grabs my arm, firmly but without any force, and spins me towards him again.

"No, Meli, it actually is. From where I'm standing, you're an outsider who will soon play a part in unifying the Silvermoon and Ironmoon packs. My dad will be your alpha; this pack will be your pack just as much as Ironmoon is. If I can't trust you, if the pack can't trust you, how do you expect us to accept you? One good assembly speech doesn't make up for keeping things about your wolf a secret or make you a good alpha, damnit."

Chase's voice is a deep growl; it's not threatening, but I can tell how much he means every word.

"I don't know you, Chase! Has it ever occurred to you that I don't trust you either? Ever since I got here, you've been looking at me like I'm some puzzle to solve. Well, if you want to know something about me, how about this? I never wanted to be alpha! My dad was supposed to live another thirty years at least. I was supposed to have siblings I could defer the role to. And then I was going to fade into the background, take a position in strategy, write books, do research. I'm not a people person, okay? Just leave me alone."

My voice cracks, and I fight back a stream of burning tears welling in my eyes. Chase closes the gap between us, shaking his head.

"That's not true. You are a people person. You get along well with Tia, and she trusts you. The assembly accepted your proposal without pushback. People here respect you; you just don't notice. And you're right, we don't know each other. But I'm trying to get to know you. I wish you would just let me."

His voice is soft and almost pleading. I peer into his eyes, though they're blurred by the tears in my own eyes. They sparkle in the sunlight. The difference between his dark face and his twinkling eyes is stark, but part of me feels like the real him is the one I see in his eyes. Genuine, kind, and rather concerned about me for reasons I can't understand.

"Fine, you win. My wolf is defective. Tia already knows, and she's training me privately outside of our alpha sessions. Are you going to tell your dad or my mom? I'm a security risk, a crazy outsider with no control over her superpowered wolf. You'd be well within your rights to."

A flash of disgust crosses his face before he suddenly pulls on the collar of his sweatshirt, revealing his neck. He presses even closer to me than he already was.

"Smell me."