Chapter 28
I didn’t harass Nealin for too much longer. He was exhausted from his trip and I knew he needed some alone time to readjust to home.
He told me he hadn’t been ‘home’ in almost two years. It’s the same thing that Devran and his number two did. They do long training to prepare for their positions.
Nealin Jr was stepping into the role as lead strategizer within their army of wolves. By his disposition you’d never believe it. He wasn’t strongly defined in his build but he was the brains not the brawns.
I had left home before he even woke up this morning since I had to be at the Pack house to make breakfast but I left a note to Nealin that I would bring him back some food for when he woke up.
I had to cook early so I was in the kitchen from usually 6:45ish to about 9 or 9:30am depending on what we were making and for how many. I also did prep for lunches.
Later today I would be helping Daisy, Diego’s sister, and Grace, Jasper’s sister, in the great gardens where I’ve learned botany and usually volunteer at. I want to make Nealin Sr some more of that cream I had made him and I’ll need the herbs to do it.
“Morning Sunshine” I heard my best friend’s voice fill the kitchen. “Hey sleepyhead. I was almost on my way out the door” I told him, noting the time.
“I know, I couldn’t get a good night’s sleep last night. I was tossing and turning all night” he huffed.
“Are you feeling okay?” I looked him over. He chuckled and playfully shoved my face away. “I’m fine. Just couldn’t sleep” he waved me off.
“But you were acting kind of weird at my house too. I wanted to ask you about it but I didn’t want to say anything in front of Nealin” I told him. His face dropped then frowned.
“I wasn’t acting weird” he crossed his arms over his chest. Jasper isn’t built like a God like his Alpha is. He has a modest build but you could see it at times when he was stiff like this.
I loved my best friend’s earthy scent but he wasn’t standing very close right now and that made me notice just how uncomfortable he truly was. “What’s going on?” I asked again.
He gave me a dumbfounded expression, “I don’t understand what you mean. I’m being completely normal you weirdo.” He rolled his eyes and snagged some food before retreating towards the dining room.
I’ll have to corner him later but for now I will let it go.
I packed some of the leftover food--which we do often in the kitchen when meals are finished and there is more to spare--and walked off to the cottage Nealin and I were now sharing.
When I got to the front door I didn’t bother knocking. I was accustomed to just using my own key and entering the house so I stopped short when I realized the place wasn’t empty. I actually almost fumbled and dropped the bag of food entirely.
“Oh, uh, good morning Nealin” I stood awkwardly at the door. He was sitting on our living room sofa with Devran. “H-hey, morning” he uttered out quietly.
“I brought you breakfast” my face smoothed over and I continued to ignore Devran as I entered the house now. I wouldn’t let him see me sweat. I guess Nealin could feel some weird tension between us because he decided to speak up and explain Devran’s presence here.
“My Alpha was coming to check in with me now that I am back. I’ll be assigned duties” he told me. I nodded and put the bag of food on the counter of the kitchen before trying to open the door to my room. Devran stood.
“Mira” he called out to me. I gritted my teeth. “Yes?” I asked without looking back. When he didn’t say anything I was forced to turn and face them both.
“Nealin tells me you’ll be continuing to live here, with him” Devran stated a fact we all knew. I looked at him with a duh face.
“I don’t want you inconveniencing my men. You will come back to the Pack house and resume living in your old room” he told me. My brows shot up to my hair line.
“Um, no” was all I said to that. Nealin squirmed in place with nerves. He’d never talk back to his Alpha that way. He didn’t know the part of the story where I was Devran’s mate though.
I left that part out and the whole rejection story. I had only told him how I came here when being saved.
“Excuse me?” Devran’s voice dropped an octave and he rolled his shoulders back which pushed his taut chest forward. He was challenging me.
“I want to stay here. I’ve worked everything out with Nealin” I tried keeping a steady voice.
“I don’t mind sir” Nealin’s quiet voice tried assuring him. When Dev’s eyes snapped towards the boy his own eyes shot down to this lap. Devran took one then two large strides over to me.
Since the living room was visible to the wall that had both bedroom entrances on it we were side by side. His large feet stopped in front of mine and my head had to tip back to accommodate for his height in order to look him in the face.
He was in a tight black long sleeve top and jeans but he makes everything look better than it is. The fabric strained against his muscle perfectly, and it rippled with his annoyances.
“Our official link may have been severed but I am still your Alpha. I told you, if you are to live in my village with my people you will follow under my rule” his voice was gruff and warningful.
“Are you ever going to cut me a break? Honestly, you’ve already embarrassed me in front of the whole town, now you wanna pull the boss card?” I scoffed. His words didn’t move me. I hated Devran for what he did. His jaw ticked in annoyance.
Since his body was so large I couldn’t even see Nealin but I can only imagine what expression he wore right now as he watched us.
“You forced my hand” he dared tell me. “Me?! I forced you to reject me?!” I was utterly shocked at the accusation.
“You pushed and pushed. We could have done so in the privacy of my office but you hollered and made your scene” he clenched his fists and bared his teeth.
“You called me weak. You called me inferior in a room full of your people and you didn’t have the guts to say it to me. It was behind closed doors that you judged me and ridiculed me! How would you think I would take that?! You were the one who told me to come to you so you could explain everything!
” I shouted.
I thought I had this boxed up but parts of my anger were slipping out. “Mira, don’t start,” he snapped at me. I flinched.
“Please, Devran, just leave me alone. I’m asking only that. Just leave me alone” I almost pleaded with him. Something flickered behind his eyes but I didn’t know what.
“Fine, stay living here. Why should I care” he growled out before stomping out of the house and slamming the door. My eyes met Nealin’s and his were wide with shock and confusion. I sighed.
“I have something to tell you” I told him outright. I guess it was time he found out the rest of my story.
-
After over an hour of storytelling and Nealin’s surprising questions I felt better that my new roommate knew everything.
“I wondered why he asked me so many questions about you. I thought maybe because you were human and I know some wolves are weird about that. I’m not, but I know some are” Nealin admitted.
“He asked about me?” I tipped my head. He nodded quietly. When I said nothing he knew he had to continue.
“He just asked if you would continue to live here. He asked how your disposition was which had confused me but I figured he was asking to be sure you were welcoming me properly or something weird like that.
I think he's fishing to see how you feel after everything that went on between you two” Nealin spoke the most he has.
“Do you have a mate, Nealin?” I decided to ask him though I was sure I knew the answer. He shook his head rapidly no.
“I’m...gay, so I don’t know when I will meet my mate, but...I just thought you should know, so like, you don’t feel weird living in the same home as a guy. I mean, I am the least threatening person, but, ya know” he stumbled over himself.
I smiled and nudged him playfully. “Any crushes?” I asked him. When his cheeks flamed pink I got my answer. “Who?!” I asked. He wouldn’t tell me.
“Alpha Devran has always been an alpha male. In high school even before he came into power he was still a force to be reckoned with. All the girls loved him and all the guys wanted his approval. He is used to getting his way.
"I know he is reacting badly because he thinks he deserves the best of the best but if you were his mate...then maybe you are. He didn’t wait long enough to find out” he told me.
“Find out what?” I asked in confusion. “How great you are” he smiled lightly. “You don’t know me though” I smiled back.
“I’m a pretty good judge of character. I am also a firm believer in our Moon Goddess. She makes no mistake” he told me with the most conviction I’ve yet to hear in his shy voice.
“I think we’ll get along just fine, Nealin...only you have to start fessing up to your own stuff. I’ve told you a lot about me. It’s your turn” I warned him.
He was off the hook for now because I had garden duties and he had duties of his own but I wanted to know Nealin. He may be shy and nervous but so am I. We are usually the ones with the most to tell.
We parted ways after that and I was off to the gardens. Daisy and Grace are two gossipy girls so I knew I had a busy afternoon to come. They’ll ask all about Nealin and how I am after Devran rejected me.
They’re good girls but they are kinda obsessed with Devran. Which means they’re probably secretly happy he rejected me and that some new girl will have a chance at being his second Mate. Devran isn’t even my biggest problem right now believe it or not.
My biggest problem is what happened to me in the woods on my three day meditation journey. I figured something out about myself that I didn’t understand and I was afraid of it.
I had yet to tell anyone my theory or even test that theory out for myself. When have I had the time? I’m always with someone or doing something. I don’t even have a house to myself anymore so when would I have the privacy to try it out?