Leaving the packhouse, I feel Igétas close, his eyes are on me. I look up and see his handsome face. He is only wearing jeans, and I donât think itâs necessary to say I love the view. I smile at him and he leaves two guards he was talking to behind, running over at wolf speed. Within a second, heâs standing next to me. Members arenât allowed to run that fast often, but my mate can.
Before I can say a word, he is between Amanda and me. His nose hovers over my hair and neck, his arm sneaks around my waist,but I take a step back, away from him.
âWhat are you doing?â
âSmelling you,â he says, like it is a normal thing to smell me. Maybe it is. I am still learning something new about wolves every day. His nose runs up and down, making a sniffing sound.
âWhy do you have Amandaâs smell all over you?â He growls a little and I take another step back.
His eyes are twitching and I can see Vasil wants to take over.
âStop it,â I whisper, but in a firm voice.
âShe is female. Are you seriously jealous?â Amanda is still standing behind him, but she shifted so I can see her. She is rolling her eyes.
âI can also smell your scent, a little,â he whispers so quietly that I know only I and Amanda can hear it.
âOf course you can smell me, I am your mate and youâre standing close to me.â
âNo, not like that,â he is scanning the grounds and walking me to the trees. Amanda follows behind us. I look back and she is shaking her head, like this is not a big deal.
Igétas guides us to the middle of the grass field and stops.
âWhat is going on?â I am not in the mood for whatever this is after everything that happened today.
âWhy do you smell like Amanda and why are you aroused?â He is balling his fist, holding Vasil back with clenched teeth.
I can see Amanda giving me a pitying smile.
âExcuse me?â My eyes are big and my face is flushed.
I am lost for words. He is so jealous and does not trust me. I had an emotional day and he is accusing me of cheating with Amanda! Embarrassing me in front of her. And what the hell does he smell on me?
I am about to give him a piece of my mind when Amanda opens her mouth.
âBetaâ¦,â she begins with his title, good move. âYour mate was sad and I hugged her. She was in my room for two hours I think, talking about a lot of things. She smells like me because I was soothing her.â
Her eyes are glued to the ground.
The tension in Igétasâ body seems to lessen.
âYou are sad?â he asks, moving to me and taking me in his arms. I feel the warmth and comfort of my mate.
âYes, I am still sad. I decided I am going to visit doctor Brown. I canât handle it all alone.â Itâs a miracle I donât start crying again.
I leave his warmth, taking two steps back from him. âThis has to stop. She is my friend, a pack member and a very nice person. And donât forget to mention a female.â
Before he can talk, I continue. I have to stand up now for the future. Our future.
âAnd even if she were a man, I donât want someone else. I want you, you are my mate!â I raise my voice with frustration.
He is stepping forward, not standing the fact that I am upset and too far away from him.
I let him reach me.
âItâs hard for the both of us to have to wait to mate,â he whispers, âbut we can conquer this. I am sure of it.â He kisses my cheek.
âI am sorry Amanda, I donât know what came over me.â
She nods, accepting his words.
âWait,â I pull back. âYou said something else.â
âWhat did I say? I am sorry for acting like a caveman.â
I look at Amanda and her face is slightly red.
âOh no, is it true?â She gives me a shy smile and I hide my face behind my hands.
âYou have to be kidding me!â I turn to Igétas and he looks lost.
âYou can smell meâ¦â Iâm whispering now, embarrassed beyond words, âdown there?â
He shrugs his shoulders and looks to the ground.
âA werewolf has a great nose.â
âOh my God, are you telling me every time⦠everyone can smell me?â I start to pace back and forth.
I hear a familiar growl. âI donât want anyone to smell you like that!â
âI donât either! But every time I lay my eyes on you, it just happens.â He smiles at my statement and I want to punch his smile off his face.
âIt is not funny!â I say with gritted teeth.
âNo, it is not, I didnât want you to feel self-conscious. But we smell more, hear more, and see more than you do.â
âI donât know what self-conscious means,â I mumble and rub my head.
âAware of yourself.â Amanda helps and I feel more of an outsider than ever before in the presence of Amanda and my mate.
âJust forget it, I am not visiting doctor Brown today. I just canât handle it today.â
âIt is okay, I will ask him if you can see him tomorrow morning after the training.â Amanda offers and I accept.
âI will take you to my room. I am done for the day.â Igétas protectively slides his arm over my back and we enter the building, going straight to his room.
âWe need to talk about the waiting, you know.â I make air quotes with my fingers.
He sits down beside me.
âI know, itâs getting harder and I am losing my mind seeing you without a mark.â
âI am your mate, I am not leaving you.â Mark or not, he is my life.
âItâs more than you belonging to me. It sends a message to the other males that you are off the market. Not all wolves will believe a humanâs words.â
âWe will find our way,â I say.
We really need to fix this, because this feels crazy. I donât even have a wolf and my hormones have taken over my mind. I know Igétas has more difficulty, and he is strong, but how long can he fight his instincts?