The Protector of Wolves

Chapter 13: The Rejected Offer

Jake’s POV

While I’m waiting for Kyle to get here, I sit at my desk and drink my coffee. Usually there is not much that we have to do on the weekends, but earlier this morning I received an urgent call from Elijah, the Alpha of Solar Eclipse pack. Apparently, his patrol found a few hunters lurking around on their packlands late last night. I could tell on the phone that Elijah was a bit distressed, which is not at all surprising given that hunters are the reason his sister, Alessia, is dead. Although I never personally met her, I heard she was incredibly caring, and yet strong. Everyone in her pack adored her. I sometimes wonder if she was meant to be my mate.

Elijah took over the Alpha position from his father a couple of years ago and he has proven himself to be a very respectable leader. For many years, our packs have been in an alliance, thanks to our fathers. Elijah and I have met several times and fully intend to further work on strengthening the alliance between our packs.

I assure Elijah on the phone, that our pack would be there to help them should the need arise. The last time the hunters attacked his pack, Travis offered help from his warriors and in a desperate moment of need, Elijah took him up on this offer. The warriors from Travis' pack were poorly trained at best, and they were found snooping around places they shouldn't have been. Not surprising, coming from Travis' warriors. Elijah has refused any help from him ever since.

Finally, I hear a knock on my door just as Kyle links me that he’s outside.

“Come in,” I link back.

Kyle walks in and plops down on the couch. “Mornin’,” he says through a yawn. “What’s going on?”

“Alpha Elijah called me. His patrol found some hunters on their pack lands late last night.”

“Ugh, can’t they just leave us alone?” Kyle groans as he throws his head back and sinks further into the couch. “What’s the plan, Alpha?”

“For now, we need to organize extra patrols for added security. I’m thinking we can add Chris and Matt to the Eastern boarder patrol and Austin and Cody to the Northern boarder patrol. What do you think?”

“Hmm,” Kyle pauses. “Yeah, that should work. We can pull a few of the warriors in training, too to fill in the gaps. I know of a few who would be a good fit.”

“I’ll put you in charge of organizing that then.”

“Sure thing, I will work on that this afternoon.” Kyle’s eyes glaze over for a second. “Hey, so Chloe just linked me; she wants to know if we’re done ‘talking business.’”

I chuckle and sigh. “She’s going to bug me about Lacy, isn’t she?”

My door swings open and Chloe walks into my office. “Hellooooo Alpha and Beta,” she chirps. “You two done yet?”

Out of respect, most pack members knock before entering my office, but because Chloe, Kyle, and I are such close friends, I don’t usually mind.

Kyle and I have been best friends our entire lives. Chloe and her best friend, Kara, were pretty close with us growing up as well. No one was surprised that Chloe and Kyle were fated mates; they always got along so well and even started dating before they turned 18 and found out they were mates. On the other hand, Kara and I were friends of convenience. We did get along well, but I always could tell she was wanting to be more than friends. She turned 18 a month before me and was openly disappointed to find out that we were not mates. I have to admit that I was a bit relieved.

However, since we have both yet to find our fated mates, she has been suggesting to me more and more lately that we be each other’s chosen mates and she would be my Luna. I’ve always been very reluctant to give up the chance at finding my fated mate, but to say I haven’t considered her offer would be a lie. I am getting older and have had no luck finding my mate. For all I know, she could be dead. At one point last night I was so close to bringing it up to Kyle, Chloe, and Tyler to find out what they think about Kara being Luna.

But that was before I met Lacy.

Lacy.

Even thinking her name makes my pulse quicken. Ryker never said she was my mate, but I would have sworn that the other night I felt the sparks of the mate bond when our hands touched, although they were extremely weak. I do feel a strong pull towards her, too. I need to find out what all this means.

Chloe must be reading my mind because she asks me about Lacy.

“So, Jake, you text Lacy yet?”

“Nope. Not yet," I reply curtly, hoping she will just drop it.

"Why are you dragging you feet?" Chloe asks me bluntly. She continues to stare at me in silence. If anyone can get me to talk, it's her.

"I have some concerns," I reply.

"And those are...?" Chloe asks me impatiently.

I look over at Kyle and he immediately adverts his eyes, though I can see amusement all over his face.

I let out a big sigh before continuing.

“She’s a human. Ryker never said that she’s my mate, but I still feel this pull towards her. I so badly want to see her, but if she is human and she is not my mate, then I risk exposing our world to her.

Also, I need a strong mate, and our pack needs a strong Luna. I can’t just waste my time with someone who can never be that. It wouldn’t be fair to her, it wouldn’t be fair to me, and it wouldn’t be fair to the pack.”

“Jake, when we were watching the interaction between you and Lacy, we could all tell that there was something between you two that just seemed so... natural. It doesn’t matter to us if she’s human. Our pack is strong, and so are you. And I don’t know what’s going to happen, but judging from how we saw her handle that situation at the bar last night, I think she would make a good Luna if it ever came down to it. We would support you, and the rest of the pack would, too. We want you to be happy.”

I sit down at my desk and put my face into my hands and let out a huge sigh. Kyle laughs. “Come on man, just give it a chance. Chloe’s right, there is something between you two. And who knows, maybe it is the mate bond.”

I slowly lift my head up towards Kyle. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” he hesitates, “Ryker never said that she wasn’t your mate right? And you are werewolf and she is human, maybe this is how the mate bond manifests itself between a wolf and a human? Maybe that’s why Ryker is confused?”

I furrow my eyebrows. I guess we don’t really know how it would manifest. We’ve never met a wolf with a human mate. Human mates are such a weakness. I have to wonder if I should reject her if she is my mate. Maybe I should just make Kara my chosen mate. It sure as hell would make things a lot easier.

Kyle senses my apprehension. “Dude, just at least take her on the hike like you were planning to last night. If it doesn’t go well, then you know it wasn’t meant to be. And if it does go well, you’ll figure out the rest.”

“Fine,” I sigh. I grab my phone and find her name under my saved contacts. I think back to last night, wanting to feel those pleasurable tingles again.

I start drafting a text, and Chloe insists on reading it before I send it. After I get her approval, I hit send.

Me: Hey! It was so great to meet you last night. Still interested in that hike?

Chloe and Kyle are anxiously staring at me, waiting for me to fill them in. “You guys need to have some patience. It takes more than 2 seconds for someone to text back.”

"Fine but we're waiting here until she texts back," Chloe says to me stubbornly. Kyle groans and she smacks his arm.

A few moments later I hear my phone buzz.

Lacy: Glad you all were there last night! Yes, sounds fun!

Me: Tomorrow, 11ish? I will bring a picnic for lunch

Lacy: 11 works!

Me: Text me your address, I’ll pick you up in the morning

Lacy: Okay! Can’t wait!

“You’re smiling!” Chloe looks at me with a big, knowing grin.

"I take it as a good sign?” Kyle laughs.

I playfully roll my eyes at them. “Yes, as a matter of fact we are going on the hike tomorrow."

“Yay, Jake! I’m so happy for you.” Chloe says, clapping her hands together.

Kyle looks at his watch. “Oh, hey Chloe we better get going if we’re going to make our lunch reservation with your parents. It’s a long drive into the city.”

“Oops, I almost forgot!” Chloe links her arms through Kyle’s and pulls him towards the door. “Bye Jake!”

“Don’t forget about adding those warriors in training to the patrol,” I remind Kyle.

“Of course. I will do that after lunch. Later, Jake!” He gives me a quick wave.

Tomorrow can’t come fast enough and even though I don’t need to be working on anything else today I decide to bring some lunch back up to my office and get some more work done to pass the time. As I’m walking down the hallway to my office, sandwich in tow, I see Kara standing at my door.

Oh goddess, what does she want now?

I can feel Ryker shares the same level of excitement as I do when I see Kara.

“Hiya!” She says cheerfully. “I heard that you were working this weekend and I just wanted to let you know I am available to help with anything you might need!”

“Thanks Kara, but Kyle and I have taken care of everything already.”

I know she means well, but her overeager demeanor is becoming extremely irritating. I don’t really want to be around her right now anyway. The last thing I want is for her to find out that I’m going on a date with a human tomorrow, especially when it’s on packlands. I’d never hear the end of that.

“So, Jakey...”

Kara follows me into my office, and I watch her close the door behind us. I set my food down on my desk and sit in my chair. She walks over towards me and leans against the side of my desk. “Have you thought more about my offer? We would make such good mates, don’t ya think? You know you can’t resist me,” she says giggling and not so subtly trying to show off her cleavage.

"Desparate is not a good look on her," Ryker snorts.

She starts to lean in closer to me, so I quickly stand up and walk away from my desk. She continues to come towards me. “Kara, this needs to stop,” I tell her as gently as possible.

“But Jakey“ she whines, “we should be together!”

“NO!” I growl at her and her eyes widen. “Kara, I know how you feel about me, but I just don’t feel the same way. We’re not mates. I don’t think this would be good for either of us.”

Two days ago, I was contemplating the idea of accepting her offer as my chosen mate and Luna. Now, I can’t even imagine that as a possibility.

“Really Jake!? When will you open your eyes and realize you need a mate, and the pack needs a Luna!” She pouts at me. “You haven’t found your fated yet, and for all we know she’s dead, so who better than a girl you can trust and who you’ve known your whole life!”

"Enough, Kara!” I say with my alpha authority. Tears start pooling in her eyes and her face turns bright red. She runs to the door and slams it shut behind her..

Goddess help me.