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Thirty–Six
Alexander’s POV
I stayed in my office for as long as she stayed in hers and when I finally got the memo that she was leaving hers, I gathered my stuff, straightened my clothes, and went down, meeting her in the parking lot.
It was getting dark out already and my sudden appearance seemed to have startled her quite a bit before she looked away and back at her phone, the screen light illuminating her face.
“You’re calling the dude that dropped you off?”
“I’m calling the app I booked the ride with. I doubt they’ll send the same dude though.”
I couldn’t lie and say I wasn’t relieved. It had been on my tongue to ask about it when I had called her to my office earlier in the day but I was torn between my jealousy and my need to for once, not provoke her. “What happened to your car?”
“Flat tire.” She replied absentmindedly.
“Let me drive you home.”
“No thanks.” She said, waving her phone in front of me as if to tell me that she already had it covered.
“Oh come on, Isabella.” I said as the sky got even darker around us, “I’m not letting you get into a car with another stranger. Especially not when it‘ s so late.”
She chuckled and surprisingly, she didn’t sound sarcastic at all. She
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actually sounded amused. “Did he just say he’s not letting me?” She said laughing again, not addressing me even though she was addressing what I just said. “I wonder what ties us together that he should decide to let or to not let me do anything. I’m a grown woman and he’s not even my parent at least.”
“Isabella please.”
“No.” She said simply before looking back at her phone. My jaw ticked Why was she being so difficult? I noticed that she had not once looked me in the face for the whole of the day
Even now, her eyes were either on her phone or in front of her, especially when she was speaking. It made me uncomfortable for some reason. Like she really didn’t care anymore.
I saw a car pull into the parking lot and she waved at it before turning back to me…still not looking me straight in the face.
“And call off the maid, will you? A house like the pack house or even my parents‘ house could require house staff but I’m sick of my loss of privacy in my very personal apartment. I hardly ever even have guests over and now I have to deal with having someone I don’t need being there 24/7. I need…Alexander!” She shrieked. “Put me down!”
I didn’t reply but quietly made my way to my car. Using my free hand, I pulled out my car keys and unlocked the car while she hit my back with the one hand that wasn’t holding onto her bag.
Apart from the fact that I knew her hands could hardly hurt me, it kinda felt like she was holding back. Like she could go harder but she didn’t want to hurt me.
I sucked in my lip as I opened the passenger’s door.
Way to be delusional Alexander, I chastised myself before placing her into the passenger’s seat and strapping the seat belt around her. I half
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288 (Vouchers
expected her to jump right out and so I stood at the door for a few seconds before going round to get in myself.
My next expectation was for her to yell at me but I was again surprised when she remained silent throughout the ride looking at nothing but the windshield with her hand folded on her belly after calling her ride to cancel the ride and apologize for wasting his time.
Silence had never felt so thick as in the minutes it took on the road before I finally pulled up in front of her building and immediately I parked the car and unlocked the door she was hopping out and disappearing inside.
I stayed there a while before my phone lit up with a message notification. I sighed heavily when I saw that it was my father requesting a meeting as soon as possible before reversing and getting back on the road.
I checked the time when I drove into the pack house parking lot and realized it was about dinner time. My mom would definitely be glad to have me eat with them tonight. And then I wondered if Isabella would eat before she goes to bed or if she would decide that she was too tired.
I went to my call logs and tapped on Lisa’s number. She picked up on the first ring. “Make sure she has dinner.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
I cut the call and took the elevator to my parents‘ suite where I found my mom setting the table. She beamed when she saw me and I gave her a hug while my dad came in. I greeted him and we all sat down for dinner and as always my mom’s cooking managed to tempt me to come here every evening. She smiled conspiratorially as she watched me clear my second helping off my plate.
Dessert had just been served when my dad cleared his throat and I could tell that he was about to bring up the reason he called me and I did not have a good feeling about it.
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“My sources are saying that our pack’s security is at high risk.”
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“Our pack’s security is always at high risk, Father. It comes with our pack being so great. You left things as good as good can be before handing them over to me and I’m not slacking either.”
“I know all that.” He said, waving off my words, “There is something you‘ ve not done, though.”
“What is it?” I asked a bit impatiently. “Sorry, I just feel slightly under pressure,” I added after my mom gave me a disapproving look.
“It’s about your Luna.” My mom said and I froze.
“Everyone who has eyes on our pack knows that you haven’t yet found her. A pack can never be complete without its Luna, Alexander. A Luna has just as many roles in the pack as the Alpha. A pack without a Luna is a weak pack.” My father pitched in.
I dropped my dessert spoon and leaned back in my seat feeling the beginnings of acid reflux–induced heartburn. Was this some sort of joke? Were they using this as an excuse to have me mated and expecting kids because they were eager to hold their grand kids or something?
“I don’t need a mate right now.”
My mom scoffed, “I’ve never heard that one. I don’t know a werewolf who has ever not needed a mate, son.”
“Exactly.” My father agreed, sharing a look with my mom. “That being said, you need to find her. You’ve barely explored the pack since you came back. Apart from finding your mate, that is actually an important part of their duty. The people need to feel a sense of familiarity and security from you.”
I massaged my temples, “I’ll put that last bit in mind. But about finding my mate…you just said they’re paying attention to the fact that I don’t have
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one yet. Well, don’t you think that she could be in serious danger if I do find her? How is that good for our pack?”
“Oh, Xander. Is that your fear? You said it yourself that our pack is never not in danger. Are you going to put off finding your mate forever then? And if you do find her, what do you intend to do then? Refuse to acknowledge her?”
“You have to find your mate. It’s non–negotiable. If you don’t find your destined mate, you’ll have no choice but to mark and mate a random female werewolf. There would be a bond but it wouldn’t be as strong.” My father said with an air of finality.
I looked down at my barely touched–dessert bowl. The scoop of ice cream had already melted into the lemon cake. “I need time to think about it.” I finally said, getting up.
I pecked my mom on the cheek, “The food was delicious, thank you.”
“You’re leaving.” My father said with his arms folded.
“It’s quite late and I have to be up early tomorrow.”
“Fair enough. Just bear in mind that your ‘time to think‘ should end up in going to find her as soon as possible.” He scoffed, “I can’t believe we’re having to persuade you to look for your mate.”
I left them and went to my wing. I felt so mentally drained that each step felt like I had lead tied to my ankles. What on earth was this stress? I saw their point, I really did. But there was still the part of putting my mate in danger once her identity was revealed and maybe even worse was the terrible place my relationship with the woman I was very much aware was my mate was right now.
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