The Jaguar's Mate

THIRTEEN

3 weeks later

“Olivia you have barely slept, you need to take a break! You have to accept that you will not find the elder”

Tamara was worried for Olivia, she had been out in the jungle and around town every night since she and Aiden had spoken with the guy Rick. Tamara was glad that at least Aiden’s presence and relentless companionship had kept Olivia relatively sane and free of anger outbursts, he had not left her side as they had spent every night in the jungle searching.

“Tami we NEED the elder. The city council just told me that if she is not found within 2 days we will have to appoint a new indigenous representative.”

Olivia spoke to Tami as she got dressed, getting ready to go out to camp and arrange sleeping areas for more protesters arriving that day.

“I know that, but you can’t keep going like this. You need to be at your full strength. You know what would help, if you just told Aiden that--”

“No!! We don’t have time for that Tami! You might have found time to get cozy with Sam but I don’t have time for that”

Tamara huffed and looked at Olivia with exaggerated indignation

“Olie!! Spare me the false morals! It takes you 2 seconds to tell Aiden the truth and let him scent you. You are just putting it off. You said you’d tell him almost 2 weeks ago!”

Olivia turned to face Tami, she had been putting it off with the perfect excuse but she sensed Aiden was becoming more frustrated every day. Their bond was somehow getting stronger even though nothing had happened after the incident on their first day in the jungle. Apart from hand holding and Aiden’s incessant rubbing of him on her body with hugs and proximity, nothing had happened, not even a peck. Aiden had still found ways to cover her with his scent, after all it was the wolf’s nature to mark. It didn’t bother her anymore and she actually liked smelling like him. 

“I know Tamara! Things got messy with what we found about that Rick guy. We have spent days researching information on Demons and trust me it's not fun stuff.”

Olivia was right, Demon culture was secretive and dealt with matters no sane were-animal wanted to mess with.

“Yes, but Olie, fully mating and bonding with Aiden will probably be helpful to all this. We don’t wholly know what will happen when you do. The legend is not exactly clear on that, why are you procrastinating so much??!”

Tamara knew why, but she wanted Olivia to say it.

“Because!!! Because I am not a wolf Tamara! Aiden needs a LUNA! I am not that. Do you expect him to take me to a DEN OF WOLVES? Do you think they’ll respect a ‘cat’ from another land? I can’t do that to him, pull him from his pack or expect him to get the backlash from having a mate from another species”

“Olie, I know you are scared but you and I both know that he deserves to make his own choice. He clearly doesn’t care that you are a werejaguar. He has been stuck to you like bubblegum to a shoe since he arrived and all you have done for the guy is give him a blow job and a lame-ass peck!”

Olivia chuckled 

“Yea well it is hard to keep the urge to mate with him at bay…”

“Have you been around human’s then?”

Tamara asked, worried that if Aiden found out he would rip a poor man's head off. 

“No...I regret doing it that one time. Aiden would smell them and I don’t want to hurt his feelings. Plus I have grown an interesting aversion to other men’s scents”

“Okay..so how are you handling the urges?”

Tamara was now even more worried Olivia would explode, they truly needed to mate often to keep the need and the aggression down. 

“That’s what dildo’s are for Tamara! At least for now!”

Both women laughed and started to head out towards the door.

“Promise me you’ll tell him Olie, for both of your sakes”

“Fine. I will tell him today I promise. I will receive the new group of protesters today and then tell him first thing before our run.” 

The protesters had been held back by a brigade organized by Rick at the entrance of town and they had been unable to peacefully join them for 2 weeks now. They had finally been able to strike a deal after national television had recorded Rick’s brigade reacting violently towards the peaceful protesters that tried to join them. After that, they had no chance but to give them passage.

“Ok, if you don’t tell him I will.”

Tamara said so as she placed both arms on her hips and followed Olivia.

“Fine.”

Olivia muttered.

…

Helios and Leo, Sam’s wolf, were running through the forest together looking for breakfast. It was the first time they ran alone without having Killari present since they arrived. Olivia felt Aiden knew the area well enough to go on his own and she thought it would be okay for him to go off with Sam without her protection. 

It’s so nice to finally run together!

Yes Leo, it is. Do you like the jungle?

Honestly? I prefer our forests. It rains quite a bit here and the air is just dense afterward

Yea I know what you mean

Alpha, I’ve been meaning to ask you something

Let me guess, you are worried Olivia did something to me 

Leo kept silent as Sam hesitated in the back of Leo’s mind, this seemed like a dangerous topic to breach.

Yes...it’s not normal Alpha. You are acting as if she was your mate

Helios halted and Leo did too. The massive Alpha turned to face his Beta, menace in his glare. The Beta lowered his head in submission and whined softly, scared to move.

Leo AND Sam, I know this was your idea. Listen to me. I am 99% sure she is my mate. 

Leo jerked his head up and stared into his Alpha’s eyes, he was dead serious.

How do you know?

It is quite obvious honestly...at first I was confused with my reaction but after our first night in the jungle together, I realized that she had to be my mate. The instinct to mark her with my scent and have her close was too overwhelming.

But Alpha, you haven’t been able to smell her scent yet

And that is probably the only reason I have been able to stand not mating and marking her.

But Alpha, if she is, what will the pack say? And our elders? Will you rejec--

Helios growled a long and deep sound, it sat heavy on Leo’s ears and made him take a step back as Helios spoke in his alpha voice

Never! She is my mate and she needs me. She has to heal after everything her mother has done to her. She can take all the time she needs until she is ready. I can wait, I have waited long already, I can continue to wait now that I found her. Plus I need her too.

Helios started to run again, making his way towards camp, and Leo followed.

Understood Alpha. Tamara has recently told me more and more about their mother and the things she did…

Olivia has only told me very little. She doesn’t like to breach the topic, so much of what I know is honestly what you’ve told me from Tamara’s view. 

Yea I don’t get how a mother can do that.

I know Leo...So are you going to tell me what’s going on between you and Tamara?

The Beta became edgy and worried his Alpha would be upset, Sam didn’t think Tamara was his mate, but he was falling for her.

Relax Leo, I can’t judge your choices based on who the Goddess chose as my mate 

Sam let a sigh of relief out in Leo’s mind 

I really like her Alpha...we have had s*x several times but I have not marked her.

Better keep it that way until I can figure out things with Olivia

Yes Alpha.

The wolves reached the area where they had hidden their clothes and shifted back to their human forms and began to get dressed.

“Let’s go Sam. More protesters arrive today”.

…

Olivia and Tamara had almost finished arranging the area to fit more people, they might have to expand to the town if more people showed up. Things were getting out of control with how many people had chosen to come and stand with them in their efforts to save this land.

“One of the Beta’s is bringing the group, everything set for them here?”

Nico asked his sisters, overwhelmed by the number of humans and wolves. Jaguar’s were not used to big crowds and were solitary in nature, the number of people in one place was making Nico irritable. 

“Yes, as much as we can do has been done. Some people have had a hard time adjusting to how we are sleeping here and have left throughout the weeks but honestly there is not much we can do”

Tamara said so, concerned more people would leave. 

“Most people arriving today come through Ramiro, and some have been in protests like these before so they know what to expect”

Olivia tried to reassure Tamara as she finished setting up the last tent. 

Nico walked away to try and ease his annoyance by taking a run in the jungle and Tamara looked at the crowd making their way towards them, a few feet away. As their proximity increased Tamara puffed loudly but whispered

“Olivia do you smell that?”

Olivia continued to work without looking at the crowd but lifted her chin to smell the air taking a deep breath.

Olivia snapped her head up and straightened up, she said in a loud whisper 

“Jaguar??!”

Then she saw him, a smirk of accomplishment in his face.

“Olie it’s a male jaguar!!”

Tami whispered nearly out of breath and in a growing panic. Both women stood there watching as the group approached them.

“Ms. Olivia this is everyone, should they set up here?”

The beta spoke, and gestured to the group.

Olivia nodded and spoke with restraint in her voice

“Yes, thank you. Welcome everyone. I am Olivia and this is Tamara. I am Ramiro’s eyes and ears here so whatever you need you can come to me. Make yourselves comfortable and please choose somewhere to set up, I will address the whole camp in one hour, if you would excuse me.”

Olivia avoided looking at people who seemed eager to introduce themselves and chat as she made her way through the crowd as fast as possible, nearly pushing some people out of the way. She didn’t want to seem impolite but she did not want to face him at all. Tamara followed closely behind her, they had walked a few feet from the crowd when large arms grabbed Olivia from the torso and pulled her into strong chest muscles.

Holding her tightly and closely to him, he had her pinned against his body, his hard bulge on her lower back once again. He tucked the loose strand of hair handing behind her ear and whispered loudly in it for Tamara to hear as well. 

“Hi there little kitty. I sure missed you”

Olivia was queasy at his proximity and the way he touched her, she did not feel an inch of attraction to him anymore. She grabbed his arms and broke off his hold turning around to face him, she moved close and spoke with threat in her voice

“I told you what would happen if you called me that again Miguel”

He laughed and stepped closer to her grabbing her from the back of her neck and bunching her hair

“Olivia, I missed you baby”

Tamara gasped loudly and spoke

“Let her go!”

In an instant, Miguel fixed his mouth on Olivia’s, locking his lips on her so quickly that she did not have time to react. She stood shocked for what seemed like eternity but it had only been a second as he held her with all his strength trying to forcefully kiss her. She pushed him away, breaking the contact and outraged but speechless, he had kissed her openly for everyone to see.

“That is how you greet me? And why do you hide your scent? Let me smell you again and we can do what we did in that closet again and again” 

He smiled and licked his lips

“Miguel I already told--”

A haunting growl startled them all, Olivia turned and her face paled, surprise and remorse all over her eyes.

...

Aiden made his way through camp looking for Olivia, he always had a hard time finding her because she did not have a scent to follow, so he had to keep his eyes open for her. From afar he saw that the new group had arrived and Olivia making her way out with Tamara, they seemed in a hurry. He was going to call for her when he noticed a man closely behind them pull Olivia into his arms. Aiden froze for a second as he filled up with rage and hurt, but he continued to approach her, determined to rip the man off of her without causing a scene. He opened his ears to listen, thanking the Goddess for supernatural hearing. 

Aiden listened as the man talked to her as if he knew her, and then out of nowhere, he kissed her. With all his might, Aiden suppressed a howl of pain. He felt the pain deeply in his heart as it broke in two at the sight before his eyes, his body shook with ache, and anger began to bubble too close to the surface. He couldn’t imagine what the pain would’ve been like if he had been able to recognize her fully as his mate or if he had marked her. 

He was close enough now, and could listen normally as the man spoke. 

HE MATED WITH HER?

Helios was furious and wanted to kill the man, a mixture of heartache, jealousy and anger that he had never felt before. Aiden contained a roar for the sake of the humans, and instead growled with a mixture of all those feelings and more, much more. He looked at Olivia who was staring at him, pale and full of an emotion he couldn’t identify because of his boiling anger. He spoke only to her, if he looked at the man he would kill him.

“You. Let. Him. Smell. You?”