Chapter 3 #3
“I don’t think your friend knows what a prank is,” I said, blinking after reading the message twice.
“This is actually typical Raz,” Bennie grinned. “I take it you didn’t know he was setting us up either?”
“No,” I shook my head. “I… I signed up for Mated for Mayhem and then Aidan Gilmore called me to arrange this. Raziel and I are only seven percent compatible. So Aidan thought we’d get a lot of data. Do you think he was in on it? I mean, in on what? How could he have known? Is Raziel a seer?”
“Not that I know of. I mean, he’s private, but I don’t think anyone could be that private. Not to be that guy but most seers or second sighters are omegas. Not always but mostly. I…” he rubbed the back of his neck. “To be honest, I’m having trouble stringing two words together.”
I blushed as his eyes raked up and down my body. Then I stepped closer because the distance between us was too much.
“So…” I said, unsure of what to say next.
Part of me, probably a part I inherited from Grandpa Clyde, wanted to track Raziel down and find out exactly who helped him obtain this information.
Anyone who was keeping this close of tabs on me didn’t deserve to remain anonymous.
The other part of me, the part who was more wolf and wilds than human, didn’t give a single fuck.
I spent hours stalking this guy’s social media and it turned out he was my guy.
“Are you hungry?” Bennie asked. “The Temple does food up good. I’m biased, though. I was raised by a warrior of Frost. So, I love all the recipes there. Hell, I practically grew up in the temple.”
“I had Mama Dragon’s while I was looking around. I told Raziel I was coming on a later train than I actually took and…” I blushed harder, admitting my lie.
“Not a bad plan,” Bennie shrugged. “Recon of a new area is important. You might be coming here through Mated for the Holidays but it’s a new place and you’re an omega on your own.
If I thought about it, I’d have suggested Raz get someone from the Temple of Juda to meet you here first. He’s been obsessed with getting things ready for you.
Honestly,” he rubbed the back of his neck again.
“I thought he lost his mind because he knows you’re not his true-mate.
He remembers at least one of his past lives and knows who his mate is.
Don’t ask me, I don’t know. Don’t ask why he’s still piddling around.
I don’t really know that either. I… Now I’m rambling.
Is it too hot for you out here? We should go inside somewhere. ”
“I’m okay. I like the sun,” I said. “So, do you usually say no to gifts?”
“Huh?” Bennie blinked, stepping closer to me. “Why do you ask that?”
“What would you have done if Raziel told you about me and why he was doing this?” I asked.
“I would’ve had a lot of questions. Hell, I still have a lot of questions. Only tracking him down right now to demand answers isn’t very high on my to-do list.”
“Same. Later. We’ll corner him later and make him tell us.”
“There’s no making that dragon do anything he doesn’t want to do,” Bennie laughed.
A rush of voices sounded off over my family link. I wasn’t sure how long they’d been trying to get my attention but even now they were like whispers in the back of my head.
“Everything alright?” he asked, stepping closer and reaching out for my hand.
“My family is talking. Well, I think they’re talking to me. I just… I think I wasn’t paying attention,” I blushed harder.
“Let’s get you to the car. You look like you could use a minute to sit down. I can give you privacy while you call them if that’s easier for you,” he said, holding onto my hand.
“The car sounds like a good plan. I think they’re excited but be warned one of my grandpas will probably run a background check on you,” I said, knowing no one would stop Grandpa Clyde from doing what he wanted to do. Though, how much of a bad history could this tiger have?
“That may be complicated,” he let out an uneasy chuckle and my phone rang.
“I think he’s calling now,” I said, without looking at my phone.
“You can answer it. I’ll answer his questions. What happened, happened.”
“That doesn’t sound ominous at all,” I laughed, the fur on my wolf’s back standing up.
“Hey, Grandpa,” I answered the phone.
This time I was right about who was on the other end of the line.
“Congratulations, sweetheart,” Grandpa Clyde said and before I could say thank you he added, “Let me talk to him.”
“Grandpa, you don’t have to be a cave alpha. Just check out his social media. I mean, he went to work with the penguin shifters,” I said and kicked myself as soon as the words were out of my mouth. Like seriously?! I couldn’t even keep the fact that I stalked his social media to myself?
“I know. His background check came back. Just let me speak to him, please,” Grandpa Clyde said.
He was being softer than usual. He was never actually mean to us grandkids but he didn’t sound as stern as he usually did. I flashed Bennie a sympathetic smile before passing the phone to him.
“He wants to speak to you,” I said aloud and mouthed ‘Sorry’ silently.