MATEO’S P. O. V.
I understand the brother wanting to go, but what of this other wolf. He isn’t her blood. Why was he the first to volunteer to be there with her? I already don’t like him. I am glad that Lila understands the importance of not telling her parents about me being the one that took her. She came up with a story quickly. I can’t wait to get back to her.
Standing on the steps waiting for the brother and the other guy I am kept company by her parents. Her real dad talks first. “You don’t know how grateful we are to you that you found and took care of our girl.”
“I know if it was my son then I would want the same consideration from whoever found him.” I gave a small smile. I don’t feel like conversing with them. I want to get home.
Luna Jasmine gives me a confused look. “There is no record of a Luna for Moonridge.”
I nod. “That is because there isn’t one. My son is adopted. Our pack found him in the woods a couple of years ago. We looked all over for his parents but never found any. I adopted him after that. He’s a good kid. We all wish he would speak but, it doesn’t change the fact that he is a good kid.” Smiling thinking about Callum.
“So why doesn’t he speak, he looks old enough?” Luna Jasmine asks.
“We don’t know. The doctors say that there is no medical reason why he shouldn’t, but he doesn’t. I learned to accept it. I don’t pressure him in any way. He is an excellent artist though. You should see some of his work sometime. As a matter of fact.” Before I left this morning I took the picture of Lila and I in our wolf forms. I wanted to look at it on the way down. I pull it out of my pocket and show it to them.
Alpha Gabe pulls it from Luna Jasmine’s hands. “This is Lila.”
I try my best to look confused. “I’m sorry what?”
“This picture is of Lila. She has a white wolf.” He repeats.
“Wow, I did not know that.”
Luna Jasmine takes the picture back. “I am sure it just looks like her. How could the child know what she looks like when he just met her? I will tell you this Alpha Mateo, it is very good work. It’s amazing for a child his age.”
I puff up like a proud papa, because that is what I am. “I know. I have his work all over my office.” We are joined by the two I have been waiting for. “Well, I am sure that you are eager to see your sister, we should hit the road. It is quite a drive.”
They said their goodbyes to the people present and entered the truck. It was going to be a great ride with these two all the way back to the compound. I can tell, the brother starts eyeing me like I am the biggest liar on the planet. I kind of suspected that not all of them would buy the story we told but enough did to throw them off the scent. Especially since Lila didn’t tell the truth either.
I figured it was best to get the ball rolling here. “So, I know how you are close to Lila, but who are you to her?” I point to the other guy. He obviously has a close relationship, the way he volunteered gave me that information.
He shrugs. “We have been friends since she was born. Best friends.”
The brother laughs. “Don’t down play it Eli. You two have been in love for years. We honestly thought they were mates.”
I suppress a growl. Now I want to throw this guy from the moving vehicle. “Is that so?” I am really trying to suppress it, but the brother doesn’t buy it and he pushes.
“Yeah, they used to kiss and stuff too. It was adorable. You could never find one without the other.”
Eli groans. “Can you stop, Jace. That was a long time ago. We are just friends now, we have known for a while that we were most likely not mates.”
“Doesn’t mean that you two didn’t hope.”
“But you have a mate now?” I am trying to control myself.
“Yes, I do. She is not pleased that I am taking this trip but she understands.” He looks away from me. He feels uneasy talking about this. However the brother doesn’t want to stop.
“Yeah, remember that time you two were caught skinny dipping. That was funny.” Jace laughs. I want to punch him in the face. Along with the guy who has seen her naked.
“We were in our underwear, not exactly skinny dipping.” Still not happy.
“Still dad was pretty pissed.” He thinks for a second. “Hunter wasn’t too happy either. That wasn’t that long ago either. What, last summer?” Yeah he is pushing my buttons and he knows it. He smiles at me as he says it. He’s hoping that he can get me to snap. If I snap they will know something is up.
I pulled out the picture I brought to try to distract myself, plus this is the picture that Callum drew to say that we were mates. I like this picture the most. I smile looking at it, the brother speaks up again. “What’s that you got there?”
“A picture my son drew a few days ago.” He puts his hand out for it, I hand it over a little reluctantly since he is probably going to make something of this too.
He looks it over for a few minutes. “Wow, this is really good.” The look on his face changes. “Eli, doesn’t this look like Lila?”
He passes it to the other guy. He looks it over, “It looks exactly like her. How is that possible?” He looks at me for an answer.
“I think you must be wrong. For one he drew that before he met Lila. For another he has never seen her in her fur. It isn’t possible for him to draw her.” That was almost true. He drew it before seeing her in her fur.
Eli points to a part on the fur, it looks like a little scar. “This right here was a scar that she got when she got her paw stuck in a trap when she was sixteen. There is no way that he could have matched it that perfectly if he hadn’t seen her.”
“Well, he didn’t see her. I don’t know what to tell you. I can call her up right now and she can verify for you, if that will settle you down.” I keep my voice even.
“Who is the other wolf?” He points to my wolf.
“That would be mine.” I state. “I assumed he was making a portrait of the two of us when he was older. I never thought more about it.” I took the picture back. “You are more than welcome to look at more of his pictures when we get back to my house. I have an office full of them.” I suddenly remember the picture of Lila and I dancing. That one will have to go before they see it. That would be a dead give away that I was the one that took her.
Eli now has a glare on his face as he watches me. Great now they both think I am lying. I am but that is besides the point. We still have three hours in this car. “Well, I didn’t sleep well last night, so I am going to catch some z’s.” I lean back in the seat with my arms over my chest. I just manage to close my eyes when the brother asks another question.
“Can you tell me how long you have been attracted to my sister?” I peek at him.
I close my eyes again. “I am an unmated male and she is an unmated she-wolf, she is very attractive. I am sure your friend here can spell it out for you.” No use denying that I am attracted to Lila, it’s true. I am pretty sure it is obvious too.
“I know you are attracted to her, I asked you how long?”
“Since I first saw her.” Not giving a specific time. That should be enough for him.
Only it isn’t. “And how long ago was that?”
“That would be last night, like I told your parents.” I still have my eyes closed. I am not bothered by his questions, he wouldn’t be a good brother if he didn’t.
“It would seem it’s a little more than that.”
“Then you would be wrong.”
Eli answers too. “Are you sure you aren’t thinking that perhaps there is more there than there is?”
I feel my bros furrow. “What are you talking about? Your question confuses me.”
“Are you sure you don’t think she is your mate?”
“I wouldn’t know. I didn’t spend that much time with her. Plus she hasn’t hit her eighteenth birthday if what I hear is correct. It would be hard for me to know for sure. But I am not saying that she is.”
“Lila’s family seems to know before their eighteenth birthday, has she told you something?” Eli counters.
“No, she has not.”
“So then she isn’t your mate.” Jace makes it sound final.
“If what you say is correct, then sure.” I shrug like it isn’t a big deal.
“You still think she might be?” Eli asks yet again.
I open my eyes and lean forward. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I am really tired. I gave up looking for a mate a long time ago. Even if your sister is my mate, I wasn’t looking for her. I don’t have any great hopes. I am doing just fine on my own. I don’t need a Luna.” Doesn’t mean that she isn’t mine and I do want her. What I said was partially true, I did give up looking for a mate, but when I found Lila I knew what it was. I knew she was mine. She just needs to see it.
Thankfully that managed to shut him up a little bit. I drift off to sleep a bit later. I really did sleep like crap without Lila in my arms and I have no idea when I will get to do that again.