Ch. 8
1298 Words
Her Sunday didn’t go well. Her whole day was just thinking about what she needed to do, and how everything ended up like this.
Somehow she managed to finalize her proposal. She was confident in it despite losing confidence in her own life at the moment.
Laying down in bed she decided to find a book to read to wind her down. How long had it been since she read a book, and not just emails and reports? She spent hours looking through a digital library and found nothing to peak her interest. Just when she was about to turn it off and sleep, she found a book about not mating with your mate, what happens?
Curious, she got the book and started reading.
It was midnight by the time she finished the story—more like a biography. The author had been female and her and her mate decided to wait due to circumstances between their clans. She mentioned going into heat a week after meeting him. It was painful to not go to his side and mate. Seems as though her mate experiences something similar and he spends several days unable to focus on anything other than finding her. The urge to mate is overwhelming.
In the end Luna blessed their union – they shouldn’t have waited. Waiting made everything more difficult.
The three of them met last Thursday. The proposal should be done by the end of Monday. She would send Steven an email upping the challenge. The date would need to be decided within 24 hours of the accepted proposal. If the date happened by Wednesday, that would give her Thursday and Friday to seclude herself if she did go into heat.
The author had been a beta, so Jena wasn’t sure how it would work with three Alpha’s. This could end poorly. She couldn’t go to the packhouse for safety. She couldn't stay here either. Shawn knew where she lived. No doubt he would rush over as soon as he felt the overwhelming urge. Would Steven come with him or fight the whole thing?
She decided to see how their date played out before deciding on what she would do.
She woke up early, sent off the proposal immediately and then sent her email to Steven. It was an hour or so later that he responded agreeing to the terms. She could sense his discomfort through the message.
Jeromy knocked and came into the office, “everything okay?”
Jena leaned back in her chair, “not really.”
“What happened Saturday night? I thought for sure you’d call me.” He chuckled.
She shrugged, “I didn’t want to bother you on your day off. Figured we could talk about it today.”
“Okay. I’m here now.” He stated.
She signaled for him to shut the door.
“This doesn’t seem good.” He said taking a seat across from her after shutting the door.
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “They told me I needed a mate by the next full moon.”
“Well at least you found your mate—mates.” He corrected himself.
“That’s the thing. Steven hasn’t talked to me about it at all. He’s still avoiding me on the topic. Shawn seems great but both have to be on board for this to work.”
“Then tell them.” He said. “At least talk to Shawn.”
She shook her head, “the elder’s brought an Alpha from a neighboring clan here for me. An arranged marriage of sorts. I have till the full moon to get to know him.”
“What did Shawn say?”
“Nothing. I haven’t told him. It’s not like he will keep this from Steven and I don’t think he will take any more pressure about this very well. What if he rejects me immediately? Then I’ll be stuck with James.” She made a face.
“Is he that bad?” Her beta asked.
“There’s something about him that makes me uneasy.” She admitted.
“Are you sure it’s just not the fact that he’s a single Alpha and you have found your mates?” She asked curiously.
She shrugged, “I don’t know.”
“You need to force Steven to talk to you. See where he stands and how a relationship with him would work.” Jeromy said.
She nodded, “the loser has to set up a date. The proposal should be accepted or rejected later today. He accepted my additional terms earlier. Twenty four hours after the proposal to set up the date.”
He chuckled, “already prepared.”
Jena nodded, “of course. Just not sure how I will squeeze so many dates into my week.”
“Leave everything and anything to me. I can run this place for a few days.” He said with a smile.
“I appreciate that and I’ll hold you to that. I plan on taking Thursday and Friday off.”
“Oh? Plans already?” He asked curiously.
“Something like that. More like I’m taking a personal vacation from all of this. I plan on staying with my cousin for a couple days.”
“Is that wise with everything going on? Doesn’t everyday count?”
She sighed again, “I don’t think I’ll have a choice.” She told him what she read.
“Seems like the perfect time to get them to mate with you.” He said.
“And make them hate me? No thanks. Not to mention James might be able to track me down depending on where I am. I would rather disappear for a bit.”
“Very well. Leave everything to me.” Jeromy said. “I’ll start preparing right away.”
The rest of the day went painstakingly slow. Sure enough, the end of the day came and she received the email from Cloud. She couldn’t help but have a big grin. Her proposal was accepted and she would now need to wait for Steven’s response.
Immediately Shawn messaged her. “Congrats.”
“Thank you.” She said.
“I figured I would leave the date arrangements to Steven since the challenge seemed more directed at him and we already had our date.”
She chuckled, “fair enough.”
“Can’t guarantee that it will be as awesome as our night out. He’s not very good with these sorts of things.” He said.
“I understand.”
“I appreciate your patience with all of this. It can't be easy dealing with the both of us. It’s been a fear of ours that we would find a mate and they would reject us because we are too difficult to get along with.”
She hadn’t been expecting such an intimate message. It took her a moment to find a proper response. “I don’t mind your personality. I am just struggling with connecting with Steven. I don’t mind trying to form a bond with him, but he needs to be willing to do his part.” She regretted sending that.
“I agree. We are supposed to be together for a reason, I wish he could see that. I have faith in us, and in you.”
“Thank you.” She responded.
- Writer
