Alpha Gideon’s deception

Chérie

It has been over a week since Jesse accepted Gideon’s proposal.

The wedding is now a certainty, but she has done her best to avoid talking about it nonetheless. She can’t help but feel ill at ease whenever she thinks about their upcoming nuptials. Fortunately for her, her fiancé appears to be equally unconcerned with the wedding planning, referring to it casually as ‘a woman’s job’.

Gideon doesn’t care what dress she’ll wear, what dinner they'll serve or how many guests they invite. Perhaps the latter is because he doesn’t have many to invite himself — both his parents have passed, and he does not have close bonds to any other relatives. Not a lot of close friends either, it seems. Jesse can’t help but wonder if her mate is perhaps struggling with loneliness. It does explain why he’s barely left her side since they first meet, keeping tabs on her whereabouts almost constantly.

Now that she’s accepted his proposal and allowed him to chaperone her every now and then, he does seem to be opening up a little more. He’s really trying to win her over. It turns out that he’s got a cheesy side; he loves to bring her daily gifts. Sometimes flowers, more often chocolate, cookies, wine, or even chocolate filled croissants for breakfast. It does have the intended effect on her; as a natural sweet tooth, Jesse finds it hard to resist the candy and snacks. She’s had to start watching her weight somewhat, as Gideon loves to feed her. It’s endearing and reminds her of her mum, who loves to show appreciation with baked goods.

While she’s warmed up to him somewhat now, in part due to his gift-giving tendencies, she’s still reluctant to set a date for the wedding. Gideon is pushing her to tie the knot next month, but rushing it isn’t to Jesse’s liking. She’d prefer to take her time and get married in a half a year or so, maybe later, but she knows her mate will never agree to that. They are both stubborn-minded, digging their heels in where the date of the wedding is concerned. Jesse knows she’ll have to be the one to capitulate eventually. There’s only so long she can continue to dodge her mother’s polite but firm requests to start planning for the event. Even though she is loath to do so, she knows she’ll have to face reality eventually — pick a date and select a venue.

She stews on the issue for a few days longer, but eventually gives in once she receives her fifth reminder text from her mum. Leafing through venue brochures, she settles on a date. Two and a half months from now. It’s the latest he’ll still accept, she figures, and it’s the earliest she will allow. The best possible compromise. She’ll have to persuade him, naturally. But this time, she believes it’s a battle she can win.

Brochure in hand, she heads over to his hotel room. Most of the visitors from Gideon’s pack have gone back to their own territory, but Gideon, Troy, his Beta, and Faith, Gideon’s favourite Omega, have remained. They’ve made themselves at home in the pack hotel. Whenever Gideon isn’t hanging out with her or her parents, she can usually find him there.

Arriving at his hotel room, Jesse doesn’t bother knocking. She lets herself in with the hotel room key he gave her in the days prior. She’s surprised to find the room empty. Where has he gone?

Gideon’s clothes are strewn around the bed haphazardly, bed unmade, a number of suitcases placed aimlessly around the room. Why did he bring so many? Jesse wonders, spotting at least three or four in various corners. He came over intending to stay for a short visit only, but these suitcases must contain two weeks worth of clothes at least. How could he have possibly known to pack that much? It’s odd, somewhat concerning, but she tries to brush it off. Gideon’s very precious about his clothes, always making an effort to dress up for each event, so perhaps he always travels with heavy luggage?

She looks around the room, looking for a notepad – in lieu of an actual conversation, a note will have to do. His desk is a mess; his toiletries are strewn all around. A dirty hairbrush is lying on top of what looks like used socks. She finds a pen, but no paper, and decides to move her search to the desk drawers. The top drawer contains the hotel room service menu and fire safety plan. The second, a bible. She’s not expecting to find anything useful in the third, but opens it anyway, just in case, and finds it contains… bottles.

They’re small bottles, around fifteen to twenty or so.

Gideon has plenty of toiletries with him, they’re spread all over the room. She’s seen hair gel, body lotion, foundation, beard oil, deodorant. A few more shouldn’t be a surprise, but these bottles are distinctly different from the rest. For one, none of them contain labels to indicate what’s inside. Secondly, they are all identical. The same bottles, the same clear liquid inside.

Judging by their shape, Jesse guesses it’s likely perfume. But who buys perfume that doesn’t come with a brand or a description? She’s fairly certain Gideon doesn’t wear after shave. He loves to cuddle up to her and stick closely by her side, such a detail would have been obvious to her.

Staring at the mysterious bottles, her curiosity takes over. She knows it’s inappropriate to go through his stuff, but she simply has to know. She carefully lifts one out of the drawer, taking off the top to sniff the contents.

It’s a perfume, but not like any other she has encountered. It simply smells like… Gideon. It’s the same musky, almost salty aroma, the mating scent that arouses her every time she’s near him. Simply sniffing the bottle, she immediately notices the effect it has on her body. Confused, she puts the bottle down on the desk, taking a step away from it.

She knows plenty of guys who have a signature perfume. Her ex would never go anywhere without his Calvin Klein on. But she could always tell the difference between his aftershave and the smell of his sweat. The scent he would leave on her pillow was his, his natural body odour.

These bottles aren’t like any other perfume. They don’t have any of the typical cologne ingredients. No sandalwood or cedar, no patchouli. Just the very faint odour of a sweaty forehead on a hot summer’s day.

The fragrance can’t be distinguished from natural body odour — almost like it is one. The bottles smell just like Gideon does when he comes skin to skin with her. How is that possible?

What does it mean?

She stares at the bottles as she tries to sort out her thoughts. Perhaps she’s wrong. Perhaps Gideon wears a particularly musky perfume. Maybe losing her werewolf senses has reduced her ability to tell the difference. That has to be the reason. How else could she explain this?

Jesse doesn’t have long to reflect on the mystery. Her thought pattern is interrupted by the sound of voices outside of the room. She recognises Gideon’s deep, slow intonation. He’s talking to another woman, judging by the slightly more high-pitched speaking voice.

Gideon may come in at any moment, and Jesse is far from keen to be caught red-handed with her hands on his possessions. Feeling somewhat panicked, she pops the cap back on the bottle and quickly moves it back into the drawer, slamming it shut quickly. Doing her best to feign an innocent expression, she moves back over to the desk and grabs the pen. Carrying on as if nothing happened, she continues her search for a notepad.

Her careful efforts to hide her activity turn out to be in vain. Gideon is lingering in front of the hotel room door, deep in conversation and in no rush to come in just yet. Jesse quickly checks her surroundings, opening the drawer once more just to make sure she has left no traces. The bottles look exactly the same as she found them, neatly placed together with the caps securely on. Gideon will be none the wiser about her snooping.

Feeling restless, Jesse continues to search his desk. She discovers a notepad underneath his toiletry bag and starts to write a message, but finds that the voices right outside the hallway are too distracting. Gideon and the other woman are speaking in hushed voices, but the walls of the room are thin — with some effort, Jesse can make out most of their conversation still.

“Chérie, I don’t understand the problem. You said you were happy to come here. You agreed.”

The other voice sounds more muffled. It's soft spoken and demure. “I didn’t realise how hard it would be. It’s been so much more difficult than I imagined.”

Gideon’s voice changes. He sounds gentle, almost vulnerable. Jesse hasn’t heard him use this tone of voice before. “I know you struggle, little one. But we’re here now, we can’t go back on the plan.”

The woman’s voice sounds somewhat emotional, as if she's on the verge of tears.

“I just want to go back home. Why can’t I go back by myself? You can stay here if you want to.”

Gideon stifles an angry grunt. “We have spoken about this. I need you here. What about my needs? Don’t you care at all?”

The woman’s voice goes up. It sounds like a panicked whisper. “You know I do!”

Gideon stays silent for a moment, as if he’s thinking through what to say next. “Then do as I asked. Stay until the wedding. It’s only a month, you’ll just have to be strong and tough it out. You can do that, can’t you, chérie?”

The woman sniffles again, her voice breaking. “I can be strong. I really believe I can be.”

The next sentence is even more muffled. There’s a shuffling around, movement, a hug perhaps? Then the two say their goodbyes. Anticipating Gideon will come in, Jesse turns around and quickly starts writing a message, pretending she didn’t hear anything.

What was that conversation all about? Chérie? She’s never heard Gideon call anyone by that particular nickname. What does it all mean? #

More riddles. The more she gets to know him, the more mysteries are revealed in turn.

Gideon walks into the hotel room, looking shocked to see her there. Jesse turns around, flashing him a plastered happy smile. “Hey! I thought I’d missed you, I was just writing you a note.” She holds up the notepad.

He stares at the message absentmindedly, looking sheepish and nowhere near as confident as usual. “Did you hear me in the hallway, just now?”

Jesse continues to smile innocently, shaking her head. “No? Did you say anything? I’m sorry, the walls here are pretty noise proof.”

Gideon looks visibly relieved. He stares at the message again, reading it more intently now.

“What’s this about a wedding date? Did you finally pick one?”

Jesse braces herself. She’ll have to play her cards right to get him to agree.

“I want a summer wedding — so, eh, so I can have a strapless dress. Middle of July will be perfect. We can get married outside under the gazebo in the square. You won’t have to wait long — I know you were keen to get married soon. It’s only two months or so.”

She's exaggerating the timeline. It will be two and a half months, not two, but he seems distracted. He may just ignore the technicality.

Gideon hesitates.

Jesse looks at him, wondering what chérie will have to say about her postponing the wedding date. Is the mystery running through his mind right now? Is he anticipating another fight?

Whoever chérie may be, Gideon is clearly not going to mention her. Is he cheating? Perhaps. But the prior conversation didn’t sound romantic. It sounded forceful, a power play — like a master giving orders to a servant.

Jesse looks at Gideon expectantly, trying to gauge his thoughts. Will he prioritise the mystery woman and stand firm on his original date? Or does she hold more sway with him? Will he give her what she asked for?

Gideon moves uncomfortably. “Mid July is too close to the Alpha Summit. But..maybe … The first weekend of July?”

It’s a date Jesse told herself she would never accept. But now that she’s considering his offer, knowing she will have two more months to prepare for the wedding, she finds it quite tempting. Two months, not one. It’s a minor victory, but a victory nonetheless.

She nods slowly. “Okay. The first weekend of July. I’ll look for a venue.”

Gideon smiles. It’s an insincere half-smile. He seems occupied, almost inpatient, like he has better things to do right now.

“Was that all? I’m kinda busy.”

Jesse gives him a surprised look. He’s never wrapped up their time together this quickly. Usually, she is the one struggling to get rid of him. He liked to keep tabs on where she’s going and who she is seeing.

But she’s not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. She says her goodbyes and rushes quickly before he can change his mind. Her head is spinning as she tries to make sense of everything new she’s learned today, so she’s not paying attention to her surroundings as she heads downstairs. In spite of this, she can’t help but notice the crying girl sitting on a sofa in the hotel lobby.

It’s Faith, Gideon’s favourite omega, one of the only pack members that remained here with him. Jesse hasn’t paid particular attention to her prior. She did notice that Gideon is quite demanding around the servant girl, requiring her services frequently, but he does seem to be very respectful towards her. It surprised her somewhat, as she'd seen him be blunt and bossy towards the other omegas in his pack. Faith appears to be the exception to that rule.

Today, however, she takes some time to truly look at the servant girl. Jesse can’t help but wonder if Faith is the mystery woman Gideon spoke to. Why did he keep the servant girl around? Her pack has more than enough staff to serve him. Maintaining a friendship with a pack member is reasonable, but if that’s all it is, why wouldn't he be more open about it?

Jesse sits down next to the crying girl, gently touching her arm.

The omega looks up at her with red eyes, quickly wiping her tears away with a soggy sleeve. “I’m fine, ma’am. It’s nothing.”

Jesse gives her an encouraging smile as she shakes her head. “You can tell me. You are our guest, it’s my responsibility to make sure you’re feeling welcome here.”

Faith sniffles, wiping at her eyes again. “It’s nothing to concern yourself with, Ma’am. Just relationship issues. It’s silly, really.”

Jesse gives her a discerning look. She can’t help but wonder if Faith is referencing Gideon.

Faith isn’t the type to draw much male attention. The omega is quite pretty, very slim with big, fawn-like brown eyes, but she carries herself in quite a timid, unassuming manner. A pretty wallflower, but a wallflower nonetheless. If not Gideon, then who else could it be?

Gently, she encourages her. “I didn’t know you had a relationship. Are you married?”

Faith shakes her head, looking somewhat embarrassed. “No, my mate never wanted to. But he’s my true mate. So in a way that’s better.”

Jesse didn't expect this. She still can’t shake the feeling that Faith is the cherié Gideon was talking to. But if that’s true, why would Faith claim he’s her mate? Is the omega lying? Or are her instincts deceiving her?

Leaning forward, she encourages her. “Your true mate didn’t want to marry you?”

The omega is getting emotional again. “He never even marked me. It’s not his fault. He’s so much stronger, so handsome and accomplished, and I’m so weak…. Why would a man like him want to mark a servant girl like me?”

Pausing for a second, she adds: “I understand it, but it still hurts. He’s so wonderful when we’re alone. But then we go out and all the she-wolves flirt with him, and he won’t even hold my hand.”

Jesse frowns, getting angry on Faith’s behalf. “You don’t deserve this. It doesn’t matter if you’re an omega or an Alpha, what matters is that he’s your mate. He should be proud to be with you, not hiding you like some dirty secret. Who is this man who is treating you so foul?”

Faith flushes at the question. “He’s… nobody you know. He’s from my pack.”

Jesse nods. For a moment, the tension between her and Faith is gone. For a moment, they are just two women, sharing a moment of empathy and kindred spirit. She can’t stand to see this poor girl sacrifice herself for someone who doesn’t respect her. “You need to tell him to mark you and give you the respect you deserve, or dump his ass. No man is worth this.”

She lowers her voice, gently petting the omega’s hand. “Some wolves reject their true mate, if the relationship isn’t right. The mate bond is strong, but happiness should always come first. If he can’t give you what you need, there will be other wolves who will. You could pick somebody else, a chosen mate.”

Faith looks up at her, with gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you. Not a lot of people in my pack try to listen. It’s nice to have a friend here.”

Softly, she adds: “It will be okay, I think. He really does love me.”

Jesse smiles, taken in Faith’s genuine gratitude. She ignores the hopeless nativity the omega is still displaying. She knows her new friend will have to set her own boundaries in her own time. “Of course. If you ever need my help, you know where to find me.”

Faith smiles and nods, getting up from her seat and wiping her tears away for the last time before departing the hotel.

With her departure, all Jesse’s prior questions come rearing their ugly heads again. Who is the mysterious chérie? If not Faith, then who could it be? Why does her fiance need this woman so desperately? Is he simply having an affair, or is something larger, more nefarious, at play here?

Why does Gideon’s irresistible body odour come out of a spray perfume bottle?

With every day, further mysteries unfold. She has only two months time left to unravel them, before her life changes forever.