Alpha Gideon’s deception

Returning home

Location: Forest Grove pack (Jesse’s home)

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Gideon pulls up the Land Rover near the pack hotel, gallantly opening the door for Jesse. Now they have returned to the pack, leaving Samuel behind, he seems a lot more relaxed. Was his anger born out of jealousy? Was that the reason he rushed her out of there? He showed concern about her leg just moments prior, but now they are back home, he seems remarkably unbothered. She has to call his attention to the fact her leg is still swollen and painful.

“Gideon” she reminds him, “I have to get my leg bandaged up.”

He nods. “Suit yourself. I am going to go for breakfast. You’ll be fine, right?”

It’s odd hearing those words from him. Wasn’t he the one to suggest she should see a doctor, not too long ago? It’s like he’s done a complete 180 now. Still, Jesse doesn’t know him well enough just yet to question his oddities. She turns around, getting ready to leave, when he calls her name.

“Jesse.”

She turns around, looking over.

His tone is serious, almost intimidating, when he speaks next. Gone is the relaxed, devil may care attitude he displayed right before.

“Don't leave the pack grounds again. It's too dangerous. If you must leave, I will come with you and guard you.”

Jesse lifts her chin defiantly. She doesn't like receiving orders.

“I appreciate your concern, Gideon, but I’m an Alpha. I am more than capable of looking after myself.”

Gideon raises an eyebrow. “Did you look after yourself when that bear showed up? Did you defend yourself?”

Jesse stands frozen, not sure how to respond. Why didn’t he bring this up before? Why now? She doesn’t feel ready to talk about her missing wolf, but she knows she can’t deny the facts if he asks her outright.

"It's okay," Gideon continues with a more gentle voice. “I won’t pry or spill your secrets. I just want you to be safe. All I ask for is to escort you and protect you.”

He’s finally moved from giving curt commands to trying to persuade her with kindness. The difference is notable – Jesse can appreciate him trying.

She takes a moment to consider his words. A part of her knows he is right to worry. She is vulnerable right now, unable to fight. She could have died this morning if it wasn’t for Sam coming to her aid, so it’s impossible to deny she needs the protection.

The other part of her wants to push back and tell him not to bother. She’s always been independent, making her own plans, carving out her own paths. The idea of a bodyguard – someone else staying by her side all day long — feels suffocating. Given the choice, she would rather risk getting hurt. She’s always been brave in the face of danger, fending for herself and putting up a strong defence, with or without her wolf. Asking a big strong man to protect her feels like defeat. She doesn’t want to become a damsel in distress.

All of that said, she does know this time it’s different. This time, she has a mate.

A mating bond is the most significant bond a person can experience. She’s seen it in her family and in her best friend, too. Her parents rely on one another, take risks for one another, work hard to ensure the other’s happiness. Even if she doesn’t have those feelings for Gideon just yet, she knows she has to learn to rely on him. She wants this relationship to succeed. Even if it’s not all she hoped it to be, she knows she will only ever get one true mate. You don’t throw away a mating connection.

So, she nods. “Okay. You can escort me to my house. I’ll meet you at breakfast once I’ve dealt with the injury.”

Gideon grins, visibly pleased she has given in to his demands. He wraps his arm around her waist as they walk. Affection in public isn’t Jesse’s style, but she still hasn’t found a moment to explain that to him. He’s different from her, she ponders to herself, but maybe different can be good. An acquired taste, so to speak.

Walking through the square over to her house, she can see some of her packmates admiring the two of them. The romance is distracting them from Jesse’s slight limp. That’s good — she is eager to hide her injury as best as she can.

She knows she should probably get a nurse to check her leg, but she doesn’t want to answer any questions about her accident this morning, and she knows the nurses will need to know what exactly happened. So, a shower, tight bandages, and painkillers will have to suffice for the day. Fortunately, she has Alpha blood running through her veins, so she can heal from injuries quite quickly.

As they reach Jesse’s door, Gideon pushes for a deep kiss. It’s not unpleasant, his smell is enticing as always, and she’s getting used to his coarse stubble now, but she’s still missing the passion. It still doesn’t feel quite right — the arousal she feels is somehow artificial. Even as she’s doing her best to get used to the sensation, it feels like she is just going through the motions.

Still, she lets him kiss her, saying her goodbyes with a half-smile, resigning herself to a life of lukewarm kisses. Maybe she can get him to shave, she tells herself. Maybe it’ll get easier later down the road. Maybe.

Closing the door behind her, she immediately heads to the bathroom. Her clothes are muddy, wet and torn. It’s a relief to strip them off her body. Standing underneath the shower, rinsing the dirt and blood off her hands, she can finally relax. She ignores the flashes of pain as the hot water runs over her open wound. It’ll all be okay, she tells herself. She’ll get clean, bandage the leg, carry on as normal and try to forget about this morning’s events. That is all behind her now.

The bear, the chase, the close encounter with fatality, and… him.

She can still picture him, rushing to her defense, his purple eyes gazing into hers. Then, the moment he shifted, black fur making way for that perfect, chiseled body. His effortless beauty, the dimples in his cheeks as he smiled at her.

She can’t help but blush as she thinks about Samuel. A part of her knows this is more than a casual encounter and more akin to the beginning crush. Had she been single, she would have attempted to shoot her shot, in one way or another. But Gideon complicates matters.

She’s never been one to cheat, and this relationship is no exception. Even if it’s not one she chose to enter into on her own volition. The Moon Goddess made the decision for her, and now she has to abide by it. She won’t put Gideon or herself through the shame and humiliation of public rejection — not without just cause.

That means she has to forget about Samuel. Yes, he’s perfect, but she can’t pursue him. Not now.

Stepping out of the shower, she’s relieved to see the bleeding has stopped. Some of the minor surface wounds have already started to heal. No need for medical care, she decides. She dries off her leg, pours some antiseptic liquid over the area — ignoring the sting – and wraps her leg in a tight bandage. Now it’s looked after, she finds she can walk without limping. But she pops some painkillers anyway — just in case.

She’ll need to appear natural in the dining hall. All their new guests will be present, and she knows all eyes will be on her. Nobody has said anything to her yet, but she is well aware they will be curious about their new Luna. She’s the Alpha’s mate, after all. Their new future leader.