Alpha Gideon’s deception

Pack Announcements

Jesse takes a moment to gather her thoughts, still staring in the direction Gideon just went, when she realizes Cassie is motioning for her to come over. Of course. Her friend must be dying to find out what happened.

What should she tell her? She is still processing the events herself, unsure what to make of it all. Shell-shocked, she walks over slowly, feeling unsteady as she plops back down onto the sofa.

“Well?” her friend urges. “What did he want?”

Jesse takes a big gulp of her coffee before answering. It’s disgusting, having gone cold, but she swallows it anyway. The beverage is buying her some time, allowing her to think of an answer. Even so, rather than a well-crafted response, random words come falling out of her mouth.

“He wanted to see me alone, because he couldn’t wait until after the meeting was over to hug his mate.”

Jesse lets the sentence hang in the air, giving Cassie a moment to process it. Her friend gasps, staring at her wide-eyed.

“Did you say his mate? You’re his mate? Alpha Gideon is your mate?”

Jesse nods tentatively, biting her lip as she does so.

“He certainly seems to think so.”

Cassie’s face breaks through in a wide grin. “Stop it with the sarcasm, Jess, now’s not the time! This is huge news!”

She pulls her friend in for a tight hug, giggling happily.

“I can’t believe you've bagged an Alpha! A hot Alpha with the perfect body and the wealth to boot! You’ve won the jackpot right there, Jess, your parents are going to be thrilled for you. ”

Jesse hesitates. “You think so? You think it’s all… great? You don’t think he’s a bit… I don’t know— a bit too much?”

Cassie’s smile fades somewhat as she studies her friend's facial expression. “Jesse, are you okay? You just meet the love of your life, the one the moon goddess hand-picked for you. I would expect you to be jumping up and down this sofa. What’s wrong?”

Jesse sighs, resting her head into her hands.

“I wish I knew. He seems so certain, so thrilled, and I know he means it, too. I’m just …. I’m not there with him. It’s all too overwhelming.”

Cassie furrows her brow a little, contemplating Jesse’s words. Cautiously, she takes her friend's hand in hers.

“Well, it can feel overwhelming sometimes. I felt that way when I first met David. There are so many hormones running through your body, you’re horny and happy but you can feel afraid as well. I was so nervous I wouldn’t be good enough, that David would think I was too loud, too dramatic, you know? We were still strangers. It took a while to get to know each other. But once you do, that mate bond is the best thing you’ll ever experience.”

She gives Jesse a gentle hug.

“Just give it time, get to know him. It’ll get easier, I promise.”

The words are reassuring. Cassie is right, Jesse thinks to herself, she only just met Gideon today. He’s still a stranger, she doesn’t really know him that well. Maybe his personality is a great fit for hers?

She nods slowly. “You’re probably right. I just wish… I always hoped my mate would look like the picture I had in my head. Tall and slim, like my usual type.”

Cassie shakes her head. “The moon goddess doesn’t always work that way! Don’t you remember Georgia and Jasper? She was always out dating football players, athletes, the bad boy types, and then Jasper came along, all studious and serious, and she adored him! Sometimes your mate doesn’t look like the people you pick up in bars, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a good match for you.”

Jesse can’t help but think that while Jasper is indeed very committed to his studies, he also works out regularly, and his body doesn't look all that different from the professional athletes Georgia used to date.

But there’s no point in starting a debate. The moon Goddess has matched her with Gideon. Whether she likes it or not, she’ll have to get used to it. She sighs, fidgeting with her hair.

“I just need some time to get used to it. Maybe I could get to know him better first. Take it slowly, you know? I’d feel a lot better about it then, I am sure.”

Cassie nods. “Of course. You’re a tough nut to c***k, everyone knows that. But he’s your mate, he’ll respect your feelings. Take it as fast or slow as you need.”

She chuckles to herself, a hint of mischievousness now coming through. “One way or another, we will get you down that aisle one day, babygirl.”

The tension breaks. Jesse has to laugh in spite of her own anxiety. “Don’t call me babygirl, you know how much I hate sugary nicknames!”

Cassie sticks her tongue out. “Sweetie Pie!”

The two devolve into a playful back and forth. The conversation gradually changes from the more serious romance talk into a good-natured discussion about Jesse’s future wedding. Jesse argues for understated and classy, Cassie works her hardest to make a case for an over-the-top pink affair with peacocks for ring bearers. They’re both in a fit of laughter by the time the negotiation meeting rolls to an end.

The light-hearted chat has helped to remove some of Jesse’s anxiety about Gideon, but as soon as she hears chairs moving in the nearby conference room, all her nerves come rushing right back. She’s not quite ready to see him again. However, this time she’s more prepared. She knows what she will need to say when she sees him next. She’ll ask him to take things slowly, perhaps refrain from announcing their mate status to the entire pack, so she can get a little more time to adjust. They can take it step by step, go on a few dates first, just the two of them.

Jesse worries how her mate will respond to her request. But she knows she has to put her faith in him, even if he is still a stranger in all but name still. Cassie is right — the mate bond is strong. As her soulmate, the man destined for her, hand-picked by the Gods, surely he’ll want to respect her feelings and care for her? She has to believe he does.

The door opens. Gideon and Jesse’s parents, Charles and Isabel, are the first to leave the room. They all look pleased. The negotiation must have gone well, then, judging by their smiles and relaxed expressions. As the others are all departing the room, Gideon turns around, facing the group. Raising his voice, he makes a loud, thunderous declaration:

“I have an announcement to make. This gathering today has led to not just one union, but two. A successful trade, and …the union between mates!”

He turns around, motioning over to Jesse. “Let me introduce you all to my beautiful mate!”

Jesse turns beet red. For a moment, she feels frozen, unsure of what to do, acutely aware of many sets of eyes looking at her, as the surprised and shocked onlookers stare in her direction. Unsteadily, shaken, she slowly gets up from her chair. She notices her parents’ startled (but happy? It’s hard to tell) expressions as she slowly walks over to Gideon. He grabs her, pulling her next to him and wrapping his arm around her waist possessively. Standing next to him, all attention focused on her, she wants to sink into the ground.

There’s nowhere to hide. No going back now, no slowing things down. Her parents, her grandparents, her friends, they all know, Gideon’s pack knows; within the next twenty-four hours every person she’s familiar with will know all about her new romance.

It’s a lot to take in.