The Jaguar's Mate

NINE

“What are we going to do? Is it safe for us to even stay here?” Tamara paced around their room, her eyes changed from jaguar to human as she shook her head and bit her fingernails in an anxious but unconscious action. She spoke rapidly and nervously without looking at Nico. “They don’t know where she is? What if someone killed her?”

“Tamara, breathe. Elder Carmen told us they have found no trace of elder Maria, the humans have been looking for her and Olivia and Aiden will shift tonight and search the jungle in case the elder’s jaguar got hurt.” Nico lay in the bed, watching Tamara as he spoke. 

She stopped pacing and looked at him with confusion riddled all over her face. “Woah Woah back up Nico. She is letting him near Killari? She is going to shift with him? Like literally wolf and jaguar? Like just the two of them in the jungle?” Tamara sat by Nico's feet, her eyes wide.  

“Yes, yes, yes, and yes” Nico shrugged, attempting to remain calm for her sake. Tamara began to rub her temples in a circular motion. She didn’t understand why Olivia was acting funny around this guy, they dealt with wolves all the time and it wasn’t the first time she handled an unmated Alpha. She was always comfortable around men, even shameless with her sensuality. 

“Has she acted differently around other males recently?” Tamara was curious to see if it was a generalized reaction or if it was just Aiden. 

“I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure she jumped that human Aiden smelled on her, plus I saw Ramiro’s wolves ogling her and she was acting normal. Pretty sure it’s just that Alpha..." Nico shook his head in annoyance "She even held hands with him walking back. He hasn’t even smelled her scent...I bet he’d go insane.” Nico then laughed, imagining the Alpha going bonkers. 

“You gotta be kidding!!” Tami squealed and her jaw fell open.

“Nope. Olivia falling for some wolf is an unprecedented anomaly, yes. But the biggest problem now is that Jaguar-Elder’s don’t just vanish into thin air, they are protected and they are fearless. Elder Maria missing could only mean that we might be in danger, someone could be hunting us, Tamara.” Nico was cautious to keep his face and voice cool.

“Did you tell Olivia?” Tamara asked, feeding off of Nico's forced calm.

“Yes, and she agrees. Did you ask her about Aiden?” He raised his eyebrows, wondering if Tamara knew more.

“Yes I did, multiple times but she only says she is stressed out...maybe Perla or Rio could get Killari to spill!” Tamara smiled conspiratorily. 

Nico returned the expression. “Great idea, meanwhile just keep an eye on her. And also what on earth are YOU doing with that Beta?” He shoved her playfully and she smiled mischievously, her anxiety receding as she remembered how cute Sam was.

“Well I don’t know just yet but I like him!” She shoved Nico back.

“Tamara-like or actual like?” He rubbed his shoulder, pretending as if the shove hurt.

“Ugh actual like Nico!” She rolled her eyes and stood up.

“In that case, I guess I should tell you that he’s waiting for you outside.” He said with a flashing smile and laid back down, the palms of his hands holding the back of his head. 

“Nico!! Why didn’t you say so asshole!” She stomped to her nightstand and Nico smirked at the insult, at least Tamara was still acting like herself.

“He is capable of waiting” He muttered as she reached for her lip-gloss and quickly put it on, looking at herself through a small hand-held mirror. 

“Ha-ha. Wait where’s Olivia now?” She asked, glancing at Nico briefly before checking herself in the mirror again.

“She’s still with Aiden, talking to Ramiro’s pack about the elder missing and setting up more tents, and delegating or bossing some people around probably". He sighed, feeling sleepy after the long night he had.

“At least that hasn’t changed!” She joked, heading out. She wondered what would happen if the elder didn’t show up and what on earth would Aiden do if Olivia released her scent to him.

...

Olivia had been trying to channel her inner-harmony for at least 2 hours as every single she-wolf approached Aiden and tried to cling to him like a blood-sucking leech. She knew she was kidding herself trying to stay calm, she didn’t have inner peace, instead she had a hungry predator waiting to pounce and patience the size of a grain of salt. She decided she was going to set a rule and have every female stay away from Aiden, and whoever broke it will lose a finger.

Or you could just mark him like I told you

Killari I am not marking an Alpha wolf that we just met. Why are you so obsessed with it? 

HE IS OUR MATE!

NO! You can’t even mate with his wolf! When have you ever heard of such a thing!?  

I don’t know…

Killari’s voice broke, Olivia had never seen such a reaction from her jaguar. It was usually anger that fueled them. 

Shit sorry Killari I didn’t mean that, I am so sorry

Killari didn’t answer, but instead retreated in her mind.

“You alright Olivia?”

Aiden wanted to be alone with Olivia, but they had to get things done and the she-wolves were annoying him.

“I am okay, why?”

“She is fine Alpha, she’s an independent-strong woman right Olivia? So why don’t you come with me, I can show you my tent...”

Olivia couldn’t mask her reaction as anger and jealousy rushed through her face, this stupid wolf Cassandra hadn’t left their side for almost 30 minutes. She was one stuck-up spoiled she-wolf she never liked.

Aiden noticed Olivia’s reaction and since she had been mostly ignoring him he decided to have some fun, so he put his arm around the she-wolf and smiled at her

“That would be nice Cassie!”

CASSIE?? 

Olivia wasn’t going to give them the pleasure of seeing her react or care one last bit, he kept entertaining the she-wolves with small talk, so she decided she was done. In fact she could play this game too.

“In that case, i’ll leave you two to it”

When Olivia turned to walk away, Aiden dropped his hand from the she-wolf and watched as she walked to a crowd of male omegas that were talking animatedly in a circle. 

“This way Aiden--”

“No, I changed my mind. I would like to chat too”

Aiden walked towards Olivia and the crowd of omega males, leaving Cassandra standing there watching as he was obviously chasing after Olivia.

“Hey can I join you?”

Even though there was no space between Olivia and the wolf that had stood next to her, Aiden stood between them glaring at the wolf and signaling him to move over, practically pushing him to the side. Aiden stood so close to Olivia that their sides were touching and so were their legs, making her body react in satisfaction. He decided to send a clear warning and circled Olivia’s waist in a side hug. 

“What are we talking about?”

No one spoke and Aiden looked at each wolf, sending an unspoken warning to stay away from Olivia.

“Weren’t you checking out Cassie’s tent Aiden? I’m sure she needs a big-strong Alpha like you” 

She said with mockery, and some of the omegas snorted at the derision, they knew Olivia wasn’t one concerned with hierarchies.

It took one look from Aiden to silence the wolves

“I decided she was not worth my time, if you would excuse us”

Aiden pulled Olivia from the circle and walked away from the crowd, trying to get far from everyone so he could have her to his own.

“So I am worth your time? Tell me how do you determine what female is good enough for you Aiden?”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it”

“Oh it isn’t? Then what was that?”

Aiden kept walking, trying to get her away from prying eyes and lusting wolves.

“All I want is for you to talk to me. Friends remember?”

“You seem to be making enough friends and enjoying the chit-chat quite a bit”

“I am not trying to be rude that’s all. But I just want to talk to you”

He stopped walking and turned her body to face his, clasping her face with his hands. Olivia felt something that may have been butterflies as Aiden held her face between her palms like she was some precious gem to be held.

No no no 

Olivia let him

Killari was excited at the proximity and Olivia didn’t want to hurt her feelings again so she did not move a muscle. Besides she loved it too so she just looked at Aiden who was burning a hole in her forehead at the way he was looking at her.

“Talk about what?”

She managed to get it out, trying with all her might to not look at his lips.

“What’s your favorite color?”

She laughed deeply and he just smiled at the beautiful sound his ears ached to hear. He dropped his hands from her face and took her hand in his, prompting them to keep walking. He decided he wasn’t going to rush into anything, because he really wanted to know her better, plus something told him she wouldn’t have let him kiss her anyway. 

“Obviously green! I mean look around! you?” 

“That makes sense. I would say it is blue, definitely”

“That’s so typical of a guy! Come on Aiden something other than blue!”

“Mmm well in that case I like that color that is in between yellow-brown-orange with some white and black” 

He flashed his teeth at her and she laughed again, making him proud to cause that reaction.

“Very funny, you are just describing a jaguar’s colors. Alright next question.”

...

Aiden and Olivia continued to chat for three more hours, but for them it felt like three minutes as they played 100 questions and then proceeded to discuss the rules for their run in the jungle that night. When Olivia realized what time it was she was reluctant to leave Aiden, she was genuinely surprised to learn they were pretty much on the same page on every polemic issue, but also that they could easily carry on a conversation for that long. However, Olivia needed to speak with the elder about the problems she had been having with Killari because of Aiden.

“So we’ll meet in this spot in one hour”

Olivia had taken Aiden to the area where she usually stored emergency clothes, she didn’t shift there as it was too close to camp, but it was a good meeting spot.

“I thought we were going to stay here and wait until then”

Aiden unconsciously gripped her hand harder, not wanting her to leave him for even a minute for some odd reason.

“Ouch Aiden, you are crushing my hand”

“Oops sorry, well I’ll just go with you until then”

“You can’t. It's a private meeting I’m sorry”

She looked at him and when she didn’t give more information he began to anger at the possibility she might be going to meet another man or that human again.

“With whom?”

His voice changed to menace and Olivia raised her eyebrows at the demand

“It is none of your concern Aiden, remember?”

Aiden stifled a growl and took a moment to respond, trying to calm himself down as much as possible. He was reacting irrationally again, but he wanted, no, needed her by his side. 

Why do you think that is? 

What are you implying Helios?

You asked her a billion questions except about the scent blockers

That seems extremely personal, like asking if she takes birth control

Aiden I need to smell her

You’ll meet her jaguar soon

Yea but I won’t be able to smell her either dumbass, they share the same soul so the scent blocks them both

Oh right…

ASK HER!

Not yet H.

“Right. Yes. Sorry you are right, I’ll see you in one hour”

Olivia smiled, it was obvious he had tried extremely hard to get those words out for her sake. He was perfection in her eyes, and she wondered if he would ever accept someone like her in his pack. She tried to expunge the thoughts from her head, but she couldn’t stop wondering if he would reject her if he knew she was his mate. Suddenly, she remembered something about wolves literally saying rejection words to their mates...

NOOOO!

Killari’s roar inside of her brain shook her visibly and Olivia decided this was something she definitely needed to address with the elder soon. 

“Are you okay Olivia? You quivered for a moment?”

“I am okay Aiden, it’s Killari she is ready to come out.”

Of course she lied, she couldn’t tell him the truth just yet,  what if he decided to reject her first? Could he do that? She wondered as she began to panic internally at the thought, so she decided she would ease his suffering until she came back and not anger him any more.

“If it makes you feel better, I am only meeting a 60-year old woman”

She smiled as she said it, looking at him and lightly squeezing his hand, waiting for a response. When he looked in her eyes he recognized truth in them, and the evident relief in his face made her chuckle.